Iowa Code 279.77 – Transparency — publication of school district information
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1. Each school district shall publish all of the following information related to the current school year on the school district’s internet site:
a. A detailed explanation of the procedures or policies in effect for the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district to request the removal of a book, article, outline, handout, video, or other educational material that is available to students in the classroom or in a library operated by the school district. Each school district shall prominently display the detailed explanation on the school district’s internet site.
b. A detailed explanation of the procedures or policies in effect to request the review of decisions made by the board of directors of the school district, including the petition process established pursuant to section 279.8B.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 279.77
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Internet: means the federated international system that is composed of allied electronic communication networks linked by telecommunication channels, that uses standardized protocols, and that facilitates electronic communication services, including but not limited to use of the world wide web; the transmission of electronic mail or messages; the transfer of files and data or other electronic information; and the transmission of voice, image, and video. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Internet site: means a specific location on the internet that is determined by internet protocol numbers, by a domain name, or by both, including but not limited to domain names that use the designations ". See Iowa Code 4.1
- person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Property: means a tangible object, animate or inanimate, under a museum's care which has intrinsic historic, artistic, scientific, or cultural value. See Iowa Code 305B.2
- School: means an agency of the state or political subdivision of the state, individual, partnership, company, firm, society, trust, association, corporation, or any combination which meets any of the following criteria:a. See Iowa Code 261B.2
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Student: means a person who enrolls in or seeks to enroll in a course of instruction offered or conducted by a school. See Iowa Code 261B.2
- year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
2. The board of directors of each school district shall adopt a policy describing the procedures for the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district or a resident of the school district to review the instructional materials used in classrooms in the school district. The policy shall include a process for a student’s parent or guardian to request that the student not be provided with certain instructional materials. The policy shall be prominently displayed on the school district’s internet site and the board of directors of the school district shall, at least annually, provide a written or electronic copy of the policy to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the school district. For purposes of this section, “instructional materials” means either printed or electronic textbooks and related core materials that are written and published primarily for use in elementary school and secondary school instruction and are required by a state educational agency or local educational agency for use by students in the student’s classes by the teacher of record. “Instructional materials” does not include lesson plans.3. Each school district shall make available on the school district’s internet site a comprehensive list of all books available to students in libraries operated by the school district. However, for school years beginning prior to July 1, 2025, if the school district does not use an electronic catalog, the school district may request a waiver from this requirement from the department of education.4. The identity of a parent or guardian who requests the removal of a book, article, outline, handout, video, or other educational material that is available to students in the classroom or in a library operated by the school district pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph “a”, shall be confidential and shall not be a public record subject to disclosure under chapter 22.5. This section shall not be construed to require a school district to do any of the following:a. Reproduce educational materials that were not created by a person employed by the board of directors.b. Distribute any educational materials in a manner that would infringe on the intellectual property rights of any person.