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
Note: Superintendents will receive this information next week via the Heartland AEA van mail.
Heartland AEA is partnering with other AEAs this year to implement an electronic version of the Request for Transportation Approval form.
Chapter 285.9(3), Code of Iowa, requires the Area Education Agency Board of Directors to approve all bus routes outside the boundary of the school district operating the buses. This has been interpreted to mean regular routes and regular special education routes, not field trips or activity trips.
The Code requires you to request permission from your neighboring district(s) before your bus route crosses district boundaries. The approval form that was used last fall has been converted to an electronic process for ease and efficiency. Video tutorials are included in the instructions to help explain the new process, which is very user-friendly.
Please note the new timeline this year. Last year, and in previous years, the process was always completed in the fall of the current school year. However, we are asking that the process be completed this spring for the upcoming year.
Please review the attached instructions and timeline below. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Ugolini, Board Secretary at jugolini@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14441.
Timeline:
• April 20 – May 22, complete steps 1-3
• May 25 – June 5, complete step 4
• September 1 – September 30, complete step 5
Members of Iowa’s Science Standards Review Team today recommended adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards with modifications as Iowa’s new science standards.
The recommendation will be formalized in a report next month and will be sent to the State Board of Education for consideration.
The Next Generation Science Standards is the name of science standards developed by 26 states, including Iowa, that all states can consider adopting and adapting to meet their needs. Academic standards represent consistent expectations for what students should know and be able to do from kindergarten through 12th grade. Iowa’s academic standards are being reviewed, starting with science, as part of Gov. Branstad’s Executive Order 83.
The review team’s recommendation proposes modifying the Next Generation Science Standards for Iowa so that only the performance expectations section is used, rather than the entire standards document. Members said the performance expectations are easier to understand, especially for teachers in subject areas other than science, and allow for more local control because they are broader than other parts of the standards document.
The team’s recommendation also proposes modifying the Next Generation Science Standards for Iowa by separating them by grade level for kindergarten through 8th grade and organizing the high school standards into a span of grades.
The Science Standards Review Team’s recommendation was based on the expertise of members and feedback from Iowans gathered through public forums and a statewide survey.
Team members said the Next Generation Science Standards represent an improvement from Iowa’s current science standards for a number of reasons. They reflect more modern practices in science, were developed by experts in a process led by states including Iowa, and include engineering practices – which is important as Iowa grows its commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, said Kris Kilibarda, a review team member.
“These standards will prepare our students to be scientifically literate citizens and will provide the base for more advanced study for Iowans who pursue careers in science and engineering,” said Kilibarda, who is director of the Jacobson Institute for Innovation in STEM Education at Grand View University.
The recommendation capped off more than five months of work by the Science Standards Review Team, which is made up of education and business leaders with expertise in physical science, life science, earth and space science, and engineering, technology and application. Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck convened the team last fall to review Iowa’s science standards, as well as rigorous science standards from other states and organizations, and to make a recommendation for improvement.
In December, the review team made a preliminary recommendation to take the Next Generation Science Standards to the public for feedback.
A statewide survey and four public forums throughout the state generated about 2,600 comments in February. A majority of comments were in favor of the Next Generation Science Standards. For example, the survey results showed 69 percent of survey participants agreed that the Next Generation Science Standards will prepare students to be ready for college, careers and other postsecondary options.
Review team members studied and discussed the public feedback at two meetings in March. At their March 24 meeting, team members agreed that the Next Generation Science Standards should be the basis for their work on a final recommendation.
At the April 14 meeting, the review team approved the following recommendation on a 9-2 vote:
- We recommend the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations be adopted in Iowa as grade-specific standards for grades K-8 and grade-span standards for grades 9-12.
The team will work on a final report to the State Board of Education, which has the legal authority to determine the content of Iowa’s academic standards.
Find out more about the Next Generation Science Standards and Iowa’s academic standards.
For more information about the Science Standards Review Team, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn from ELL experts! The session outlined below is intended for district administrators, building leaders and AEA leaders.
Advocating for ELLs: Overview for School and District Administrators
Date: April 22, 2015
Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Check-in from 8-8:30 a.m.)
Facilitators: Diane Staehr Fenner & Teddi Predaris
Location: Stoney Creek Inn, Johnston, Iowa, Pioneer Room
Activity Number: ES008799991501
The workshops will be grounded in Diane Staehr Fenner’s book Advocating for English Learners: A Guide for Educators. A copy of this book will be purchased for each participant in the Heartland AEA region. The facilitators will also work with the administrators for about an hour on teacher evaluation that’s inclusive of all teachers of ELLs. That segment will be based on Diane Staehr Fenner, Perter Kozik and Ayanna Cooper’s newest book, Evaluating All Teachers of ELs and Students with Disabilities: Supporting Great Teaching.
Find more information about Iowa State University’s PreLEAD Program for Principal Licensure and Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) Program, starting this fall and summer respectively.
American Association of School Administrators (AASA) established a two-tiered governance structure in 2004. Iowa currently has three seats on AASA's governing board, one of which is up for renewal.
The governing board provides overall direction for AASA, with special emphasis on policy-related areas. A smaller executive committee, consisting of regional members, oversees the more specific day-to-day responsibilities.
Of Iowa's three current representatives, one is the elected general administrator officer on SAI's executive committee, Tim Kuehl, Clear Creek-Amana superintendent; one is elected from the general administrators who serve on Rep Council, Mary Jo Hainstock, Vinton-Shellsburg superintendent; and one is an at-large Iowa AASA member elected by SAI's AASA active members, Theron Schutte, Bettendorf superintendent, whose term is expiring.
SAI is currently seeking candidates for election to the at-large seat. Responsibilities include attendance at two national meetings, one held during AASA's National Conference in Education in February and the other in July. Travel and expenses are covered for the July meeting. The individual (or his or her district) will be responsible for covering all expenses for the February meeting. This at-large term is for three years. Eligible candidates must have been an SAI and AASA member for the past three consecutive years.
To indicate your interest in being a candidate, please include a letter (or email) from your board president indicating that the district/organization will support your candidacy through time away from the district and any financial responsibilities that accompany the office, if the district is covering them. Please also submit a paragraph indicating why you are interested in serving on the AASA governing board, and a résumé.
Deadline to indicate your interest and submit your application is April 30, 2015. Application materials may be directed to Tracy Harms at tharms@sai-iowa.org or to the mailing address below.
SAI - Linking Leadership and Learning
Tracy Harms, Communications Director
School Administrators of Iowa
12199 Stratford Dr., Clive, IA 50325
Heartland AEA will offer Section 504 trainings to districts in fall of 2015. Sites will include Ames, Johnston, Adel and Colfax. Trainings are open to all schools within the Heartland AEA area, but the primary standard taught will be free and appropriate public education. Districts are encouraged to send teams consisting of counselors, administrators and school nurses and to bring their district 504 manual (plan). The courses are offered at no charge to Heartland AEA districts.
Topics to be covered include:
- Changes to the interpretation of Section 504 since the ADAA 2008
- How to review and update your district-wide Section 504 Plan
- The interaction of a Section 504 plan and an Individual Health Plan
- Review of obligations under the Child Find and grievance procedures
- Evaluation requirements
- Eligibility determination and eligible but not in need of a plan
- Section 504 vs. IDEA 2004, understanding the distinction
- Resources available to assist districts including, access to a Section 504 Google Site
Choice of Location and Dates (Space is limited so register soon):
Colfax
Colfax Historical Building (1720 IA 117, Colfax)
September 15
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Activity Number: NU002599991601
Ames
Heartland AEA Ames Office, Iowa Main Conference Rooms (511 S. 17th St.)
September 17
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Activity Number: NU002592111601
Johnston
Heartland AEA Johnston REC, Rooms 107 A&B (6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston)
September 22
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Activity Number: NU002592111602
Adel
Heartland AEA Adel Office (602 Visions Parkway, Adel)
September 29
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Activity Number: NU002592111603
To register, click on the links above or fill out and send in the appropriate forms. Questions can be directed to MaryAnn Strawhacker MPH, RN, Section 504 Consultant and Special Education Nurse Consultant at mstrawhacker@heartlandaea.org.
It’s never too early to
start planning for the future! Let’s Talk Transition is an event linking
transition-age students with special needs to community and agency
resources. Jasper County parents, teachers and students 14 and older are
invited to this FREE event. Please pass on this flyer to interested students and teachers.
Let’s Talk Transition
Date: April 21, 2015
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Newton Public Library, meeting room A/B
Registration: http://bit.ly/TransitionTalk15
