Iowa Department of Education

Annual Notices

School districts are required to give all patrons several annual notices.  The following is a list (which may not be exhaustive, but represents the DE’s best efforts) of state and federal notices that all districts are required to give to the public every year.    This list does not attempt to include notices that are to be given to specific populations (such as notification of non-highly qualified teachers;  notices to CPI families about testing; etc.).   There are some model notices required by federal law available electronically.  They are as follows:   Notification of Rights under FERPA:  www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/ferparights.pdf Model Notice for FERPA Directory Information:  www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/mndirectoryinfo.html   Model Notice of Rights under PPRA (Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment):  www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/modelnotification.pdf PPRA Model Notice and Consent/Opt-Out:  www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/ppraconsent.pdf   Notice of Parents of Parental Involvement Rights under Title I, Part A:  www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/parentinvguid.doc   Child Nutrition Programs:  www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/eligibility_guidance.pdf   Posters with Education Rights of Homeless Children:  www.serve.org/nche/products_list.php#youth_poster   Asbestos Hazard Model Notice:  www.epa.gov/region2/ahera/notiform.htm       Subject Matter State or Federal Law Details How and When  Annual progress report 281—Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 12.8(3)“b” Report of progress on the state indicators (listed in rule 12.8(3)) and locally determined indicators Send to DE by 9/15 and “submit” to public by same date Proportion of 4th graders proficient in reading Iowa Code 256D.3 The statute also “encourages” districts to submit to their communities composite information concerning the reading proficiency of K-3 enrollments, by grade level Statute does not specify how or when;  it is recommended Human growth and development Instruction Iowa Code 279.50 Information on human growth and development curriculum;  procedure for parental inspection of instructional materials prior to their use in class;  procedure for parent/guardian to request in writing that a student be excused from class Must be provided before first day of classes at beginning of school year;  DE recommends written notice by U.S. mail (if providing the notice at registration, district should following up via U.S. mail to families who did not attend registration) Subject Matter State or Federal Law Details How and When  Availability of post-secondary enrollment options (PSEO) for high school students Iowa Code chapter 261C;  281—IAC 22.3 Pertinent information should include definition of who is eligible (all 11th and 12th graders, as well as 9th and 10th graders identified as G/T), addresses of nearby postsecondary institutions, and definition of eligible courses   Verbal notice is sufficient but written notice in student handbook is preferred Name and contact information for district’s Level One investigator 281—IAC chapter 102 School boards must designate at least one Level One investigator annually to look into allegations of abuse of students by school employees   Recommended that this information be published in student handbook and local newspaper of general circulation Nondiscrimination policy, grievance procedures, name and contact information for equity coordinator Federal Titles VI and  IX of Civil Rights Act;  Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act;   Iowa Code section 216.9 A student or employee or any person who feel discriminated against by the district must have information about how to pursue a grievance with the district Recommended at the beginning of the school year and in the district’s nondiscrimination statement included in all general publications   Name of investigator of allegations of bullying and harassment SF 61 (2007 Iowa Acts), which created new Iowa Code section 280.28 How to file a complaint must be included in the policy also Board policy must state how the details of the policy will be publicized;  it is recommended that the methods include (but not be limited to) inclusion in student handbook) FERPA notice:  components of “directory information,” parent or eligible student right to inspect educational records, opt out rights, military recruiters, etc. FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g Notice must be sent to parents of students, including CPI (home schooled) students and those who open enroll into the district Statute does not specify when to give notice, but for the opt out right to be meaningful, notice should be sent at beginning of school year by any means reasonably likely to inform all families with students Student responsibility and discipline policies, including attendance, tobacco, alcohol, out-of-school behavior (good conduct code)   281—IAC 12.3(6) Any policy that directly affects a student should be included in the notice Student handbook Subject Matter State or Federal Law Details How and When  Open enrollment information 281—IAC 17.3(2) Open enrollment deadlines, transportation assistance information, athletic ineligibility information, and right to appeal to state board of education a denial of a request based on repeated acts of harassment or a serious health condition of the student that the district cannot adequately address To be done by 9/30 via school newsletter, newspaper of general circulation, or parent handbook Educational rights of homeless children and youth 281—IAC chapter 33 Rights of homeless children;  name of district’s homeless education coordinator Post at shelters and other locations where services to such folks are likely to be provided Fees 281—IAC chapter 18 Procedures on charging fees, written notice of fees, waiver policy (including income guidelines) Must be distributed at the time of registration or enrollment

Last Updated ( Friday, 30 November 2007 )