HF 615 (LSB 1940HV (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 615

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 391)

(As Amended and Passed by the House 2023-03-21)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to private instruction, including the issuance of diplomas or credentials to students who complete private instruction and the authority of parents, guardians, and legal custodians to execute documents to verify student information, and including effective date and applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  299A.13  Diplomas and credentials.
   1.  A diploma or credential issued by a person who administers a program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate for all purposes that the recipient has completed the program of secondary education and has attained the equivalent of a high school diploma.
   2.  The state, a political subdivision of the state, a community college, an institution of higher education under the control of the state board of regents, or an accredited private institution as defined in section 261.9, shall not discriminate against any individual based on the source of the individual’s diploma or credential and shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for completion of a program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction the same as a high school diploma awarded by a school district or accredited nonpublic school.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  299A.14  Verification of enrollment.
   The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age shall have the authority to execute any document required by law to verify any of the following:
   1.  The placement of a child under competent private instruction or independent private instruction.
   2.  The child’s full-time or part-time status in competent private instruction or independent private instruction.
   3.  The grades the child has obtained in competent private instruction or independent private instruction.
   4.  Any other required educational information.
    Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
    Sec. 4.  APPLICABILITY.  The following applies to any diplomas or credentials issued before, on, or after the effective date of this Act:
   The section of this Act enacting section 299A.13.