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
Have you started your district’s online Request for Transportation Approval process for the 2016-17 year? Remember, districts must complete Step III of the Transportation Agreement process by April 29. You may check your district status here. Review the instructions and timelines including the updated video tutorials to complete the process. For more information, contact Jenny Ugolini at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14441.
Our Kids Summer Institute 2016 registration is OPEN! The 12th Annual Institute, “Trip the Light,” is an opportunity for education professionals to network with their peers, discover new strategies for working with English language learners in Iowa, and learn from national and local experts to enrich their practices for increasing EL achievement.
Our Kids Summer Institute “Trip the Light”
Date: June 16-17, 2016
Location: Waukee High School, 555 SE University Ave., Waukee, IA
Read more about the conference
Register for the conference
Heartland AEA educators are reimbursed $150 for registration via Title III claim form, plus $150 honorarium, for full attendance and participation in the full two-day conference. Claim forms will be available onsite June 17.
Come a day early for the pre-conference workshop!
Grades 3-12 teachers are invited to explore evidence-based practices that support English learners and striving students in making gains in academic oral language and literacy to access the demands of the Common Core standards.
Our Kids Pre-conference Workshop: Using the Academic Vocabulary Toolkit for ELLs in Grades 3-12
Date: June 15, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Register here for the pre-conference
*Registration includes Academic Vocabulary Toolkit materials by Kate Kinsella, National Geographic and lunch.
Heartland AEA educators are reimbursed $150 for registration via Title III claim form, plus $100 honorarium, for full attendance and participation in the workshop. Claim forms will be available onsite.
A statewide AEA team has developed a new Google site with resources to support educators who serve students identified with dyslexia and families to provide support to their children.
Resources on the site include:
- Definition of dyslexia in the State of Iowa and possible indicators
- Presentation for educators on dyslexia
- Letter for parents about the services that LEAs and AEAs can provide for a student with reading concerns
- Information about seeking a diagnosis
- Web, books and DVD tools
An expert group that included Wendy Robinson - Heartland AEA, Director of Instructional Services, Jen Sigrist - Van Meter CSD, Director of Learning and Innovation, and Deb Vail - Heartland AEA, Media/Instructional Technology Consultant identified and developed the resources on behalf of Collaborating for Iowa’s Kids (C4K) to address a need in the system. Content was vetted by C4K Work Team Co-Chairs, AEA Educational Services Directors, AEA Special Education Directors, and AEA Media Directors.
The Iowa Department of Education will hold a summer institute for teachers on June 15-17, 2016. National experts in science will lead elementary, middle and high school teachers through the standards. The goal is to give educators tools they need to implement the innovations in their practice. This institute assumes that attendees are familiar with the new science standards (attended Module 1 AEA training), as the Institute is not an introduction to the standards. If you are interested in attending and need the introductory Module 1 training, contact your AEA Science Consultant. Registration links are below for this free training.
Elementary - June 15
Middle School - June 16
High School - June 17
The Iowa Department of Education has announced two public forums on April 25-26 and a statewide survey to gather feedback from Iowans on the current literacy standards, which outline learning expectations for English-language arts and for literacy in history, social studies, science and other technical subjects.
Check here for forum dates and locations, Iowa’s academic standards and information about Iowa’s Literacy Standards Review Team.
Iowans have until May 13 to take the statewide survey.
