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Board gives notice on rule changes, adopts foster-parent surrogate rules, and reviews sample charter contract
Summary
The board voted to publish notices of intended action for human-growth-and-development and community-college accreditation rules, adopted changes allowing foster parents to serve as surrogate special-education parents, and reviewed a sample charter contract template intended to standardize future authorizations.
The Iowa State Board of Education took multiple formal rule and policy steps during the meeting: it voted to give public notice of intended action to amend chapter 12 (human growth and development instruction) and chapter 21 (broaden accreditation options for community colleges), adopted amendments to chapters 41 and 120 clarifying foster parents may be appointed as surrogate parents in special-education proceedings, and reviewed a proposed sample charter contract to streamline negotiations with applicants.
On human-growth-and-development instruction, department counsel said the proposed rule implements statute requiring instruction including in utero development and clarifies opt-out and parental-notice procedures; the department has received public comment asking for religious-based opt-outs. The board approved issuing notice of intended action.
In accreditation rulemaking, staff said House File 295 allows community colleges to choose from a broader menu of federally recognized accreditors; the proposed rule tracks the statute and the board authorized notice to stakeholders.
On special-education surrogate-parent provisions, the department proposed retaining foster-parent eligibility and aligning appointment processes with existing AEA surrogate-parent structures; the board adopted the change and filed the rule.
Board counsel and charter staff also walked through a proposed sample charter contract template covering definitions, term and renewal, governance, performance framework, enrollment and admissions, employment requirements, facilities, audits, breach-of-contract provisions, and incorporation of the application into the contract. Staff said the sample is a starting point for negotiations and that applicants can propose modifications, though deviations from the sample will carry a higher burden of persuasion at contracting.
What's next: Notices of intended action will proceed through public comment; adopted rules will be filed as indicated. The charter contract template will be used as a base for upcoming authorizations and will be revisited prior to the January application/negotiation period.
