Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF2015

Introduced
1/8/24  
Introduced
1/8/24  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to applicant priority and grant award amounts under the teach Iowa scholar program.

Impact

With the amendments introduced by SF2015, the amount that an eligible teacher can receive under the program increases from $4,000 to $6,000 per year. Furthermore, the total cap on the amount an applicant can receive over a five-year period is raised from $20,000 to $30,000. This change is significant as it allows for greater financial assistance, potentially attracting more individuals into the teaching profession, especially those who may have previously found it financially unfeasible.

Summary

Senate File 2015 focuses on the expansion and modification of the teach Iowa scholar program, which aims to incentivize teachers to work in the state. The bill proposes to prioritize grant applicants who are both minority individuals and residents of Iowa, thereby promoting diversity within the state's teaching workforce. It modifies the eligibility criteria to ensure that teaching professionals who belong to minority groups receive preferential treatment, thereby reflecting a commitment to equity in educational staffing.

Contention

While the bill aims to foster a more supportive environment for minority applicants, it may provoke discussions regarding fairness and inclusiveness in the grant awarding process. Some may view the prioritization of minority applicants as a necessary step towards inclusivity, while others could argue that it potentially overlooks qualified applicants who do not fit these criteria. Therefore, the bill might raise important questions about how best to balance equity with meritocracy in education funding.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA SSB1049

A bill for an act relating to education, including eligibility for grants under the teach Iowa scholar program, licenses issued by the board of educational examiners, and the use of revenues from the district management levy, and including applicability provisions.(See SF 392.)

IA SF392

A bill for an act relating to education, including eligibility for grants under the teach Iowa scholar program, licenses issued by the board of educational examiners, and the use of revenues from the district management levy, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 1049.)

IA SF116

A bill for an act relating to certain specified skilled trades, including modifying provisions related to economic development authority internship programs, the Iowa summer youth corps program, college student aid commission programs, the senior year plus program, the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics collaborative initiative established at the university of northern Iowa, and curricula provided in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools to include the skilled trades, and including applicability provisions.

IA SF560

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force to study issues related to programs for at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1212.) Effective date: 06/01/2023, 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 01/24/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA SF376

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa tuition grants program administered by the college student aid commission and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

IA HF6

A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board.(See HF 447.)

IA HSB556

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the national guard service scholarship program and establishing the national guard service continuing education scholarship program.(See HF 2323.)

IA SSB3071

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the national guard service scholarship program and establishing the national guard service continuing education scholarship program.

IA HF731

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 254.)

IA HSB254

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 731.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.