ARC 6484C

ARC 6484C

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT[281]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to preparation programs for teacher interns, practitioners and administrators and providing an opportunity for public comment

The State Board of Education hereby proposes to amend Chapter 77, "Standards for Teacher Intern Preparation Programs," and Chapter 79, "Standards for Practitioner and Administrator Preparation Programs," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 256.7(5) and 256.16.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 256.16 as amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2081.

Purpose and Summary

2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2081, eliminates the requirement that practitioner preparation programs report the results of program entrance examinations to the Department of Education, as well as the requirement that teacher candidates pass a program completion assessment. This proposed rule making reflects the changes made by House File 2081.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa. There was no Fiscal Note accompanying 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2081.

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 September 13, 2022. 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 public 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 77.11(2)"a," introductory paragraph, as follows:

a. Acceptance into the program (to include testing described in Iowa Code section 256.16). Acceptance requirements include but are not limited to:

Item 2. Amend paragraph 77.11(2)"c" as follows:

c. Program completion and subsequent recommendation by the authorized official of the program for an initial teaching license, to include:

(1)The requirement that each teacher candidate must either meet or exceed a score on subject assessments designed by a nationally recognized testing service that measures pedagogy and knowledge of at least one subject area as approved by the director, or the teacher candidate must meet or exceed the equivalent of a score on an alternate assessment also approved by the director. That alternate assessment must be a valid and reliable subject-area-specific, performance-based assessment for preservice teacher candidates that is centered on student learning. The required passing score will be determined by the director using considerations described in Iowa Code section 256.16(1)"a"(2) as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, Senate File 159, section 2. A candidate who successfully completes the practitioner preparation program as required under this subparagraph shall be deemed to have attained a passing score on the assessments administered under this subparagraph even if the department subsequently sets different minimum passing scores.

(2)Waiver by the director of the assessment requirements in this paragraph for not more than one year for a person who has completed the course requirements for an approved intern preparation program but attained an assessment score below the minimum passing score set by the department for successful completion of the program under this paragraph. The department shall forward to the BOEE the names of all candidates granted a waiver for consideration for a temporary license.

(3) Recommendation recommendation for an intern license for one or more of the endorsements identified on the department's teacher preparation website at www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/educator-quality/practitioner-preparation educateiowa.gov/pk-12/educator-quality/practitioner-preparation.

Item 3. Amend subrule 79.13(4) as follows:

79.13(4) Candidate assessment includes clear criteria for:

a. Entrance into the program. If a unit chooses to use a preprofessional skills test from a nationally recognized testing service for admission into the program, the unit must report passing rates and remediation measures annually to the department.

b. Continuation in the program with clearly defined checkpoints/gates.

c. Admission to clinical experiences (for teacher education, this includes specific criteria for admission to student teaching).

d. Program completion (for teacher education, this includes testing described in Iowa Code section 256.16; see subrule 79.15(5) for required teacher candidate assessment).

Item 4. Rescind and reserve subrule 79.15(6).