280.4 - LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY -- WEIGHTING.
280.4 LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY -- WEIGHTING.
1. The medium of instruction in all secular subjects taught in
both public and nonpublic schools shall be the English language,
except when the use of a foreign language is deemed appropriate in
the teaching of any subject or when the student is limited English
proficient. When the student is limited English proficient, both
public and nonpublic schools shall provide special instruction, which
shall include but need not be limited to either instruction in
English as a second language or transitional bilingual instruction
until the student is fully English proficient or demonstrates a
functional ability to speak, read, write, and understand the English
language. As used in this section, "limited English proficient"
means a student's language background is in a language other than
English, and the student's proficiency in English is such that the
probability of the student's academic success in an English-only
classroom is below that of an academically successful peer with an
English language background. "Fully English proficient" means a
student who is able to read, understand, write, and speak the English
language and to use English to ask questions, to understand teachers
and reading materials, to test ideas, and to challenge what is being
asked in the classroom.
2. The department of education shall adopt rules relating to the
identification of limited English proficient students who require
special instruction under this section and to application procedures
for funds available under this section.
3. In order to provide funds for the excess costs of instruction
of limited English proficient students above the costs of instruction
of pupils in a regular curriculum, students identified as limited
English proficient shall be assigned an additional weighting of
twenty-two hundredths, and that weighting shall be included in the
weighted enrollment of the school district of residence for a period
not exceeding four years. However, the school budget review
committee may grant supplemental aid or modified allowable growth to
a school district to continue funding a program for students after
the expiration of the four-year period. Section History: Early Form
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 4254; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73,
§ 280.5; C75, 77, 79, 81, § 280.4; 82 Acts, ch 1260, § 48] Section History: Recent Form
87 Acts, ch 224, § 52; 89 Acts, ch 135, §80; 91 Acts, ch 193, § 2;
93 Acts, ch 127, § 3; 2002 Acts, ch 1114, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1182,
§44, 54
Referred to in § 256F.3, 257.31, 282.18 Footnotes
2006 amendment to subsection 3 is effective June 1, 2006, and
applies for the school budget year beginning July 1, 2006, and
succeeding budget years; 2006 Acts, ch 1182, §54