Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the teach Iowa scholar program, including modifying eligibility provisions and establishing funding allocations
Sponsored by the House Appropriations (successor To Hsb 648) Committee
Topics:State budgetK–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 16, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeMarch 31, 2026
- Done: House committeeApril 1, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseApril 8, 202691–1
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- 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 The Teach Iowa Scholar program gives grants to people training to become teachers in specific subjects like math, science, or special education. This bill removes the requirement that students must be in the top 25 percent of their class to qualify for the money. It also sets rules to make sure a certain amount of the funding goes specifically to special education teachers and teachers working in small rural school districts.1
Read the official explanation
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.
Why it matters. Students preparing to teach in specific subjects like STEM, special education, or English as a second language can access grants of up to $4,000 annually for up to five years without needing to be in the top academic percent of their program. Starting July 1, 2026, the state will set aside specific percentages of these funds for special education teachers and classroom teachers working in rural school districts with fewer than 1,000 students.2
Changed since by amendment H-8330; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named April 14, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 10, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Family tree
Study bill
91st General Assembly