303.17 - IOWA STUDIES -- FINDINGS -- CURRICULUM -- COMMITTEE.
303.17 IOWA STUDIES -- FINDINGS -- CURRICULUM -- COMMITTEE. 1. The general assembly finds that Iowa students should have an appreciation for Iowa through the study of Iowa's history and government, and Iowa citizens' long and distinguished record of civic responsibility. A fundamental need exists to provide Iowa's students with learning opportunities that assist the students in succeeding in society and confer upon them the ability to make their own valuable contributions to Iowa's history. 2. The department of cultural affairs shall develop an Iowa studies professional development plan that includes professional development materials and training measures to provide Iowa's teachers with effective ways to infuse Iowa studies into their classrooms. The materials developed shall include an active and innovative Iowa studies learning curriculum that may be integrated into the social studies requirements for Iowa's secondary school students at the discretion of each board of directors of a school district or the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school. The curriculum shall include lesson plans covering Iowa history, civics, government, and heritage studies. The curriculum developed shall contain enough content for the creation of a course of at least one-half unit of credit. 3. a. The director of the department of cultural affairs shall establish an Iowa studies committee to do the following: (1) Work to inform Iowa's school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and area education agencies of the Iowa studies professional development plan, including how to effectively utilize the curriculum developed pursuant to subsection 2. (2) Develop partnerships with organizations such as nonprofit history or humanities organizations, civic organizations, libraries, and the business community to support and promote Iowa studies statewide. (3) Establish evaluation criteria for the Iowa studies professional development plan, including but not limited to teacher and student evaluation and curriculum and plan effectiveness, which may include a survey of student participation in civic activities and involvement in the election process. (4) Develop a strategy and plan to allow for the implementation of the Iowa studies professional development plan and curriculum in a limited number of schools and area education agencies across the state. Participation by a school or area education agency shall be voluntary. However, a school or area education agency selected to participate in the plan shall agree to participate in the evaluation component conducted by the Iowa studies committee pursuant to subsection 4. b. The Iowa studies committee membership shall be comprised of the following: (1) The director of the department of cultural affairs or the director's designee. (2) The director of the department of education or the director's designee. (3) The secretary of state or the secretary's designee. (4) The state librarian or the state librarian's designee. (5) Additional persons knowledgeable in Iowa studies, who shall be appointed by the director of the department of cultural affairs and who shall include but not be limited to the following: (a) An employee of an area education agency. (b) An individual employed as an Iowa social studies teacher at a public school. (c) A faculty member of an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents. (d) An individual employed by a community college. (e) A faculty member of an accredited private institution as defined in section 261.9. (f) A member of the Iowa council of social studies. (g) A curriculum specialist for a kindergarten through grade twelve public school district. (h) An employee of the public broadcasting division of the department of education. 4. The Iowa studies committee shall do all of the following: a. Conduct an evaluation of the Iowa studies professional development plan using the evaluation criteria established by the committee. b. Submit, for school years ending on or before June 30, 2009, an annual status report on the utilization of the Iowa studies professional development plan in Iowa's school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to the chairpersons and ranking members of the senate and house committees on education by January 15. The annual report shall include the number of schools utilizing the plan. c. Submit its findings and recommendations in a final report based upon the evaluation data compiled in accordance with subsection 3 to the chairpersons and ranking members of the senate and house committees on education by January 15, 2010. 5. This section is repealed effective July 1, 2010.
Section History: Recent Form 2006 Acts, ch 1047, §1