Bill > SF78

Introduced Session

This bill relates to certain specified skilled trades, including modifying provisions related to department of workforce development internship programs, the Iowa summer youth corps program, college student aid commission (CSAC) programs, the senior year plus program, the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM collaborative initiative) within the innovation division of the department of education, and curricula provided in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools to include skilled trades. Current law establishes the Iowa youth summer corps program within the Iowa commission on volunteer services. The program provides grants for projects that utilize a service-learning approach during the summer months to enhance student achievement and summer learning retention, teach meaningful job skills to Iowa youth, engage Iowa youth in their communities, provide positive youth development experiences, and address the needs of youth from families with low income. Under the program, the service-learning approach is to be integrated into the program using science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social studies, civic literacy, or other appropriate curricula identified by the department of education (DE). The bill establishes that the service-learning approach may also be integrated into the program using curricula related to the skilled trades. Current law requires the department of workforce development to establish an internship program that assists in placing Iowa students studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into internships that lead to permanent positions with Iowa employers. The bill provides that this program shall also assist in placing Iowa students studying skilled trades, including trades related to welding, machinist technology, tool and die making, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, automotive mechanics technology, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology (skilled trades) into internships that lead to permanent positions with Iowa employers. Current law requires that students enrolled in school districts and charter schools in grades 9 through 12 receive instruction in certain career and technical education service areas, including applied sciences, technology, engineering, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, logistics, architecture, and construction. The bill provides that such instruction also include curricula related to the skilled trades. Current law also establishes that these career and technical education service areas be incorporated into the career exploration and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools in grades seven and eight. Current law establishes the STEM collaborative initiative within the innovation division of the department of education. The purpose of the STEM collaborative initiative is to support activities related to recruitment of mathematics and science teachers for ongoing mathematics and science programming. The bill establishes that another purpose of the STEM collaborative initiative is to support activities related to the recruitment of teachers for ongoing programming related to the skilled trades. The bill requires the STEM collaborative initiative to, among other duties, prioritize student interest in achievement in the skilled trades and identify, recruit, prepare, and support the best skilled trades teachers. The bill also requires the innovation division to collaborate with community colleges to develop skilled trades professional development programs for community college instructors and to develop skilled trades curricula. Additionally, the bill requires the STEM collaborative initiative to administer regional networks for Iowa to provide enrichment opportunities related to the skilled trades, a focused array of the best skilled trades enrichment opportunities that can be expanded to meet future needs, and statewide skilled trades programming. Current law establishes the national guard service scholarship program within the CSAC. The program provides annual awards to Iowa national guard members who attend eligible Iowa colleges and universities. The bill requires the adjutant general to submit a report to the governor and the general assembly listing the career fields related to the skilled trades that the adjutant general plans to focus on in providing educational incentives under the program and under the national guard STEM-related recruitment and retention incentive program. The bill establishes that the adjutant general may authorize the expenditure of unencumbered or unobligated funds under the national guard service scholarship program to recruit or retain individuals who have completed or are pursuing training in occupational specialties related to the skilled trades. This provision applies to applications submitted to the CSAC on or after the effective date of the bill. Current law establishes the teach Iowa scholar program within the CSAC. The program provides qualified Iowa teachers with awards for teaching in Iowa schools in designated shortage areas. The bill establishes that criteria under the program include that an applicant be preparing to teach in fields relating to the skilled trades. This provision applies to applications submitted to the CSAC on or after the effective date of the bill. The bill requires all eligible postsecondary institutions providing programming under the senior year plus program to collect data and report to DE on the proportion of females and minorities enrolled in educational opportunities related to the skilled trades. The bill requires the science, technology, engineering, and math advisory council (STEM council) created by the governor by executive order to take certain actions, including use existing funding and programmatic support to provide opportunities for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 to experience science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through the skilled trades, authorize teachers participating in externship programs facilitated by the STEM council to participate in externship programs related to the skilled trades, and include and highlight the skilled trades as part of the STEM council’s efforts to promote educational opportunities related to science, technology, engineering, and math within this state’s education system and workforce.

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Molly Donahue (D)*, 

Subcommittee: Rozenboom, Donahue, and Kraayenbrink. S.J. 152. (on 01/28/2025)

Official Document