Administrator Connection: 2014

Friday, December 19, 2014

Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Click above for an e-card (with sound) from chief administrator Paula Vincent wishing you all a happy holiday season! (Click the full screen button in the right hand corner to expand.)

125 School Districts Chosen for Teacher Leadership System, 20 From Heartland AEA Area

Today Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck announced the next group of school districts chosen to launch local teacher leadership plans through Iowa’s new Teacher Leadership and Compensation System.

This effort to tap into the expertise of top teachers to improve classroom instruction and raise student achievement is the centerpiece of the state’s landmark education reform package passed by the Legislature in 2013. The system paves the way for more support and greater collaboration for all teachers to learn from each other instead of operating largely in isolation within their classrooms.

Buck said 170 school districts from across the state applied to join the teacher leadership system in the second round.

Of those, 125 school districts were chosen to put in place local plans – 74 of them during the 2015-16 school year and another 51 during the 2016-17 school year. The school districts serve a mix of urban, suburban and rural communities. The 125 selected districts join 39 other districts that were chosen to implement the first teacher leadership systems this fall. The goal is to have all Iowa school districts participate in the optional system by 2016-17, Buck said.

School districts were chosen based on recommendations of the Commission on Educator Leadership and Compensation, which evaluates the applications.

Teacher leadership plans promise to help students learn more by better meeting their individual needs. They also will attract and retain more effective teachers by enhancing career opportunities and paying stipends for taking on extra responsibilities.

“The more I visit schools that are implementing teacher leadership plans, the more convinced I am that this system will improve learning and achievement for all students,” Buck said.

The entire list of grant-winning schools can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.

Data collection for Smarter Balanced Readiness Coming in January

This message has been sent to superintendents and tech directors, but is being reposted as an added measure.

Dear Technology Directors, Curriculum Directors and School Administrators:

As you may know, the Iowa Assessment Task Force is finishing up its legislatively mandated work and voted recently to recommend to the Legislature that the state implement the Smarter Balanced Assessment suite as our state assessment starting with the 2016-17 school year. It’s unclear what action the Legislature may take based on the recommendation, but we understand there are questions about how ready Iowa schools will be to give an online assessment. This is an important question for Iowa to consider at this time because most states are moving to online testing programs. To this end, the Department, in collaboration with the AEAs, will conduct a brief survey of school districts to help Iowa answer this question. The survey will be sent to you in early January.

Please work within your districts to determine who will be responsible for collecting the information to ensure the information can be collected in a timely manner once the survey is sent. Thank you in advance for your help with this important information collection.

Dave Tilly and Lisa Wilson

TAF Announcement Out & Applications Due Jan. 20

Applications for Teaching Ambassador Fellowship and Principal Ambassador Fellowship at the U.S. Department of Education have been released!

Recognizing that teachers and principals are the most trusted sources of information about education policy for policymakers, the Teaching and Principal Ambassador Fellowships serve to connect ED's programs, policies, and resources directly to the field.

Since 2008, the Department has employed 87 outstanding teachers on a full- or part-time basis through the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship program. Last year, ED piloted a Principal Ambassador Fellowship that brought in three talented principals.

The Washington Fellowship is a full-time appointment, based at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Classroom Fellowship enables teachers and principals to participate on a part-time basis, while allowing them to fulfill their regular school responsibilities.

Learn more about the Teaching and Principal Ambassador Fellowships. The application window for the coming school year closes on January 20, 2015 at 11:59 p.m., ET.

BoEE January 2015 Superintendent Notes

The BoEE has released their January Superintendent Notes early as there have been changes to the substitute authorization, activities director and special education endorsement regulations that took effect earlier this week.

Capitol Girls Event Set for Feb. 11

The 6th annual Capitol Girls event, a collaboration between the Office on the Status of Women and the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, has been set to occur on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. Registration is now available.

Capitol Girls is a chance for high school age girls (9th-12th grade) to spend a day at the Capitol shadowing female legislators to learn more about State government and to foster women in leadership roles. Girls will also be able to meet legislators from their home district, hear from the Lt. Governor, and tour the capitol.

Attached is the flyer for this year’s event which contains the link to the registration page. Please forward it on to anyone you believe would be interested, and feel free to contact me with questions.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Reminder: Chapter 62 Resources Now Available

This fall a variety of resources have been shared for implementation of Chapter 62. Many of these resources have been pulled into a Google Drive folder for easy access. It may be helpful to bookmark the link as additional resources will be added throughout the year. Some of the resources in the folder include:

DE Parent notification template and family partnership tools
DE guidance documents for Early Literacy Implementation
Q & A for Chapter 62, September 2014
Archived Zoom session facilitated by Heartland AEA on 11/3/2014

28 Days of OLLIE Coming this February!

Mark your calendars! 28 Days of OLLIE is coming! Starting Feb. 1, 2015 and lasting throughout February, AEA PD Online kicks off its brand new OLLIE online community for teachers. Part of their Online Learning for Iowa Educators (OLLIE) series, the community provides educators resources, live events, discussions, sharing and networking with other educators. It is the perfect learning place for teachers looking to add blended or flipped learning to their classroom.

During the 28 Days of OLLIE, they will have daily events, activities and even contests with prizes, where you can get acclimated to the community. Be sure to check out the AEA PD Online website in the upcoming weeks for more details.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Happy Holidays!

Letter to Parents about Early Literacy

A note from Brad Buck, Director of the Iowa Dept. of Education

Dear Colleagues,

I'm very proud of our hard work as an education system to make sure all children read well by the end of third grade. Communicating this work to parents and asking for their support is an important piece of our early literacy efforts in Iowa. That's why I'm writing to ask for your help in distributing the attached letter from me to parents in your area.

This letter explains why we are focusing on early literacy in Iowa, how the early warning system for literacy is helping students improve their reading skills as directed by a 2012 state law, and where families can find reading resources to help at home. The letter also brings attention to the parental notification component of the 2012 law.

Thank you in advance for your efforts to distribute this letter to parents using the communication tools you see fit, including email, online parent portals, newsletters and websites.

As the letter to parents emphasizes, it's critical that we all work together to improve literacy -- especially in kindergarten, first and second grades -- because prevention, not retention, is what everyone wants.

Respectfully,
Brad

Apply for Teach Iowa Scholar Award

The Teach Iowa Scholar Program provides qualified first-year Iowa teachers with awards of up to $4,000 a year, for a maximum of five years, for teaching in Iowa schools in designated shortage areas. This year, qualified teachers are those currently teaching in designated shortage areas under their first contracts in Iowa schools. The Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid) is seeking applications from teachers who graduated from teacher education programs during the 2013-14 academic year. For more information and to apply, please go to Iowa College Aid’s website.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Broken iPad? Call Heartland AEA!

Heartland AEA is pleased to now offer a repair service for iPads that are no longer under warranty. Our repair technician should be able to repair any iPad model, but we are not currently providing repairs for iPhones.

We will use our van delivery service to pick up and drop off iPads, but schools are always welcome to bring them directly to our repair technician at our Johnston Regional Education Center. During the school year, we anticipate an approximate turn around time of 2 weeks, counting pickup and delivery.

For items that need repaired, please complete the Equipment Repair Form and attach a hard copy to each iPad. After repairs are completed, we will return the iPad(s) via our vans, and we will send a repair invoice to your school business office.

Many districts use Specialty Underwriters to pay for repairs. If you plan to use Specialty for your iPad repairs, please get a purchase order from them ahead of time and send a hard copy of that order with the iPad(s) you need repaired. Remember that we also need that information on the Equipment Repair Form for each item you send to us.

Contact your Tech Coordinator or visit our website for more information.

New Family & Community Engagement Toolkit Available on Agency Website

Purpose of Family & Community Engagement
To ensure that the students of today are ready for the careers of tomorrow, families, schools and community groups need to work together to promote engagement that is systemic, sustained and integrated into school improvement efforts.

Research over the past 30 years has shown that engaging families in their children’s education increases student achievement and decreases dropout rates. Effective family engagement is not a one-time program or the choice of a good school, but rather a set of day-to-day practices, attitudes, beliefs and interactions that support learning at home, at school, after school and during the summer. - SEDL National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools

Family & Community Engagement ties directly Heartland AEA’s goals: Growth, Gaps, Graduation and Gateways. “The evidence is consistent, positive and convincing: families have a major influence on their children’s achievement. (Gaps) When schools, families and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer and like school more.” (Growth/Graduation) This statement summarizes the conclusions of A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement, the most recent comprehensive review of the research.

Key findings include:

Students whose families are involved in their learning earn better grades, enroll in higher-level programs, have higher graduation rates and are more likely to enroll in post-secondary education. (Graduation/Gateways)
When families take an active interest in what they’re learning, students display more positive attitudes towards school and behave better both in and out of school.
Children do best if parents can play a variety of roles in their learning: helping at home, volunteering at school, planning their children’s future and taking part in key decisions about the school program.
Children from diverse cultural backgrounds tend to do better when families and school staff join forces to bridge the gap between home and school cultures.

Purpose of the FCE Toolkit Family engagement is a shared responsibility of families, schools, and communities for student learning and achievement; it is continuous from birth to young adulthood; and it occurs across multiple settings where children learn. Toward that end, the Family & Community Engagement Toolkit provides users with resources, tools and opportunities to:

Connect (make positive connections with families)
Engage (create opportunities for families to be fully engaged)
Sustain (strategies for staying connected and keeping families/community engaged) How can the toolkit help?

How can we put these findings into action?

Recognize that all parents—regardless of income, education or cultural background are involved in their children’s learning and want their children to do well.
Design programs that will support families to guide their children’s learning, from preschool through high school.
Develop the capacity of school staff to work with families.
Link efforts to engage families, whether based at school or in the community, to student learning.
Focus efforts to engage families and community members on developing trusting and respectful relationships.
Embrace a philosophy of partnership and be willing to share power with families.
Make sure that parents, school staff and community members understand that the responsibility for children’s educational development is a collaborative enterprise.
Build strong connections between schools and community organizations.
Include families in all strategies to reduce the achievement gap among white, middle-class students and low-income students and students of color.

If you have any questions about the toolkit or its contents, contact Terry Mendell, Lead Parent Coordinator, at tmendell@heartlandaea.org or ext. 17135.

Heartland AEA Holiday Schedule

New this year, all Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24-Jan. 2. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to send and receive items through our van mail.

    Dec. 22 & 23 Regular Van Delivery
    Dec. 24-Jan. 2 No Van Delivery
    Jan. 5 Regular Van Delivery Resumes

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection blog updates on Dec. 26 or Jan. 2.

Spots Filling Quickly for ISFIS Budget Workshops

We were recently informed that the IFIS budget workshops are being quickly filled. The Heartland area afternoon session is already at capacity, but the morning session is not. The Heartland area workshop is scheduled for Jan. 27 at the Johnston REC (6500 Corporate Drive). The 2015 ISFIS Budget Workshops will leave superintendents and business managers with a thorough understanding of the best possible budget scenarios to set a desired tax rate and prepare a budget based on the status of legislative activity.

Morning session: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for newer Superintendents and Business Managers that would benefit from a little extra assistance

Afternoon session: 1-4 p.m. geared towards Superintendents and Business Managers that have been through the budget process before, want to get in and out, and do not anticipate needing much one-on-one help. You must complete the following worksheets BEFORE the session: FY14 Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2 AND FY15 Re-estimated Worksheet 1 and Worksheet 2

For those who didn't make the space for the afternoon session, IFIS is doing a session here in the metro on March 2. Register for a session here.

Upcoming Course for Those Working with Students with Challenging Behaviors

Your special education or early childhood staff may be interested in our course, Best Practices in Developing FBA/BIPs that Improve Outcomes for Students, coming Jan. 7 and 8. The course will focus on the design and development of quality functional behavioral assessments (FBA) and subsequent behavior intervention plans (BIP) to address the needs of children and youth who display inappropriate or challenging behaviors. Interested staff may register through the Heartland AEA PD Catalog.

Changes Coming to Substitute Authorization

Effective Dec. 17 all substitute authorization holders will be able to sub K-12. Previously, they could only substitute in the secondary level. All other sub regulations still apply.

Correction to Last Week’s Graduate Credit Policy Post

There was a misprint in last week’s update about the graduate credit policy change. All graduate credit courses must now include 30 hours of learning/application in addition to the 15 hours of collaborative team time. We apologize for the mix up. Also, we have added two workshop times in light of a request for workshops during the day.

There are two policy changes impacting the way we offer credits at Heartland AEA. They both go into effect July 1, 2015, but we want to alert you of these changes as you plan for your professional learning opportunities after that date.

LR/EDMA Policy Changes
1) All graduate credit courses must now include 30 hours of learning/application in addition to the 15 hours of collaborative team time.
2) All license renewal classes offered for graduate credit will need to include the 30 hours of learning/application in addition to the 15 hours of collaborative team time. (You may still offer a course for LR only, but if it is offered for graduate credit, the expectations for both LR and graduate credit will be the same.)

Instructor Meetings Scheduled
Because we anticipate many questions regarding the change and the process for rewriting courses, we are holding two instructor meetings in early February. This is entirely voluntary, however, we encourage you to register for one of the sessions to collaborate with other instructors, Heartland AEA and Drake University as we move to this change in practice. The sessions will be held at the Heartland AEA Johnston REC in room 107B as follows:

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 from 4-7 p.m.
Activity Number: MT000792111501

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Activity Number: MT000792111502

Monday, April 20, 2015 from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Activity Number: MT000792111503

Monday, April 20, 2015 from 1-4 p.m.
Activity Number: MT000792111504

Please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Dec. 2014 School Leader Update

The Iowa DE’s Dec. 2014 School Leader Update includes Director Brad Buck’s thoughts on the year coming to a close. Attorney Nicole Proesch writes about those pesky snow days. And you’ll want to know which schools in Iowa are the best of the best – all of them recipients of this year’s Breaking Barriers to Teaching and Learning Award.

Dec. 2014 Each and Every Child

The Dec. 2014 of Each and Every Child showcases the top school in Iowa when it comes to delivering a quality education for students on Individualized Education Programs. At the school – Davis Elementary in the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District – a full 82 percent of its students on IEPs are proficient in reading and math.

Iowa BOEE Nov. 2014 Newsletter

The Iowa BOEE's Nov. 2014 newsletter includes topics such as STEM scholarships, loan forgiveness, December grads, student overnight trips and more.

UNI's College of Education to host town hall meeting in Des Moines area

The University of Northern Iowa College of Education will host several town hall meetings across the state to discuss education in Iowa. The next meeting will be held in Johnston from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston.

Meetings will allow educators, parents, students, community leaders, lawmakers and others to join in the conversation about what is needed for the future of education. Topics will include recent Iowa education laws and how UNI is working to support these initiatives; the upcoming renovation of Schindler Education Center on UNI's campus and how it relates to the preparation of highly effective teachers for Iowa; UNI's new Center for Educational Transformation and its role in the future of education in Iowa; and what is needed for Iowa's students to be college-, career- and citizenry-ready.

Meetings will be held across the state from now until December. For more information, contact Dwight Watson, dean of the College of Education, at (319) 273-2717 or dwight.watson@uni.edu.

DMACC Surplus

DMACC West Campus has 18 round tables (42 in. diameter) and 7 booths (booths- 12 tables 48 x 30 and 24 benches) available for surplus. Please e-mail Julie Klocke at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu if interested.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Reminder: Applicants Sought for 2014 STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching

Recently, the 2014 STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching sponsored by Kemin Industries was launched to honor educators and their dedication to STEM education in Iowa.

This award will honor one teacher from each of the six STEM regions who will be awarded $1,500 with an additional $1,500 to be used in their classroom.

Anyone can submit a nomination online at stemaward.fluidreview.com from now until Dec. 12, 2014. After a teacher is nominated, they will be asked to fill out an application. They will have until Jan. 9, 2015 to send in their completed application. These forms will then be sent to a panel of judges who will select the six winners who will be announced at the Statewide STEM Conference in March 2015.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Agency Holiday Schedule

All Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public Dec. 24-Jan. 2. Please take note of the following schedule as you plan to send and receive items through our van mail.

    Dec. 22 & 23 Regular Van Delivery
    Dec. 24-Jan. 2 No Van Delivery
    Jan. 5 Regular Van Delivery Resumes

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection blog updates on Dec. 26 or Jan. 2.

Professional Learning Instructors: Changes for Offering Credit Courses through Heartland AEA

There are two policy changes impacting the way we offer credits at Heartland AEA. They both go into effect July 1, 2015, but we want to alert you of these changes as you plan for your professional learning opportunities after that date.

LR/EDMA Policy Changes
1) All graduate credit courses must now include 30 hours of learning/application in addition to the 15 hours of collaborative team time.
2) All license renewal classes offered for graduate credit will need to include the 30 hours of learning/application in addition to the 15 hours of collaborative team time. (You may still offer a course for LR only, but if it is offered for graduate credit, the expectations for both LR and graduate credit will be the same.)

Instructor Meetings Scheduled
Because we anticipate many questions regarding the change and the process for rewriting courses, we are holding two instructor meetings in early February. This is entirely voluntary, however, we encourage you to register for one of the sessions to collaborate with other instructors, Heartland AEA and Drake University as we move to this change in practice. The sessions will be held at the Heartland AEA Johnston REC in room 107B as follows:

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, from 4-7 p.m.
Activity Number: MT000792111501

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Activity Number: MT000792111502

Please contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Iowa Framework for School Counseling

Many schools are interested in updating the school counseling program but are finding it difficult to come to a class. There is now an online, self-paced course for the Iowa Framework for School Counseling. The course is housed on the AEA PD Online Training System and can be found under "Self-Paced Courses."

The course can be completed at your leisure. If you are just interested in working on one area at this time, you can do that at no charge. You will have to pay if you complete all the modules and want to submit for one license renewal credit.

We hope this is helpful to you as you work towards an ASCA Model program. We are interested in your feedback and comments can be sent to Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Summer Reading Program Input Needed

Message from the DE

If you were not able to attend the meeting on intensive summer reading programs hosted at our AEA with the Department of Education and the Iowa Reading Research Center we would like to provide you with an opportunity to review the information and provide input on a brief survey. The Department of Education and the Iowa Reading Research Center will be using this information as they work on producing the guidelines and criteria for summer reading programs.

Below you will find a link to a Zoom meeting that was recorded for Keystone and a link to the survey that asks for your input on key aspects of summer reading. Only one survey per district is needed.

They are asking for you or someone who has knowledge of summer programming in your district to please complete the survey by Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important information.

Zoom meeting with Barbara Ohlund of the Iowa Department of Education and Michelle Hosp of the Iowa Reading Research Center:

14 11 13 Early Literacy Legislation Zoom Session

Link to the summer survey: https://iastateeducation.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2uhIJoNJbKZpRZz

List of Eligible K-3 Literacy Products for Microsoft Settlements

If you are eligible for the second round of Microsoft settlement funds, you have probably noticed that the eligible list posted online is fairly lengthy. A Keystone AEA employee boiled that list down to a set of K-3 literacy products, and put that information in a Google doc. The information may be helpful as you plan how to spend these funds and craft your application. Remember, the application window is open now until December 19.

Title III Mini-grant Opportunity for ELL Materials to be Rolled out at Dec. 4 ESL Advisory Meeting

All Heartland AEA districts with ELLs are invited to attend or send a representative(s) to the upcoming Dec. 4 ESL Advisory meeting at 6500 Corporate Drive from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in Room 129.

A National Geographic representative will present an overview of both secondary and elementary materials geared toward ELL needs from 4:40-5:00 p.m., and will kindly stay afterward in case there are additional questions and to allow examination of the materials.

This quarterly meeting, as always, is open to all districts (administrators, teachers, counselors or other staff who serve ELLs) and will feature a special opportunity available to districts that will be announced at this meeting.

Districts with ELLs who need supplementary materials, such as leveled books that support Core instruction, manipulatives or other scaffolded materials will receive a template for applying for up to a $3,500 mini-grant for the purchase of those materials, in the form of reimbursement to districts.

Your ESL/Diversity consultants, Stephaney Jones-Vo and Janet Hiatt, hope to see you there!

(We always end promptly on time, though attendees are welcome to stay afterward for Q and A.)

What is Yik Yak?

Yik Yak has been causing havoc across the state with students using this app inappropriately. It is an anonymous app where students can bully other students/teachers, post/peek bomb threats, school shootings, etc.

Consider watching this video which explains the app, how it’s used and how schools can block it via "Geofencing" Geofencing disables the app within a certain radius.

How to Request a Geofence at your school
Email to information to theyak@yikyakapp.com:
1. School name & School’s address
2. Latitude & longitude of school’s location (make sure that the location is dead center of the school’s campus or the geofence will be ineffective – Yik Yak recommends using this site)

IEC November newsletter is waiting for you!

The November issue of the IEC newsletter focuses on the Diverse Learning category as well as a few other notable items to share and dates to remember.

Never want to miss an issue? Subscribe to have the newsletter sent directly to your inbox!

Thanksgiving Holiday Office & Van Delivery Schedule

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, all Heartland AEA offices will be closed on Nov. 27 and 28. Our van delivery schedule will be as follows:

Regular delivery Nov. 24-25
No delivery Nov. 26-28

Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection update on Nov. 28.

Friday, November 14, 2014

More on Microsoft Settlement

There has been more information released on the second round of the Microsoft settlement.

1) The most important part of the update is that the amount of money available per student is $65.89. This is not the final figure, but can be used by buildings to make out their budget and their application as far as hardware and software items that can be reimbursed. As with the first settlement, this is a voucher program, and eligible schools purchase products that are eligible, and then send in vouchers and receipts to be reimbursed. The spreadsheet of eligible -- and ineligible -- products.

2) Some of this funding can be spent on software, and some on hardware. The two categories of funding are software vouchers, and general purpose vouchers which encompass both hardware and some software products. The amount per student that can be spent via software vouchers is $46.18, and the amount that can be spent via general purpose vouchers is $19.71. Remember that the focus of this funding is to improve literacy at the elementary level.

3) Remember also that funding is based on the number of students in a K-6 building. If your building is, say, a K-4 building, and it has 50 students in each grade, for a total of 250 students, your Microsoft settlement funding will be based on 350 students (7 grades of 50 students apiece).

4) The window for applying is available between now and December 19, so if you haven't started planning for how to spend these funds, it's time to get going!

More information, including a list of eligible schools and the number of students funded in each building, is available on the Iowa DE webpage.

Major Changes to E-Rate Program

As schools plan their budgets for 2015-16 and beyond, they should be aware of major changes in the federal E-rate program. The application windows for E-rate are already open, and will close in mid-spring, so if you are not familiar with these changes, you might want to review the “Top 10 List of E-rate Changes” below.

10) Many products and services that were discounted in the past will no longer receive funding, including mobile hot spots, data plans, web hosting, email and voicemail.

9) The discounts for other popular services, such as phone lines, will be phased out over the next 2-3 years.

8) More money is being made available for broadband within buildings. While details are still emerging, it appears many Iowa districts that have not qualified in the past for any networking equipment discounts will now do so.

7) Many schools that have been considered “rural” in the past are being reclassified as “urban.” If your county has a “population center” of 2,500 or more, you will likely be considered “urban.” It is important to note that urban schools generally get a smaller discount.

6) The discount scales -- tied to free and reduced rates -- have changed considerably, and they jump by increments of 10 or even 20%, as opposed to 1%. This means a relatively small number of students could make the difference between, say, a 50% discount and a 60% discount for your school.

5) Major changes are coming to the 470 and 471 forms that are used for E-rate applications.

4) Technology plans are no longer required for any aspect of applying for E-rate funding.

3) Schools that have signed a multi-year contract for tech services will have to provide less documentation after the initial year of review from the E-rate service.

2) Document retention of E-rate forms has been increased to 10 years.

1) The E-rate program is strongly considering adding $2 billion to the total funding available over the next two years, which would be focused on providing broadband access within schools (firewalls, routers, switches, wireless access points, etc.).

If you would like to learn more about these changes, and some strategies that will help your school maximize your E-rate discounts, contact Pam Jacobs, Iowa Dept. of Ed, or Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology.

Sun Smart U Curriculum to Increase Student Awareness of Skin Cancer

Iowa has one of the highest rates of skin cancer incidence in the U.S. today. Skin cancer is largely a lifestyle disease, and reaching students in middle school and high school is critical to affecting decisions that lead to the disease.

Sun Smart U is a free curriculum developed by the Skin Cancer Foundation to increase 6th to 12th grade students’ awareness of skin cancer and the importance of sun protection. Please share the site with teachers and students.

Chapter 62 Resources Now Available

DE Parent notification template and family partnership tools
DE guidance documents for Early Literacy Implementation
Q & A for Chapter 62, September 2014
Archived Zoom session facilitated by Heartland AEA on 11/3/2014

American Education Week Nov. 16-22, 2014: “Raise Your Hand for Student Success”

The National Education Association’s (NEA) 93rd annual American Education Week (AEW) presents all Americans with an opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring every child receives a quality education.

The theme of the 2014 American Education Week, “Raise Your Hand for Student Success,” reflects the Association’s calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st century.

For more information about American Education Week, visit www.nea.org/aew.

Friday, November 7, 2014

November 2014 School Leader Update

The November 2014 issue of the School Leader Update is available from the Iowa Department of Education. In it, Director Buck writes about IowaCore.gov, an easy-to-understand-and-use website for educators, parents and stakeholders who want to delve into the Iowa Core. Also, read about a new accreditation model that will affect all districts in the state and attorney Nicole Proesch gives you some information that is pertinent to the month of November.

Microsoft Settlement Window Approaching

Remember that the window to apply for the new round of Microsoft money opens on November 10, and closes on December 19.

The Dept. of Education’s webpage contains info about the program itself, about the eligible schools, and also some recently-added resources, including an archived version of John O'Connell's webinar, and the application template. 

This second site contains a link to the eligible products list. If there is a product that you are interested in, but it isn't listed as eligible or ineligible, you'll want to inquire ASAP about its eligibility so you can have an answer before the application deadline closes.

Write Women Back Into History Contest Announced

The 31st Annual Write Women Back Into History Contest is an opportunity for 6th-9th grade students to submit an original essay on an inspirational woman they feel deserves to be written into history. The theme of this year’s contest is ‘Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives’. Submissions will be accepted through January 23. Winning students will receive awards and be invited to the capitol for a day to be presented to the State Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Governor and Lt. Governor.

Applicants Sought for 2014 STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching

Recently, the 2014 STEM Education Award for Inspired Teaching sponsored by Kemin Industries was launched to honor educators and their dedication to STEM education in Iowa.

This award will honor one teacher from each of the six STEM regions will be awarded $1,500 award with an additional $1,500 to be used in their classroom.

Anyone can submit a nomination online at stemaward.fluidreview.com from now until December 12, 2014. After a teacher is nominated, they will be asked to fill out an application. They will have until January 9, 2015 to send in their completed application. These forms will then be sent to a panel of judges who will select the six winners who will be announced at the Statewide STEM Conference in March 2015.

Did you know? Primary Resources Available through Britannica Subscription

As part of your subscription to Britannica (through Iowa AEA Online), students can access primary sources in Annals of American History Online.
There are two ways to access:
Visit http://www.america.eb.com/
OR
Visit http://school.eb.com and click on Additional Databases in the top banner.

Annals of American History Online gives a unique view of American history through primary source documents. Discover the backbone of American history, society and culture with a year-by-year documentary of American thought, action and daily life.

Read the original words of more than 1,500 authors who made and analyzed American history through speeches, writings and interviews. Containing over 2,000 primary source documents from 1493 to the present day, plus hundreds of images and multimedia clips, this database is ideal for student research and thought-provoking classroom discussions. Includes a built-in citation generator. For grades 6-12.

The database is purchased by the AEA and requires a username and password assigned to your school. If you do not know your school's username and password, ask your school librarian or contact the Heartland AEA Library at (800) 255-0405 ext. 15799.

Grant Wood AEA to Host Standards-Based Grading Conference in March

Grant Wood AEA is hosted a standards-based grading conference on March 30, 2015. This conference is designed to help educators learn how to effectively develop/design and implement a standards-based grading (SBG) system that aligns with current instruction and assessment practices and supports the Iowa Core and Iowa’s Competency-Based Education model. The keynote speaker will be ASCD author Dr. Cathy Vatterott. In addition, classroom practitioners from across the state will share resources and practices that have led to successful implementation. Nearly 250 educators attended a similar conference in Iowa in 2013 and the feedback received was extremely positive. Registration is $20 and includes lunch. Details are available here.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Iowa Student Learning Institute, Nov. 8

School is changing. As the world grows ever-more complex, the education system meant to build and unleash the individual potential of every student is undergoing a revolution. However, the very students whose future depends on education are often unaware and uninvolved in this process.

We want to change this. We are organizing the second annual Iowa Student Learning Institute, an education conference for over 200 students with the theme "Students of Iowa: how can your learning change the world?" The morning will feature speakers (including Jeff Herzberg of Prairie Lakes AEA, Zach Wahls who is an author, advocate, and entrepreneur, and Mike Draper who is the founder and CEO of Raygun) to spark transformative thinking. Then in the afternoon students will collaborate in breakout sessions to formulate their vision for education and explore ways in which they can improve their schools and communities. They will also be invited to facilitate their own sessions to share projects they are doing at their schools. We want students to take home two messages: that they have a critical role in shaping the future of their schools, and that the world beyond needs them to take a stand and fight for change.

ISLI 2014 will be Sat., Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Waukee High School. Get a group of students together from your school and join us! Registration is free through Nov. 1. For more information, please check out our website at www.iowasli.org or contact us directly. We hope to see you at ISLI 2014!

November Issue of Each & Every Child

Please find the a copy of the November issue of Each and Every Child, the Iowa Department of Education’s e-newsletter that goes to over 15,000 Iowans who are a part of the special education community. In this issue, you will read about two special education teachers who are unpacking the Iowa Core, and loving it.

Mark Your Calendars: Optional Zoom Sessions for Chapter 62

In November Heartland AEA will begin offering Zoom sessions related to Chapter 62 requirements, FAST assessments and implications for our practice. Mark your calendars for these optional sessions. Details about joining the November session are below. Watch The Administrator Connection for details on how to join the December session.

Nov. 3, 2014
1-2 p.m.
Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon
Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/776587538

Or join by phone:
+1 (415) 762-9988 or +1 (646) 568-7788 US Toll

Dec. 10, 2014
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon

Superintendents: Nov. 4 HAA Meeting

Find an overview of the early literacy conversation that will be conducted by staff from the DE and the Iowa Reading Research Center as part of the HAA meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4. All meeting materials are also posted at: http://tinyurl.com/k96lt5a

Move Creativity Into 3D Reality! - 3D Printing Available at Heartland AEA

From engine parts to human organs, 3D printing opens a wide variety of creative solutions for the world's problems. And now, students have access to that technology though Heartland AEA! After a successful pilot year with the Stratasys UPrintSE Plus 3D printer, the agency is ready to offer 3D printing services to area schools.

Industrial tech and tech classes will find immediate applications. As you read more about the 3D model applications, we think other teachers will also see the potential in their classrooms. Make those math and science abstractions concrete with a 3D model!

Using special software, students will be able to submit designs electronically to our Creative Services and then the printed object will be shipped back to the school via the Heartland van mail. Visit our 3D Printing page for more information.

iOS8 in 8 Minutes

Did you recently upgrade your iPhone or iPad? If you’ve got 8 minutes, look at the tutorials to learn about the features you didn’t know you need to know! Go to www.atomiclearning.com, enter the your school’s online database username/password (available by asking your school librarian) and search for “iOS8.” Topics include: Interactive Notifications, QuickType, Family Sharing, iCloud® Drive, Spotlight® and more!

CenturyLink Technology Mini-Grants for Iowa Educators

The CenturyLink Foundation and Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency are working together to award technology mini-grants to Iowa educators who are interested in fostering innovative classroom uses of digital learning tools. Visit the CenturyLink Foundation website for more information.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Update on Microsoft Settlement: Application Window Approaching

There is now a second round of the Microsoft settlement which provides funding to many schools in Iowa targeted at improving early literacy. Up to $70 per student is guaranteed. Visit the DE's Microsoft Settlement webpage for more information, including lists of eligible schools and the PowerPoint from recent informational webinars.

The application window runs from Nov. 10 through Dec. 19. During this window, there will be a Microsoft Settlement button on the DE's portal where you will submit your application.

If you have questions, contact John O'Connell at john.oconnell@mchsi.com.

Heartland AEA Staff & Schools Directory Now Available

Download a PDF version of the 2014-15 Staff & Schools Directory. Heartland AEA no longer prints bound copies of the directory to be more environmentally friendly and budget conscious.

Also please keep in mind that Heartland AEA has an online staff directory. This electronic directory contains the most up-to-date information about Heartland staff members. To access this directory, visit our homepage and click on the “STAFF DIRECTORY” link on the top right hand side of the page. You may search for Heartland staff members by last name, position or by the school districts they serve.

IEC News You Can Use…Or Spend!

The Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) has recently begun a monthly newsletter in an effort to stay connected to Iowa educators. Each month, the newsletter will focus on a specific area of savings opportunities. October’s feature is Buildings & Grounds. This issue highlights news you can use directly from the IEC and our Buildings & Grounds vendor partners, as well as an article on the benefits of cooperative purchasing. Subscribe to the IEC newsletter to ensure you're not missing out on possible savings!

History Alive! Sessions at the State Historical Museum

Teachers can bring 5-8 grade classes for History Alive! sessions at the downtown State Historical Museum. Programming correlates with state and national social studies and literacy standards.

The next session is Nov. 6 and 7. Discover Iowa’s film history through the new exhibit Hollywood in the Heartland and join filmmaker Michael Zahs for a journey through 19th Century Projected Entertainment, showcasing pre-cinematic magic lantern slides and some of the earliest films ever made. Students explore storyboarding, animation, early cameras and optical effects. Reserve Today! For more information, contact Sarah.Macht@iowa.gov or (515) 242-5193.

Weekly Round Up of Educational Best Practices Research

Many educators are finding the Marshall Memo a helpful to keep well-informed on current research and best practices in the field. To produce the Marshall Memo, editor Kim Marshall, drawing on his experience as a former educator, consultant and writer, looks through scores of articles each week to select 5-10 that have the greatest potential to improve teaching, leadership and learning. Find more information and subscribe to updates on the Marshall Memo website.

National History Day (NHD) in Iowa—Get Involved!

An enthusiastic Johnston CSD teacher gave us this information. Please pass this message on to your teaching staff.

While “HISTORY” may be a part of the title, this program prepares students for LIFE! Teachers in any discipline, grades 4-12, will find a link to reading, writing, research, analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

If you are an educator who is looking for an exciting way to merge your curriculum with real-life skills, this could be the answer.

National History Day students use primary, secondary, community and statewide resources on a subject of their choice related to the annual theme. The 2015 theme is Leadership and Legacy in History.

Working individually or collaboratively in groups of 2 to 5, students produce documentaries, exhibits, performances, papers or websites. Students may choose to participate in the national event cycle by presenting their research at a competitive series of local, district, state and national events. Students in grades 4 and 5 may participate in a non-competitive Youth Division.

Start now! Work can take place throughout the year and can tie into your standards. Go to
http://www.nhd.org/Standards.htm to learn how NHD will help you meet national education standards.

National History Day encourages students to develop relationships with individuals, organizations and agencies in their communities and state in the process of their research. The program also promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and students' love for learning by making history come alive. Curriculum materials are available to through the state NHD office. Contact katie.craven@iowa.gov, phone (515) 725-0506 to begin your NHD experience today.

#stucamp: EdCamp for Students

The Webster City CSD will be hosting an EdCamp for Students, #stucamp, on Feb. 28. #stucamp is a time for students to come together and give voice to their opinions, beliefs and hopes for their education. Students, grade levels 7-12, may register at http://www.stucamp.org/.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Districts: Apply for One of Six ESL Materials Mini-Grants

Administrators who have ELLs in your districts: Please forward the following mini-grant opportunity to individuals in your district responsible for the programming of English Language Learners.

You or representatives from your district are invited to attend the Dec. 4, 2014 ESL Advisory meeting at our Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston from 4:00-5:00 p.m. At this quarterly meeting, we will offer an ESL Materials Mini-Grant for districts who write a successful application using a provided template. Up to six $3,000 mini-grants will be awarded to districts that successfully address the need to provide ELLs access to the Iowa Core. (This might be leveled books, manipulatives, hands-on materials, etc.)