URBANDALE, Iowa The first school district to defy state guidelines for holding 50 percent in-person classes says it will continue to do so.
Urbandale's year-round Rolling Green Elementary School received temporary approval to start classes in late July entirely online, but was denied an extension after 10 days.
The school broke state guidelines Friday by continuing online only classes, and has confirmed it will move forward with the same structure until at least August 20th.
Governor Kim Reynolds has said schools that fail to conform to the 50 percent in-person requirement will not get credit for the online hours.
Three other metro districts - Des Moines, West Des Moines and Waukee - have also indicated they will start classes online only.
The West Des Moines and Urbandale Districts have sent letters to parents stating that state law gives authority for classroom decisions to be made on the local level. Waukee Superintendent Dr. Brad Buck is a former Director of the Iowa Department of Education.
The state and Governor Reynolds have referred to a law passed by the legislature this year as the source for the 50 percent in-person requirement.
The law passed by the legislature (SF 2310) does not have any such language.
But the state says the word "primarily" in the law limits online learning to 50 percent.
"The department's interpretation of primarily, it says online learning will not be the primary form of instruction," said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo. "Fifty-percent is a high level base line for primarily"