SF 2170 (LSB 6565XS (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 2170

BY  GREEN

A BILL FOR

An Act modifying provisions related to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 261E.8, subsection 3, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  a.  A student may make application to a community college and the school district to allow the student to enroll for college credit in a nonsectarian course offered by the community college. A comparable course, as defined in rules adopted by the board of directors of the school district, must not be offered by the school district or accredited nonpublic school which the student attends.
   b.  If the community college offers the course using both instruction that is delivered in person and using instruction that is delivered primarily over the internet, then the student must enroll in the version of the course that uses instruction that is delivered in person unless the superintendent of the school district authorizes the student to enroll in the version of the course that uses instruction that is delivered primarily over the internet.
   c.  The school board shall annually approve courses to be made available for high school credit using locally developed criteria that establishes which courses will provide the student with academic rigor and will prepare the student adequately for transition to a postsecondary institution.
   d.  If a community college accepts a student for enrollment under this section, the school district, in collaboration with the community college, shall send written notice to the student, the student’s parent or legal guardian in the case of a minor child, and the student’s school district. The notice shall list the course, the clock hours the student will be attending the course, and the number of hours of college credit that the student will receive from the community college upon successful completion of the course.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill modifies provisions related to the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program, established in Code section 261E.8. The district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program is administered by the department of education to promote rigorous academic or career and technical pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high school students to enroll in eligible nonsectarian courses at or through community colleges. The program is available to all resident students in grades 9 through 12.
   The bill provides that if the community college offers the course using both instruction that is delivered in person and using instruction that is delivered primarily over the internet, then the student is required to enroll in the version of the course that uses instruction that is delivered in person unless the superintendent of the school district authorizes the student to enroll in the version of the course that uses instruction that is delivered primarily over the internet.
   The bill makes nonsubstantive, hierarchical changes to Code section 261E.8(3).