Relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion as components of Iowa’s approved practitioner preparation programs, twenty-first century learning skills, Iowa teaching standards, administrator standards and criteria, and teacher licensure renewal requirements

This bill provides for diversity, equity, and inclusion as components of Iowa’s approved practitioner preparation programs, 21st century learning skills, Iowa teaching standards, administrator standards and criteria, and teacher licensure renewal requirements. The bill requires that the state board of education’s rules regarding the universal constructs must address equitable instruction and culturally responsive pedagogy. The bill requires that the standards and criteria for school teachers and administrators, developed by the director of the department of education, include restorative justice training and prioritize cultural responsiveness training. The director is also required to develop and include, in the Iowa school performance profiles published by the department, an equitability assessment and ranking of schools operated by school districts. The bill requires that approved practitioner preparation programs include instruction in restorative justice and cultural responsiveness. The bill directs the board of educational examiners to establish, as a renewal requirement for a standard license, the completion of two clock hours of training in a course relating to cultural competency. The bill defines cultural competency as awareness and understanding of the values, lifestyles, history, and contributions of societal cultural groups; recognizing certain dehumanizing biases and their impact on interpersonal relations and their reflection in instructional materials; and acquiring strategies to manage students from different cultures in a classroom setting.