Bill Text: IA HF582 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to Iowa academic standards, assessments, and curricula relating to student academic progress, and to the collection of and access to student data. (Formerly HSB 173)

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-03 - Referred to Education. H.J. 753. [HF582 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2015-HF582-Introduced.html

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House File 582 - Introduced




                                 HOUSE FILE       
                                 BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

                                 (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 173)

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to Iowa academic standards, assessments, and
  2    curricula relating to student academic progress, and to the
  3    collection of and access to student data.
  4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    TLSB 1539HV (5) 86
    kh/rj

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph b,
  1  2 subparagraphs (2) and (3), Code 2015, are amended to read as
  1  3 follows:
  1  4    (2)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), for the school year
  1  5 beginning July 1, 2016, and each succeeding school year, the
  1  6 rules shall provide that all students enrolled in school
  1  7 districts in grades three through eleven shall be administered
  1  8 an assessment during the last quarter of the school year that
  1  9 at a minimum assesses the core academic indicators identified
  1 10 in this paragraph "b"; is aligned with the Iowa common core
  1 11  academic standards in both content and rigor; accurately
  1 12 describes student achievement and growth for purposes of the
  1 13 school, the school district, and state accountability systems;
  1 14 and provides valid, reliable, and fair measures of student
  1 15 progress toward college or career readiness.
  1 16    (3)  The director shall establish an assessment task
  1 17 force to review and make recommendations for a statewide
  1 18 assessment of student progress on the core academic indicators
  1 19 identified pursuant to this paragraph "b". The task force
  1 20 shall recommend a statewide assessment that is aligned to the
  1 21 Iowa common core academic standards and is, at a minimum,
  1 22 valid, reliable, tested, and piloted in Iowa. In addition,
  1 23 in developing recommendations, the task force shall consider
  1 24 the costs to school districts and the state in providing and
  1 25 administering such an assessment and the technical support
  1 26 necessary to implement the assessment. The task force shall
  1 27 submit its recommendations in a report to the director, the
  1 28 state board, and the general assembly by January 1, 2015.
  1 29 The task force shall assist with the final development and
  1 30 implementation of the assessment administered pursuant to
  1 31 subparagraph (2). The task force members shall include but
  1 32 not be limited to teachers, school administrators, business
  1 33 leaders, representatives of state agencies, and members of the
  1 34 general public. This subparagraph is repealed July 1, 2020.
  1 35    Sec. 2.  Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph b, Code
  2  1 2015, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
  2  2    NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (03)  In addition to administering
  2  3 any  assessment of student progress required pursuant to
  2  4 this subsection, a school district may administer additional
  2  5 assessments to measure student academic progress.  The results
  2  6 of the additional assessment may be reported to the department
  2  7 and the local community in accordance with paragraph "c", but
  2  8 the additional assessments shall not replace any district=wide
  2  9 assessment required pursuant to this subsection.
  2 10    Sec. 3.  Section 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph c, Code
  2 11 2015, is amended to read as follows:
  2 12    c.  A requirement that all school districts and accredited
  2 13 nonpublic schools annually report to the department and the
  2 14 local community the district=wide progress made in attaining
  2 15 student achievement goals on the academic and other core
  2 16 indicators and the district=wide progress made in attaining
  2 17 locally established student learning goals. The school
  2 18 districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall demonstrate
  2 19 the use of multiple assessment measures in determining student
  2 20 achievement levels. The school districts and accredited
  2 21 nonpublic schools shall also report the number of students
  2 22 who graduate; the number of students who drop out of school;
  2 23 the number of students who are tested and the percentage of
  2 24 students who are so tested annually; and the percentage of
  2 25 students who graduated during the prior school year and who
  2 26 completed a core curriculum the Iowa academic standards. The
  2 27 board shall develop and adopt uniform definitions consistent
  2 28 with the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. No.
  2 29 107=110 and any federal regulations adopted pursuant to the
  2 30 federal Act. The school districts and accredited nonpublic
  2 31 schools may report on other locally determined factors
  2 32 influencing student achievement. The school districts and
  2 33 accredited nonpublic schools shall also report to the local
  2 34 community their results by individual attendance center.
  2 35    Sec. 4.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph a,
  3  1 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as
  3  2 follows:
  3  3    Adopt rules that establish a core curriculum and the Iowa
  3  4 academic standards.  The state board shall also adopt high
  3  5 school graduation requirements for all students in school
  3  6 districts and accredited nonpublic schools that include at a
  3  7 minimum satisfactory completion of four years of English and
  3  8 language arts, three years of mathematics, three years of
  3  9 science, and three years of social studies.
  3 10    Sec. 5.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph a,
  3 11 subparagraph (3), Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
  3 12    (3)  The rules establishing a core curriculum the Iowa
  3 13 academic standards shall address the core content assessment
  3 14  standards in subsection 28 and the skills and knowledge
  3 15 students need to be successful in the twenty=first century.
  3 16 The core curriculum Iowa academic standards shall include
  3 17 social studies and twenty=first century learning skills which
  3 18 include but are not limited to civic literacy, health literacy,
  3 19 technology literacy, financial literacy, and employability
  3 20 skills; and shall address the curricular needs of students in
  3 21 kindergarten through grade twelve in those areas. The state
  3 22 board shall further define the twenty=first century learning
  3 23 skills components by rule.
  3 24    Sec. 6.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph b, Code
  3 25 2015, is amended by striking the paragraph.
  3 26    Sec. 7.  Section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph c, Code
  3 27 2015, is amended to read as follows:
  3 28    c.  The Iowa academic standards shall not dictate curriculum
  3 29 or prescribe a particular method of instruction to school
  3 30 districts and accredited nonpublic schools.  Neither the state
  3 31 board nor the department shall require school districts or
  3 32 accredited nonpublic schools to adopt a specific textbook,
  3 33 textbook series, or specific instructional methodology,
  3 34 or acquire specific textbooks, curriculum materials, or
  3 35 educational products from a specific vendor in order to meet
  4  1 the core curriculum requirements Iowa academic standards of
  4  2 this subsection or the core content assessment standards
  4  3 adopted pursuant to subsection 28.  It is the intent of
  4  4 the general assembly that selection and implementation of
  4  5 curriculum, textbooks, educational materials, and instructional
  4  6 methods remain with school districts and accredited nonpublic
  4  7 schools and not with the state or federal government.
  4  8    Sec. 8.  Section 256.7, subsection 28, Code 2015, is amended
  4  9 to read as follows:
  4 10    28.  Adopt a set of core content assessment standards
  4 11 applicable to all students in kindergarten through grade twelve
  4 12 in every school district and accredited nonpublic school.
  4 13 For purposes of this subsection, "core content "assessment
  4 14  standards" includes reading, mathematics, and science. The core
  4 15 content assessment standards shall be identical to the core
  4 16 content assessment standards included in Iowa's approved 2006
  4 17 standards and assessment system under Tit. I of the federal
  4 18 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. {6301
  4 19 et seq., as amended by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of
  4 20 2001, Pub. L. No. 107=110. School districts and accredited
  4 21 nonpublic schools shall include, at a minimum, the core content
  4 22  assessment standards adopted pursuant to this subsection in any
  4 23 set of locally developed content standards. School districts
  4 24 and accredited nonpublic schools are strongly encouraged to set
  4 25 higher expectations in local standards. As changes in federal
  4 26 law or regulation occur, the state board is authorized to amend
  4 27 the core content assessment standards as appropriate.
  4 28    Sec. 9.  Section 256.9, subsection 53, paragraph a, Code
  4 29 2015, is amended to read as follows:
  4 30    a.  Develop and distribute, in collaboration with the area
  4 31 education agencies, core curriculum Iowa academic standards
  4 32  technical assistance and implementation strategies that school
  4 33 districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall may utilize,
  4 34 including but not limited to the development and delivery
  4 35 of formative and end=of=course model assessments classroom
  5  1 teachers may use to measure student progress on the core
  5  2 curriculum Iowa academic standards adopted pursuant to section
  5  3 256.7, subsection 26. The department shall, in collaboration
  5  4 with the advisory group convened in accordance with paragraph
  5  5 "b" and educational assessment providers, identify and make
  5  6 available to school districts end=of=course and additional
  5  7 model end=of=course and additional assessments to align with
  5  8 the expectations included in the Iowa core curriculum academic
  5  9 standards. The model assessments shall be suitable to meet the
  5 10 multiple assessment measures requirement specified in section
  5 11 256.7, subsection 21, paragraph "c".
  5 12    Sec. 10.  Section 256.9, subsection 54, Code 2015, is amended
  5 13 to read as follows:
  5 14    54.a.  Maintain an internet site where persons may access
  5 15 up=to=date information regarding the Iowa academic standards
  5 16 and the assessment standards adopted pursuant to section
  5 17 256.7. Periodically, beginning January 1, 2016, the state
  5 18 board shall review, accept public comment regarding, and revise
  5 19 as necessary, the Iowa academic standards and the assessment
  5 20 standards.
  5 21    b.  Submit an annual report to the general assembly by
  5 22 January 1 15 regarding activities, findings, and student
  5 23 progress under the core curriculum established Iowa academic
  5 24 standards and the assessment standards adopted pursuant to
  5 25 section 256.7, subsection 26. The annual report shall include
  5 26 the state board's department's findings and recommendations,
  5 27 including but not limited to recommendations relating to any
  5 28 proposal to amend or modify the Iowa academic standards and the
  5 29 assessment standards adopted by the state board.  A revision
  5 30 or modification to the Iowa academic standards after January
  5 31 1, 2015, and to the assessment standards adopted by the state
  5 32 board shall not be implemented by the director until the annual
  5 33 report has been submitted to the general assembly while the
  5 34 general assembly is in session or until the director appears
  5 35 before the standing committees of the senate and house of
  6  1 representatives having jurisdiction over education to report on
  6  2 the revision or modification, whichever occurs first.
  6  3    Sec. 11.  NEW SECTION.  256.34  Student data collection ====
  6  4 policies and plans.
  6  5    1.  The department shall establish data collection, data
  6  6 privacy, and data sharing policies for data relating to
  6  7 students collected by the department, school districts, and
  6  8 accredited nonpublic schools.
  6  9    2.  The department shall annually conduct an inventory of and
  6 10 categorize the data collected on students and the purposes for
  6 11 which the data is collected, and shall report to the general
  6 12 assembly by November 1, 2015, and by November 1 each succeeding
  6 13 year, the department's findings and recommendations.
  6 14    3.  The department shall create a detailed student data
  6 15 security plan that includes privacy compliance standards, a
  6 16 data breach plan, data retention or destruction plans, and
  6 17 guidelines for authorizing parental access to student data.
  6 18    4.  Except as otherwise provided in state or federal law, the
  6 19 department, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools
  6 20 shall not include biometric, health, family or student voting
  6 21 status, family or student political affiliations, family or
  6 22 student religious affiliations, telephone information other
  6 23 than contact phone numbers, and criminal or juvenile justice
  6 24 records in student data files.
  6 25    5.  a.  Student data shall be kept confidential by the
  6 26 department, a school district, or an accredited nonpublic
  6 27 school unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the lawful
  6 28 custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized
  6 29 to release such information, and except as necessary to carry
  6 30 out the duties and responsibilities of the state board or the
  6 31 department.
  6 32    b.  Except as provided in paragraph "a", student data shall
  6 33 not be provided outside of the state unless necessary to
  6 34 facilitate the timely enrollment and placement of a student who
  6 35 is transferring to another school.
  7  1    6.  The department shall establish and maintain a policy
  7  2 relating to the sharing, security, and confidentiality of
  7  3 student data in compliance with the federal Family Educational
  7  4 Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. {1232g.
  7  5    7.  The department shall notify the governor and the
  7  6 general assembly annually of changes to existing student data
  7  7 collections maintained by the department which are required
  7  8 for any reason, including changes in federal reporting
  7  9 requirements. Changes to existing student data collections
  7 10 which are not necessitated by changes in state and federal
  7 11 reporting requirements shall not be implemented by the
  7 12 department until the annual report has been submitted to the
  7 13 general assembly while the general assembly is in session or
  7 14 until the director appears before the standing committees of
  7 15 the senate and house of representatives having jurisdiction
  7 16 over education to report on the revision or modification to the
  7 17 existing student data collections maintained by the department,
  7 18 whichever occurs first.
  7 19    8.  Student data shall not be published by the department
  7 20 except in aggregate form.
  7 21    9.  This section shall not be construed to supersede any
  7 22 provision of section 22.7, section 256.9, subsection 48, or
  7 23 chapter 256H.
  7 24    Sec. 12.  Section 256.40, subsection 2, paragraph e, Code
  7 25 2015, is amended to read as follows:
  7 26    e.  Integrate services provided through the program with
  7 27 other career exploration=related activities such as the student
  7 28 core curriculum graduation plan and the career information and
  7 29 decision=making system developed and administered under section
  7 30 279.61, where appropriate.
  7 31    Sec. 13.  Section 256.42, subsection 6, Code 2015, is amended
  7 32 to read as follows:
  7 33    6.  Coursework offered under the initiative shall be
  7 34 rigorous and high quality, and the department shall annually
  7 35 evaluate the quality of the courses and ensure that coursework
  8  1 is aligned with the state's core curriculum and core content
  8  2 requirements Iowa academic standards and the assessment
  8  3  standards, as well as national standards of quality for online
  8  4 courses issued by an internationally recognized association for
  8  5 kindergarten through grade twelve online learning.
  8  6    Sec. 14.  Section 257.11, subsection 9, Code 2015, is amended
  8  7 to read as follows:
  8  8    9.  Shared classes and curriculum standards.  A school
  8  9 district shall ensure that any course made available to a
  8 10 student through any sharing agreement between the school
  8 11 district and a community college or any other entity providing
  8 12 course programming pursuant to this section to students
  8 13 enrolled in the school district meets the expectations
  8 14 contained in the core curriculum adopted pursuant to section
  8 15 256.7, subsection 26. The school district shall ensure that
  8 16 any course that has the capacity to generate college credit
  8 17 shall be equivalent to college=level work.
  8 18    Sec. 15.  Section 258.4, subsection 8, Code 2015, is amended
  8 19 to read as follows:
  8 20    8.  Establish a minimum set of competencies and core
  8 21 curriculum academic standards for approval of a vocational
  8 22 program sequence that addresses the following:  new and
  8 23 emerging technologies; job=seeking, job=keeping, and
  8 24 other employment skills, including self=employment and
  8 25 entrepreneurial skills, that reflect current industry
  8 26 standards, leadership skills, entrepreneurial, and labor=market
  8 27 needs; and the strengthening of basic academic skills.
  8 28    Sec. 16.  Section 260C.14, subsection 22, paragraph b, Code
  8 29 2015, is amended to read as follows:
  8 30    b.  Collaborate with the state board of regents to meet
  8 31 the requirements specified in section 262.9, subsection 33,
  8 32 including but not limited to developing a systematic process
  8 33 for expanding academic discipline and meetings between the
  8 34 community college faculty and faculty of the institutions
  8 35 of higher education governed by the state board of regents,
  9  1 developing criteria to prioritize core curriculum areas
  9  2  Iowa academic standards, promoting greater awareness of
  9  3 articulation=related activities, facilitating additional
  9  4 opportunities for individual institutions to pursue program
  9  5 articulation agreements for career and technical educational
  9  6 programs, and developing and implementing a process to
  9  7 examine a minimum of eight new associate of applied science
  9  8 degree programs for which articulation agreements would serve
  9  9 students' continued academic success in those degree programs.
  9 10    Sec. 17.  Section 261E.4, subsection 4, Code 2015, is amended
  9 11 to read as follows:
  9 12    4.  A school district shall establish prerequisite
  9 13 coursework for each advanced placement course offered and shall
  9 14 describe the prerequisites in the course registration handbook,
  9 15 which shall be provided to every junior high school or middle
  9 16 school student prior to the development of a core curriculum
  9 17  graduation plan pursuant to section 279.61.
  9 18    Sec. 18.  Section 261E.6, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended
  9 19 to read as follows:
  9 20    2.  Notification.  The availability and requirements of this
  9 21 program shall be included in each school district's student
  9 22 registration handbook. Information about the program shall be
  9 23 provided to the student and the student's parent or guardian
  9 24 prior to the development of the student's core curriculum
  9 25  graduation plan under section 279.61. The school district
  9 26 shall establish a process by which students may indicate
  9 27 interest in and apply for enrollment in the program.
  9 28    Sec. 19.  Section 261E.8, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended
  9 29 to read as follows:
  9 30    1.  A district=to=community college sharing or concurrent
  9 31 enrollment program is established to be administered by the
  9 32 department to promote rigorous academic or career and technical
  9 33 pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high
  9 34 school students to enroll part=time in eligible nonsectarian
  9 35 courses at or through community colleges established under
 10  1 chapter 260C.  The program shall be made available to all
 10  2 resident students in grades nine through twelve. Notice of
 10  3 the availability of the program shall be included in a school
 10  4 district's student registration handbook and the handbook shall
 10  5 identify which courses, if successfully completed, generate
 10  6 college credit under the program. A student and the student's
 10  7 parent or legal guardian shall also be made aware of this
 10  8 program as a part of the development of the student's core
 10  9 curriculum graduation plan in accordance with section 279.61.
 10 10    Sec. 20.  Section 261E.9, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code
 10 11 2015, is amended to read as follows:
 10 12    b.  A regional academy may include in its curriculum virtual
 10 13 or internet=based coursework and courses delivered via the Iowa
 10 14 communications network, career and technical courses, core
 10 15 curriculum Iowa academic standards coursework, courses required
 10 16 pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 26, or section 256.11,
 10 17 subsections 4 and 5, and asynchronous learning networks.
 10 18    Sec. 21.  Section 261E.9, subsection 4, Code 2015, is amended
 10 19 to read as follows:
 10 20    4.  Information regarding regional academies shall be
 10 21 provided to a student and the student's parent or guardian
 10 22 prior to the development of the student's core curriculum
 10 23  graduation plan under section 279.61.
 10 24    Sec. 22.  Section 261E.10, subsection 4, Code 2015, is
 10 25 amended to read as follows:
 10 26    4.  Information regarding career academies shall be provided
 10 27 by the school district to a student and the student's parent
 10 28 or guardian prior to the development of the student's core
 10 29 curriculum graduation plan under section 279.61.
 10 30    Sec. 23.  Section 262.9, subsection 33, paragraph c, Code
 10 31 2015, is amended to read as follows:
 10 32    c.  Develop criteria to prioritize core curriculum areas Iowa
 10 33 academic standards and create or review transition guides for
 10 34 the core curriculum areas Iowa academic standards.
 10 35    Sec. 24.  Section 279.61, Code 2015, is amended to read as
 11  1 follows:
 11  2    279.61  Student plan for progress toward university admissions
 11  3 ==== report.
 11  4    1.  For the school year beginning July 1, 2008, and each
 11  5 succeeding school year, the The board of directors of each
 11  6 school district shall cooperate with each student enrolled
 11  7 in grade eight to develop for the student a core curriculum
 11  8  plan to guide the student toward the goal of successfully
 11  9 completing, at a minimum, the core curriculum developed high
 11 10 school graduation requirements adopted by the state board of
 11 11 education pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 26, by the
 11 12 time the student graduates from high school. The plan shall
 11 13 include career options and shall identify the coursework
 11 14 needed in grades nine through twelve to support the student's
 11 15 postsecondary education and career options. Additionally, the
 11 16 plan shall include a timeline for each student to successfully
 11 17 complete, prior to graduation, all components of the
 11 18 state=designated career information and decision=making system
 11 19 administered by the department in accordance with section 118
 11 20 of the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
 11 21 Improvement Act of 2006, Pub. L. No. 109=270. The student's
 11 22 parent or guardian shall sign the core curriculum graduation
 11 23  plan developed with the student and the signed plan shall be
 11 24 included in the student's cumulative records.
 11 25    2.  For the school year beginning July 1, 2008, and each
 11 26 succeeding school year, the The board of directors of each
 11 27 school district shall report annually to each student enrolled
 11 28 in grades nine through twelve in the school district, and, if
 11 29 the student is under the age of eighteen, to each student's
 11 30 parent or guardian, the student's progress toward meeting the
 11 31 goal of successfully completing the core curriculum and high
 11 32 school graduation requirements adopted by the state board of
 11 33 education pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 26.
 11 34    Sec. 25.  Section 280.3, subsection 3, paragraphs a and b,
 11 35 Code 2015, are amended to read as follows:
 12  1    a.  Adopt an implementation plan by July 1, 2010, which
 12  2 provides for the adoption of at least one core curriculum Iowa
 12  3 academic standards subject area each year as established by
 12  4 the state board of education for grades nine through twelve
 12  5 pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 26. The core curriculum
 12  6  Iowa academic standards established for grades nine through
 12  7 twelve by the state board of education pursuant to section
 12  8 256.7, subsection 26, shall be fully implemented by each school
 12  9 district and school by July 1, 2012.
 12 10    b.  Adopt an implementation plan, by July 1, 2012, which
 12 11 provides for the full implementation of the core curriculum
 12 12  Iowa academic standards established for kindergarten through
 12 13 grade eight by the state board of education pursuant to section
 12 14 256.7, subsection 26, by the 2014=2015 school year.
 12 15    Sec. 26.  PUBLIC COMMENT RELATING TO IOWA ACADEMIC STANDARDS
 12 16 AND ASSESSMENT STANDARDS.  The department of education shall
 12 17 initiate a process to obtain public input on the Iowa academic
 12 18 standards and the assessment standards adopted pursuant
 12 19 to section 256.7, subsections 26 and 28, shall identify
 12 20 opportunities to strengthen the Iowa academic standards and the
 12 21 assessment standards, and shall do the following:
 12 22    1.  Receive public comments on its internet site regarding
 12 23 the Iowa academic standards and the assessment standards.
 12 24    2.  Hold at least three public hearings regarding the Iowa
 12 25 academic standards and the assessment standards. The public
 12 26 hearings shall be held in at least three geographically diverse
 12 27 venues around the state.
 12 28    3.  Include information regarding the time, place, and
 12 29 manner in which persons may participate in a public hearing as
 12 30 provided in this section.
 12 31    4.  Provide public notice of any actions taken by the state
 12 32 board of education to strengthen, amend, or modify the Iowa
 12 33 academic standards or the assessment standards following the
 12 34 public hearings conducted pursuant to this section.
 12 35    5.  The department shall submit a report summarizing its
 13  1 activities, findings, and recommendations to the state board,
 13  2 the governor, and the general assembly by February 1, 2016.
 13  3                           EXPLANATION
 13  4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
 13  5 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
 13  6    This bill relates to Iowa academic standards adopted by the
 13  7 state board of education, to assessments of student progress,
 13  8 and to the collection of and access to student data.
 13  9    ASSESSMENTS OF STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRESS.  The bill
 13 10 authorizes school districts to administer assessments to
 13 11 measure student academic progress which are in addition to the
 13 12 department of education=approved district=wide assessment of
 13 13 student progress administered for purposes of the core academic
 13 14 indicators in mathematics, reading, and science.
 13 15    ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM.  The bill continues
 13 16 to direct the state board to adopt sets of academic and
 13 17 assessment standards, but amends the terms used to describe
 13 18 the standards.  The bill replaces the terms "core curriculum",
 13 19 "Iowa core curriculum", and "Iowa common core", which were used
 13 20 to describe the academic standards adopted by the state board,
 13 21 with the term "Iowa academic standards".
 13 22    Also, provisions directing school districts to cooperate
 13 23 with each eighth grade student on a core curriculum plan to
 13 24 meet core curriculum requirements are amended to replace "core
 13 25 curriculum plan" with "graduation plan" and "core curriculum
 13 26 requirements" with "high school graduation requirements".
 13 27    The term "core content standards", which was used to
 13 28 describe the assessment standards adopted by the state
 13 29 board, is replaced with the term "assessment standards".  The
 13 30 assessment standards will remain applicable to all students
 13 31 in kindergarten through grade 12 in every school district and
 13 32 accredited nonpublic school. Corresponding changes are made
 13 33 throughout the Code, and obsolete language is eliminated.
 13 34    The bill states legislative intent that the selection and
 13 35 implementation of curriculum, textbooks, educational materials,
 14  1 and instructional methods must remain with the school districts
 14  2 and schools, and not with the state or federal government.
 14  3    Under the bill, the director of the department of education
 14  4 must maintain an internet site where persons may access
 14  5 up=to=date information regarding the Iowa academic standards
 14  6 and the assessment standards.  Periodically, beginning January
 14  7 1, 2016, the state board must review, accept public comments
 14  8 regarding, and revise as necessary, the Iowa academic standards
 14  9 and the assessment standards.
 14 10    The director is currently required to develop and distribute
 14 11 technical assistance and implementation strategies for the
 14 12 academic standards that school districts and accredited
 14 13 nonpublic schools shall use. The bill makes such use by school
 14 14 districts and schools voluntary.
 14 15    The director is further directed to submit an annual report
 14 16 to the general assembly by January 15 regarding the activities,
 14 17 findings, and student progress under the Iowa academic
 14 18 standards and the assessment standards. The annual report
 14 19 shall include the department's findings and recommendations.
 14 20 The bill prohibits the director from implementing revisions
 14 21 or modifications to the Iowa academic standards after January
 14 22 1, 2015, and to the assessment standards adopted by the state
 14 23 board until the annual report is submitted to the general
 14 24 assembly or until after the director presents the proposed
 14 25 changes to the general assembly's standing committees on
 14 26 education.
 14 27    STUDENT DATA.  The bill directs the department of education
 14 28 to establish data collection, data privacy, and data sharing
 14 29 policies for data relating to students collected by the
 14 30 department, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools.
 14 31 The department must annually conduct an inventory of and
 14 32 categorize the data collected on students and the purposes for
 14 33 which the data is collected, and report to the general assembly
 14 34 by November 1, 2015, and by November 1 each succeeding year,
 14 35 the department's findings and recommendations.  The department
 15  1 must also create a detailed student data security plan that
 15  2 includes privacy compliance standards, a data breach plan, data
 15  3 retention or destruction plans, and guidelines for authorizing
 15  4 parental access to student data.
 15  5    Except as otherwise provided in state or federal law, the
 15  6 department, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools
 15  7 shall not include biometric, health, family or student voting
 15  8 status, family or student political affiliations, family or
 15  9 student religious affiliations, telephone information other
 15 10 than contact phone numbers, and criminal or juvenile justice
 15 11 records in student data files.  Student data shall not be
 15 12 published by the department except in aggregate form.
 15 13    Student data shall be kept confidential unless otherwise
 15 14 ordered by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records, or
 15 15 by another person duly authorized to release such information,
 15 16 and except as necessary to carry out the duties and
 15 17 responsibilities of the state board or the department.  Except
 15 18 as provided, student data shall not be provided outside of the
 15 19 state unless necessary to facilitate the timely enrollment and
 15 20 placement of a student who is transferring to another school.
 15 21    The department must establish and maintain a policy relating
 15 22 to the sharing, security, and confidentiality of student data
 15 23 in compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and
 15 24 Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. {1232g.
 15 25    The department shall notify the governor and the general
 15 26 assembly annually of changes to existing student data
 15 27 collections maintained by the department which are required
 15 28 for any reason, including changes in federal reporting
 15 29 requirements. Such changes which are not necessitated by
 15 30 changes in state and federal reporting requirements shall
 15 31 not be implemented by the department until the annual report
 15 32 has been submitted to the general assembly while the general
 15 33 assembly is in session or until the director appears before the
 15 34 standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
 15 35 having jurisdiction over education to report on the revision
 16  1 or modification to the existing student data collections
 16  2 maintained by the department, whichever occurs first.
 16  3    The new provisions relating to student data shall
 16  4 not be construed to supersede any existing open records
 16  5 law provisions, provisions relating to the department's
 16  6 comprehensive management information system which are in
 16  7 compliance with state and federal reporting requirements, or
 16  8 provisions enacting the interstate compact on educational
 16  9 opportunity for military children.
 16 10    PUBLIC INPUT ON IOWA ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT
 16 11 STANDARDS.  The department also must initiate a process
 16 12 to obtain public input on the Iowa academic standards
 16 13 and assessment standards; shall identify opportunities
 16 14 to strengthen the Iowa academic standards and assessment
 16 15 standards; receive public comments on its internet site
 16 16 regarding the Iowa academic standards and assessment standards;
 16 17 hold at least three public hearings, in at least three
 16 18 geographically diverse venues around the state, regarding the
 16 19 Iowa academic standards and assessment standards; include
 16 20 information regarding the time, place, and manner in which
 16 21 persons may participate in a public hearing; and provide public
 16 22 notice of any actions taken by the state board to strengthen,
 16 23 amend, or modify the Iowa academic standards and assessment
 16 24 standards following the public hearings.  The department shall
 16 25 submit a report summarizing its activities, findings, and
 16 26 recommendations to the state board, the governor, and the
 16 27 general assembly by February 1, 2016.
       LSB 1539HV (5) 86
       kh/rj