Establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations

This bill establishes the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program within the college student aid commission for purposes of providing tuition reimbursement to teachers to offset the costs associated with obtaining an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners. A teacher is eligible for the program if the teacher works in a school in this state, or in an area education agency, and the teacher is working toward obtaining an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement. The bill requires applicants for tuition reimbursement under the program to complete and file an application for tuition reimbursement, file a new application and submit information as required by the commission annually, and complete and return an affidavit of practice verifying the applicant is teaching in an Iowa school or an area education agency. The bill provides that an individual shall be eligible for tuition reimbursement under the program for not more than two years. The bill establishes the total amount of tuition reimbursement that the commission may provide to a recipient. The bill establishes an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program fund and appropriates $335,000 to the fund in FY 2025-2026. The bill also establishes reporting requirements for the commission related to the program. The commission is required to adopt rules to administer the program.