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House File 513 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to education, including requiring instruction
2related to persons with disabilities in school districts,
3accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools
4in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the
5responsibilities of the state board of education, and
6modifying provisions related to school district and
7accredited nonpublic school programs that are designed to
8eliminate harassment and bullying.
9BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code
22023, are amended to read as follows:
32. The kindergarten program shall include experiences
4designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and
5growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well
6as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and
7protect and increase physical well-being with attention given
8to experiences relating to the development of life skills and
9human growth and development. Commencing with the school
10year beginning July 1, 2024, the kindergarten program shall
11include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related
12to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities
13and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with
14Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et
15seq., and the history of persons with disabilities in this
16state. A kindergarten teacher shall be licensed to teach in
17kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic school must meet the
18requirements of this subsection only if the nonpublic school
19offers a kindergarten program. For purposes of this section,
20“age-appropriate” and “research-based” mean the same as defined
21in section 279.50.
223. The following areas shall be taught in grades one through
23six: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics,
24science, health, age-appropriate and research-based human
25growth and development, physical education, traffic safety,
26music, and visual art. Commencing with the school year
27beginning July 1, 2024, the social studies curriculum shall
28include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related
29to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities
30and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with
31Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.,
32and the history of persons with disabilities in this state.
33 Computer science instruction incorporating the standards
34established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph
35“a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade
-1-1level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023.
2The health curriculum shall include the characteristics of
3communicable diseases including acquired immune deficiency
4syndrome. The state board as part of accreditation standards
5shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the
6elementary program.
74. The following shall be taught in grades seven and
8eight: English-language arts; social studies; mathematics;
9science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human
10growth and development; career exploration and development;
11physical education; music; and visual art. Commencing with
12the school year beginning July 1, 2024, the social studies
13curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based
14instruction related to persons with disabilities, including
15physical disabilities and visual and hearing impairment, the
16federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at
1742 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., and the history of persons with
18disabilities in this state. Computer science instruction
19incorporating the standards established under section 256.7,
20subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be
21offered in at least one grade level commencing with the
22school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration
23and development shall be designed so that students are
24appropriately prepared to create an individual career
25and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate
26foundational career and technical education concepts aligned
27with the six career and technical education service areas
28as defined in subsection 5, paragraph “h”, and incorporate
29relevant twenty-first century skills. The health curriculum
30shall include age-appropriate and research-based information
31regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases,
32including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent
33HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board
34as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum
35definitions for implementing the program in grades seven
-2-1and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the
2teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic
3schools. For purposes of this section, “age-appropriate”,
4 “HPV”, and “research-based” mean means the same as defined in
5section 279.50.
6 Sec. 2. Section 280.28, subsection 4, Code 2023, is amended
7to read as follows:
84. Programs encouraged Antiharassment and antibullying
9programs. The board of directors of a school district and the
10authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school are
11encouraged to shall establish programs designed to eliminate
12harassment and bullying in schools. To the extent that
13funds are available for these purposes, school districts and
14accredited nonpublic schools shall do the following:
15a. Provide training on antiharassment and antibullying
16policies to school employees and volunteers who have
17significant contact with students.
18b. Develop a process to provide school employees,
19volunteers, and students with the skills and knowledge to help
20reduce incidents of harassment and bullying. Such a process
21shall include annual education related to the effects of
22bullying, including the effects of bullying through electronic
23communication and social media.
24 Sec. 3. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — DEVELOPMENT OF
25CURRICULUM RELATED TO DISABILITY AWARENESS.
261. On or before July 1, 2024, the state board of education
27shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A that establish
28standards for the instruction related to persons with
29disabilities and the history of persons with disabilities
30described in section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, as
31amended by this Act.
322. The department shall consult with all of the following
33persons when developing the standards described in subsection
341:
35a. Parents of students who are enrolled in school districts,
-3-1accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
2b. Teachers and administrators who are employed by school
3districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
4EXPLANATION
5The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
6the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
7This bill relates to education, including requiring
8instruction related to persons with disabilities in school
9districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter
10schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the
11responsibilities of the state board of education, and modifying
12provisions related to school district and accredited nonpublic
13school programs that are designed to eliminate harassment and
14bullying.
15The bill requires that, commencing with the school year
16beginning July 1, 2024, the kindergarten program in school
17districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools,
18and the social studies curriculum provided to students
19enrolled in grades one through eight in school districts,
20accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, shall
21include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related
22to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities
23and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with
24Disabilities Act of 1990, and the history of persons with
25disabilities in this state. The bill requires the state board
26of education to adopt rules that establish standards for this
27instruction in consultation with the parents of students
28enrolled in schools as well as teachers and administrators.
29Current law encourages the board of directors of a school
30district and the authorities in charge of each accredited
31nonpublic school to establish programs designed to eliminate
32harassment and bullying in schools. The bill modifies this
33provision to require the establishment of such programs.
34Current law also requires school districts and accredited
35nonpublic schools to develop a process to provide school
-4-1employees, volunteers, and students with the skills and
2knowledge to help reduce incidents of harassment and bullying.
3The bill requires this process to include annual education
4related to the effects of bullying, including the effects of
5bullying through electronic communication and social media.
-5-jda/jh
2related to persons with disabilities in school districts,
3accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools
4in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the
5responsibilities of the state board of education, and
6modifying provisions related to school district and
7accredited nonpublic school programs that are designed to
8eliminate harassment and bullying.
9BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code
22023, are amended to read as follows:
32. The kindergarten program shall include experiences
4designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits and
5growth in the language arts and communication skills, as well
6as a capacity for the completion of individual tasks, and
7protect and increase physical well-being with attention given
8to experiences relating to the development of life skills and
9human growth and development. Commencing with the school
10year beginning July 1, 2024, the kindergarten program shall
11include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related
12to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities
13and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with
14Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et
15seq., and the history of persons with disabilities in this
16state. A kindergarten teacher shall be licensed to teach in
17kindergarten. An accredited nonpublic school must meet the
18requirements of this subsection only if the nonpublic school
19offers a kindergarten program. For purposes of this section,
20“age-appropriate” and “research-based” mean the same as defined
21in section 279.50.
223. The following areas shall be taught in grades one through
23six: English-language arts, social studies, mathematics,
24science, health, age-appropriate and research-based human
25growth and development, physical education, traffic safety,
26music, and visual art. Commencing with the school year
27beginning July 1, 2024, the social studies curriculum shall
28include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related
29to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities
30and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with
31Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.,
32and the history of persons with disabilities in this state.
33 Computer science instruction incorporating the standards
34established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph
35“a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade
-1-1level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023.
2The health curriculum shall include the characteristics of
3communicable diseases including acquired immune deficiency
4syndrome. The state board as part of accreditation standards
5shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the
6elementary program.
74. The following shall be taught in grades seven and
8eight: English-language arts; social studies; mathematics;
9science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human
10growth and development; career exploration and development;
11physical education; music; and visual art. Commencing with
12the school year beginning July 1, 2024, the social studies
13curriculum shall include age-appropriate and research-based
14instruction related to persons with disabilities, including
15physical disabilities and visual and hearing impairment, the
16federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, codified at
1742 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., and the history of persons with
18disabilities in this state. Computer science instruction
19incorporating the standards established under section 256.7,
20subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), shall be
21offered in at least one grade level commencing with the
22school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration
23and development shall be designed so that students are
24appropriately prepared to create an individual career
25and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate
26foundational career and technical education concepts aligned
27with the six career and technical education service areas
28as defined in subsection 5, paragraph “h”, and incorporate
29relevant twenty-first century skills. The health curriculum
30shall include age-appropriate and research-based information
31regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases,
32including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent
33HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board
34as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum
35definitions for implementing the program in grades seven
-2-1and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the
2teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic
3schools. For purposes of this section, “age-appropriate”,
4 “HPV”, and “research-based” mean means the same as defined in
5section 279.50.
6 Sec. 2. Section 280.28, subsection 4, Code 2023, is amended
7to read as follows:
84. Programs encouraged Antiharassment and antibullying
9programs. The board of directors of a school district and the
10authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school are
11encouraged to shall establish programs designed to eliminate
12harassment and bullying in schools. To the extent that
13funds are available for these purposes, school districts and
14accredited nonpublic schools shall do the following:
15a. Provide training on antiharassment and antibullying
16policies to school employees and volunteers who have
17significant contact with students.
18b. Develop a process to provide school employees,
19volunteers, and students with the skills and knowledge to help
20reduce incidents of harassment and bullying. Such a process
21shall include annual education related to the effects of
22bullying, including the effects of bullying through electronic
23communication and social media.
24 Sec. 3. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — DEVELOPMENT OF
25CURRICULUM RELATED TO DISABILITY AWARENESS.
261. On or before July 1, 2024, the state board of education
27shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A that establish
28standards for the instruction related to persons with
29disabilities and the history of persons with disabilities
30described in section 256.11, subsections 2, 3, and 4, as
31amended by this Act.
322. The department shall consult with all of the following
33persons when developing the standards described in subsection
341:
35a. Parents of students who are enrolled in school districts,
-3-1accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
2b. Teachers and administrators who are employed by school
3districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
4EXPLANATION
5The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
6the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
7This bill relates to education, including requiring
8instruction related to persons with disabilities in school
9districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter
10schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying the
11responsibilities of the state board of education, and modifying
12provisions related to school district and accredited nonpublic
13school programs that are designed to eliminate harassment and
14bullying.
15The bill requires that, commencing with the school year
16beginning July 1, 2024, the kindergarten program in school
17districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools,
18and the social studies curriculum provided to students
19enrolled in grades one through eight in school districts,
20accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, shall
21include age-appropriate and research-based instruction related
22to persons with disabilities, including physical disabilities
23and visual and hearing impairment, the federal Americans with
24Disabilities Act of 1990, and the history of persons with
25disabilities in this state. The bill requires the state board
26of education to adopt rules that establish standards for this
27instruction in consultation with the parents of students
28enrolled in schools as well as teachers and administrators.
29Current law encourages the board of directors of a school
30district and the authorities in charge of each accredited
31nonpublic school to establish programs designed to eliminate
32harassment and bullying in schools. The bill modifies this
33provision to require the establishment of such programs.
34Current law also requires school districts and accredited
35nonpublic schools to develop a process to provide school
-4-1employees, volunteers, and students with the skills and
2knowledge to help reduce incidents of harassment and bullying.
3The bill requires this process to include annual education
4related to the effects of bullying, including the effects of
5bullying through electronic communication and social media.
-5-jda/jh