EDUCATION-Week of March 19

HF 2245 – State Allowable Growth and Categorical Allowable Growth

HF 2383 – Educator misconduct reporting requirements

FLOOR ACTION:

HF 2245, as sent over by the House, changed the requirement for the Legislature to set allowable growth, or basic state aid, for schools two years out. Allowable growth has been a longtime law that helps schools plan future budgets before they lock in tax rates, certify budgets with the state and enter into contracts with staff. A Senate amendment struck all the bill language and replaced it with a 4 percent allowable growth rate for schools for the 2013-2014 school year. This language would allow Iowa’s public schools to increase the amount spent on each student by 4 percent, which would cost the state an estimated $2.809 million. This is an increase of $142.6 million over FY13. The language would additionally allow schools to increase spending on such things as teacher training and class reduction goals by the same 4 percent, which would cost the state an estimated $334.2 million. This is an increase of $14.6 million. [3/19: 26-24]

HF 2383 builds upon efforts started last year to enforce reporting of educator misconduct to the licensing Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE). Last year’s legislation required Iowa schools to have much stricter requirements for reporting allegations of educator misconduct to state licensers, making it more difficult for educators and school districts to sidestep allegations of sexual or physical abuse involving students. Specifically, current law requires districts to place employees on administrative leave while they are being investigated for physical or sexual abuse of a child. If that investigation reveals conduct that could constitute a crime, districts must report the incident to state examiners, even if the educator resigns. Administrators who fail to make that report risk losing their jobs. Last year’s law also required the BOEE to develop training with help from a national expert in educator misconduct and prevention and professional educator ethics. HF 2383 refines last year’s legislation to include specific reporting requirements for any educator that has been found to solicit or encourage a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student. HF 2383 also requires reporting to BOEE of any educator falsifying student grades, test scores or other official information or material. The Senate accepted a House amendment that would require school districts to check the Department of Transportation driving record website. The amendment does not require a clean driving record as a condition of employment. [3/21: 49-0 (McKinley excused)]