HF 513 (LSB 2360YH (4) 90)

HOUSE FILE 513

BY  TUREK

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to education, including requiring instruction related to persons with disabilities in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the responsibilities of the state board of education, and modifying provisions related to school district and accredited nonpublic school programs that are designed to eliminate harassment and bullying.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code 2023, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  The kindergarten program shall include experiences designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and protect and increase physical well-being with attention given to experiences relating to the development of life skills and human growth and development.  Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2024, the kindergarten program shall include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., and the history of persons with disabilities in this state. A kindergarten teacher shall be licensed to teach in kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic school must meet the requirements of this subsection only if the nonpublic school offers a kindergarten program.  For purposes of this section, “age-appropriate” and “research-based” mean the same as defined in section 279.50.
   3.  The following areas shall be taught in grades one through six:  English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development, physical education, traffic safety, music, and visual art.  Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2024, the social studies curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., and the history of persons with disabilities in this state. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. The health curriculum shall include the characteristics of communicable diseases including acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the elementary program.
   4.  The following shall be taught in grades seven and eight:  English-language arts; social studies; mathematics; science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development; career exploration and development; physical education; music; and visual art.  Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2024, the social studies curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., and the history of persons with disabilities in this state. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration and development shall be designed so that students are appropriately prepared to create an individual career and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate foundational career and technical education concepts aligned with the six career and technical education service areas as defined in  subsection 5, paragraph “h”, and incorporate relevant twenty-first century skills. The health curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based information regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the program in grades seven and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic schools. For purposes of this section, “age-appropriate”, “HPV”, and “research-based” mean means the same as defined in section 279.50.
    Sec. 2.  Section 280.28, subsection 4, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  Programs encouraged Antiharassment and antibullying programs.  The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school are encouraged to shall establish programs designed to eliminate harassment and bullying in schools. To the extent that funds are available for these purposes, school districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall do the following:
   a.  Provide training on antiharassment and antibullying policies to school employees and volunteers who have significant contact with students.
   b.  Develop a process to provide school employees, volunteers, and students with the skills and knowledge to help reduce incidents of harassment and bullying.  Such a process shall include annual education related to the effects of bullying, including the effects of bullying through electronic communication and social media.
    Sec. 3.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM RELATED TO DISABILITY AWARENESS.
   1.  On or before July 1, 2024, the state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A that establish standards for the instruction related to persons with disabilities and the history of persons with disabilities described in section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, as amended by this Act.
   2.  The department shall consult with all of the following persons when developing the standards described in subsection 1:
   a.  Parents of students who are enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
   b.  Teachers and administrators who are employed by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
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 education, including requiring instruction related to persons with disabilities in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the responsibilities of the state board of education, and modifying provisions related to school district and accredited nonpublic school programs that are designed to eliminate harassment and bullying.
   The bill requires that, commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2024, the kindergarten program in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, and the social studies curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades one through eight in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, shall include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the history of persons with disabilities in this state. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules that establish standards for this instruction in consultation with the parents of students enrolled in schools as well as teachers and administrators.
   Current law encourages the board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school to establish programs designed to eliminate harassment and bullying in schools. The bill modifies this provision to require the establishment of such programs. Current law also requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to develop a process to provide school employees, volunteers, and students with the skills and knowledge to help reduce incidents of harassment and bullying. The bill requires this process to include annual education related to the effects of bullying, including the effects of bullying through electronic communication and social media.