We posted the link to the state special education guidance documents in last week's update. Please make note in your Area Education Agency Special Education Procedures Manual dated July 25, 2013, of two needed corrections:
1.) On page 406 the following information should read: An IEP team may elect to provide a trial out of all special education services and supports. A 45-day trial out may be initiated at either a Review or Reevaluation type of IEP meeting. A reevaluation IEP meeting must be held at the conclusion of the trial. The trial is calling the question of continued need, and therefore, eligibility for special education and this may only be done in the content of a reevaluation process.
2.) On page 149, IEP Changes Matrix, the second bullet under the column heading "Revaluation" and the row of "When it is Required" should read: Exit from special education services when terminating student due to completion of IEP/no longer eligible (exit code RRG).
We anticipate these items to be corrected in the next version of the Area Education Agency Special Education Procedures Manual, expected to be released January 2014.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Supported Browsers for Web IEP
The Web IEP system was updated to a new version on July 1, 2013. It is important that educators are using web browsers that support the new system. Using a non-supported browser may result in lost data or problems storing data. The supported browsers are the following:
For the Window platform:
Questions about Web IEP reporting may be directed to Misty Christensen, Assistant Director of Special Education, at mchristensen@heartlandaea.org.
For the Window platform:
- Windows Vista or Windows 7
- Internet Explorer 9.x
- Firefox 16.0 and above
- Firefox 16.0 and above
Questions about Web IEP reporting may be directed to Misty Christensen, Assistant Director of Special Education, at mchristensen@heartlandaea.org.
School Counselor Site Visit Preparation
Are you wondering what is included in the DE Site visit? Join Beth Happe, School Improvement Consultant from the Department of Education and Sue Schirmer for a workshop in preparing your K-12 School Counseling & At-Risk program for the DE Site Visit on September 17, 2013 from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Room 18 at the Johnston Regional Center (6500 Corporate Drive). Click here to register.
Use the sharing functions below to email this post to interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.
Use the sharing functions below to email this post to interested teachers or post on your professional blog, Twitter, Facebook or Google+ pages.
Important ESL Updates and Information
Lau Plans
New this year: You will be asked to add the Lau Plan to the C-plan. The Lau Plan is another name for your district's ESL Plan. Please add the plan you already have and if you do not have one, please indicate that on the C-plan. The Lau Plan (ESL plan) is something that every district must have even if you do not have an English language learner in your district. Please do not rush to write or re-write a plan this year. The state is more interested in knowing what is currently in place. A committee will be reviewing these plans in order to identify the types of supports the AEA can offer. If you have questions about this, please contact one of Heartland AEA’s ESL/Diversity consultants (see below).
TELPA
Click here for the memo from Dave Tilly, Deputy Director at the Iowa Department of Education, referencing the Tennessee English Language Placement Assessment (TELPA), the required ESL placement screener.
Higher Education
Click here for information on a new ESL professional development opportunity from University of Iowa.
Heartland AEA ESL Advisory/Networking Meetings
All Heartland AEA area district/school are invited to send a representative(s) to quarterly ESL Advisory/Networking meetings. Participants identify professional development needs and provide input on Title III support for the school year. They also find out firsthand about mini grant opportunities for implementation in their districts. Meeting will be held in the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive), Room 13B from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on the following dates:
September 3, 2013
December 3, 2013
February 4, 2014
May 6, 2014
ICLC
The Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) registration is now open. More information will be coming on the Title III support the AEA will offer for attendance. District teams are encouraged to attend. Click here for conference information.
New Teachers
If you have a few teachers in your district who want to gain knowledge on sheltered instruction, encourage them to take a look at the online class offered by Pearson. Heartland AEA Title III funds will pay for the registration of $250 and provide a $200 stipend for teachers completing the virtual class. There is a process to complete to be eligible for this reimbursement so please have them contact Pat Latham for more details. Click here for information from Pearson about the class.
For more information about any of the above items or Heartland AEA-provided supports for English language learners, contact:
Stephaney Jones-Vo, ESL/Diversity Consultant
(800) 255-0405 ext. 14680
sjonesvo@heartlandaea.org
Pat Latham, ESL/Diversity Consultant
(800) 255-0405 ext. 11228
platham@heartlandaea.org
New this year: You will be asked to add the Lau Plan to the C-plan. The Lau Plan is another name for your district's ESL Plan. Please add the plan you already have and if you do not have one, please indicate that on the C-plan. The Lau Plan (ESL plan) is something that every district must have even if you do not have an English language learner in your district. Please do not rush to write or re-write a plan this year. The state is more interested in knowing what is currently in place. A committee will be reviewing these plans in order to identify the types of supports the AEA can offer. If you have questions about this, please contact one of Heartland AEA’s ESL/Diversity consultants (see below).
TELPA
Click here for the memo from Dave Tilly, Deputy Director at the Iowa Department of Education, referencing the Tennessee English Language Placement Assessment (TELPA), the required ESL placement screener.
Higher Education
Click here for information on a new ESL professional development opportunity from University of Iowa.
Heartland AEA ESL Advisory/Networking Meetings
All Heartland AEA area district/school are invited to send a representative(s) to quarterly ESL Advisory/Networking meetings. Participants identify professional development needs and provide input on Title III support for the school year. They also find out firsthand about mini grant opportunities for implementation in their districts. Meeting will be held in the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive), Room 13B from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on the following dates:
September 3, 2013
December 3, 2013
February 4, 2014
May 6, 2014
ICLC
The Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) registration is now open. More information will be coming on the Title III support the AEA will offer for attendance. District teams are encouraged to attend. Click here for conference information.
New Teachers
If you have a few teachers in your district who want to gain knowledge on sheltered instruction, encourage them to take a look at the online class offered by Pearson. Heartland AEA Title III funds will pay for the registration of $250 and provide a $200 stipend for teachers completing the virtual class. There is a process to complete to be eligible for this reimbursement so please have them contact Pat Latham for more details. Click here for information from Pearson about the class.
For more information about any of the above items or Heartland AEA-provided supports for English language learners, contact:
Stephaney Jones-Vo, ESL/Diversity Consultant
(800) 255-0405 ext. 14680
sjonesvo@heartlandaea.org
Pat Latham, ESL/Diversity Consultant
(800) 255-0405 ext. 11228
platham@heartlandaea.org
Using PPEL to Cover Internet Connectivity Costs
Many administrators and tech directors are under the impression that districts can't pay for Internet connectivity costs out of Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). The thought is that you can pay for connectivity equipment such as a router or a switch, but not the Internet service itself.
However, on the Department of Education's website, in the FAQ in the declaratory order about how you can fund computing purchases, it states:
Question: Can a district pay for contracted technology services from PPEL?
Answer: Yes, as long as the cost, whether stand alone or part of a bundle, meets the definition of technology in this Declaratory Order, meets the $500 per unit (stand-alone unit or bundled technology unit, as applicable) cost threshold in PPEL, and is in reality a license renewal fee; a technical assistance support contract; an internet subscription license or fee; or a cable or satellite service.
Nicole Proesch (nicole.proesch@iowa.gov) of the DE indicates that you can, indeed, spend PPEL funds, as long as the amount of the agreement is over $500. Districts can also use their sales tax funds (SAVE) for Internet subscriptions, as long as technology was listed in their revenue purpose statement (RPS).
From Nicole:
However, on the Department of Education's website, in the FAQ in the declaratory order about how you can fund computing purchases, it states:
Question: Can a district pay for contracted technology services from PPEL?
Answer: Yes, as long as the cost, whether stand alone or part of a bundle, meets the definition of technology in this Declaratory Order, meets the $500 per unit (stand-alone unit or bundled technology unit, as applicable) cost threshold in PPEL, and is in reality a license renewal fee; a technical assistance support contract; an internet subscription license or fee; or a cable or satellite service.
Nicole Proesch (nicole.proesch@iowa.gov) of the DE indicates that you can, indeed, spend PPEL funds, as long as the amount of the agreement is over $500. Districts can also use their sales tax funds (SAVE) for Internet subscriptions, as long as technology was listed in their revenue purpose statement (RPS).
From Nicole:
"Any Internet subscription from any provider which meets the definition of “technology” as defined in rules and law would be allowable from PPEL if it meets the more than $500 per purchase/transaction threshold. So an annual subscription probably will be more than $500. Month-to-month is just a purchased service cost and would not likely meet the more than $500 for each monthly purchase. A district needs to look at the contract to determine the length of the district’s obligation for that service and the total costs in the contract, because districts might make payments monthly on an annual or multi-year contract. That would be different than simply paying a monthly bill that the services can be terminated or cancelled by the district. SAVE can be used for any PPEL purposes if that is the language the district used in its RPS."
Agency’s Annual Progress Report Approved by Dept. of Education
This summer, the Agency's Annual Progress Report (APR) for the 2011-2012 school year was approved by the Iowa Department of Education. Click here to view the report.
Heartland AEA Provided News Clips
Each morning, the Heartland Communications Department provides links to local and national education news headlines. We call this service "news clips." " If you would like to receive the news clips via email, please email the Heartland Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us with the subject line of "Add Me to News Clips."
Some media sources require digital access subscriptions. News clips receivers are responsible for setting up their own digital access for these media sources. Heartland AEA is unable to provide this digital access for our news clips receivers. We thank you for your understanding.
Some media sources require digital access subscriptions. News clips receivers are responsible for setting up their own digital access for these media sources. Heartland AEA is unable to provide this digital access for our news clips receivers. We thank you for your understanding.
Student Invitation to the United States Senate Youth Program
Each year two Iowa students have the opportunity to spend a week in Washington, D.C. The William Randolph Heart Foundation pays all expenses. In addition, the two Iowa high school representatives each receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Selection of the two Iowa high school representatives is based on the outstanding ability and demonstrated leadership qualities of elected junior and senior high school student officers for the 2013-14 school year.
Each high school may nominate up to three students. Student application materials are available on the Iowa Department of Education website at http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=939&catid=671&Itemid=1225#application.
Click here for student application materials. Please submit the completed applications to Terri Barnes, Heartland AEA USSYP contact, at the Johnston AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, Iowa by 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2013. Nominees will take a qualifying examination on October 21, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. in Conference Room 18 at the Johnston AEA REC on the U.S. Constitution and government. The award recipients will be announced in December.
Contact your AEA USSYP contact, Terri Barnes (tbarnes@heartlandaea.org) or Stephanie Rosenberg Wager (stefanie.rosenbergwager@iowa.gov) at the Iowa Department of Education for information.
TeachIowa.gov Job Posting and Applicant Website
Hundreds of job openings at school districts and AEAs have been posted to TeachIowa.gov so far. The new education reform law requires public schools and AEAs to post all job vacancies to the system. The system is optional for nonpublic schools.
For more information, please visit http://www.teach.iowa.gov or contact Marietta Rives at marietta.rives@iowa.gov or (515) 281-6038 or Julie Carmer at julie.carmer@iowa.gov or (515) 281-7144.
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