Administrative Rules Process and Calendar
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- Step 1: Iowa Department of Education Drafts Proposed Rules
- Step 2: State Board Gives Notice of Intended Action
- Step 3: Notice of Intended Action Published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin
- Step 4: Department Receives Public Comment on the Notice of Intended Action
- Step 5: Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) Considers Notice of Intended Action
- Step 6: Department Drafts Final Rules
- Step 7: State Board Adopts Final Rules
- Step 8: Notice of Intended Action Published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin
- Step 9: The ARRC Considers the Final Rules
- Step 10: Adopted Rules Become Effective
- Questions About the Rule Making?
- Accommodation Requests
The Iowa State Board of Education (State Board) adopts rules relating to education law. The State Board may only adopt a rule for which it has statutory authority, and any rule it adopts must be consistent with that underlying statutory authority. The standard rule making process takes at least 108 days, but no more than 180 days (notice expires after 180 days). An emergency rule-making has a different timeline.
Step 1: Iowa Department of Education Drafts Proposed Rules
The Iowa Department of Education (Department) drafts proposed administrative rules for the State Board’s consideration, along with the background, purpose, substance and fiscal impact of proposed rules.
Step 2: State Board Gives Notice of Intended Action
A "yes" vote by the State Board of Education starts the administrative rules process. Formally, this means the State Board has filed a Notice of Intended Action. If the State Board votes "no" on the proposed rules, the process stops. The Department may restart the process.
Rules Awaiting Notice of Intended Action
The Department proposes the State Board give notice of its intent to adopt the following rules:
- 2022-03-24 Tab I: Rules: Chapter 25 - Gap Tuition Assistance (Notice)
- 2022-03-24 Tab J: Rules: Chapter 56 – Vocational Rehabilitation (Notice)
- 2022-03-24 Tab K: Chapter 66 – School-Based Youth Services (Notice/Rescind and Reserve)
Rules in this section will appear on the agenda of a future State Board meeting.
Step 3: Notice of Intended Action Published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin
The Administrative Code Editor, in conjunction with Department staff, prepares the Notice of Intended Action for publication in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin. Publication starts the period of public comment. There is a minimum of 20 days for public comment (Day 1 is the day after the proposed rules are published.).
Step 4: Department Receives Public Comment on the Notice of Intended Action
The Department receives public comment on the proposed rules for a minimum of 20 days. The Department may also hold a public hearing. If the Department holds a public hearing, the date, time, and place of the hearing is published in the Notice of Intended Action. The Department may schedule a hearing on or after the 20th day following publication of the Notice of Intended Action.
Rules Open for Public Comment
The State Board has given notice of its intent to adopt the following proposed rules:
None at this time.
To make public comment on any of these rules, you may appear at the scheduled public hearing or submit comments using the Admin Rules website, email or in writing by the deadline.
Administrative Rules Coordinator
Grimes State Office Building, Second Floor
400 E 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0416
Phone: 515-281-8661
Fax: 515-242-5988
Email: thomas.mayes@iowa.gov
Step 5: Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) Considers Notice of Intended Action
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, which is 10 members of the Legislature (5 House, 5 Senate), reviews the Notice of Intended Action. The Department presents a summary of the proposed rules and answers questions from ARRC members. Public comment is allowed.
Step 6: Department Drafts Final Rules
The Department drafts final administrative rules for the State Board of Education’s consideration, along with the background, purpose, substance and fiscal impact of proposed rules. The Department considers any public comment the Department receives.
Public Comment Closed
The public comment period is closed for the following rules:
- ARC 6182C High school programs; flexible student and school support program; accountability framework, amendments to ch 12
- ARC 6183C Standards for teacher intern preparation programs, 77.8(5)“a,” 77.10(7), 77.11(2)
- ARC 6184C Open enrollment—criteria for failure to reasonably respond to a student’s failure to meet academic standards, 17.5(3)
- ARC 6185C Supplementary weighting plan for operational function sharing—special education director, 97.7(10)"c"
Step 7: State Board Adopts Final Rules
The State Board may act on the proposed rules 15 days after the close of the public comment period (and 35 days after the notice is published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin). The State Board has 5 options:
- Adopt the rules as noticed
- Adopt rules without substantial changes
- Make substantial changes and re-notice
- Request additional public hearings
- Take no action and let the Notice of Intended Action expire (180 days after publication of notice)
Rules Awaiting State Board Adoption
The Department is recommending the State Board adopt the following rules at a future State Board meeting:
- 2022-03-24 Tab B: Rules: Chapter 77 (Standards for Teacher Intern Preparation Programs) (Adopt)
- 2022-03-24 Tab C: Rules: Chapter 97 (Supplementary Weighting) (Adopt)
- 2022-03-24 Tab L: Rules: Chapter 12 – General Accreditation Standards (Adopt)
Step 8: Notice of Intended Action Published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin
The adopted rules changes are published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin.
Step 9: The ARRC Considers the Final Rules
ARRC reviews adopted rules. The Department presents a summary of the adopted rules, a summary of public comment and the Department’s response to that public comment, and answers questions from ARRC members. Public comment is allowed. ARRC has several options at this stage. The most commonly used options are:
- Take no action and allow the rules to go into effect
- Approve a “session delay”, which delays the effective date of the adopted rules until the end of the General Assembly’s next regular session
- Approve a day of the effective date of the adopted rules for 70 days
- Object to the adopted rules, which eliminates the presumption that the rule is legally valid if the rule is ever challenged in court
- Refer the adopted rule to the General Assembly. This does not delay the effective date of the adopted rule, but it lets the legislature know it may want to act on the adopted rules.
Recently Adopted Rules
Adopted at the Nov. 17. 2021 State Board meeting and published Dec. 15, 2021:
- ARC 6078C Charter schools, adopt ch 19; amend ch 68
- ARC 6079C Supplementary weighting—English language learners, 60.2, 60.6(1)"a"
- ARC 6080 Supplementary weighting plan for operational function sharing; teacher leader supplement; flexible student support program, 97.7, 98.25(3), 98.27
Adopted at the Aug. 5, 2021 State Board meeting and published Aug. 25, 2021:
- ARC 5866C Independent private instruction—restriction from certain forms of online learning, 15.6, 15.8(4), 15.10
- ARC 5867C Interscholastic athletic contest eligibility, 36.15
- ARC 5868C Private instruction, amendments to ch 31
- ARC 5869C Voluntary diversity plans; open enrollment, 17.2 to 17.9, 17.11(4), 17.13, 17.14
- ARC 5870C Terminology—deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, individuals who are blind or visually impaired, amendments to chs 31, 41, 56, 120
- ARC 5871C Senior year plus program—student eligibility, Internet-based coursework, review of proposals, 22.2(2)"b," 22.28, 22.33(3)"c"
Step 10: Adopted Rules Become Effective
The earliest an adopted rule becomes effective is 35 days after the adopted rule was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin (Step 8). The adopted rules may specify a later effective date.
Questions About the Rule Making?
If you have questions about the rule making process or particular rules, contact:
Administrative Rules Coordinator
Grimes State Office Building, Second Floor
400 E 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0416
Phone: 515-281-8661
Fax: 515-242-5988
Email: thomas.mayes@iowa.gov
Accommodation Requests
If you need reasonable accommodations because of a disability to participate in the rule making process, contact:
Administrative Rules Coordinator
Grimes State Office Building, Second Floor
400 E 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0416
Phone: 515-281-8661
Fax: 515-242-5988
Email: thomas.mayes@iowa.gov