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House File 391 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to private instruction, including the issuance
2of diplomas or credentials to students who complete private
3instruction and the authority of parents, guardians, and
4legal custodians to execute documents to verify student
5information.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 299A.13 Diplomas and credentials.
21. A diploma or credential issued by a person who
3administers a program of secondary education under competent
4private instruction or independent private instruction pursuant
5to this chapter shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate for
6all purposes that the recipient has completed the program of
7secondary education and has attained the equivalent of a high
8school diploma.
92. The state, a political subdivision of the state,
10institutions of higher education under the control of the state
11board of regents, or an accredited private institution as
12defined in section 261.9, shall not discriminate against any
13individual based on the source of the individual’s diploma or
14credential and shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for
15completion of a program of secondary education under competent
16private instruction or independent private instruction the
17same as a high school diploma awarded by a school district or
18accredited nonpublic school.
19 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 299A.14 Verification of enrollment.
20The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child of
21compulsory attendance age shall have the authority to execute
22any document required by law to verify any of the following:
231. The placement of a child under competent private
24instruction or independent private instruction.
252. The child’s full-time or part-time status in competent
26private instruction or independent private instruction.
273. The grades the child has obtained in competent private
28instruction or independent private instruction.
294. Any other required educational information.
30EXPLANATION
31The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
32the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
33This bill relates to private instruction, including the
34issuance of diplomas or credentials to students who complete
35private instruction and the authority of parents, guardians,
-1-1and legal custodians to execute documents to verify student
2information.
3The bill provides that a diploma or credential issued by
4a person who administers a program of secondary education
5under competent private instruction or independent private
6instruction pursuant to Code chapter 299A (private instruction)
7shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate that the recipient
8has completed the program of secondary education and has
9attained the equivalent of a high school diploma.
10The bill prohibits the state, a political subdivision of
11the state, institutions of higher education under the control
12of the state board of regents, or an accredited private
13institution from discriminating against any individual based
14on the source of the individual’s diploma or credential and
15shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for completion
16of a program of secondary education under competent private
17instruction or independent private instruction the same as a
18high school diploma awarded by a school district or accredited
19nonpublic school.
20The bill provides that the parent, guardian, or legal
21custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age shall
22have the authority to execute any document required by law
23to verify the placement of a child under competent private
24instruction or independent private instruction, the child’s
25full-time or part-time status in competent private instruction
26or independent private instruction, the grades the child has
27obtained in competent private instruction or independent
28private instruction, or any other required educational
29information.
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2of diplomas or credentials to students who complete private
3instruction and the authority of parents, guardians, and
4legal custodians to execute documents to verify student
5information.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 299A.13 Diplomas and credentials.
21. A diploma or credential issued by a person who
3administers a program of secondary education under competent
4private instruction or independent private instruction pursuant
5to this chapter shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate for
6all purposes that the recipient has completed the program of
7secondary education and has attained the equivalent of a high
8school diploma.
92. The state, a political subdivision of the state,
10institutions of higher education under the control of the state
11board of regents, or an accredited private institution as
12defined in section 261.9, shall not discriminate against any
13individual based on the source of the individual’s diploma or
14credential and shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for
15completion of a program of secondary education under competent
16private instruction or independent private instruction the
17same as a high school diploma awarded by a school district or
18accredited nonpublic school.
19 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 299A.14 Verification of enrollment.
20The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child of
21compulsory attendance age shall have the authority to execute
22any document required by law to verify any of the following:
231. The placement of a child under competent private
24instruction or independent private instruction.
252. The child’s full-time or part-time status in competent
26private instruction or independent private instruction.
273. The grades the child has obtained in competent private
28instruction or independent private instruction.
294. Any other required educational information.
30EXPLANATION
31The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
32the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
33This bill relates to private instruction, including the
34issuance of diplomas or credentials to students who complete
35private instruction and the authority of parents, guardians,
-1-1and legal custodians to execute documents to verify student
2information.
3The bill provides that a diploma or credential issued by
4a person who administers a program of secondary education
5under competent private instruction or independent private
6instruction pursuant to Code chapter 299A (private instruction)
7shall be deemed sufficient to demonstrate that the recipient
8has completed the program of secondary education and has
9attained the equivalent of a high school diploma.
10The bill prohibits the state, a political subdivision of
11the state, institutions of higher education under the control
12of the state board of regents, or an accredited private
13institution from discriminating against any individual based
14on the source of the individual’s diploma or credential and
15shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for completion
16of a program of secondary education under competent private
17instruction or independent private instruction the same as a
18high school diploma awarded by a school district or accredited
19nonpublic school.
20The bill provides that the parent, guardian, or legal
21custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age shall
22have the authority to execute any document required by law
23to verify the placement of a child under competent private
24instruction or independent private instruction, the child’s
25full-time or part-time status in competent private instruction
26or independent private instruction, the grades the child has
27obtained in competent private instruction or independent
28private instruction, or any other required educational
29information.
-2-jda/jh