Relating to the establishment of an advanced opportunities program for certain students enrolled in public schools to take overload and dual credit courses, postsecondary credit-bearing and career and technical education certificate examinations, and career and technical education workforce training courses, and the award of a scholarship for early graduation

Under the bill, each student enrolled and attending a public school in Iowa, beginning in grade seven, is eligible for $4,125 to use toward overload courses, dual credits, postsecondary credit-bearing examinations, career and technical education certificate examinations, and career and technical education workforce training courses. “Overload course” means a course taken that is in excess of a full credit load and outside of the regular school day, including summer courses and online courses. Moneys for overload courses shall not exceed $225 per overload course. Such courses must be offered by a school district and taught by an appropriately licensed teacher. “Dual credit” means the secondary and public postsecondary credit a student receives for the completion of a postsecondary-level education course under the program. Moneys for dual credits shall not exceed $75 per one dual credit hour and the course must be offered by a public postsecondary educational institution. The department shall maintain a list of eligible postsecondary credit-bearing or career technical certificate examinations and costs for such examinations. Eligible examinations include but are not limited to advanced placement, international baccalaureate, college-level examination program, and career and technical education examinations that lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree. Career and technical education workforce training courses, such as federally registered apprenticeships for which moneys may be used, shall not exceed $500 per course or $1,000 per year. The department of education must maintain a list of eligible training courses and costs. Such courses must be provided by a community college; lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree; be required training for an occupation deemed a high-demand job in the community college region; be otherwise unavailable at the student’s secondary school; and allow secondary school-aged students to participate. A student who has earned postsecondary credits prior to secondary school graduation using the program must first identify postsecondary goals under the student’s individualized career and academic plan before the student may continue to earn additional credits. The bill describes how school counselors must advise such students. Moneys allocated for student use shall not supplant existing program funds. Payments shall be made from the moneys appropriated to the department of education for purposes of the program. School boards may set forth criteria by which a student may challenge a course and be counted as having completed all required coursework for that course, including by examination. The school district shall be funded for such students based upon either actual hours of attendance or the course that the student has successfully passed, whichever is more advantageous to the school district, up to the weighting assigned to one pupil. Any student enrolled in a school district who successfully completes the educational program for grades 1-12 and graduates at least one year early shall be eligible for an advanced opportunities scholarship, which may be used for tuition and fees at any public postsecondary educational institution. The scholarship amount shall equal percent of the regular program state cost pupil for each year of grades 1-12 curriculum avoided by the student’s early graduation. Subject to an appropriation by the general assembly for such purpose, each school district shall receive an amount equal to each such awarded scholarship for each student that graduates early from that school district. Students must apply for the scholarship within two years of graduating from a public secondary school. For public funding purposes, actual enrollment shall be counted as normal for students participating in dual credit courses pursuant to the program. The department shall reimburse a school district or public postsecondary educational institution within 125 days of receiving the necessary data. The submission method and timelines of reimbursement data shall be determined by the department. If a student fails to earn credit or successfully complete a course for which the department has paid a reimbursement, the student must pay for and successfully earn credit or complete a comparable course before any further reimbursements are made to the student. If a student performs inadequately on an examination for which the department has paid a reimbursement, the school district shall determine whether the student must pay for and successfully pass such examination to continue receiving state funding under the program. Repeated and remedial courses or examinations are not eligible for advanced opportunities program funding. Each school district must establish timelines and requirements for participation in the program, must make timely and reasonable efforts to provide guidance to students who are considering participating in the program, and must ensure that students have an opportunity to participate in the program and meet all program-related timelines and requirements. Participation in the program requires parent, if the student is a minor, and student agreement to program requirements. School district personnel must assist parents in the process of enrolling students in such courses. A parent may enroll the parent’s child in any eligible course, with or without the permission of the school district. Student transcripts must include the credits earned and grades received for overload and dual credit courses taken under the program. Participating school districts shall collaborate with public postsecondary educational institutions to assist students who seek to participate in the program and must report to the state board of education any difficulties or obstacles the school districts and institutions experience in providing such assistance. The state board of education may promulgate rules to implement the program and scholarship. No later than January annually, the department of education shall submit a report to the general assembly detailing the number of students benefiting from assistance with the cost of overload courses, dual credit courses, examinations, and workforce training courses, and the number of credits awarded and amounts paid during the previous school year.