Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-12.5 - Education program
The following education program standards shall be met by
schools and
(1)
Prekindergarten program .
Iowa Code section 256.11(1) is
incorporated by this reference.
(2)
Kindergarten program. Iowa Code section
256.11(2) is
incorporated by this reference. Any classroom serving students at least five
years of age by September 15 is considered kindergarten.
(3)
Elementary program, grades 1
through 6. Iowa Code section 256.11(3) is incorporated by this
reference. All content areas may be taught by the general education teacher in
the teacher's own classroom. In implementing the elementary program standards,
the following general curriculum definitions apply. It is locally determined
how to incorporate these content specifications into relevant standards and
benchmarks .
a.
English-language
arts. English-language arts are as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(28) and
256.9(49)
"a."
b.
Social studies. Social studies are as referenced in Iowa Code
section 256.7(26)
"a"(3).
c.
Mathematics. Mathematics
instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code section
256.7(28).
d.
Science. Science
instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code section 256.7(28).
e.
Health. Health
instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(26)
"a"(3) and 279.50.
f.
Physical education.
Physical education instruction will include movement experiences and body
mechanics; fitness activities; rhythmic activities; stunts and tumbling; simple
games and relays; sports skills and activities; and water safety.
g.
Traffic safety. Traffic
safety instruction will include pedestrian safety; bicycle safety; auto
passenger safety; school bus passenger safety; seat belt use; substance
education; and the application of legal responsibility and risk management to
these concepts.
h.
Music. Music instruction will include skills, knowledge, and
attitudes and will include singing and playing music; listening to and using
music; reading and writing music; recognizing the value of the world's musical
heritage; respecting individual musical aspirations and values; and preparing
for consuming, performing, or composing.
i.
Visual art. Visual art
instruction will include perceiving, comprehending, and evaluating the visual
world; viewing and understanding the visual arts; developing and communicating
imaginative and inventive ideas; and making art.
j.
Computer science.
Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under Iowa
Code sections 256.7(26)
"a"(4) and 256.9(61) is to be offered in at least one grade
level.
(4)
Grades 7 and 8. The following will be taught in grades 7 and 8
pursuant to Iowa Code section 256.11(4). If grade 6 is configured with grades 7
and 8, the grade 7 and 8 requirements apply. It is a local decision whether all
students are required to take visual arts or music. In implementing the grade 7
and 8 program standards, the following general curriculum definitions apply. It
is locally determined how to incorporate the content specifications into
relevant standards and benchmarks .
a.
English-language arts. English-language arts instruction is as
referenced in Iowa Code section
256.7(28).
b.
Social studies. Social
studies are as referenced in Iowa Code section
256.7(26)
"a"(3).
c.
Mathematics. Mathematics instruction is as referenced in Iowa
Code section 256.7(28).
d.
Science. Science
instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code section
256.7(28).
e.
Health. Health
instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(26)
"a"(3) and 279.50.
f.
Physical education.
Physical education will include the physical fitness activities that increase
cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility; sports and games;
tumbling and gymnastics; rhythms and dance; water safety; and leisure and
lifetime activities.
g.
Music. Paragraph 12.5(3)"h" applies, with the
addition of using music as an avocation or vocation.
h.
Visual art. Paragraph
12.5(3)"i" applies, with the addition of using visual arts as
an avocation or vocation.
i.
Career education. Career education instruction will include
exploration of employment opportunities, experiences in career decision making,
and experiences to help students integrate work values and work skills into
their lives. This paragraph does not apply to nonpublic schools. However,
nonpublic schools will comply with subrule 12.5(7).
j.
Computer science.
Computer science instruction incorporating the standards established under Iowa
Code section 256.7(26)
"a"(4) will be offered in at least one grade level.
k.
Secondary credit.
Secondary credit will be awarded as referenced in Iowa Code section
256.7(26)
"a"(1).
(5)
High school program, grades 9
through 12. In grades 9 through 12, a unit is a course or equivalent
related components or partial units taught throughout the academic year as
defined in subrule 12.5(13). The following will be offered and taught as the
minimum program as referenced in Iowa Code section
256.11(5). All
students in schools and school districts shall satisfactorily complete
requirements as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(26),
256.11(5)
"b" and"g," and
256.11(6)"c" in order to graduate. It is locally determined how to
incorporate the content specifications into relevant standards and benchmarks .
In implementing the high
a.
English-language arts (six
units). English-language arts instruction is as referenced in Iowa
Code section 256.7(28).
b.
Social studies (five
units). Social studies is as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(26)
"a"(3), 256.11(5)"b," and 280.9A.
c.
Mathematics (six units).
Mathematics instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(28) and
256.11(5)
"d" through"e," including:
(1) Four sequential units that are
preparatory to postsecondary educational programs.
(2) Two additional units.
d.
Science (five
units). Science instruction is as referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.7(28) and 256.11(5)
"a."
e.
Health (one unit). Health instruction is as referenced in Iowa
Code sections 256.7(26)
"a"(3),
256.11(5)"j," and 279.50.
f.
Physical education (one
unit). Physical education, as well as any exemption or excusal, is as
referenced in Iowa Code sections
256.11(5)
"g" and 256.11(18).
g.
Fine arts (two units).
Fine arts instruction will include at least two of the following:
(1) Dance. Dance instruction encompasses
developing basic movement skills, elementary movement concepts, study of dance
forms and dance heritage, participating in dance, evaluating dance as a
creative art, and using dance as an avocation or vocation.
(2) Music. Music instruction include skills,
knowledge, and attitudes and the singing and playing of music; listening to and
using music; reading and writing music; recognizing the value of the world's
musical heritage; respecting individual musical aspirations and values;
preparing for consuming, performing, or composing; and using music as an
avocation or vocation.
(3) Theatre.
Theatre instruction encompasses developing the internal and external resources
used in the theatre process; creating theatre through artistic collaboration;
relating theatre to its social context; forming aesthetic judgments; and using
theatre as an avocation or vocation.
(4) Visual art. Visual art instruction
includes developing concepts and values about natural and created environments;
critiquing works of art; evaluating relationships between art and societies;
analyzing, abstracting, and synthesizing visual forms to express ideas; making
art; and using visual art as an avocation or vocation.
h.
World language (two
units). The world language program will be a two-unit sequence of
uninterrupted study in at least one language, which may include American Sign
Language.
i.
Career and
technical education service areas-school districts (three units each in at
least four of the six service areas). A minimum of three sequential
units, of which only one may be a core unit, will be taught in four of the six
service areas as referenced by Iowa Code section
256.11(5)
"h"; Iowa Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 2; and
281-Chapter 46.
j.
Vocational education/nonpublic schools (five units). A
nonpublic school that provides an educational program that includes grades 9
through 12 will comply with Iowa Code section 256.11B.
k.
Personal finance literacy
(one-half unit). Iowa Code section 256.11(5)
"k" is
incorporated by this reference.
l.
Computer science (one-half unit). Iowa Code section
256.7(26)
"a"(4) is incorporated by this reference.
(6)
Exemption from physical education
course, health course, physical activity, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation
course completion. Exemptions from these activities are governed by
Iowa Code section 256.11(5)
"g" and 256.11(6).
(7)
Career education. Iowa
Code sections 256.9(42),
279.61, and
280.9 are incorporated by this
reference.
(8)
Age-appropriate, multicultural and gender-fair approaches to the
educational program . Iowa Code section
256.11 's provisions for an
age-appropriate, multicultural, and gender-fair program are incorporated by
this reference.
(9)
Special
education. The board of each school district shall provide special
education programs and services for its resident children that comply with
rules of the state board of education implementing Iowa Code chapters 256,
256B, 273, and 280.
(10)
Global education. Iowa Code section
256.11 's provisions for a
global education are incorporated by this reference.
(11)
Provisions for gifted and
talented students. Iowa Code sections
257.42 through
257.49 are incorporated by this
reference.
(12)
Provisions
for at-risk students. Iowa Code sections
280.19 and
280.19A are incorporated by this
reference.
(13)
Unit. A unit is a course that meets one of the following
criteria: it is taught for at least 200 minutes per week for 36 weeks; it is
taught for the equivalent of 120 hours of instruction; it requires the
demonstration of proficiency of formal competencies associated with the course
according to the State Guidelines for Competency-Based Education or its
successor organization, as effective on February 7, 2024; or it is an equated
requirement as a part of a flexible student and school support program filed as
prescribed in rule 281-12.9 (256). A fractional
unit will be calculated in a manner consistent with this subrule. Unless the
method of instruction is competency-based, multiple-section courses taught at
the same time in a single classroom situation by one teacher do not meet this
unit definition for the assignment of a unit of credit, unless otherwise
provided by Iowa Code section 256.11.
(14)
Credit. A student shall
receive a credit or a partial credit upon successful completion of a course
that meets one of the criteria in subrule 12.5(13). The board may award high
school credit to a student who demonstrates required competencies for a course
or content area in accordance with assessment methods approved by the local
board .
(15)
Subject
offering. Except as provided for under subrule 12.5(20), a subject is
regarded as offered when the teacher of the subject has met the licensure and
endorsement standards of the state board of educational examiners for that
subject; instructional materials and facilities for that subject have been
provided; and students have been informed, based on their aptitudes, interests,
and abilities, about possible value of the subject. A subject is regarded as
taught only when students are instructed in it in accordance with all
applicable requirements outlined herein. Subjects that the law requires schools
and school districts to offer and teach shall be made available during the
school day as defined in subrules 12.1(8) to 12.1(10).
(16)
Twenty-first century learning
skills. Twenty-first century learning skills are as referenced in Iowa
Code section 256.7(26)
"a"(3).
(17)
Early intervention
program. Iowa Code section
279.50(8) is
incorporated by this reference.
(18)
Physical activity.
a. Iowa Code sections 256.11(6) and
256.11 (18) are incorporated by
this reference. In no event may a school or school district reduce the regular
instructional time, as defined by "unit" in subrule 12.5(13), for any pupil to
enable the pupil to meet the physical activity requirement. However, this
requirement may be met by physical education classes, activities at recess or
during class time, and before- or after-school activities.
b. Schools and school districts must provide
documentation that pupils are being provided with the support to complete the
physical activity requirement. This documentation may be provided through
printed schedules, district policies, student handbooks, and similar
means.
(19)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation course completion.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation course completion requirements are as referenced
in Iowa Code section 256.11(6).
(20)
Contracted courses used to meet
school or school district requirements. Contracted courses used to
meet school or school district requirements are as referenced in Iowa Code
section 279.50A.
Notes
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