Edited release
08/27/25
The Iowa Department of Education has announced a new round of competitive grants to support Iowa school districts in developing systems to identify and recognize teachers who significantly accelerate student learning.
The Teachers Accelerating Learning grant celebrates excellence in teaching and helps districts attract and retain top teachers. All Iowa public school districts that commit to developing and implementing a methodology for identifying and recognizing teachers who accelerate student learning beyond one year’s growth are eligible to apply.
This second round of grants significantly increases both the percentage of teachers who are eligible and the supplemental pay amounts available. In this round of funding, eligibility is expanded to 25% of teachers compared to 10% in the first round, and increases supplemental pay amounts up to $15,000 per educator compared to $2,500 in round one.
Applications for the Teachers Accelerating Learning grant will be accepted in IowaGrants.gov through September 19th.
Four Iowa school districts were previously awarded funding through the first pilot round of Teaching Accelerating Learning grants. Funds for the Teachers Accelerating Learning grant are provided through State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Additional information on the Teachers Accelerating Learning grant is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website, educate.iowa.gov.