HSB 519

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 teach at a school district, charter school, area education agency, or accredited nonpublic school located in the state. _____ who are preparing to teach in a school district shall be equally divided between applicants preparing to teach in a school district with less than or equal to 1,000 students and applicants preparing to teach in a school district with greater than 1,000 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.