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House File 597 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to education, including modifying provisions
2related to school district library programs and the
3educational program provided to students enrolled in
4school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter
5schools.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.11, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
22023, is amended to read as follows:
3The state board shall adopt rules under chapter 17A and
4a procedure for accrediting all public and nonpublic schools
5in Iowa offering instruction at any or all levels from the
6prekindergarten level through grade twelve. The rules of
7the state board shall require that a an age-appropriate,
8 multicultural, and gender-fair approach is used by schools and
9school districts. The educational program shall be taught from
10a an age-appropriate, multicultural, and gender-fair approach.
11Global perspectives shall be incorporated into all levels of
12the educational program. The rules adopted by the state board
13pursuant to section 256.17, Code Supplement 1987, to establish
14new standards shall satisfy the requirements of this section to
15adopt rules to implement the educational program contained in
16this section. The educational program shall be as follows:
17 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsections 4 and 9, Code 2023, are
18amended to read as follows:
194. The following shall be taught in grades seven and
20eight: English-language arts; social studies; mathematics;
21science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human
22growth and development; career exploration and development;
23physical education; music; and visual art. Computer science
24instruction incorporating the standards established under
25section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4),
26shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with
27the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration
28and development shall be designed so that students are
29appropriately prepared to create an individual career
30and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate
31foundational career and technical education concepts aligned
32with the six career and technical education service areas
33as defined in subsection 5, paragraph “h”, and incorporate
34relevant twenty-first century skills. The health curriculum
35shall include age-appropriate and research-based information
-1-1regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases,
2including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent
3HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board
4as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum
5definitions for implementing the program in grades seven
6and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the
7teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic
8schools. For purposes of this section,“age-appropriate”,
9“HPV”, and “research-based” mean the same as defined in section
10279.50.
119. a. Beginning July 1, 2006, each school district shall
12have a qualified teacher librarian who shall be licensed by
13the board of educational examiners under chapter 272. Each
14school district shall establish a kindergarten through grade
15twelve library program that is consistent with the educational
16standards established in this section, contains only
17age-appropriate materials, and supports the student achievement
18goals of the total school curriculum.
19b. The state board shall establish in rule a definition
20of and standards for an articulated sequential kindergarten
21through grade twelve media program.
22c. A school district that entered into a contract with an
23individual for employment as a media specialist or librarian
24prior to June 1, 2006, shall be considered to be in compliance
25with this subsection until June 30, 2011, if the individual
26is making annual progress toward meeting the requirements
27for a teacher librarian endorsement issued by the board of
28educational examiners under chapter 272. A school district
29that entered into a contract with an individual for employment
30as a media specialist or librarian who holds at least a
31master’s degree in library and information studies shall be
32considered to be in compliance with this subsection until the
33individual leaves the employ of the school district.
34 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
35following new subsection:
-2-1 NEW SUBSECTION. 19. For purposes of this section:
2a. (1) “Age-appropriate” means topics, messages, and
3teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups
4of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive,
5emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age
6group. “Age-appropriate” does not include any material with
7descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act as defined in
8section 702.17 or section 728.1.
9(2) Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), for purposes of the
10human growth and development curriculum, “age-appropriate” means
11the same as defined in section 279.50.
12b. “HPV” means the same as defined in section 279.50.
13c. “Research-based” means the same as defined in section
14279.50.
15EXPLANATION
16The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
17the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
18This bill relates to education, including modifying
19provisions related to school district library programs and the
20educational program provided to students enrolled in school
21districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
22Code section 256.11 (educational standards) requires that
23the educational program adopted by the state board of education
24for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and
25charter schools be taught from a multicultural and gender-fair
26approach. The bill provides that the educational program shall
27also be taught from an age-appropriate approach. The bill
28defines “age-appropriate” in this context as topics, messages,
29and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups
30of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive,
31emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age
32group. Additionally, the bill provides that “age-appropriate”
33does not include any material with descriptions or visual
34depictions of a sex act. The bill does not affect the
35definition of “age-appropriate” in the context of the human
-3-1growth and development curriculum.
2The bill requires each school district to establish
3a kindergarten through grade 12 library program that
4is consistent with Code section 256.11, contains only
5age-appropriate materials, and supports the student achievement
6goals of the total school curriculum.
-4-jda/jh
2related to school district library programs and the
3educational program provided to students enrolled in
4school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter
5schools.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256.11, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
22023, is amended to read as follows:
3The state board shall adopt rules under chapter 17A and
4a procedure for accrediting all public and nonpublic schools
5in Iowa offering instruction at any or all levels from the
6prekindergarten level through grade twelve. The rules of
7the state board shall require that a an age-appropriate,
8 multicultural, and gender-fair approach is used by schools and
9school districts. The educational program shall be taught from
10a an age-appropriate, multicultural, and gender-fair approach.
11Global perspectives shall be incorporated into all levels of
12the educational program. The rules adopted by the state board
13pursuant to section 256.17, Code Supplement 1987, to establish
14new standards shall satisfy the requirements of this section to
15adopt rules to implement the educational program contained in
16this section. The educational program shall be as follows:
17 Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsections 4 and 9, Code 2023, are
18amended to read as follows:
194. The following shall be taught in grades seven and
20eight: English-language arts; social studies; mathematics;
21science; health; age-appropriate and research-based human
22growth and development; career exploration and development;
23physical education; music; and visual art. Computer science
24instruction incorporating the standards established under
25section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4),
26shall be offered in at least one grade level commencing with
27the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career exploration
28and development shall be designed so that students are
29appropriately prepared to create an individual career
30and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate
31foundational career and technical education concepts aligned
32with the six career and technical education service areas
33as defined in subsection 5, paragraph “h”, and incorporate
34relevant twenty-first century skills. The health curriculum
35shall include age-appropriate and research-based information
-1-1regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases,
2including HPV and the availability of a vaccine to prevent
3HPV, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The state board
4as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum
5definitions for implementing the program in grades seven
6and eight. However, this subsection shall not apply to the
7teaching of career exploration and development in nonpublic
8schools. For purposes of this section,“age-appropriate”,
9“HPV”, and “research-based” mean the same as defined in section
10279.50.
119. a. Beginning July 1, 2006, each school district shall
12have a qualified teacher librarian who shall be licensed by
13the board of educational examiners under chapter 272. Each
14school district shall establish a kindergarten through grade
15twelve library program that is consistent with the educational
16standards established in this section, contains only
17age-appropriate materials, and supports the student achievement
18goals of the total school curriculum.
19b. The state board shall establish in rule a definition
20of and standards for an articulated sequential kindergarten
21through grade twelve media program.
22c. A school district that entered into a contract with an
23individual for employment as a media specialist or librarian
24prior to June 1, 2006, shall be considered to be in compliance
25with this subsection until June 30, 2011, if the individual
26is making annual progress toward meeting the requirements
27for a teacher librarian endorsement issued by the board of
28educational examiners under chapter 272. A school district
29that entered into a contract with an individual for employment
30as a media specialist or librarian who holds at least a
31master’s degree in library and information studies shall be
32considered to be in compliance with this subsection until the
33individual leaves the employ of the school district.
34 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
35following new subsection:
-2-1 NEW SUBSECTION. 19. For purposes of this section:
2a. (1) “Age-appropriate” means topics, messages, and
3teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups
4of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive,
5emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age
6group. “Age-appropriate” does not include any material with
7descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act as defined in
8section 702.17 or section 728.1.
9(2) Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), for purposes of the
10human growth and development curriculum, “age-appropriate” means
11the same as defined in section 279.50.
12b. “HPV” means the same as defined in section 279.50.
13c. “Research-based” means the same as defined in section
14279.50.
15EXPLANATION
16The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
17the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
18This bill relates to education, including modifying
19provisions related to school district library programs and the
20educational program provided to students enrolled in school
21districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
22Code section 256.11 (educational standards) requires that
23the educational program adopted by the state board of education
24for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and
25charter schools be taught from a multicultural and gender-fair
26approach. The bill provides that the educational program shall
27also be taught from an age-appropriate approach. The bill
28defines “age-appropriate” in this context as topics, messages,
29and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups
30of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive,
31emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age
32group. Additionally, the bill provides that “age-appropriate”
33does not include any material with descriptions or visual
34depictions of a sex act. The bill does not affect the
35definition of “age-appropriate” in the context of the human
-3-1growth and development curriculum.
2The bill requires each school district to establish
3a kindergarten through grade 12 library program that
4is consistent with Code section 256.11, contains only
5age-appropriate materials, and supports the student achievement
6goals of the total school curriculum.
-4-jda/jh