Requesting the establishment of an interim committee to study the feasibility of allowing a day of virtual instruction to count as a minimum school day when inclement weather causes schools to close

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedFebruary 21, 2019
2. ✓
   Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 25, 2019
3. ✓
   Done: Senate committeeMarch 5, 2019
4. ✕
   Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
5. Next: House committee
6. Next: Passes the House
7. Next: To the Governor
8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill requests the legislative council to establish an interim study committee to study and make recommendations relating to the feasibility of allowing school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to count a day of virtual instruction as a minimum school day when inclement weather causes schools to close and instructional staff and students engage in curriculum-aligned instructional and learning opportunities from home. The study committee shall review and provide an analysis of school districts or accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa currently offering virtual instructional days; authorization of virtual instructional days by other states; potential barriers to allowing virtual instructional days to be counted as minimum school days; opportunities to overcome such barriers without need for new state funding; potential impacts and barriers relating to the use of technology under virtual instructional days by students who are limited English proficient, children requiring special education, students enrolled in advanced placement courses and concurrent enrollment courses, and other nontraditional students for nonstandard classes; and best practices for utilizing virtual instructional days as minimum school days.

Full bill text¹

Senate subcommittee

Named January 14, 2020. It hasn’t reported yet.

• Sen. Amy Sinclair REmail
• Sen. Jerry Behn R
• Sen. Zach Wahls DEmail

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

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