Relating to the teach Iowa scholar program, including modifying eligibility provisions and establishing funding allocations

This bill relates to the teach Iowa scholar program, including modifying eligibility provisions and establishing funding allocations. The teach Iowa scholar program provides selected applicants an annual grant of up to $4,000 for each year of full-time employment as a teacher in this state, not to exceed $20,000 over a five-year period. Eligible applicants must be preparing to teach in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; English as a second language or special education instruction; or a hard-to-staff subject as identified by the department of education. Under current law, applicants must have been in the top 25 percent academically of their teacher preparation program. The bill strikes the eligibility requirement that applicants be in the top 25 percent academically of students exiting a teacher preparation program. The bill requires that for each fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2026, of the moneys awarded pursuant the teach Iowa scholar fund, 20 percent be awarded to eligible teachers who provide special education instruction, and 50 percent be awarded to eligible classroom teachers who are employed by a rural school district. The bill defines “rural school district” as a school district with a certified enrollment of fewer than 1,000 students.