1.Findings and intent. The general assembly finds that students whose first language
is not English, who have special needs, or who come from low-income backgrounds face
potential obstacles to learning. Schools across Iowa, both urban and rural, have increasing
numbers of students who face these challenges. Therefore, it is the intent of the general
assembly to provide supplemental assistance to the highest-need schools in Iowa to address
these challenges. This section provides for state assistance to allow school districts to
develop extended learning time programs, hire instructional support staff, provide additional
professional development, or supplement the salary of teachers in the identified schools.
2.Department’s responsibilities. The department shall do the following:
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
1. Findings and intent. The general assembly finds that students whose first language
is not English, who have special needs, or who come from low-income backgrounds face
potential obstacles to learning. Schools across Iowa, both urban and rural, have increasing
numbers of students who face these challenges. Therefore, it is the intent of the general
assembly to provide supplemental assistance to the highest-need schools in Iowa to address
these challenges. This section provides for state assistance to allow school districts to
develop extended learning time programs, hire instructional support staff, provide additional
professional development, or supplement the salary of teachers in the identified schools.
2. Department’s responsibilities. The department shall do the following:
a. Collect relevant data and establish a list of high-need schools eligible for state
supplemental assistance. The department shall establish a process and criteria to determine
which schools are placed on the list and the department shall revise the list annually. Criteria
for the determination of which high-need schools shall be placed on the list shall be based
upon factors that include but are not limited to the socioeconomic status of the students
enrolled in the school, the percentage of the school’s student body who are English learners,
student academic growth, certified instructional staff attrition, and geographic balance.
The department may approve or disapprove requests for revision of the list, which a school
district submits pursuant to subsection 3.
b. Develop a standardized process for distributing moneys appropriated for supplemental
assistance for high-need schools under section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph “g”, to school
districts. In determining the process for distribution of such moneys, the department shall
take into consideration the amount of moneys appropriated for supplemental assistance in
high-need schools for the given year and the minimal amount of moneys needed to increase
the academic achievement of students. A school district receiving moneys pursuant to this
section shall certify annually to the department how the moneys distributed to the school
district pursuant to this section were used by the school district.
c. Review the use and effectiveness of the funds distributed to school districts for
supplemental assistance in high-need schools under this section. The department shall
submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the general assembly by January 15
annually.
3. School district request for approval. A school district may request on an annual basis
approval from the department for additions to the list of high-need schools the department
maintains pursuant to subsection 2 based upon the unique local conditions and needs of the
school district. The criteria used to determine the placement of high-need schools on the list
in accordance with subsection 2 does not restrict the department from adding a high-need
school to the list as requested by a school district on the basis of unique local conditions and
needs pursuant to this subsection.
4. Moneys received and miscellaneous income. The distribution of moneys allocated
pursuant to section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph “g”, to a school district shall be made
in one payment on or about October 15 of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is
made, taking into consideration the relative budget and cash position of the state resources.
Such moneys shall not be commingled with state aid payments made under section 257.16
to a school district and shall be accounted for by the local school district separately from
state aid payments. Payments made to school districts under this section are miscellaneous
income for purposes of chapter 257. A school district shall maintain a separate listing within
its budget for payments received and expenditures made pursuant to this section.
5. Moneys received to supplement salaries. Moneys received by a school district
pursuant to section 284.13, subsection 1, paragraph “g”, shall be used to supplement and
not supplant the salary being received by a teacher in a high-need school, and shall not
be considered under chapter 20 by an arbitrator or other third party in determining a
comparison of the wages of teachers in that high-need school with the wages of teachers in
other buildings or in another school district.