DES MOINES – A group of Democratic lawmakers presented legislation Monday that would help pay a portion of college tuition for low-income students who keep up their grades and stay out of trouble.

“We’re very hopeful this program will get legs and pass this year,” said Rep. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, one of the bill’s architects. “The program will teach our students about personal responsibility, increase parent involvement in education and reward students who work hard and play by the rules.”

The proposal is modeled after a scholarship program in Indiana, and is aimed at increasing the number of children who go to college.

The measure targets seventh and eighth graders who are eligible for free or reduced priced lunches, or who are in the state’s foster care system.

Those students sign an agreement to maintain a “C” average, avoid drugs, alcohol and brushes with the law.

In exchange, the state will pay the difference between the cost of tuition and the amount of state and federal student aid a student receives. Eligible students would be able to go to a community college, one of the state’s public universities or a private college.

A pair of ISU students said they thought the measure would help level the playing field for all Iowans who want college degrees.

“Sounds like a cool idea to me,” said Bradey McDeid, a senior in liberal studies. “I think there’s too much inequality in this world, and people born into shitty circumstances often have a hard time opening up opportunities, whether it’s because they’re from a poor family or they don’t have a family at all.”

McDeid said he thought the requirements for staying out of legal trouble were unfair, but he said most students with federal financial aid face similar circumstances.

“People who get federal aid lose it if they’re caught with marijuana, so I understand why that would be in there,” he said.

Catherine Teed, senior in elementary education, said she completely supports the bill.

“I think this sounds like a really good way to go,” Teed said. “I think it’s important to encourage kids who need help, to encourage them to achieve and give them a better chance at getting an education.”

She said she agrees with the demand that students maintain a “C” average and avoid legal trouble.

Roberta Johnson, director of student financial aid, said although she hadn’t read the bill yet, she supports opportunities for students to receive more financial aid.

“Any time we can get additional aid for our students, it’s a good thing,” she said.

Petersen said about 10,000 students would be eligible for the program.

“This would be a tremendous benefit to communities that have a relatively high poverty rate,” said Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk.

Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, said a companion measure will be introduced in the Senate.

Petersen said there is a huge need for the measure because the state lags in the rate of children going to college. She said rankings show Iowa 37th in the nation in the number of 25-year-olds with a college degree.

She said attending college is the best way to boost the earning potential of low-income students. Studies have shown that college graduates earn far more than those with only a high school degree, she said.

“We’re going to help them break the cycle of poverty in their families, something that so many families so desperately would like to do,” Petersen said.

– Daily Staff Writer, Fred Love, contributed to this article.