Senate File 420 - Reprinted SENATE FILE 420 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 310) (As Amended and Passed by the Senate March 14, 2011 ) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the planning, approval, supplementary 1 weighting, and operation of regional academies and including 2 effective date and applicability provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 SF 420 (3) 84 kh/sc
S.F. 420 Section 1. Section 257.11, subsection 5, Code 2011, is 1 amended by striking the subsection. 2 Sec. 2. Section 261E.9, subsections 1 through 3, Code 2011, 3 are amended to read as follows: 4 1. a. A regional academy is a program established by 5 a school district to which multiple school districts send 6 students in grades nine seven through twelve , and which may 7 include internet-based coursework and courses delivered via the 8 Iowa communications network. A regional academy shall include 9 in its curriculum advanced level courses and may include in its 10 curriculum career and technical courses . A school district 11 establishing a regional academy may collaborate and partner 12 with, enter into an agreement pursuant to chapter 28E with, 13 or enter into a contract with, one or more school districts, 14 area education agencies, community colleges, accredited public 15 and private postsecondary institutions, accredited nonpublic 16 schools, businesses, and private agencies located within or 17 outside of the state. 18 b. The purpose of a regional academy established pursuant 19 to this section shall be to build a culture of innovation for 20 students and community, to diversify educational and economic 21 opportunities by engaging in learning experiences that involve 22 students in complex, real-world projects, and to develop 23 regional or global innovation networks. 24 c. If a school district establishing a regional academy in 25 accordance with this section submits a plan to the department 26 for approval that demonstrates how the regional academy will 27 increase and assess student achievement or increase and assess 28 competency-based learning opportunities for students, the 29 department may waive or modify any statutory or regulatory 30 provision applicable to school districts except the department 31 shall not waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision 32 relating to requirements applicable to school districts under 33 chapters 11, 21, 22, 216, 216A, 256B, 279, 284, and 285; or 34 relating to contracts with and discharge of teachers and 35 -1- SF 420 (3) 84 kh/sc 1/ 2
S.F. 420 administrators under chapters 20 and 279; or relating to audit 1 requirements under section 256.9, subsection 20, and section 2 279.29. 3 2. a. A regional academy course shall not qualify as a 4 concurrent enrollment course include in its curriculum advanced 5 level courses . 6 b. A regional academy may include in its curriculum virtual 7 or internet-based coursework and courses delivered via the Iowa 8 communications network, career and technical courses, core 9 curriculum coursework, courses required pursuant to section 10 256.7, subsection 26, or section 256.11, subsections 4 and 5, 11 and asynchronous learning networks. 12 3. School districts participating in regional academies are 13 eligible for supplementary weighting as provided in section 14 257.11, subsection 2 . The school districts participating in 15 the regional academy shall enter into an agreement on how the 16 supplementary weighting received shall be used and shall submit 17 the agreement to the department for approval . 18 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPLICABILITY. This Act 19 takes effect July 1, 2012, and is applicable to school years 20 beginning on or after July 1, 2012. 21 -2- SF 420 (3) 84 kh/sc 2/ 2