Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF392

Introduced
2/23/23  
Refer
2/27/23  
Introduced
2/23/23  

Caption

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.)

Impact

The bill is set to modify the regulations surrounding teacher recruitment and retention. It allows school district boards to adopt programs incentivizing early retirement for teachers alongside recruitment and retention programs. Importantly, it limits annual incentives to 10% of the initial salary for new teachers and imposes a cap on the duration of such incentives to five budget years. These changes are expected to create a more competitive environment for attracting and retaining quality teachers in the state, addressing an ongoing challenge in the education sector.

Summary

Senate File 392 addresses several key aspects of education in Iowa, particularly focusing on the eligibility for grants under the Teach Iowa Scholar program and the processes for teacher licensure. The bill modifies existing legislation to include provisions for teacher recruitment and retention incentives, and establishes new criteria for the issuance of teaching licenses, making it easier for teachers to gain licensure if they have a job offer. This change is intended to support schools in hiring qualified educators more effectively.

Contention

Several notable points of contention arise from the bill's provisions. Critics may challenge the limitations imposed on recruitment incentives, arguing that they may not be sufficient to attract teachers in high-demand areas. Additionally, the offsetting provision that prohibits concurrent adoption of early retirement benefits and recruitment incentives within five budget years may lead to difficulties in balancing budgets and teacher needs. Concerns about the potential impacts on existing teacher morale and the ability of schools to retain skilled staff could also be significant topics of debate during discussions surrounding the bill.

Companion Bills

IA SSB1049

Related 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.)

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 HF255

A bill for an act modifying requirements related to teacher intern license programs and licenses and authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners and establishing a temporary initial teaching license to be issued by the board of educational examiners to applicants who complete an alternative teacher certification program. (Formerly HF 4.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA HF4

A bill for an act modifying requirements related to teacher intern license programs and licenses and authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners and establishing a temporary initial teaching license to be issued by the board of educational examiners to applicants who complete an alternative teacher certification program.(See HF 255.)

IA SF442

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 1100.)

IA HF787

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 147.) Effective date: 06/06/2025, 07/01/2025.

IA HF119

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to content specialist authorizations and career and technical secondary authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners and including applicability provisions.

IA SF450

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to mathematics instruction, practitioner preparation programs, and the duties of the director of the department of education, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 1092.)

IA SSB1100

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 442.)

IA HSB147

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, teacher preparation requirements, out-of-state placement of certain specified students requiring special education, the duties of the department of education, and minimum teacher salaries, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 787.)

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.

Similar Bills

IA HF430

A bill for an act relating to education, including requirements related to mandatory reporters, a process for investigating complaints against school employees, and the responsibilities of the department of education, school districts, charter schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and the board of educational examiners, modifying the membership of the board of educational examiners, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 10.) Effective date: 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 07/01/2023.

IA HF2487

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of certain specified school employees, complaints against school employees and the investigation of complaints against school employees, and the responsibilities of the department of education and the board of educational examiners. (Formerly HSB 568.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA HF2496

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.

IA HF2151

A bill for an act relating to education by modifying provisions related to a process for investigating complaints against school employees and the responsibilities of the department of education and the board of educational examiners.(Formerly HSB 566.)

IA SF2365

A bill for an act relating to education by modifying provisions related to a process for investigating complaints against school employees and the responsibilities of the department of education and the board of educational examiners.(Formerly SSB 3041.)

IA SSB3041

A bill for an act relating to education by modifying provisions related to a process for investigating complaints against school employees and the responsibilities of the department of education and the board of educational examiners.(See SF 2365.)

IA HSB566

A bill for an act relating to education by modifying provisions related to a process for investigating complaints against school employees and the responsibilities of the department of education and the board of educational examiners.(See HF 2151.)

IA SF369

A bill for an act requiring students to pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas. (Formerly SSB 1030.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.