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Bill > HF900
IA HF900
IA HF900A bill for an act modifying provisions related to open enrollment policies and English-language learners.(Formerly HF 68.)
summary
Introduced
03/10/2025
03/10/2025
In Committee
04/03/2025
04/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill modifies provisions related to open enrollment policies and English-language learners. Current law requires receiving school districts to approve applications for open enrollment that are submitted in a timely manner unless the receiving school district has insufficient classroom space. Current law also requires each school district to adopt a policy that defines insufficient classroom space for purposes of open enrollment. The bill requires the definition of insufficient classroom space adopted by the school district to include standards related to the school district’s capacity to provide instruction to English learners. Under current law, “English learner” means a student whose 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.
AI Summary
This bill modifies existing open enrollment policies by requiring school districts to include specific standards about their capacity to instruct English-language learners when defining "insufficient classroom space" for the purposes of student transfers between districts. Currently, school districts must approve open enrollment applications unless they lack classroom space, and they are required to create their own definition of what constitutes insufficient classroom space. The new provision explicitly mandates that these definitions must now account for the district's ability to effectively educate students who are learning English. An English learner is defined as a student whose primary language is not English and who may have a lower probability of academic success in an English-only classroom compared to native English-speaking peers. By requiring districts to consider English learner instruction capacity in their space determination, the bill aims to ensure that language barriers do not prevent students from accessing educational opportunities through open enrollment.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Education (House)
Last Action
Referred to Education. H.J. 896. (on 04/03/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF900 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF900.html |
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