284.6A Computer science professional development incentive fund — legislative findings.

1. The general assembly finds and declares all of the following:

a. That instruction in high-quality computer science for elementary, middle school, and high school students establishes a foundation for personal and professional success in a high-technology, knowledge-based Iowa economy.

b. It is the goal of the general assembly that by July 1, 2019, each accredited high school offer at least one high-quality computer science course, each accredited middle school offer instruction in exploratory computer science, and each accredited elementary school offer instruction in the basics of computer science.

c. It is the intent of the general assembly to appropriate moneys for purposes of the computer science professional development incentive fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018.

2. A computer science professional development incentive fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the department. The department may accept gifts, grants, bequests, and other private contributions, as well as state or federal moneys, for deposit in the fund. If state, federal, or private moneys deposited in the fund are sufficient, the department may disburse moneys contained in the fund for professional development activities or tuition reimbursement as follows:

a. A school district or accredited nonpublic school, or a collaborative of one or more school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and area education agencies, may apply to the department, in the manner prescribed by the department, to receive moneys from the fund to provide proven professional development activities for Iowa teachers in the area of computer science education.

b. A school district or accredited nonpublic school may apply to the department, in the manner prescribed by the department, to receive moneys from the fund to provide tuition reimbursement for Iowa teachers seeking endorsements or authorizations for computer science under section 272.2, subsection 20.

3. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the computer science professional development incentive fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.

2017 Acts, ch 106, §3

Referred to in §256.7