Iowa HSB 44: A bill for an act relating to career education, including middle school career exploration and industry-recognized credential seals and certificates for high school students.

Bill Text

House Study Bill 44 - Introduced
SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____
BY (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION BILL)
A BILL FOR
An Act relating to career education, including middle school1
career exploration and industry-recognized credential seals2
and certificates for high school students.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:4
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Section 1. Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding1
the following new subsection:2
NEW SUBSECTION. 69. a. Develop and make available on3
the department’s internet site a list of industry-recognized4
credentials or certifications that are attainable by students5
enrolled in grades nine through twelve and that are aligned6
with career and technical education service areas.7
b. Develop and distribute to school districts a seal8
aligned to the list of industry-recognized credentials or9
certifications described in paragraph “a” to be affixed to high10
school transcripts or certificates pursuant to section 279.87.11
Sec. 2. Section 256.11, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2025, are12
amended to read as follows:13
3. a. The All of the following areas shall be taught in14
grades one through six:15
(1) English-language arts, social.16
(2) Social studies, mathematics, science, health, physical.17
(3) Mathematics.18
(4) Science.19
(5) Health. The health curriculum shall include the20
characteristics of communicable diseases.21
(6) Physical education, traffic.22
(7) Traffic safety, music, visual.23
(8) Music.24
(9) Visual art, and, subject.25
(10) Subject to section 279.80, age-appropriate and26
research-based human growth and development.27
(11) In grades five and six, career planning and pathways.28
The career planning and pathways curriculum shall include29
career investigation, career connections, and career intentions30
to help such students understand career opportunities in order31
to fully utilize the individualized career and academic plan32
developed pursuant to section 279.61.33
b. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards34
established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph35
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“a”, subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade1
level commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023.2
The health curriculum shall include the characteristics of3
communicable diseases.4
c. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall5
adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the elementary6
program.7
4. a. The All of the following shall be taught in grades8
seven and eight:9
(1) English-language arts; social.10
(2) Social studies, including instruction related to11
civics; mathematics; science; health;.12
(3) Mathematics.13
(4) Science.14
(5) Health. The health curriculum shall include15
age-appropriate and research-based information regarding the16
characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases.17
(6) Age-appropriate and research-based human growth and18
development; career.19
(7) Career instruction, exploration, and development;20
physical, which shall include career investigation, career21
connections, and career intentions.22
(8) Physical education; music; and visual.23
(9) Music.24
(10) Visual art.25
b. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards26
established under section 256.7, subsection 26, paragraph “a”,27
subparagraph (4), shall be offered in at least one grade level28
commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023. Career29
exploration and development shall be designed so that students30
are appropriately prepared to create an individual career31
and academic plan pursuant to section 279.61, incorporate32
foundational career and technical education concepts aligned33
with the six career and technical education service areas as34
defined in subsection 5, paragraph “h”, incorporate relevant35
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twenty-first century skills to facilitate career readiness,1
and introduce students to career opportunities within the2
local community and across this state. The health curriculum3
shall include age-appropriate and research-based information4
regarding the characteristics of sexually transmitted diseases.5
c. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall6
adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the program in7
grades seven and eight. However, this8
d. This subsection shall not apply to the teaching of career9
instruction, exploration, and development in nonpublic schools.10
Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 279.87 Industry-recognized credentials11
or certifications —— recognition.12
1. A school district shall report to the department of13
education the identity of a student enrolled in the school14
district who attains an industry-recognized credential or15
certification that is aligned to the student’s career and16
technical education program of study and that is on the list17
described in section 256.9, subsection 69, paragraph “a”, and18
the specific cr