HF 454 (LSB 2119YH (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 454

BY  HENDERSON, THOMSON, and DETERMANN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to administrators employed by school districts, including requiring administrators to provide instruction to students and modifying the responsibilities of the board of educational examiners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 272.2, subsection 14, Code 2023, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  f.  The board may suspend the license of an administrator upon the board’s finding by a preponderance of the evidence that the administrator violated section 279.77.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  279.77  Administrators —— teaching requirements.
   1.  Each school district containing two or more high schools, three or more middle schools, or four or more elementary schools shall do all of the following:
   a.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, or school district department head to teach at least one one-semester class, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   b.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as a high school principal or middle school principal to teach at least three one-semester classes, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   c.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an elementary school principal to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   d.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as a high school or middle school assistant principal, director of athletics, dean of students, or any similar position to teach at least three one-semester classes, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two years.
   e.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an elementary school assistant principal, dean of students, or any similar position to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two years.
   2.  Each school district containing one high school, at least one but not more than two middle schools, or at least one but not more than three elementary schools shall do all of the following:
   a.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as a superintendent or assistant superintendent to teach at least one one-semester class, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   b.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an administrator in a high school or middle school, and who are not described in paragraph “a”, “c”, “d”, or “e”, to teach at least three one-semester classes, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   c.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an administrator in an elementary school, and who are not described in paragraph “a”, “b”, “d”, or “e”, to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   d.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as a high school or middle school assistant principal, director of athletics, dean of students, or any similar position to teach at least two one-semester classes, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two years.
   e.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an elementary school assistant principal, dean of students, or any similar position to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two years.
   3.  Each school district containing one middle school, one elementary school, or no high schools shall do all of the following:
   a.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as a superintendent or assistant superintendent to teach at least one one-semester class, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   b.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an administrator in a high school or middle school, and who are not described in paragraph “a” or “c”, to teach at least three one-semester classes, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   c.  Require all administrators who are employed by the school district as an administrator in an elementary school, and who are not described in paragraph “a” or “b”, to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
   4.  If more than one of subsections 1, 2, and 3 apply to a school district, the school district shall meet the requirements of subsection 2 in order to comply with this section.
   5.  The superintendent of each school district shall ensure that administrators employed by the school district comply with this section. The superintendent of each school district shall report to the department of education on an annual basis regarding the school district’s compliance with this section.
   6.  If the board of directors of a school district finds that an administrator employed by the school district failed to comply with this section, the administrator shall be subject to a hearing conducted by the board of educational examiners pursuant to section 272.2, subsection 14, which may result in disciplinary action, including the suspension of the administrator’s license.
   7.  An administrator providing instruction pursuant to this section shall hold a valid license issued by the board of educational examiners with an endorsement for the type of instruction provided by the administrator.
   8.  For purposes of this section, “administrator” means the same as defined in section 272.1.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to administrators employed by school districts, including requiring administrators to provide instruction to students and modifying the responsibilities of the board of educational examiners (BOEE).
   The bill provides that school districts containing two or more high schools, three or more middle schools, or four or more elementary schools shall require certain administrators to provide instruction to students. The bill requires that all administrators employed as superintendents, assistant superintendents, or school district department heads teach at least one one-semester class at least once every three years. The bill also requires that all administrators employed as high school principals or middle school principals teach at least three one-semester classes at least once every three years. Additionally, the bill requires that all administrators employed as elementary school principals teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester at least once every three years. The bill also requires that all administrators employed as high school or middle school assistant principals, directors of athletics, deans of students, or any similar positions teach at least three one-semester classes at least once every two years. Additionally, the bill requires that all administrators employed as elementary school assistant principals, deans of students, or any similar positions teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester at least once every two years.
   The bill provides that school districts containing one high school, at least one but not more than two middle schools, or at least one but not more than three elementary schools shall require certain administrators to provide instruction to students. The bill requires that all administrators employed as superintendents or assistant superintendents teach at least one one-semester class at least once every three years. Additionally, the bill requires that all administrators employed as high school or middle school assistant principals, directors of athletics, deans of students, or any similar positions teach at least two one-semester classes at least once every two years. The bill also requires that all administrators employed as elementary school assistant principals, deans of students, or any similar positions teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester at least once every two years. Additionally, the bill requires other administrators in a high school or middle school to teach at least three one-semester classes at least once every three years. The bill also requires other administrators in an elementary school to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester at least once every three years. The bill applies these same requirements to each school district that fits into two or more of the categories of school districts described in the bill.
   The bill provides that school districts containing one middle school, one elementary school, or no high schools shall require certain administrators to provide instruction to students. The bill requires that all administrators employed as superintendents or assistant superintendents teach at least one one-semester class at least once every three years. Additionally, the bill requires other administrators in a high school or middle school to teach at least three one-semester classes at least once every three years. The bill also requires other administrators in an elementary school to teach at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester at least once every three years.
   The bill provides that the superintendent of each school district shall ensure that administrators employed by the school district comply with the bill’s provisions. The bill requires the superintendent to report to the department of education on an annual basis regarding the school district’s compliance with the bill’s provisions.
   The bill provides that if the board of directors of a school district finds that an administrator failed to comply with the bill’s provisions, the administrator shall be subject to a hearing conducted by the BOEE that may result in disciplinary action, including the suspension of the administrator’s license.
   The bill requires that an administrator providing instruction pursuant to the bill’s provisions hold a valid license issued by the BOEE with an endorsement for the type of instruction provided by the administrator.
   The bill defines “administrator” as a person who is licensed to coordinate, supervise, or direct an educational program or the activities of other practitioners.