Relating to matters under the purview of the college student aid commission, including grant programs and the definition of accredited private institutions

This bill relates to the eligibility for grants under the teach Iowa scholar program. The teach Iowa scholar program, administered by the college student aid commission, provides grants to certain high-caliber, full-time teachers in Iowa in amounts not to exceed $4,000 annually or $20,000 over five years. Under current law, the eligibility criteria established by the commission for grants under the program include that the applicant was in the top percent academically of students exiting a teacher preparation program and the applicant is preparing to teach in certain specified fields. The bill modifies these provisions to provide that the applicant was in the top percent academically of students exiting a teacher preparation program and the applicant is preparing to become a teacher who provides classroom instruction in a school district, charter school, area education agency, or accredited nonpublic school located in the state. The bill provides that on or after July 1, 2022, the total value of grants awarded under the program to applicants who are preparing to become teachers who provide classroom instruction in a school district, charter school, area education agency, or an accredited nonpublic school shall be equally divided between applicants preparing to become teachers who provide classroom instruction in a school district, charter school, area education agency, or an accredited nonpublic school with less than or equal to 1,200 students and applicants preparing to become teachers who provide classroom instruction in a school district, charter school, area education agency, or an accredited nonpublic school with greater than 1,200 students. The bill authorizes the commission to award different amounts to each group of applicants if the amount requested by applicants of either group is less than the amount reserved for that group.