Senate File 2057 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2057 BY KRAAYENBRINK A BILL FOR An Act requiring public and private accredited elementary, 1 secondary, and postsecondary institutions to establish a 2 process by which students may appeal coursework grades based 3 on alleged political bias. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5812XS (2) 88 kh/jh

S.F. 2057 Section 1. Section 260C.14, Code 2020, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 25. Develop and implement an appeals 3 process by which a student attending the community college 4 may appeal a grade, issued by an instructor employed by the 5 community college, on coursework completed by the student to 6 determine whether the instructor has a political bias that 7 affected the student’s grade. 8 Sec. 2. Section 261.9, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 9 1, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows: 10 “Accredited private institution” means an institution of 11 higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately 12 and not controlled or administered by any state agency or 13 any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in 14 paragraphs “a” and “b” and all of the criteria in paragraphs “d” 15 through “i” “j” , except that institutions defined in paragraph 16 “c” of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of 17 paragraphs “a” and “b” : 18 Sec. 3. Section 261.9, subsection 1, Code 2020, is amended 19 by adding the following new paragraph: 20 NEW PARAGRAPH . j. Develops and implements an appeals 21 process by which a student attending the institution may appeal 22 a grade, issued by an instructor employed by the institution, 23 on coursework completed by the student to determine whether the 24 instructor has a political bias that affected the student’s 25 grade. 26 Sec. 4. Section 261.9, subsection 3, unnumbered paragraph 27 1, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows: 28 “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher 29 learning located in Iowa which is operated privately and 30 not controlled or administered by any state agency or any 31 subdivision of the state, which is not exempt from taxation 32 under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and which 33 meets all of the criteria in subsection 1 , paragraphs “d” 34 through “i” “j” , and the criteria in paragraphs “a” or “b” as 35 -1- LSB 5812XS (2) 88 kh/jh 1/ 2

S.F. 2057 follows: 1 Sec. 5. Section 262.9, Code 2020, is amended by adding the 2 following new subsection: 3 NEW SUBSECTION . 39. Develop and implement an appeals 4 process by which a student attending an institution of higher 5 education governed by the board may appeal a grade, issued 6 by an instructor employed by the institution, on coursework 7 completed by the student to determine whether the instructor 8 has a political bias that affected the student’s grade. 9 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION . 280.18 Appeals process —— political 10 bias. 11 The board of directors of each school district and the 12 authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school 13 shall develop and implement an appeals process by which a 14 student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic 15 school may appeal a grade, issued by a teacher employed by the 16 school district or accredited nonpublic school, on coursework 17 completed by the student to determine whether the teacher has a 18 political bias that affected the student’s grade. 19 EXPLANATION 20 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 21 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 22 This bill requires the boards of directors of school 23 districts and community colleges, the authorities in charge of 24 accredited nonpublic schools, accredited private institutions, 25 and the board of regents to establish a process by which 26 students may appeal coursework grades to determine whether the 27 teacher has a political bias that affected the student’s grade. 28 -2- LSB 5812XS (2) 88 kh/jh 2/ 2