Bill Text: IA HF2390 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to terminology changes in education-related Iowa Code references to foreign languages. (Formerly HSB 561.) Effective 7-1-18.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Passed) 2018-04-04 - Signed by Governor. H.J. 753. [HF2390 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2017-HF2390-Enrolled.html

---

House File 2390 - Enrolled




                              HOUSE FILE       
                              BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

                              (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 561)
 \5
                                   A BILL FOR
 \1
                                        House File 2390

                             AN ACT
 RELATING TO TERMINOLOGY CHANGES IN EDUCATION=RELATED
    IOWA CODE REFERENCES TO FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    Section 1.  Section 49.13, subsection 6, paragraph a,
 subparagraph (3), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
    (3)  Receive credit in at least four subjects, each of
 one period or hour, or the equivalent thereof, at all times.
 The eligible subjects are language arts, social studies,
 mathematics, science, health, physical education, fine arts,
 foreign world language, and career and technical education.
 Coursework taken as a postsecondary enrollment option for
 which a school district or accredited nonpublic school grants
 academic credit toward high school graduation shall be used
 in determining eligibility. A student shall not be denied
 eligibility if the student's school program deviates from the
 traditional two=semester school year. Each student wishing
 to participate under this subsection shall be passing all
 coursework for which credit is given and shall be making
 adequate progress toward graduation requirements at the end of
 each grading period. At the end of a grading period that is the
 final grading period in a school year, a student who receives
 a failing grade in any course for which credit is awarded is
 ineligible to participate under this subsection. A student who
 is eligible at the close of a semester is academically eligible
 to participate under this subsection until the beginning of
 the subsequent semester. A student with a disability who
 has an individualized education program shall not be denied
 eligibility to participate under this subsection on the basis
 of scholarship if the student is making adequate progress,
 as determined by school officials, towards the goals and
 objectives of the student's individualized education program.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph f, Code
 2018, is amended to read as follows:
    f.  Four sequential units of one foreign world language other
 than which may include American sign language. Provision of
 instruction in American sign language shall be in addition to
 and not in lieu of provision of instruction in other foreign
 languages. The department may waive the third and fourth years
 of the foreign world language requirement on an annual basis
 upon the request of the board of directors of a school district
 or the authorities in charge of a nonpublic school if the
 board or authorities are able to prove that a licensed teacher
 was employed and assigned a schedule that would have allowed
 students to enroll in a foreign world language class, the
 foreign world language class was properly scheduled, students
 were aware that a foreign world language class was scheduled,
 and no students enrolled in the class.
    Sec. 3.  Section 280.4, subsection 1, Code 2018, is amended
 to read as follows:
    1.  The medium of instruction in all secular subjects taught
 in both public and nonpublic schools shall be the English
 language, except when the use of a foreign world language is
 deemed appropriate in the teaching of any subject or when the
 student is limited English proficient. When the student is
 limited English proficient, both public and nonpublic schools
 shall provide special instruction, which shall include but
 need not be limited to either instruction in English as a
 second language or transitional bilingual instruction until
 the student is fully English proficient or demonstrates a
 functional ability to speak, read, write, and understand the
 English language. As used in this section, "limited English
 proficient" means a student's language background is in a
 language other than English, and the student's proficiency
 in English is such that the probability of the student's
 academic success in an English=only classroom is below that
 of an academically successful peer with an English language
 background. "Fully English proficient" means a student who is
 able to read, understand, write, and speak the English language
 and to use English to ask questions, to understand teachers
 and reading materials, to test ideas, and to challenge what is
 being asked in the classroom.


                                                                                            LINDA UPMEYER


                                                                                            CHARLES SCHNEIDE


                                                                                            CARMINE BOAL


                                                                                            KIM REYNOLDS

                             -1-