HB 1707-1_ Filed 04/23/2003, 19:22

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

DIGEST FOR EHB 1707



Citations Affected: IC 20-1-1.1-11.

Synopsis: Title I paraprofessionals; waivers from federal law. Conference committee report for EHB 1707. (This committee report specifies that the department of education is the agency that: (1) identifies and disseminates to school corporations the criteria that Title I paraprofessionals must meet under federal statutes; and (2) determines the assessment that is required of certain paraprofessionals under federal statutes. Authorizes the department to seek waivers from provisions of the federal "No Child Left Behind" statutes that conflict with Indiana school accountability provisions if the U.S. Department of Education allows states to seek waivers.)

Effective: July 1, 2003.



CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

MR. PRESIDENT:
    Your Conference Committee appointed to confer with a like committee from the House upon Engrossed Senate Amendments to Engrossed House Bill No. 1707 respectfully reports that said two committees have conferred and agreed as follows to wit:

    that the House recede from its dissent from all Senate amendments and that the House now concur in all Senate amendments to the bill and that the bill be further amended as follows:

    Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SOURCE: IC 20-1-1.1-11; (03)CC170701.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 20-1-1.1-11 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]: Sec. 11. (a) As used in this section, and for purposes of compliance with Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 6319 et seq.), "paraprofessional" means an employee of a school corporation who provides instructional support in a program supported with Title I, Part A funds.
    (b) The department shall identify and disseminate to school corporations the criteria for meeting paraprofessional requirements under 20 U.S.C. 6319 et seq., including the following requirements:
        (1) A paraprofessional must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
        (2) A paraprofessional must meet the conditions of employment determined by the school corporation.
        (3) This subdivision applies to a paraprofessional who was hired after January 8, 2002. In addition to the requirements set forth in subdivisions (1) through (2), at the time the

paraprofessional is hired, the paraprofessional must have:
            (A) completed at least two (2) years of study at an institution of higher education;
            (B) obtained at least an associate's degree; or
            (C) met a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrated knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing in the academic areas of reading, writing, and mathematics through a formal academic assessment determined by the department in consultation with the professional standards board.
        (4) This subdivision applies to a paraprofessional who was hired before January 9, 2002. The paraprofessional must meet the requirements of subdivision (3) before January 9, 2006.
    (c) A school corporation:
        (1) shall use federal funds to support ongoing training and professional development to meet the requirements of this section; and
        (2) may use federal funds for the payment of fees for the assessments required under this section.

SOURCE: ; (03)CC170701.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003] (a) Because the general assembly has determined that:
        (1) the provisions of P.L.221-1999 are a comprehensive and thorough education reform plan that set high academic standards in a manner uniquely tailored for Indiana; and
        (2) certain provisions of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2002 may overlap with P.L.221-1999 in a manner that causes an unnecessary amount of bureaucracy and administrative confusion;
if the United States Department of Education authorizes states to seek waivers from provisions of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2002, the Indiana department of education may, after consulting with the state board of education and the education roundtable, seek waivers for those provisions of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2002 that conflict with P.L.221-1999.
    (b) This SECTION expires June 30, 2008.

    (Reference is to EHB 1707 as reprinted April 9, 2003.)




Conference Committee Report

on

Engrossed House Bill 1707



Text Box

S

igned by:


    ____________________________    ____________________________
    Representative Klinker Senator Alting
    Chairperson

    ____________________________    ____________________________
    Representative Scholer Senator Sipes

    House Conferees    Senate Conferees


CC170701/DI 109
2003