Opinion ID: 485697
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: equivalent instruction

Text: 52 Section 299.1 also provides that the instruction children receive from a certified teacher must be equivalent to that offered by the public schools. At the time of trial, the term equivalent instruction was not specifically defined anywhere in the Iowa Code or regulations, although the state was in the process of promulgating such regulations. Plaintiffs challenged the equivalent instruction requirement on vagueness grounds, and the state argued to the district court, as it does here, that other statutes sufficiently define the term. The district court rejected the state's contention, based upon statements by the Iowa Supreme Court indicating that Court's rejection of them as well. 602 F.Supp. at 317-18; Johnson v. Charles City Community Schools Board of Education, supra, 368 N.W.2d at 79-80. We agree with the district court's conclusion that the other statutes cited by the state do not cure the vagueness problem inherent in the otherwise undefined term equivalent instruction. 53 In large measure as a result of the Charles City litigation, however, the state has recently promulgated regulations entitled Equivalent Instruction Standards, which became effective February 6, 1986. Iowa Admin.Code 670-63.1 to 63.4. These standards specify the minimum curriculum to be offered in grades one through eight, including for example courses in English, mathematics and science. Id. The state argues that these regulations have effectively rendered its appeal from the district court's decision moot, but we believe the proper course is to remand this portion of the case to the district court for further consideration in light of the newly adopted standards.