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
Recent research suggests that American school children are falling behind their international cohorts in academic skills at all education levels (Center for Research on Human Capital and Education; ETS, 2013). Creating and delivering quality education requires a complex system of institutions. Institutional change (reform) is always difficult; however, it becomes significantly more probable if relevant stakeholders are involved at all levels of the reform process. This necessary connectedness among stakeholders is essential for lasting systemic change to occur. Speakers and participants at the UNI Education Summit will discuss topics related to education reform, with particular emphasis on the areas of literacy/reading, rural education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) instruction.
Governor Branstad, the Iowa Legislature and the Iowa Department of Education have signaled their understanding of the need for education reform as follows:
- Passed and signed HF 215, an omnibus education reform bill addressing issues such as: school funding, teacher recruitment, teacher advancement and accountability requirements.
- Passed and signed SF 2319, a bill that directly addresses assisting young children who underperform in reading, specifically because of dyslexia.
- Created and funded Iowa Reading Research Center (IRRC).
The purpose of the annual UNI Education Summit is, and will continue to be, to provide a venue and an opportunity for discussion among institutions and individuals involved in, and necessary for, the successful, systemic reform of Iowa education.
For more information and to register, visit the UNI Education Summit website.
The move to standards-based grading poses real challenges as we implement this practice with learners of diverse abilities. In this session, participants will learn about an inclusive grading and intervention-planning model for grading and reporting achievement of exceptional learners in a way that is fair, meaningful and legally defensible. For more information and to register, visit the Drake University registration website.
This position is to lead and direct the AIW Consortium in the state of Iowa. This consortium is a collaboration of school districts and area education agencies. The consortium’s mission is to develop and grow a network of supports for Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) practitioners as they continue their efforts toward educational reform.
The position will start as a part-time position with the possibility of full-time employment as the consortium grows. Visit the TeachIowa.gov website for more information and to apply.
Contact Greg Ebeling at greg.ebeling@pella.k12.ia.us if you have questions about the position.
The 2015 Paul Engle “Glory of the Senses” contest is a project of the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization. As you may know, Iowa City has been designated as one of eleven Cities of Literature in the World. One person celebrated in Iowa City is Paul Engle, the late long-time director of the University of Iowa’s Writer’s Workshop and co-founder of the UI’s International Writing Program. Without Engle’s entrepreneurial spirit and love of Iowa, the city may not have caught the eye of UNESCO and earned the designation.
We also seek to offer education opportunities. We know that the student writers of today are the communicators who will help to tell our story tomorrow.
Find more information about the contest for sophomores.
The overall winner will receive one year of free tuition to the University of Iowa. Other top students will receive a $500 cash scholarship.
Please note that the essay contest deadline is May 15, 2015.
