Click here for a letter dated August 28, 2009 from Kevin Fangman, Iowa Department of Education, referencing screening and testing of ESL students. As stated in this letter, Title III funds may not be used to pay for placement or screener exams (e.g., IPT or LAS). It is very important, however, that your district continues to use one of these testing instruments to identify students in need of ESL services. As referenced in the letter, Heartland AEA 11 will no longer be able to provide either of these screening instruments.
Your district may purchase the IPT from Ballard & Tighe, or the LAS from McGraw-Hill. If you have questions about ordering the IPT, please contact Pat Latham at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14681. You may choose either the IPT or LAS instrument to use as your placement exam.
If you have questions, please contact Pat Latham (contact information above) or Stephaney Jones-Vo at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680. If you have concerns, please contact the Iowa Department of Education Title III consultant, John Scott, at (515) 281-3805.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Iowa Core Update
The Heartland Iowa Core team received clarification and answers to several questions that were raised during the April Leadership for the Iowa Core training sessions. For more information, contact Linda Biermann Hoobin, lhoobin@aea11.k12.ia.us.
1. The first response is related to questions about fields that were proposed to be added to the EdInfo site for implementation plan submission. Only one new field will be added this year. It will be “Evidence of Progress.” Page 55 of the Iowa Core Self-Study and Implementation Plan handbook provides the definition of evidence of progress. It states, “Describe what evidence will be used to show progress related to the outcome and related targets/actions. Depending on the outcome and the desired results, the evidence will be gathered and organized at the district, building, and/or classroom level. This evidence will be an extension of the data considered when the Self-Study was conducted and should expand on what is already known about the district in relation to the outcome(s) and related target/actions. It is important that there is continuity between outcomes, targets/actions and the data used to establish priorities and the evidence that is used to effectively chart progress and make appropriate adjustments to the work. The original evidence serves as the basis for monitoring the progress of the Implementation Plan as the activities are conducted. Evidence may include a combination of student data, data related to staff engagement and implementation, documents and artifacts demonstrating parent involvement and/or community involvement. If nothing will be initiated in the way of planning and/or implementation for an outcome until sometime after July 1, 2010, include a statement to that effect and refer to the target date for startup.” The Evidence of Progress field is slated to be added to EdInfo by May 1, 2010. The state network team will discuss “indicators of success” during the 2010-11 school year.
2. From the state network team, a response to a question about specially accredited schools. “Specially accredited” schools (those that do not have to do a CSIP or an APR) do not have to complete an implementation plan.
3. Iowa Core teams across the state have been asked to encourage districts not to use the term “ongoing” in their implementation plans; instead, consider using benchmarks in the timeline.
4. New information: Please delete the word “curriculum” and only use “Iowa Core”. A new logo has been developed.
5. Registration is still open for Heartland’s AEA 11 Summer Institute for Effective Instruction to be held at Johnston High School, June 15-17, 2010. The Institute will focus on actions from outcome 6 of the Iowa Core, including developing and sustaining collaborative teams and exploring the characteristics of effective instruction as identified in the Iowa Core. Register on the Heartland Professional Development Catalog on our website at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us. Enter activity number IS013932311101 in the correct field.
1. The first response is related to questions about fields that were proposed to be added to the EdInfo site for implementation plan submission. Only one new field will be added this year. It will be “Evidence of Progress.” Page 55 of the Iowa Core Self-Study and Implementation Plan handbook provides the definition of evidence of progress. It states, “Describe what evidence will be used to show progress related to the outcome and related targets/actions. Depending on the outcome and the desired results, the evidence will be gathered and organized at the district, building, and/or classroom level. This evidence will be an extension of the data considered when the Self-Study was conducted and should expand on what is already known about the district in relation to the outcome(s) and related target/actions. It is important that there is continuity between outcomes, targets/actions and the data used to establish priorities and the evidence that is used to effectively chart progress and make appropriate adjustments to the work. The original evidence serves as the basis for monitoring the progress of the Implementation Plan as the activities are conducted. Evidence may include a combination of student data, data related to staff engagement and implementation, documents and artifacts demonstrating parent involvement and/or community involvement. If nothing will be initiated in the way of planning and/or implementation for an outcome until sometime after July 1, 2010, include a statement to that effect and refer to the target date for startup.” The Evidence of Progress field is slated to be added to EdInfo by May 1, 2010. The state network team will discuss “indicators of success” during the 2010-11 school year.
2. From the state network team, a response to a question about specially accredited schools. “Specially accredited” schools (those that do not have to do a CSIP or an APR) do not have to complete an implementation plan.
3. Iowa Core teams across the state have been asked to encourage districts not to use the term “ongoing” in their implementation plans; instead, consider using benchmarks in the timeline.
4. New information: Please delete the word “curriculum” and only use “Iowa Core”. A new logo has been developed.
5. Registration is still open for Heartland’s AEA 11 Summer Institute for Effective Instruction to be held at Johnston High School, June 15-17, 2010. The Institute will focus on actions from outcome 6 of the Iowa Core, including developing and sustaining collaborative teams and exploring the characteristics of effective instruction as identified in the Iowa Core. Register on the Heartland Professional Development Catalog on our website at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us. Enter activity number IS013932311101 in the correct field.
See what the Heartland AEA Print & Production Services can do for you!
Although the Heartland AEA Print & Production services have undergone some changes in the past year, we would like to reassure you that the Agency is still able to provide printing, production and graphic design services for all public and accredited non-public schools in the Heartland area. Check out the array of services we offer by going to the Print & Production quick link on the front page of our newly redesigned website at http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us.
You may also click here to download our new booklet, A Guide to Heartland AEA Print & Production Services. The booklet details the many print and production services Heartland AEA provides. Please share this booklet with appropriate staff members. Hard copies of the booklets can be requested by e-mailing production@aea11.k12.ia.us.
To place an order for our services, we still ask that school personnel complete request forms. All forms are available for download from the Print & Production section of our website. Paper copies of our forms can be requested by contacting the Print Center at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14412 or printcenter@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Thank you for your past support of our Print & Production services, and we look forward to fulfilling your needs in the future.
You may also click here to download our new booklet, A Guide to Heartland AEA Print & Production Services. The booklet details the many print and production services Heartland AEA provides. Please share this booklet with appropriate staff members. Hard copies of the booklets can be requested by e-mailing production@aea11.k12.ia.us.
To place an order for our services, we still ask that school personnel complete request forms. All forms are available for download from the Print & Production section of our website. Paper copies of our forms can be requested by contacting the Print Center at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14412 or printcenter@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Thank you for your past support of our Print & Production services, and we look forward to fulfilling your needs in the future.
Invitation to Heartland AEA Retirement Reception
Click here for an invitation to a retirement reception being held May 21, 2010 for Heartland AEA retirees. Those being honored at the reception are the following
- Gayle Bortz, Speech-Language Pathologist (Knoxville office)
- Marlys Jordan, Agency Liaison School Social Worker (Johnston office)
- Jill Miller, Speech-Language Pathologist (Johnston office)
- Mary Tighe, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant (Guthrie Center office)
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