HF 597 (LSB 2501HV (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 597

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 219)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   The state board shall adopt rules under chapter 17A and a procedure for accrediting all public and nonpublic schools in Iowa offering instruction at any or all levels from the prekindergarten level through grade twelve. The rules of the state board shall require that a an age-appropriate, multicultural, and gender-fair approach is used by schools and school districts. The educational program shall be taught from a an age-appropriate, multicultural, and gender-fair approach. Global perspectives shall be incorporated into all levels of the educational program. The rules adopted by the state board pursuant to section 256.17, Code Supplement 1987, to establish new standards shall satisfy the requirements of this section to adopt rules to implement the educational program contained in this section. The educational program shall be as follows:
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsections 4 and 9, Code 2023, are amended to read as follows:
   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. 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 the same as defined in section 279.50.
   9.  a.  Beginning July 1, 2006, each school district shall have a qualified teacher librarian who shall be licensed by the board of educational examiners under chapter 272.  Each school district shall establish a kindergarten through grade twelve library program that is consistent with the educational standards established in this section, contains only age-appropriate materials, and supports the student achievement goals of the total school curriculum.
   b.  The state board shall establish in rule a definition of and standards for an articulated sequential kindergarten through grade twelve media program.
   c.  A school district that entered into a contract with an individual for employment as a media specialist or librarian prior to June 1, 2006, shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection until June 30, 2011, if the individual is making annual progress toward meeting the requirements for a teacher librarian endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners under chapter 272. A school district that entered into a contract with an individual for employment as a media specialist or librarian who holds at least a master’s degree in library and information studies shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection until the individual leaves the employ of the school district.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256.11, Code 2023, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  19.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  (1)  “Age-appropriate” means topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. “Age-appropriate” does not include any material with descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act as defined in section 702.17 or section 728.1.
   (2)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), for purposes of the human growth and development curriculum, “age-appropriate” means the same as defined in section 279.50.
   b.  “HPV” means the same as defined in section 279.50.
   c.  “Research-based” means the same as defined in section 279.50.
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 modifying provisions related to school district library programs and the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
   Code section 256.11 (educational standards) requires that the educational program adopted by the state board of education for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools be taught from a multicultural and gender-fair approach. The bill provides that the educational program shall also be taught from an age-appropriate approach. The bill defines “age-appropriate” in this context as topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. Additionally, the bill provides that “age-appropriate” does not include any material with descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act. The bill does not affect the definition of “age-appropriate” in the context of the human growth and development curriculum.
   The bill requires each school district to establish a kindergarten through grade 12 library program that is consistent with Code section 256.11, contains only age-appropriate materials, and supports the student achievement goals of the total school curriculum.