HF 477 (LSB 1964YH (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 477

BY  MATSON, SORENSEN, and SIEGRIST

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring the director of the department of education to establish a low-income student and poverty weighting work group.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  POVERTY WEIGHTING WORK GROUP.
   1.  In recognition of the supplemental assistance for high-need schools under section 284.11 originally enacted for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and in preparation for the school finance formula review committee scheduled to meet during the 2024 legislative interim to review provisions of Iowa’s school foundation formula, it is the intent of the general assembly that a work group be convened by the Iowa department of education to consider what learning gaps are evident in Iowa based on socioeconomic status, identify what promising practices are occurring in Iowa and other states to minimize these learning gaps, and review the funding provided in other states for the instruction of children from low-income families. Since significant levels of poverty exist in all ninety-nine counties of this state, the general assembly should consider additional ways to close the opportunity gap through the school funding formula. 
   2.  According to the 2022 condition of education annual report, forty and seven-tenths percent of Iowa public school students are eligible for free and reduced price meals under the federal National School Lunch Act and the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. §1751-1785, the most widely used measure of student poverty, including within Iowa’s methodology for funding at-risk programs.
   3.  The school finance formula review committee established under section 257.1, subsection 4, met on December 13, 2019, and recommended to the general assembly the creation of a poverty weighting study committee.
   4.  The director of the department of education shall establish and appoint members to a work group to examine the impact of student poverty on Iowa students’ success, including relative concentration of poverty in school districts and alternative methodologies demonstrated to provide supports necessary to close the opportunity gap, including examination of relevant studies and testimony of relevant experts. The work group shall also determine if the current methodology effectively measures the needs of low-income students and shall make recommendations for funding methodologies to provide additional funding required for school districts to provide the supports necessary to deliver successful outcomes for students from low-income households. The department of education shall work cooperatively to provide staffing assistance for the work group. The work group shall be composed of at least all of the following:
   a.  One member representing the Iowa association of school boards.
   b.  One member representing the area education agencies who has expertise in special education services.
   c.  One member representing the Iowa state education association.
   d.  One member representing the school administrators of Iowa.
   e.  One member representing the urban education network of Iowa.
   f.  One member representing the rural school advocates of Iowa.
   g.  One member representing the professional educators of Iowa.
   h.  One representative of the school district with the highest basic enrollment under section 257.6 for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2023.
   i.  One representative of a school district with a basic enrollment under section 257.6 for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2023, that is ranked in the highest one-third among all school districts in the state.
   j.  One representative of a school district with a basic enrollment under section 257.6 for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2023, that is ranked in the middle one-third among all school districts in the state.
   k.  One representative of a school district with a basic enrollment under section 257.6 for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2023, that is ranked in the lowest one-third among all school districts in the state.
   l.  One representative of a school district located in whole or in part less than one hundred miles from the eastern border of this state.
   m.  One representative of a school district located in whole or in part more than one hundred miles from both the eastern border of this state and the western border of this state.
   n.  One representative of a school district located in whole or in part less than one hundred miles from the western border of this state.
   o.  The director of the department of health and human services, or the director’s designee.
   p.  Four ex officio, nonvoting legislative members consisting of the following:
   (1)  Two state senators, one appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
   (2)  Two state representatives, one appointed by the speaker and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
   5.  By January 2, 2024, the work group shall submit recommendations to the general assembly and the governor for new or modified funding methodologies that demonstrate positive results for lowering achievement gaps and improving outcomes for students from low-income households.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the director of the department of education to establish and appoint members to a work group to examine various topics related to Iowa’s current methodology for determining levels of student poverty and funding related to students from low-income households. The bill directs the department of education to work cooperatively to provide staffing assistance for the work group and establishes the minimum persons comprising the work group. By January 2, 2024, the work group is required to submit recommendations to the general assembly and the governor for new or modified funding methodologies that demonstrate positive results for lowering achievement gaps and improving outcomes for students from low-income households.