ARC 5738C

ARC 5738C

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT[281]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to private instruction

and providing an opportunity for public comment

The State Board of Education hereby proposes to amend Chapter 31, "Private Instruction and Dual Enrollment," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 256.7(5).

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, 2021 Iowa Acts, Senate File 546.

Purpose and Summary

2021 Iowa Acts, Senate File 546, makes changes to Iowa Code chapter 299A, "Private Instruction." This proposed rule making incorporates the changes that are within the jurisdiction of the Department of Education and the State Board (certain changes are within the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Transportation). This rule making also removes obsolete references to Iowa Acts that have subsequently been codified, as well as making nonsubstantive wording changes regarding special education eligibility.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the State Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 281—Chapter 4.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 20, 2021. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

A public hearing at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

Persons who wish to make oral comments at the public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rule making.

Any persons who intend to attend the hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Department and advise of specific needs by calling 515.281.5295.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

The following rule-making actions are proposed:

Item 1. Amend paragraph 31.1(2)"a" as follows:

a. "Competent private instruction" means private either of the following:

(1)Private instruction provided on a daily basis for at least 148 days during a school year, to be met by attendance for at least 37 days each school quarter, by or under the supervision of a licensed practitioner in the manner provided under Iowa Code section 299A.2 and this chapter, which results in the student about whom a report of private instruction has been filed making adequate progress.

(2)Private instruction provided by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian pursuant to Iowa Code section 299A.3.

Item 2. Amend paragraph 31.1(2)"b" as follows:

b. "Independent private instruction" means private instruction that meets the following criteria:

(1)Is not accredited.

(2)Enrolls not more than four unrelated students.

(3)Does not charge tuition, fees, or other remuneration for instruction.

(4)Provides private or religious-based instruction as its primary purpose.

(5)Provides enrolled students with instruction in mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies.

(6)Provides, upon written request from the superintendent of the school district in which the independent private instruction is provided, or from the director of the department of education, a report identifying the primary instructor, name and location of the authority responsible for the independent private instruction, and the names of the students enrolled.

(7)Is not a nonpublic school and does not provide competent private instruction as defined in Iowa Code section 299A.1 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 87, and these rules.

(8)Is exempt from all state statutes and administrative rules applicable to a school, a school board, or a school district, except as otherwise provided in Iowa Code chapters 299 and 299A as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House Files 215 and 454.

Item 3. Amend subrule 31.2(3) as follows:

31.2(3) Reporting requirement option: private instruction exemption. A parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age providing competent private instruction to the child under Iowa Code section 299A.3 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 88, (private instruction by nonlicensed person) may meet, but is not required to meet, all of the following requirements:

a. Complete and send, in a timely manner, the report required under Iowa Code section 299.4 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, sections 84 to 86, and this rule to the school district of residence of the child.

b. Ensure that the child under the parent's, guardian's, or legal or actual custodian's instruction is evaluated annually to determine whether the child is making adequate progress, as defined in Iowa Code section 299A.6 and this chapter.

c. Ensure that the results of the child's annual evaluation are reported to the school district of residence of the child and to the department of education by a date not later than June 30 of each August 1 of the year following the school year in which the child is under competent private instruction, pursuant to this chapter.

Item 4. Amend paragraph 31.3(3)"e" as follows:

e. Referring to the child's district of residence for evaluation a child who the practitioner has reason to believe may be in need of special education.

Item 5. Amend paragraph 31.4(3)"e" as follows:

e. For purposes of assisting the district to meet its "child find" obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referring to the child's district of residence for evaluation any child who the practitioner has reason to believe may be in need of special education.

Item 6. Amend paragraph 31.5(1)"d" as follows:

d. The district shall annually report to the department of education by June 30 August 1 of the year following the school year in which a child was under competent private instruction the names of all resident children who are subject to an annual assessment and who either failed to make adequate progress or whose parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian failed to comply with the assessment requirements of the compulsory attendance law.

Item 7. Amend paragraph 31.5(1)"g" as follows:

g. The district may request a parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age providing competent private instruction to the child under Iowa Code section 299A.3 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 88, (private instruction by nonlicensed person) to provide the information required by this subrule; however, the parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian is not required to do so, pursuant to Iowa Code section 299A.3 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 88, and subrule 31.2(3).

Item 8. Amend paragraph 31.5(2)"c" as follows:

c. The administration of the annual achievement evaluation shall not constitute a dual enrollment purpose under Iowa Code section 299A.8 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 94, and this rule.

Item 9. Amend subrule 31.5(6) as follows:

31.5(6) Driver education. The public school district shall offer or make available to all resident students, including those receiving competent private instruction on an equal basis with students enrolled in the district, an approved course in driver education, as required by Iowa Code section 321.178(1)"c." as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 99.

Item 10. Amend subrule 31.8(1), second unnumbered paragraph, as follows:

A child who is at least seven years old by September 15 and who begins a program of competent private instruction and is subject to the annual assessment requirement shall be administered a baseline evaluation for the purposes of obtaining educational data. The baseline evaluation and annual assessment shall be taken by May 1 31.

Item 11. Adopt the following new paragraph 31.8(2)"e":

e. This rule shall not be construed to require or prohibit testing on any subject matter at intervals more frequently or at grade levels other than those set forth in Iowa Code section 256.7(21)"b"(2).

Item 12. Amend subrule 31.8(3), introductory paragraph, as follows:

31.8(3) Portfolio assessment or evaluation. A parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of a child subject to the annual assessment requirement may arrange to have an appropriately licensed Iowa practitioner review a portfolio of evidence of the child's progress annually by May 1 31, subject to the following requirements:

Item 13. Amend subrule 31.9(2) as follows:

31.9(2) Standardized tests. The results of a standardized test taken by a child subject to the annual assessment requirements shall be reported by the child's parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian to the district of residence of the child by June 30 August 1 of the year following the school year in which the test was taken. The results shall be submitted either in original form or as a true and correct photocopy of the original form as received from the agency responsible for scoring the test, from which any test results not required under law may be redacted.

Item 14. Amend subrule 31.9(3), introductory paragraph, as follows:

31.9(3) Portfolio assessments. The results of an assessment of a child's educational portfolio made by a qualified Iowa licensed practitioner shall be submitted by the portfolio evaluator to the child's parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian, who shall send a copy to the district of residence of the child by June 30 August 1 of the year following the school year in which the assessment was done.

Item 15. Amend subrule 31.9(4) as follows:

31.9(4) Report card from accredited correspondence school. Report cards from an accredited correspondence school shall be submitted by the child's parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian to the child's district of residence by June 30 August 1 of the year following the school year in which the report cards were issued by the accredited correspondence school.

Item 16. Amend subparagraph 31.11(2)"a"(1) as follows:

(1)The public school district shall offer or make available to all resident students receiving independent private instruction an approved course in driver education on an equal basis with students enrolled in the district, as required by Iowa Code section 321.178(1)"c." as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 99.

Item 17. Amend subrule 31.12(1) as follows:

31.12(1) Confidentiality of records. Records maintained by school districts or area education agencies under Iowa Code chapters 299 and 299A as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House Files 215 and 454, and this chapter shall be protected under Iowa Code chapter 22, as well as 20 U.S.C. Section 1232g and 34 CFR Part 99. Personally identifiable information about students, as defined in 34 CFR Part 99, shall be disclosed only as permitted by that Part.

Item 18. Amend subrule 31.12(2), introductory paragraph, as follows:

31.12(2) Compulsory attendance actions. In taking any action under Iowa Code chapters 299 and 299A as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House Files 215 and 454, a school district shall consider the requirements of compulsory attendance to be satisfied in the following instances:

Item 19. Amend paragraph 31.12(2)"d" as follows:

d. The child is receiving private instruction under subrule 31.2(3) and Iowa Code section 299A.3 as amended by 2013 Iowa Acts, House File 215, section 88, unless the subrule and section do not apply.

Item 20. Amend 281—Chapter 31, implementation sentence, as follows:

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 299 and 299A as amended by 2013 2021 Iowa Acts, House Files 215 and 454 Senate File 546.