IowaIowa sets education funding and career school grant rules
For 2026–2027, Iowa sets work-study funding at zero, caps support for at-risk programs, and describes tuition grants for eligible private career schools.
What it does
Iowa residents with financial need may receive grants for approved programs at eligible private career schools. Full-time fall and spring grants cannot exceed $6,000 or the student's financial need.
The state provides no funding for its work-study program during fiscal year 2026–2027.
State funding for programs serving at-risk children is capped at $10,524,389, with any reduction spread among the covered programs.
The governor vetoed one-time funding meant to encourage school districts to buy cybersecurity services; the rest of the bill was approved.
Argument forMore students at eligible private career schools could receive tuition grants, which may help them pay for approved job-training programs.
Argument againstSome students and programs could have less state support because the bill sets work-study funding at zero and caps funding for at-risk children.
More detail
Students attending eligible private career schools may receive vocational-technical tuition grants. Eligible institutions include qualifying private Iowa schools of barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences. Students must be Iowa residents, show financial need, and attend an eligible institution. Full-time grants for fall and spring cannot exceed $6,000 or the student's financial need; summer grants are half that amount. Part-time grants are prorated. Students must reapply each year, and the school must confirm they are attending.
The state sets work-study funding at zero for the fiscal year. This applies to the state-funded work-study program administered by the College Student Aid Commission. The zero-funding amount applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The state caps funding for programs serving at-risk children. The cap covers state-funded programs for at-risk children administered by the Department of Education. The reduction is divided among the programs named in existing law. The cap applies during fiscal year 2026–2027, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The governor disapproves the one-time school cybersecurity funding provision; the rest of the bill is approved. The disapproved provision would have offered state funding to encourage school districts to subscribe to cybersecurity services. The veto applies to Division 11, Section 2(33), and its associated funding. The governor signed the bill and vetoed this provision on June 2, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2Item vetoed, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds.Became Law
- May 18Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.To Governor
- May 2NOBA: Final
- May 1Explanation of vote.
- May 1Explanation of vote.
- May 1Explanation of vote.
- May 1Explanation of vote.
- May 1Explanation of vote.
- May 1Explanation of vote.
- Apr 30Message from Senate.
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8442, to amendment H-8439, be adopted? Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8446, to amendment H-8439, be adopted? Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8443, to amendment H-8439, be adopted? Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8444, to amendment H-8439, be adopted? Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall the bill pass? Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Shall amendment H-8439, as amended, be adopted? Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 30Immediate message.
- Apr 30Passed Senate, yeas 27, nays 15.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 30Substituted for SF 2482.
- Apr 30Read first time, attached to SF 2482.Minor
- Apr 30Message from House.
- Apr 30Immediate message.
- Apr 30Passed House, yeas 58, nays 27.Passed 1st Chamber
- Apr 30Amendment H-8395 out of order.
- Apr 30Amendment H-8439, yeas 59, nays 25, adopted, as amended.
- Apr 30Amendment H-8446 to amendment H-8439, yeas 30, nays 55, filed, lost.
- Apr 30Amendment H-8444 to amendment H-8439, yeas 25, nays 60, filed, lost.
- Apr 30Amendment H-8443 to amendment H-8439, yeas 26, nays 59, filed, lost.
- Apr 30Amendment H-8442 to amendment H-8439, yeas 26, nays 59, filed, lost.
- Apr 30Amendment H-8445 to amendment H-8439 filed, adopted.Major
- Apr 30Amendment H-8439 filed.Minor
- Apr 21NOBA: House Full Approps
- Apr 21Amendment H-8395 filed.Minor
- Apr 21Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.Introduced
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