... such as those launched through the Governor's Science, Technology,. Engineering and Math Advisory Council and the St
Future Ready Iowa Act Overview January 2018
The purpose of the Future Ready Iowa Act is helping employers hire the skilled workforce they need and creating opportunities for more Iowans to have rewarding careers. The Future Iowa Alliance made recommendations in October 2017 to reach the ambitious goal of 70 percent of our workforce with education or training beyond high school by the year 2025. Governor Reynolds and Lt. Governor Gregg included the following Alliance recommendations in the Future Ready Iowa Act:
1.
Create the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship program. The Future Ready Iowa Last‐Dollar Scholarship program is for Iowans seeking postsecondary credentials up to associate degrees in approved programs of study or majors leading to designated high-demand jobs. Building on the existing Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant, the scholarship will be available to brand new high school graduates and adult learners who want to improve their skills and meet employer needs. At community colleges, the scholarship will cover tuition and mandatory institution-wide fees after federal and state financial aid are applied. At private colleges and universities, the scholarship cannot exceed average community college tuition and mandatory institution-wide fees. This is part of the FY19 policy bill, with the scholarship to start in the 2019-20 school year.
2.
Create the Future Ready Iowa Grant program. The Future Ready Iowa Grant program will provide an annual grant for Iowans with at least half the credits toward a bachelor’s degree leading to designated high-demand jobs. This is part of the FY19 policy bill, with the grant to start in the 2019-20 school year.
3.
Create a mentoring program for last-dollar scholarship and grant recipients. Last-dollar scholarship and grant recipients may choose to work with a volunteer mentor who can help them meet last-dollar scholarship and grant requirements and connect them to workbased learning and other career-related opportunities. This is part of the FY19 policy bill, with mentoring to start in the 2019-20 school year.
4.
Create the Iowa Employer Innovation Fund. The Iowa Employer Innovation Fund will encourage employers or community partnerships made up of employers, educators, nonprofits and others to strengthen the regional workforce talent pipeline with innovative proposals. Matching state dollars will be provided to the extent possible. This is part of the FY19 policy bill, with the fund to start in July 2019. 1
5.
Expand Iowa’s Registered Apprenticeship programs. This program will encourage small to mid-size businesses to start or grow Registered Apprenticeships, which help employers train highly skilled workers and let Iowans earn while they learn. Governor Reynold’s FY19 budget includes $1 million for this program.
6.
Launch a summer youth intern work-based learning pilot. This pilot will help young people at risk of not graduating from high school explore and prepare for high-demand careers, including the development of soft skills, through summer work experiences. Governor Reynold’s FY19 budget includes $250,000 for this program.
7.
Start summer shared enrollment program. This program will make it possible for students to earn high school and college credit in summer courses related to high-demand fields. Currently, students may do this only during the regular school year. Governor Reynold’s FY19 budget includes $600,000 for this program. Governor Reynolds’ FY19 budget also includes $250,000 to establish a statewide virtual clearinghouse to expand work-based learning.
The Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning will build on existing school-business partnerships, such as those launched through the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Advisory Council and the Statewide Work-Based Intermediary Network, by creating a virtual space to connect employers and educators who want to engage in high-quality, in-depth work-based learning projects. Recognizing that local, face-to-face partnerships offer advantages but are not always available the clearinghouse will facilitate distance partnerships across Iowa. This is particularly important in rural areas with fewer employers and for schools with significant challenges related to poverty.
2
