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House Study Bill 17 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to assessment scores set by the department
2of education for successful completion of a practitioner
3preparation program and for initial teacher licensure and
4providing for related matters.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 3, Code 2019, is
2amended to read as follows:
33. Prescribe standards and procedures for the approval of
4practitioner preparation programs and professional development
5programs offered in this state by practitioner preparation
6institutions located within or outside this state and by
7area education agencies. Procedures provided for approval
8of programs shall include procedures for enforcement of
9the prescribed standards and, except as provided in section
10256.16, subsection 3, shall not include a procedure for the
11waiving of any of the standards prescribed. The board may
12establish by rule and collect from practitioner preparation
13institutions located outside this state an amount equivalent
14to the department’s necessary travel and actual expenses
15incurred while engaged in the program approval process for the
16institution located outside this state. Amounts collected
17under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund
18of the state.
19 Sec. 2. Section 256.16, subsection 1, paragraph a,
20subparagraph (2), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
21(2) Administer, prior to a student’s completion of the
22practitioner preparation program and subject to the director’s
23approval, subject assessments designed by a nationally
24recognized testing service that measure pedagogy and knowledge
25of at least one subject area; or, a valid and reliable
26subject-area-specific, performance-based assessment for
27preservice teacher candidates, centered on student learning.
28A student shall not successfully complete the program unless
29the scores achieved by the student achieves scores on the
30assessments administered under this subparagraph are at or
31 above the twenty-fifth percentile nationally on the assessments
32administered pursuant to this subparagraph minimum passing
33scores set by the department.
34(a) In setting the minimum passing scores for purposes of
35this subparagraph, the department shall use the recommended
-1-1scores which are determined by the assessment provider through
2a validated standard-setting process.
3(b) A student who successfully completes the practitioner
4preparation program as required under this subparagraph
5shall be deemed, for purposes of licensure by the board of
6educational examiners, to have attained a passing score on the
7assessments administered under this subparagraph even if the
8department subsequently sets different minimum passing scores.
9 Sec. 3. Section 256.16, subsection 2, Code 2019, is amended
10to read as follows:
112. A person initially applying for a license shall
12successfully complete a professional education a practitioner
13preparation program approved under section 256.7, subsection 3,
14and containing the subject matter specified in this section,
15before the initial action by the board of educational examiners
16under chapter 272 takes place. However, this subsection shall
17not apply to a person who meets the requirements for an initial
18one-year license in accordance with subsection 3.
19 Sec. 4. Section 256.16, Code 2019, is amended by adding the
20following new subsection:
21 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. The state board shall adopt rules
22under chapter 17A to provide that the director shall waive
23the assessment requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “a”,
24subparagraph (2), for not more than one year for a person
25who has completed the course requirements for an approved
26practitioner preparation program, or at a recognized non-Iowa
27teacher preparation institution, but attained an assessment
28score below the minimum passing scores set by the department
29for successful completion of the program under subsection 1,
30paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2).
31 Sec. 5. Section 272.2, subsection 14, paragraph b,
32subparagraph (5), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
33(5) The applicant fails to meet board standards for
34application for an initial or renewed license. However, this
35subparagraph shall not apply to a person who applies for an
-2-1initial one-year license and submits to the board a waiver
2issued by the director of the department of education in
3accordance with section 256.16, subsection 3.
4 Sec. 6. Section 272.2, Code 2019, is amended by adding the
5following new subsection:
6 NEW SUBSECTION. 21. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to
7create a nonrenewable initial one-year license for an applicant
8who obtains a waiver issued by the director of the department
9of education in accordance with section 256.16, subsection
103, and presents the waiver within thirty days of issuance
11to the board of educational examiners. Such an applicant
12must also provide an affidavit from the administrator of a
13school district or an accredited nonpublic school verifying
14that an offer of a teaching contract has been made and the
15school district or accredited nonpublic school has made every
16reasonable and good-faith effort to employ a teacher licensed
17under chapter 272 for the specified subject and is unable to
18employ such a teacher.
19EXPLANATION
20The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
21the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
22This bill authorizes the department of education to set the
23minimum passing scores necessary for a student to successfully
24complete a practitioner preparation program in order to receive
25an initial teaching license from the board of educational
26examiners and establishes a waiver procedure for students who
27do not attain the minimum assessment score.
28Currently, students must achieve scores above the 25th
29percentile nationally on certain subject and performance-based
30assessments. In setting the minimum assessment scores, the
31bill directs the department to use the recommended scores
32determined by the assessment provider through a validated
33standard-setting process. Even if the department sets new
34passing scores in subsequent years, a student who successfully
35completes the practitioner preparation program shall be
-3-1deemed to have achieved minimum passing scores for purposes of
2licensure by the board of educational examiners.
3The state board must adopt rules requiring that the
4director of the department of education waive the assessment
5requirements for one year for a person who has completed
6approved practitioner preparation program course requirements,
7or at a recognized non-Iowa preparation institution, but
8attained an assessment score below the minimum.
9The board of educational examiners must adopt rules to
10create a nonrenewable initial one-year license for applicants
11who obtain a waiver and present it within 30 days of issuance
12to the board.
13A licensure applicant who applies for such an initial
14one-year license must also provide an affidavit from the
15administrator of a school district or an accredited nonpublic
16school verifying that an offer of a teaching contract has been
17made and that the school district or accredited nonpublic
18school has made every reasonable effort but has failed to
19employ an Iowa-licensed teacher for the specified subject.
20Provisions of law that restrict initial licensure to those
21who have successfully completed an approved practitioner
22preparation program and to those who have met board standards
23for initial licensure are made inapplicable to persons who meet
24initial one-year licensure and waiver requirements.
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2of education for successful completion of a practitioner
3preparation program and for initial teacher licensure and
4providing for related matters.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.7, subsection 3, Code 2019, is
2amended to read as follows:
33. Prescribe standards and procedures for the approval of
4practitioner preparation programs and professional development
5programs offered in this state by practitioner preparation
6institutions located within or outside this state and by
7area education agencies. Procedures provided for approval
8of programs shall include procedures for enforcement of
9the prescribed standards and, except as provided in section
10256.16, subsection 3, shall not include a procedure for the
11waiving of any of the standards prescribed. The board may
12establish by rule and collect from practitioner preparation
13institutions located outside this state an amount equivalent
14to the department’s necessary travel and actual expenses
15incurred while engaged in the program approval process for the
16institution located outside this state. Amounts collected
17under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund
18of the state.
19 Sec. 2. Section 256.16, subsection 1, paragraph a,
20subparagraph (2), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
21(2) Administer, prior to a student’s completion of the
22practitioner preparation program and subject to the director’s
23approval, subject assessments designed by a nationally
24recognized testing service that measure pedagogy and knowledge
25of at least one subject area; or, a valid and reliable
26subject-area-specific, performance-based assessment for
27preservice teacher candidates, centered on student learning.
28A student shall not successfully complete the program unless
29the scores achieved by the student achieves scores on the
30assessments administered under this subparagraph are at or
31 above the twenty-fifth percentile nationally on the assessments
32administered pursuant to this subparagraph minimum passing
33scores set by the department.
34(a) In setting the minimum passing scores for purposes of
35this subparagraph, the department shall use the recommended
-1-1scores which are determined by the assessment provider through
2a validated standard-setting process.
3(b) A student who successfully completes the practitioner
4preparation program as required under this subparagraph
5shall be deemed, for purposes of licensure by the board of
6educational examiners, to have attained a passing score on the
7assessments administered under this subparagraph even if the
8department subsequently sets different minimum passing scores.
9 Sec. 3. Section 256.16, subsection 2, Code 2019, is amended
10to read as follows:
112. A person initially applying for a license shall
12successfully complete a professional education a practitioner
13preparation program approved under section 256.7, subsection 3,
14and containing the subject matter specified in this section,
15before the initial action by the board of educational examiners
16under chapter 272 takes place. However, this subsection shall
17not apply to a person who meets the requirements for an initial
18one-year license in accordance with subsection 3.
19 Sec. 4. Section 256.16, Code 2019, is amended by adding the
20following new subsection:
21 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. The state board shall adopt rules
22under chapter 17A to provide that the director shall waive
23the assessment requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “a”,
24subparagraph (2), for not more than one year for a person
25who has completed the course requirements for an approved
26practitioner preparation program, or at a recognized non-Iowa
27teacher preparation institution, but attained an assessment
28score below the minimum passing scores set by the department
29for successful completion of the program under subsection 1,
30paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2).
31 Sec. 5. Section 272.2, subsection 14, paragraph b,
32subparagraph (5), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
33(5) The applicant fails to meet board standards for
34application for an initial or renewed license. However, this
35subparagraph shall not apply to a person who applies for an
-2-1initial one-year license and submits to the board a waiver
2issued by the director of the department of education in
3accordance with section 256.16, subsection 3.
4 Sec. 6. Section 272.2, Code 2019, is amended by adding the
5following new subsection:
6 NEW SUBSECTION. 21. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to
7create a nonrenewable initial one-year license for an applicant
8who obtains a waiver issued by the director of the department
9of education in accordance with section 256.16, subsection
103, and presents the waiver within thirty days of issuance
11to the board of educational examiners. Such an applicant
12must also provide an affidavit from the administrator of a
13school district or an accredited nonpublic school verifying
14that an offer of a teaching contract has been made and the
15school district or accredited nonpublic school has made every
16reasonable and good-faith effort to employ a teacher licensed
17under chapter 272 for the specified subject and is unable to
18employ such a teacher.
19EXPLANATION
20The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
21the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
22This bill authorizes the department of education to set the
23minimum passing scores necessary for a student to successfully
24complete a practitioner preparation program in order to receive
25an initial teaching license from the board of educational
26examiners and establishes a waiver procedure for students who
27do not attain the minimum assessment score.
28Currently, students must achieve scores above the 25th
29percentile nationally on certain subject and performance-based
30assessments. In setting the minimum assessment scores, the
31bill directs the department to use the recommended scores
32determined by the assessment provider through a validated
33standard-setting process. Even if the department sets new
34passing scores in subsequent years, a student who successfully
35completes the practitioner preparation program shall be
-3-1deemed to have achieved minimum passing scores for purposes of
2licensure by the board of educational examiners.
3The state board must adopt rules requiring that the
4director of the department of education waive the assessment
5requirements for one year for a person who has completed
6approved practitioner preparation program course requirements,
7or at a recognized non-Iowa preparation institution, but
8attained an assessment score below the minimum.
9The board of educational examiners must adopt rules to
10create a nonrenewable initial one-year license for applicants
11who obtain a waiver and present it within 30 days of issuance
12to the board.
13A licensure applicant who applies for such an initial
14one-year license must also provide an affidavit from the
15administrator of a school district or an accredited nonpublic
16school verifying that an offer of a teaching contract has been
17made and that the school district or accredited nonpublic
18school has made every reasonable effort but has failed to
19employ an Iowa-licensed teacher for the specified subject.
20Provisions of law that restrict initial licensure to those
21who have successfully completed an approved practitioner
22preparation program and to those who have met board standards
23for initial licensure are made inapplicable to persons who meet
24initial one-year licensure and waiver requirements.
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