Senate File 2255
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3151)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the development of an Iowa studies
2 professional development plan and the appointment of an Iowa
3 studies committee by the university of northern Iowa, and
4 directing the department of education to evaluate and report
5 on the plan.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
7 TLSB 6661SV 80
8 kh/cf/24
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 268.6 IOWA STUDIES ==
1 2 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS == CURRICULUM == COMMITTEE.
1 3 1. The general assembly finds that Iowa students should
1 4 have an appreciation for Iowa through the study of Iowa's
1 5 history and government, and Iowa citizens' long and
1 6 distinguished record of civic responsibility. There is a
1 7 fundamental need for Iowa's students to be provided with
1 8 learning opportunities that assist the students to succeed in
1 9 society and confer upon them the ability to make their own
1 10 valuable contributions to Iowa's history.
1 11 2. The university of northern Iowa, in cooperation with
1 12 the community colleges and area education agencies, shall
1 13 develop an Iowa studies professional development plan that
1 14 shall include professional development materials and training
1 15 measures to provide Iowa's teachers with effective ways to
1 16 infuse Iowa studies into their classrooms. The materials
1 17 developed shall include an active and innovative Iowa studies
1 18 learning curriculum that may be integrated into the social
1 19 studies requirements for Iowa's secondary students at the
1 20 discretion of each board of directors of a school district or
1 21 the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school.
1 22 The curriculum shall include lesson plans covering Iowa
1 23 history, civics, Iowa government, and Iowa heritage studies.
1 24 The curriculum developed shall be at least one=half of a unit
1 25 of credit.
1 26 3. a. The dean of the college of education at the
1 27 university, in cooperation with the community colleges and
1 28 area education agencies, shall establish an Iowa studies
1 29 committee to do the following:
1 30 (1) Work to inform Iowa's accredited schools and area
1 31 education agencies of the Iowa studies professional
1 32 development plan, including how to effectively utilize the
1 33 curriculum developed pursuant to subsection 2.
1 34 (2) Develop partnerships with organizations such as
1 35 nonprofit history or humanities organizations, civic
2 1 organizations, libraries, and the business community to
2 2 support and promote Iowa studies statewide.
2 3 (3) Establish evaluation criteria for the Iowa studies
2 4 professional development plan, including but not limited to
2 5 teacher and student evaluation, student tracking, and
2 6 curriculum and plan effectiveness, which may include a survey
2 7 of student participation in civic activities and involvement
2 8 in the election process.
2 9 (4) Develop a strategy and plan to allow for the
2 10 implementation of the professional development plan and
2 11 curriculum in a limited number of area education agencies and
2 12 schools across the state. Participation by an area education
2 13 agency or school shall be voluntary. However, an area
2 14 education agency or school requesting and selected to
2 15 participate in the plan shall agree to participate in the
2 16 evaluation component conducted by the department of education
2 17 pursuant to subsection 4.
2 18 b. The committee membership shall be comprised of the
2 19 following:
2 20 (1) The dean of the college of education or the dean's
2 21 designee.
2 22 (2) The secretary of state or the secretary's designee.
2 23 (3) The administrator of an area education agency or the
2 24 administrator's designee.
2 25 (4) The director of the department of education or the
2 26 director's designee.
2 27 (5) The director of the department of cultural affairs, or
2 28 the director's designee.
2 29 (6) The state librarian, or the state librarian's
2 30 designee.
2 31 (5) An individual employed as an Iowa social studies
2 32 teacher at an accredited school.
2 33 (6) An individual employed by the community colleges.
2 34 (7) A member of the Iowa council of social studies.
2 35 4. The department of education, in cooperation with the
3 1 Iowa studies committee, shall do the following:
3 2 a. Conduct an evaluation of the Iowa studies professional
3 3 development plan using the evaluation criteria established by
3 4 the committee.
3 5 b. Submit, until June 30, 2007, an annual status report on
3 6 the utilization of the Iowa studies professional development
3 7 plan in Iowa's accredited schools to the chairpersons and
3 8 ranking members of the senate and house committees on
3 9 education by January 15. The annual report shall include the
3 10 number of schools utilizing the plan.
3 11 c. Submit its findings and recommendations in a final
3 12 report based upon the evaluation data compiled in accordance
3 13 with subsection 3 to the chairpersons and ranking members of
3 14 the senate and house committees on education by January 15,
3 15 2008.
3 16 5. This section is repealed effective July 1, 2008.
3 17 SF 2255
3 18 kh/cc/26