Iowa Core Curriculum News

Visit http://www.corecurriculum.iowa.gov/Home.aspx for updated information about the Iowa Core Curriculum now available on the Iowa Department of Education Web site.

Microsoft Settlement Monies

Heartland has not received any updates about the Microsoft Settlement. We will provide new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, here are a few reminders and dates to note.

• No invoices dated before August 16, 2009 will be eligible for voucher reimbursement.
• The approved product list will be posted shortly at http://www.iowaschoolmicrosoftsettlement.com/.
• The online application window for schools is April 15-May 15. It is recommended that schools choose the 360-day extension because the state does not know the settlement amount yet. As soon as the budget is determined, the schools can go back and complete the survey.
• There will be ICN sessions March 16-24 to explain the online application process. Copies of the ICN sessions will be available at the Heartland library.

Heartland AEA 11 Regional Physics Olympics

The Heartland AEA 11 Regional Physics Olympics competition will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at the Science Center of Iowa. For rules and registration information, go to the Heartland AEA 11 Regional Physics Olympics Web site, http://aea11.k12.ia.us/science/Physics_olympics/physics_index.html.

Please send completed forms and payment to:

Brenda Royer
Heartland AEA 11
6500 Corporate Drive
Johnston, IA 50131

Registration deadline date is March 13, 2009.

Questions can be directed to Peg Christensen, Science Consultant, at pchristensen@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-0405/(800)-255-0405, extension 14553.

New Features on the Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site

The Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site, http://iowaschoolleadership.org, now features a calendar view that provides a quick visual look at upcoming opportunities. The calendar is expected to help leaders in planning their own professional development, as well as assisting providers in scheduling professional development. The calendar view may be accessed from virtually any page in the site.

Finding professional development is also aided by expanded menu options on the site. In addition to the original alphabetical listing, the site also offers a listing of opportunities by intended audience and a listing by the school leader standard addressed by each offering. All three search methods are available in a tabbed menu in the right sidebar of each page.

In addition, Iowa school leaders may continue to subscribe to the mailing list to stay abreast of the latest professional development posted on the site. Sign-up is available on virtually any page on the site, below the menus in the right column.

The Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site offers a one-stop resource to locate professional development available from some of Iowa’s foremost providers.

Nine Iowa organizations are charter members of the project and are posting professional development opportunities that they sponsor. The partners are Area Education Agencies (AEA), Iowa Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (IASCD), Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Iowa Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Iowa Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE), Iowa Department of Education (DE), Iowa Leadership Academy (ILA), Iowa Superintendents Finance and Leadership Consortium (ISFLC) and School Administrators of Iowa (SAI). Other groups may be added in the future.

Professional Development for Iowa School Leaders Web site project is funded by an Iowa leadership grant from The Wallace Foundation. The grant funds several Iowa projects to improve and support school leader development with the goal of improving student achievement.