2023 Iowa Code 284.11 – State supplemental assistance for high-need schools
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.
The department shall do the following:
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.
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.
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.