Bill Text: IA HF454 | 2023-2024 | 90th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to administrators employed by school districts, including requiring administrators to provide instruction to students and modifying the responsibilities of the board of educational examiners.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-01 - Subcommittee recommends passage. Vote Total: 2-1. [HF454 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2023-HF454-Introduced.html

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House File 454 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 454
BY HENDERSON , THOMSON , and
DETERMANN
A BILL FOR
An Act relating to administrators employed by school districts,
including requiring administrators to provide instruction to
students and modifying the responsibilities of the board of
educational examiners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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H.F. 454
Section 1. Section 272.2, subsection 14, Code 2023, is
amended by adding the following new paragraph:
NEW PARAGRAPH . f. The board may suspend the license of an
administrator upon the board’s finding by a preponderance of
the evidence that the administrator violated section 279.77.
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 279.77 Administrators —— teaching
requirements.
1. Each school district containing two or more high schools,
three or more middle schools, or four or more elementary
schools shall do all of the following:
a. Require all administrators who are employed by the
school district as a superintendent, assistant superintendent,
or school district department head to teach at least one
one-semester class, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at
least once every three years.
b. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as a high school principal or middle school principal
to teach at least three one-semester classes, or the trimester
or quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
c. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an elementary school principal to teach at least
two subject areas in an elementary school class for at least
one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least
once every three years.
d. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as a high school or middle school assistant principal,
director of athletics, dean of students, or any similar
position to teach at least three one-semester classes, or the
trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two years.
e. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an elementary school assistant principal, dean of
students, or any similar position to teach at least two subject
areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester,
or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two
years.
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H.F. 454
2. Each school district containing one high school, at
least one but not more than two middle schools, or at least one
but not more than three elementary schools shall do all of the
following:
a. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as a superintendent or assistant superintendent to
teach at least one one-semester class, or the trimester or
quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
b. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an administrator in a high school or middle school,
and who are not described in paragraph “a” , “c” , “d” , or “e” , to
teach at least three one-semester classes, or the trimester or
quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
c. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an administrator in an elementary school, and who
are not described in paragraph “a” , “b” , “d” , or “e” , to teach
at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at
least one semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at
least once every three years.
d. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as a high school or middle school assistant principal,
director of athletics, dean of students, or any similar
position to teach at least two one-semester classes, or the
trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two years.
e. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an elementary school assistant principal, dean of
students, or any similar position to teach at least two subject
areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester,
or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once every two
years.
3. Each school district containing one middle school, one
elementary school, or no high schools shall do all of the
following:
a. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as a superintendent or assistant superintendent to
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H.F. 454
teach at least one one-semester class, or the trimester or
quarter equivalent, at least once every three years.
b. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an administrator in a high school or middle school,
and who are not described in paragraph “a” or “c” , to teach at
least three one-semester classes, or the trimester or quarter
equivalent, at least once every three years.
c. Require all administrators who are employed by the school
district as an administrator in an elementary school, and who
are not described in paragraph “a” or “b” , to teach at least two
subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one
semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, at least once
every three years.
4. If more than one of subsections 1, 2, and 3 apply
to a school district, the school district shall meet the
requirements of subsection 2 in order to comply with this
section.
5. The superintendent of each school district shall ensure
that administrators employed by the school district comply
with this section. The superintendent of each school district
shall report to the department of education on an annual basis
regarding the school district’s compliance with this section.
6. If the board of directors of a school district finds
that an administrator employed by the school district failed
to comply with this section, the administrator shall be
subject to a hearing conducted by the board of educational
examiners pursuant to section 272.2, subsection 14, which may
result in disciplinary action, including the suspension of the
administrator’s license.
7. An administrator providing instruction pursuant to
this section shall hold a valid license issued by the board
of educational examiners with an endorsement for the type of
instruction provided by the administrator.
8. For purposes of this section, “administrator” means the
same as defined in section 272.1.
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H.F. 454
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
This bill relates to administrators employed by school
districts, including requiring administrators to provide
instruction to students and modifying the responsibilities of
the board of educational examiners (BOEE).
The bill provides that school districts containing two or
more high schools, three or more middle schools, or four or
more elementary schools shall require certain administrators
to provide instruction to students. The bill requires that
all administrators employed as superintendents, assistant
superintendents, or school district department heads teach at
least one one-semester class at least once every three years.
The bill also requires that all administrators employed as
high school principals or middle school principals teach at
least three one-semester classes at least once every three
years. Additionally, the bill requires that all administrators
employed as elementary school principals teach at least two
subject areas in an elementary school class for at least one
semester at least once every three years. The bill also
requires that all administrators employed as high school or
middle school assistant principals, directors of athletics,
deans of students, or any similar positions teach at least
three one-semester classes at least once every two years.
Additionally, the bill requires that all administrators
employed as elementary school assistant principals, deans of
students, or any similar positions teach at least two subject
areas in an elementary school class for at least one semester
at least once every two years.
The bill provides that school districts containing one high
school, at least one but not more than two middle schools,
or at least one but not more than three elementary schools
shall require certain administrators to provide instruction
to students. The bill requires that all administrators
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H.F. 454
employed as superintendents or assistant superintendents teach
at least one one-semester class at least once every three
years. Additionally, the bill requires that all administrators
employed as high school or middle school assistant principals,
directors of athletics, deans of students, or any similar
positions teach at least two one-semester classes at least
once every two years. The bill also requires that all
administrators employed as elementary school assistant
principals, deans of students, or any similar positions teach
at least two subject areas in an elementary school class
for at least one semester at least once every two years.
Additionally, the bill requires other administrators in a high
school or middle school to teach at least three one-semester
classes at least once every three years. The bill also
requires other administrators in an elementary school to teach
at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at
least one semester at least once every three years. The bill
applies these same requirements to each school district that
fits into two or more of the categories of school districts
described in the bill.
The bill provides that school districts containing one
middle school, one elementary school, or no high schools shall
require certain administrators to provide instruction to
students. The bill requires that all administrators employed
as superintendents or assistant superintendents teach at
least one one-semester class at least once every three years.
Additionally, the bill requires other administrators in a high
school or middle school to teach at least three one-semester
classes at least once every three years. The bill also
requires other administrators in an elementary school to teach
at least two subject areas in an elementary school class for at
least one semester at least once every three years.
The bill provides that the superintendent of each school
district shall ensure that administrators employed by the
school district comply with the bill’s provisions. The bill
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H.F. 454
requires the superintendent to report to the department of
education on an annual basis regarding the school district’s
compliance with the bill’s provisions.
The bill provides that if the board of directors of a school
district finds that an administrator failed to comply with the
bill’s provisions, the administrator shall be subject to a
hearing conducted by the BOEE that may result in disciplinary
action, including the suspension of the administrator’s
license.
The bill requires that an administrator providing
instruction pursuant to the bill’s provisions hold a valid
license issued by the BOEE with an endorsement for the type of
instruction provided by the administrator.
The bill defines “administrator” as a person who is licensed
to coordinate, supervise, or direct an educational program or
the activities of other practitioners.
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