Senate File 245 - Reprinted SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 46) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to a secondary school core curriculum, including 2 requiring the state board of education to determine a model 3 core curriculum and set a statewide core curriculum completion 4 rate goal, requiring school districts to report student core 5 curriculum progress annually, requiring school districts and 6 schools to report core curriculum completion percentages 7 annually, and providing for the coordination of an educational 8 data definitions working group. 9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 10 SF 245 11 kh/cc/26 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 2005, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 26. Develop a model core curriculum, 1 4 taking into consideration the recommendations of the American 1 5 college testing program, inc. The state board shall set a 1 6 goal of increasing the number of students graduating from 1 7 secondary school who have successfully completed a core 1 8 curriculum, by July 1, 2009, to eighty percent of all students 1 9 graduating from secondary schools in this state except that 1 10 the goal shall be exclusive of students who have special or 1 11 alternative means for satisfying graduation requirements under 1 12 individualized educational plans developed for the students. 1 13 For purposes of this section, "core curriculum" means the 1 14 minimum number of specific high school courses that a student 1 15 needs to take in preparation for advanced career and 1 16 vocational purposes. 1 17 Sec. 2. Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph c, Code 1 18 2005, is amended to read as follows: 1 19 c. A requirement that all school districts and accredited 1 20 nonpublic schools annually report to the department and the 1 21 local community the district=wide progress made in attaining 1 22 student achievement goals on the academic and other core 1 23 indicators and the district=wide progress made in attaining 1 24 locally established student learning goals. The school 1 25 districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall demonstrate 1 26 the use of multiple assessment measures in determining student 1 27 achievement levels. The school districts and accredited 1 28 nonpublic schools shall also report the number of students who 1 29 enter ninth grade but do not graduate from the school or 1 30 school district;andthe number of students who are tested and 1 31 the percentage of students who are so tested annually; and the 1 32 percentage of students who graduated during the prior school 1 33 year and who completed a core curriculum. The board shall 1 34 develop and adopt uniform definitions consistent with the 1 35 federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107=110 2 1 and any federal regulations adopted pursuant to the federal 2 2 Act. The school districts and accredited nonpublic schools 2 3 may report on other locally determined factors influencing 2 4 student achievement. The school districts and accredited 2 5 nonpublic schools shall also report to the local community 2 6 their results by individual attendance center. 2 7 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 279.60 STUDENT PROGRESS TOWARD 2 8 UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS REPORT. 2 9 For the school year beginning July 1, 2006, and each 2 10 succeeding school year, the board of directors of each school 2 11 district shall report annually to each student enrolled in 2 12 grades nine through twelve in the school district, and to each 2 13 student's parent or guardian, the student's progress toward 2 14 meeting the goal of successfully completing the model core 2 15 curriculum developed by the state board of education pursuant 2 16 to section 256.7, subsection 26. 2 17 Sec. 4. EDUCATIONAL DATA DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP. 2 18 1. FINDINGS. The general assembly finds that individuals 2 19 whose educational endeavors end without the receipt of a high 2 20 school diploma have a much higher rate of unemployment and are 2 21 much more likely to need welfare or other forms of government 2 22 assistance. The economic implications of students' failure to 2 23 earn at a minimum a high school diploma are staggering, and 2 24 increasingly so as our economy becomes more dependent on the 2 25 service and information industries. To understand the current 2 26 state of educational achievement and future likelihood of 2 27 success for Iowa's students, it is vital that state and local 2 28 school district data on graduation rates be collectively 2 29 understood and accurate. 2 30 2. The department of education shall coordinate a working 2 31 group to develop clear, accurate, meaningful, and unambiguous 2 32 definitions for the key data areas relating to, but not 2 33 limited to, attrition, completion, and attendance rates, which 2 34 school districts shall use in compiling state and local report 2 35 cards. The working group shall determine the baseline data 3 1 necessary to report on these terms and shall develop a 3 2 strategy to contact school districts to ensure that the school 3 3 districts are applying the definitions and consistently 3 4 submitting data in accordance with the definitions. The 3 5 working group shall consist of the following members: 3 6 a. Two senators appointed by the president of the senate 3 7 after consultation with the majority leader and the minority 3 8 leader of the senate. 3 9 b. Two representatives appointed by the speaker of the 3 10 house after consultation with the minority leader of the 3 11 house. 3 12 c. Members representing minority populations. 3 13 d. A member representing the largest school district in 3 14 Iowa. 3 15 e. A member representing a school district with an 3 16 enrollment of more than one thousand one hundred ninety=nine 3 17 students but not more than four thousand seven hundred fifty 3 18 students. 3 19 f. A member representing a school district with an 3 20 enrollment of one thousand one hundred ninety=nine students or 3 21 less. 3 22 g. Other members representing the education community as 3 23 needed. 3 24 3. The working group shall submit its findings and 3 25 recommendations to the department of education and the 3 26 chairpersons and members of the committees on education in the 3 27 senate and the house of representatives not later than January 3 28 15, 2006. 3 29 SF 245 3 30 kh:nh/cc/26