1. It is the policy of this state to provide equal opportunity in school district, area education agency, and community college employment to all persons. An individual shall not be denied equal access to school district, area education agency, or community college employment opportunities because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or physical or mental disability. It also is the policy of this state to apply affirmative action measures to correct deficiencies in school district, area education agency, and community college employment systems where those remedies are appropriate. This policy shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purposes.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 19B.11

  • Affirmative action: means action appropriate to overcome the effects of past or present practices, policies, or other barriers to equal employment opportunity. See Iowa Code 19B.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The director of the department of education shall actively promote fair employment practices for all school district, area education agency, and community college employees and the state board of education shall adopt rules requiring specific steps by school districts, area education agencies, and community colleges to accomplish the goals of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action in the recruitment, appointment, assignment, and advancement of personnel. Each school district, area education agency, and community college shall be required to develop affirmative action standards which are based on the population of the community in which it functions, the student population served, or the persons who can be reasonably recruited. The director of education shall consult with the department of administrative services in the performance of duties under this section.
 3. Each school district, area education agency, and community college in the state shall submit to the director of the department of education an annual report of the accomplishments and programs of the district, agency, or community college in carrying out its duties under this section. The report shall be submitted between December 15 and December 31 each year. The director shall prescribe the form and content of the report.
 4. The director of the department of education shall prepare a compilation of the reports required by subsection 3 and shall submit this compilation, together with a report of the director’s accomplishments and programs pursuant to this section, to the department of management by January 31 of each year.