The ISCA Board met in September and discussed the legislative priorities for 2017. Jim Obradovich, one of the lobbyists from The Capital Group, joined in the discussion. ISCA is entering the third year of working with The Capital Group Lobbyists. One of the primary goals will continue to be building relationships with our legislators and educating them about the role of the school counselor. ISCA's representation at the capital has increased, and legislators are more aware of how school counselors are involved in many of the educational, legislative issues. ISCA also has an Advocacy Committee of around 50 members from around the state. The Advocacy Committee and the ISCA board are members we rely on to communicate with their legislators on urgent and important issues. Legislative priorities identify critical issues in state policy. These priorities will serve as a focal point for advocacy efforts of the Iowa School Counselor Association.

• ISCA supports funding in any legislative initiative that is mandated.
• School Counselors are leaders in issues of preventive actions and reactive responses.

• The Iowa Code presently mandates all K-8 and 9-12 schools have a school counselor. Mandated School Counselor-to-student ratio: School districts must be working toward a 1:350 ratio for all levels.

• ISCA supports the funding for AEA's.
  
• All AEA's have a contact to work with school counselors. However, there is an inequity in professional development opportunities for school counselors across the state.
  
• School counselors would support equitable and specific professional development opportunities for all school counselors.
  

• ISCA supports having school counselors involved in decisions regarding career and technical education for students.
• ISCA supports funding for any mandated initiatives.

• ISCA supports the potential for school counselors to be involved in active roles in the TLC programs in their buildings.
  

Other very important issues include the 3rd-grade retention for students and the School Counselor Evaluation Supplement.

ISCA Advocacy ALERT 2017 #3
Week of February 6, 2017

1. Happy National School Counseling Week! Use this week as a way to advocate for our great profession. Do something to bring about positive attention to your school counseling program! Enjoy the week and HAVE FUN!!
2. Registration for the Iowa ACAC and ISCA’s Visit the Hill Day on Thursday, March 9th is OPEN. Please register HERE. There is a $50 voucher available to bring your students. Ryan Wise will be sharing the keynote, and there will be several interesting sessions. Please join us!!
3. Please check out Becky Linn’s School Counselor Advocacy Effect Blog post. Becky represented Iowa at the ASCA SCOY (School Counselor of the Year) celebration in Washington, DC. Thank you for representing us!! Nominate a deserving school counselor for the ISCA SCOY! It is a wonderful experience!!
   

Report from The Capital Group
ISCA Lobbyist
Legislative Update
February 6, 2017

Bills of interest:
HF 140 - Common Core (M) - This bill makes voluntary the use by school districts of the core curriculum and content standards adopted by the state board of education, but continues to direct the state board of education to adopt the common core standards and high school graduation requirements.
Subcommittee: Not yet assigned.

HF 139 - Student Assessments (M) - This bill relates to statewide assessments approved by the state board of education and administered to students by Iowa’s school districts and requires that the state board’s rules specify that the Iowa assessments developed by Iowa testing programs are the approved district-wide assessments of student progress administered for purposes of the core academic indicators.
Subcommittee: Salmon, Dolecheck and Steckman.


HF 136 - Education Allowable Growth (A) - The bill establishes a state percent of growth of 1.11 percent for the budget year beginning July 1, 2017.
On House debate calendar.

HF 48 - Student Data Collection (M) - The bill requires the department to establish policies or student data collection, and to annually conduct an inventory of and categorize the data collected on students and the purposes for which the data is collected, and report its findings and recommendations to the general assembly by November 1, 2017, and by November 1 each succeeding year.
The department must also create a detailed student data security plan, a data breach plan, data retention or destruction plans, and guidelines for authorizing student and parental access to student data.
Subcommittee: Salmon, Gassman and Steckman.

HF 28 - Financial Literacy (M) - This bill adds a one-half unit course in personal finance literacy to the educational program each school district and accredited nonpublic school is required to offer in grades 9-12, and requires all students to take the course as a condition of graduation.
Subcommittee: Carlin, Mommsen and Staed.

HSB 17 - School Employee Discipline (M) - This bill adds to the list of disciplinary actions taken against a licensed school employee that are required to be reported to the board of educational examiners. The bill adds to the list being on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity involving students while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal drugs, or alcohol.
Approved by Education Committee.

SF 166 - Education Allowable Growth (A) - The bill establishes a state percent of growth of 1.11 percent for the budget year beginning July 1, 2017.
Approved by the Senate 28-21.

SF 30 - Core Curriculum (M) - This bill eliminates requirements and references to the Iowa common core or core curriculum and to core content standards, but continues to direct the state board of education to adopt high school graduation requirements and assessment standards.
Subcommittee: Johnson, Hart and Kraayenbrink.

SSB 1017 - School Employee Discipline (M) - This bill adds to the list of disciplinary actions taken against a licensed school employee that are required to be reported to the board of educational examiners. The bill adds to the list being on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity involving students while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal drugs or alcohol.
Approved by subcommittee.

SSB 1001 - Statewide Assessments (M) - This bill strikes a requirement that the state board’s rules provide that for the school year beginning July 1, 2017, and each succeeding school year, all students enrolled in school districts in grades 3 through 11 shall be administered an assessment during the last quarter of the school year that 18 assesses student progress on the core academic indicators. This is an issue we will continue to monitor.
Approved by subcommittee.