Senate File 245 - Enrolled PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE FILE 245 1 2 1 3 AN ACT 1 4 RELATING TO A SECONDARY SCHOOL CORE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING 1 5 REQUIRING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DETERMINE A MODEL 1 6 CORE CURRICULUM AND SET A STATEWIDE CORE CURRICULUM COMPLETION 1 7 RATE GOAL, REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP A CORE 1 8 CURRICULUM PLAN FOR EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AND TO REPORT 1 9 STUDENT CORE CURRICULUM PROGRESS ANNUALLY, REQUIRING SCHOOL 1 10 DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS TO REPORT CORE CURRICULUM COMPLETION 1 11 PERCENTAGES ANNUALLY, AND PROVIDING FOR THE COORDINATION OF 1 12 AN EDUCATIONAL DATA DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP. 1 13 1 14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 1 15 1 16 Section 1. Section 256.7, Code 2005, is amended by adding 1 17 the following new subsection: 1 18 NEW SUBSECTION. 26. Develop a model core curriculum, 1 19 taking into consideration the recommendations of the American 1 20 college testing program, inc. The state board shall set a 1 21 goal of increasing the number of students graduating from 1 22 secondary school who have successfully completed a core 1 23 curriculum, by July 1, 2009, to eighty percent of all students 1 24 graduating from secondary schools in this state except that 1 25 the goal shall be exclusive of students who have special or 1 26 alternative means for satisfying graduation requirements under 1 27 individualized educational plans developed for the students. 1 28 For purposes of this section, "core curriculum" means the 1 29 minimum number of specific high school courses that a student 1 30 needs to take in preparation for advanced career and 1 31 vocational purposes. 1 32 Sec. 2. Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph c, Code 1 33 2005, is amended to read as follows: 1 34 c. A requirement that all school districts and accredited 1 35 nonpublic schools annually report to the department and the 2 1 local community the district=wide progress made in attaining 2 2 student achievement goals on the academic and other core 2 3 indicators and the district=wide progress made in attaining 2 4 locally established student learning goals. The school 2 5 districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall demonstrate 2 6 the use of multiple assessment measures in determining student 2 7 achievement levels. The school districts and accredited 2 8 nonpublic schools shall also report the number of students who 2 9 enter ninth grade but do not graduate from the school or 2 10 school district;andthe number of students who are tested and 2 11 the percentage of students who are so tested annually; and the 2 12 percentage of students who graduated during the prior school 2 13 year and who completed a core curriculum. The board shall 2 14 develop and adopt uniform definitions consistent with the 2 15 federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107=110 2 16 and any federal regulations adopted pursuant to the federal 2 17 Act. The school districts and accredited nonpublic schools 2 18 may report on other locally determined factors influencing 2 19 student achievement. The school districts and accredited 2 20 nonpublic schools shall also report to the local community 2 21 their results by individual attendance center. 2 22 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 279.60 STUDENT PLAN FOR PROGRESS 2 23 TOWARD UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS == REPORT. 2 24 1. For the school year beginning July 1, 2006, and each 2 25 succeeding school year, the board of directors of each school 2 26 district shall cooperate with each student enrolled in grade 2 27 eight to develop for the student a core curriculum plan to 2 28 guide the student toward the goal of successfully completing, 2 29 at a minimum, the model core curriculum developed by the state 2 30 board of education pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 26, 2 31 by the time the student graduates from high school. 2 32 2. For the school year beginning July 1, 2006, and each 2 33 succeeding school year, the board of directors of each school 2 34 district shall report annually to each student enrolled in 2 35 grades nine through twelve in the school district, and to each 3 1 student's parent or guardian, the student's progress toward 3 2 meeting the goal of successfully completing the model core 3 3 curriculum developed by the state board of education pursuant 3 4 to section 256.7, subsection 26. 3 5 Sec. 4. EDUCATIONAL DATA DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP. 3 6 1. FINDINGS. The general assembly finds that individuals 3 7 whose educational endeavors end without the receipt of a high 3 8 school diploma have a much higher rate of unemployment and are 3 9 much more likely to need welfare or other forms of government 3 10 assistance. The economic implications of students' failure to 3 11 earn at a minimum a high school diploma are staggering, and 3 12 increasingly so as our economy becomes more dependent on the 3 13 service and information industries. To understand the current 3 14 state of educational achievement and future likelihood of 3 15 success for Iowa's students, it is vital that state and local 3 16 school district data on graduation rates be collectively 3 17 understood and accurate. 3 18 2. The department of education shall coordinate a working 3 19 group to develop clear, accurate, meaningful, and unambiguous 3 20 definitions for the key data areas relating to, but not 3 21 limited to, attrition, completion, and attendance rates, which 3 22 school districts shall use in compiling state and local report 3 23 cards. The working group shall determine the baseline data 3 24 necessary to report on these terms and shall develop a 3 25 strategy to contact school districts to ensure that the school 3 26 districts are applying the definitions and consistently 3 27 submitting data in accordance with the definitions. The 3 28 working group shall consist of the following members: 3 29 a. Two senators appointed by the president of the senate 3 30 after consultation with the majority leader and the minority 3 31 leader of the senate. 3 32 b. Two representatives appointed by the speaker of the 3 33 house after consultation with the minority leader of the 3 34 house. 3 35 c. Members representing minority populations. 4 1 d. A member representing the largest school district in 4 2 Iowa. 4 3 e. A member representing a school district with an 4 4 enrollment of more than one thousand one hundred ninety=nine 4 5 students but not more than four thousand seven hundred fifty 4 6 students. 4 7 f. A member representing a school district with an 4 8 enrollment of one thousand one hundred ninety=nine students or 4 9 less. 4 10 g. Other members representing the education community as 4 11 needed. 4 12 3. The working group shall submit its findings and 4 13 recommendations to the department of education and the 4 14 chairpersons and members of the committees on education in the 4 15 senate and the house of representatives not later than January 4 16 15, 2006. 4 17 4 18 4 19 4 20 JOHN P. KIBBIE 4 21 President of the Senate 4 22 4 23 4 24 4 25 CHRISTOPHER C. RANTS 4 26 Speaker of the House 4 27 4 28 I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and 4 29 is known as Senate File 245, Eighty=first General Assembly. 4 30 4 31 4 32 4 33 MICHAEL E. MARSHALL 4 34 Secretary of the Senate 4 35 Approved , 2005 5 1 5 2 5 3 5 4 THOMAS J. VILSACK 5 5 Governor