Iowa School Discipline Laws & Regulations: State Model Policies and Implementation Support

Iowa School Discipline Laws & Regulations: State Model Policies and Implementation Support

Category: Prevention, Behavioral Interventions, and Supports
Subcategory: State Model Policies and Implementation Support
State: Iowa

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Iowa

LAWS

256.18. Character education policy.

1.a. It is the policy of the general assembly that Iowa's schools be the best and safest possible. To that end, each school is encouraged to instill the highest character and academic excellence in each student, in close cooperation with the student's parents, and with input from the community and educators.

b. Schools should make every effort, formally and informally, to stress character qualities that will maintain a safe and orderly learning environment, and that will ultimately equip students to be model citizens. These qualities may include caring, civic virtue and citizenship, justice and fairness, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, giving, honesty, self-discipline, respect for and obedience to the law, citizenship, courage, initiative, commitment, perseverance, kindness, compassion, service, loyalty, patience, the dignity and necessity of hard work, and any other qualities deemed appropriate by a school.

2. The department of education shall assist schools in accessing financial and curricular resources to implement programs stressing these character qualities. Schools are encouraged to use their existing resources to implement programs stressing these qualities. Whenever possible, the department shall develop partnerships with schools, nonprofit organizations, or an institution of higher education, or with a consortium of two or more of those entities, to design and implement character education programs that may be integrated into classroom instruction and may be carried out with other educational reforms.

280.12. School improvement advisory committee.

The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school shall do the following:

1. Appoint a school improvement advisory committee to make recommendations to the board or authorities. The advisory committee shall consist of members representing students, parents, teachers, administrators, and representatives from the local community, which may include representatives of business, industry, labor, community agencies, higher education, or other community constituents. To the extent possible, committee membership shall have balanced representation with regard to race, gender, national origin, and disability.

2. Utilize the recommendations from the school improvement advisory committee to determine the following:

a. Major educational needs.

b. Student learning goals.

c. Long-range and annual improvement goals that include, but are not limited to, the state indicators that address reading, mathematics, and science achievement.

d. Desired levels of student performance.

e. Progress toward meeting the goals set out in paragraphs "b" through "d".

f. Harassment or bullying prevention goals, programs, training, and other initiatives.

3. Consider recommendations from the school improvement advisory committee to infuse character education into the educational program.

REGULATIONS

281-103.10(256B,280). Department responsibilities.

The department shall develop, establish, and distribute to all school districts evidence-based standards, guidelines, and expectations for the appropriate and inappropriate responses to behavior in the classroom that presents an imminent threat of bodily injury to a student or another person and for the reasonable, necessary, and appropriate physical restraint of a student, consistent with these rules.

The director of the department shall consult with the area education agencies to create comprehensive and consistent standards and guidance for professional development relating to successfully educating individuals in the least restrictive environment, and for evidence-based interventions consistent with the standards established pursuant to this subsection.

281-12.3(13). Policy declaring harassment and bullying against state and school policy.

12.3(2) Policy manual. The board shall develop and maintain a policy manual which provides a codification of its policies, including the adoption date, the review date, and any revision date for each policy. Policies shall be reviewed at least every five years to ensure relevance to current practices and compliance with the Iowa Code, administrative rules and decisions, and court decisions.

281-14.4(279). Suicide prevention, identification of adverse childhood experiences, and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response.

14.4(4) Resources for implementation. The Iowa department of education will publicly provide resources and technical assistance to assist districts in compliance with this rule.

281-66.6(279). Responsibilities of area education agencies.

Area education agencies shall assist school districts in developing program plans and budgets for school-based youth services programs. Assistance may include, but is not limited to, the following:

66.6(1) Providing person power to coordinate planning between districts and other service providers and in writing grants.

66.6(2) Gathering and providing information for completion of program plans.

66.6(3) Identifying staff development resources and organizing staff training.

66.6(4) Identifying resources for establishing at least a 20 percent local contribution.

66.6(5) Participating in the advisory council.

66.6(6) Helping develop and implement recording procedures for evaluation of data and analysis of results.

66.6(7) Providing in-school support services.

66.6(8) Assisting with implementation of nondiscrimination measures.

281-66.7(279). Responsibilities of the department of education.

The department of education shall:

66.7(1) Provide guidelines and forms to school districts for submitting program plans.

66.7(2) Provide technical assistance to school districts, other education agencies and service providers in the development of plans.

66.7(3) Organize reviews and approval of written plans in at least three size categories of school districts including those below an enrollment of 1,200; between 1,200 and 4,999; and 5,000 and above. The process will give priority to need and plans that indicate high degrees of active participation by community-based youth organizations and agencies. Review criteria and a point system are contained in guidelines for school-based youth services programs.

66.7(4) Develop and administer a format for evaluation. An annual evaluation report shall be filed with the department of education by school districts following the close of each school year.

66.7(5) Provide technical assistance to school districts and other service providers in designing preservice and in-service training.

66.7(6) Consult with the departments of human services, human rights (division of criminal and juvenile justice planning), public health, economic development (division of job training and entrepreneurship assistance) and employment services (division of job services) to develop rules, administer programs, and monitor and evaluate programs.

66.7(7) Establish assistance through the F.I.N.E. Foundation and other foundations and public and private agencies in evaluating programs under this chapter and to provide support to school districts in implementing the funded programs.