Bills › 91st General Assembly
Establishing the teacher and para-educator grant program within the department of workforce development, and making appropriations
Sponsored by Rep. Daniel Gosa (D), Rep. Bob Kressig (D), Rep. Mary Lee Madison (D), Rep. Larry McBurney (D), Rep. Brian Meyer (D), Rep. Ross Wilburn (D)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 16, 2026
- Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa would create a new grant program to help high school students and current para-educators pay for their college degrees and certificates. The state would provide money to help these individuals earn associate or bachelor's degrees. This program also allows people to count their time working under these grants toward their required student teaching experience.1
Read the official explanation
This bill establishes the teacher and para-educator grant program within the department of workforce development. The bill requires the department of workforce development to develop and administer the teacher and para-educator grant program to provide grants to two types of individuals: individuals who are currently enrolled in a high school in this state to offset the costs associated with obtaining a para-educator certificate from the board of educational examiners (BOEE) and an associate degree, and individuals who currently hold a para-educator certificate issued by the BOEE to offset the costs associated with obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The bill requires the department of workforce development, in consultation with the department of education, to adopt rules to administer the teacher and para-educator grant program.5 million from the general fund of the state to the department of workforce development for FY 2026-2027 for purposes of the program. Current law requires that a student be credited a minimum of 1 week, but not more than 10 weeks, of prior work experience as a substitute teacher or para-educator toward the requirements associated with the 14-week student teaching experience. The bill provides that prior experience under the teacher and para-educator grant program qualifies as such prior work experience.