Iowa law sets classroom rules and support duties for schools

Teachers may remove a student for a nonviolent disruption and must remove a student for a violent disruption. Nonviolent disruptions include classroom disruptions caused by disorderly conduct, abusive or profane language, bullying, or repeated disruptive behavior. Violent disruptions include threats or incidents of violence resulting in injury, property damage, or assault. After a nonviolent disruption, the principal or designee supervises the student for at least 30 minutes. For students in kindergarten through grade five, the principal or designee and teacher must meet before the student returns. Students in grades six through twelve cannot return before the next school day, and the meeting must happen first. A student who assaulted the teacher during a violent disruption cannot return to that teacher’s classroom if the teacher does not consent. Students in grades six through twelve cannot return before the next school day. The text sets no minimum removal period for a violent disruption.

School districts must make student education plans available to responsible staff and ensure they read plan changes and know their duties. These duties cover school district employees responsible for carrying out an individualized education program, teachers of students with section 504 plans, and staff who assist with classroom instruction. Teachers who teach a student with a section 504 plan must read it and notify a special education teacher or principal in writing. At least one para-educator or other employee who assists with classroom instruction must attend meetings about the student’s plan. If practicable, those meetings must take place during normal business hours. After a student with an individualized education program is removed from class, the team must meet to discuss the student’s program, supports, and placement. If the student is removed five or more times in any 15-consecutive-school-day period, the team must meet to discuss the behavior. School districts must train individualized education program team members on least restrictive environment requirements, using training materials from the education department. The education team meeting follows a student’s removal from class. A separate behavior discussion is required after five or more removals in any 15-consecutive-school-day period.

A teacher may ask an administrator in writing or electronically for an individualized education program team meeting. The request is for a meeting of a student’s individualized education program team. An administrator may deny the request only in writing and must explain why federal law does not require the meeting. A teacher may make the request at any time; the text sets no deadline for the administrator’s response.

The education department must run a pilot requiring one rural and one urban school district to set up attendance centers for eligible students. The department chooses one rural district meeting specified county and city population ranges, and one urban district with at least 7,000 students. A district must agree to participate and show it can fully pay its costs, or the department must fully pay with money set aside for the pilot. Parents or guardians may ask that an eligible student be excused from attending the center. Eligible students include children requiring special education and students whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with success in a regular school setting, even with added supports. The pilot section is repealed July 1, 2031. Districts report each year by June 1, and the department sends a combined report to the legislature by June 30.

Each school district must include specified disability-related topics and training in its professional development plan. The requirements apply to professional development plans for Iowa school districts. Plans must include programs for teachers on serving students with disabilities, the district’s duty to identify and evaluate students who may have disabilities, supports through individualized education programs, and least restrictive environment requirements. The text does not state a separate start date or deadline for these plan requirements.