Our Mission

To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities.

Our Goals

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

AEAs Play Daily ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ Role in a Child’s Education

Written by Beth Strike, APR, who is the director of creative services with Area Education Agency 267

Those of us who have been employed by Iowa’s Area Education Agency (AEA) system are used to the puzzled looks we get from neighbors and friends when we say that we work for the Area Education Agency — or “AEA” — system. Despite our best efforts over the last 40 or so years, too few people still truly understand the vital role that we play in helping all of Iowa’s children achieve–mostly because the majority of the time, that role is “behind-the-scenes” in local school districts.

What is an AEA? Here are just a few of the ways that we are serving your community’s students.

• Frequently, our staff members are the ones leading the professional learning that your child’s teachers are receiving when there are “no school” or “early dismissal” days. Our staff members receive a great deal of training on best practices in teaching and learning and then work directly with local teachers to help those ideas get implemented into the classroom.

• Your local school district is involved in the Teacher Leadership and Compensation program which requires that lead teachers have access to high quality professional learning around improving classroom practices. This training likely comes from your local Area Education Agency whose professional learning consultants designed a specialized plan for the schools it serves.

• Has your school district launched a new reading initiative? Adopted a new assessment? It’s likely that an AEA staff member may have introduced the initiative and is working quietly in the background helping to support classroom teachers with putting new strategies into regular practice.

• How about the students with special needs in your school district? Those students are regularly seen by AEA professionals who have master’s degrees in key areas like psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and more. These professionals work closely with the classroom teacher to identify student-specific targets for growth and help to ensure that progress is being made so that each child can reach his/her maximum potential. However, if you don’t have a child with special needs, you would probably never even know about this important service that impacts over 8,000 children in our area of the state.

• Step into many classrooms today and you will likely notice a number of students-used materials like play-away books, iPads, robots, and more. Most of these materials are items that school districts could not afford to purchase on their own so the AEA purchases them and loans them out to every school district so that no child goes without the opportunity to learn from them.

These are just a few of the many services provided by your local AEA. Services are funded through a combination of federal-aid and state-aid payments; legislatively controlled property tax; federal, state and private grants; and tuition for classes. Without ongoing support from these sources, the educational experience each child receives in Iowa would not be nearly the same.

ELPA21 Test Administration Guidance

The ELPA21 Test Window is fast approaching and the Iowa Department of Education is providing ELPA21 colleagues and test administrators with continued support for the 2017 test administration. In this letter, find more information about the checklist in the Test Coordinators’ Manual and student rosters. An Excel spreadsheet is available to upload to the same secure site as your TELPA scores. Thank you for your continued support of Iowa’s English Language Learners and ELPA21.

Prepare for the ELPA21 Test Window Using the Following Timeline

The following table shows the upcoming dates for ELPA21 testing in Iowa. Please read this table carefully in order to plan for the ELPA21 test window, which is Feb. 14 - April 14, 2017.

Notice: The date for arrival of the paper and pencil accommodation ELPA21 tests has been changed to arrive in schools on Feb. 27, 2017.

Date	Activity	Notes
2/1/17	ELPA21 Practice Tests available	Schools can use the practice tests to prepare students for the Operational ELPA21 tests.
2/7/17	K and 1 Online Writing Supplements arrive in Schools	All K and 1 students taking the Online ELPA21 test must complete an Online Writing Supplement.
2/14/17	ELPA21 Operational Test window opens	Schools can begin administering Online ELPA21 tests for K-12
2/27/17	Paper and Pencil Accommodation* Test Materials arrive in Schools	Schools may begin administering Paper and Pencil accommodated tests any time after the Test Materials arrive through until the end of the test window (4/14/17). *only eligible for religious exemption and IEP504 exemptions
Mid-March	Braille Accommodation Paper and Pencil Tests arrive in Schools	Schools may begin administering Braille Paper and Pencil accommodated tests any time after the Test Materials arrive through until the end of the test window (4/14/17).
4/14/17	ELPA21 Operational Test window closes – paper and online

Haven’t Attended an Instructional Practices Inventory Workshop? Now’s Your Chance!

This workshop will help participants develop the skills to document student engagement through the use of technology and learn how to use the profiles to engage faculty in collaborative learning conversations about engagement, instructional change, technology integration and school-wide instructional goals.

Choose to attend one of these scheduled trainings:

Feb. 27, 2017
Registration link

or

Feb. 28, 2017
Registration link

Both workshops will be held at Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Jerry Valentine, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri, will serve as keynote speaker for each workshop.

Only 1 PRESS Training Left! Seats are Limited

Minnesota PRESS Trainers will lead a final training on March 1 and 2 in Des Moines at the Plymouth Congregational Church. This 2-day comprehensive training will cover the key pillars of the PRESS multi-tiered system of supports framework. Seating is limited to 100 participants so register early to make sure that your school team gets a table at the training.

PRESS Training
March 1-2, 2017
Plymouth Congregational Church, 4126 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Register at this link by Feb. 22, 2017

Registration is Open for KPEC 2017

Keystone AEA is pleased to announce that registration is open for KPEC 2017, a midwest summer education conference on June 20-21. Register today at http://bit.ly/AEA1KPEC.

The two-day conference provides enlightening and entertaining opportunities to connect with peers, hear keynote addresses from nationally-recognized speakers, and choose from 88 breakout sessions covering special education, technology, leadership and curriculum content.

Take advantage of early bird registration – just $99! The registration fee covers entrance to the conference plus breakfast, lunch and snacks on both days. This incredible price won’t last long so be sure to register by April 30. Starting May 1 the price increases to $130. For full details visit http://bit.ly/AEA1KPEC.

Feb. 2017 BoEE Newsletter

The BoEE February Newsletter contains important news about our new online licensure system, renewal credits, social media tips, and recent cases.

DMACC Ankeny Surplus Available

DMACC Ankeny Campus has three mobility scooters available. If interested, contact Julie Klocke in Purchasing at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu.

Deadline is Extended for Architectural Drawing and Photo Contests

The deadline to enter the “Architecture by Children Drawing” and “Snapshot Iowa Photography” Contests has been extended to Feb. 15, 2017. The contest goal is to encourage young people to enter this year's "My Favorite Place to Read" contests, as there are cash prizes, as well as exhibits of the student work in libraries around the state. For more information, visit www.iowaarchfoundation.org.

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.

Women's History Month Video Contest - Students and Teachers/Organizations: Compete for a chance to win prizes!

To celebrate Women’s History Month in March, the Iowa Department of Human Rights’ Office on the Status of Women (with financial support from the Friends of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women) is hosting its 2nd annual Women’s History Month video contest to celebrate women’s history. Entries are open to students in grades 5-12 and schools/organizations that work with students in grades 5-12. Video submission deadline is March 1, 2017. Click this link for more information.

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.

Feb. 2017 Each and Every Child Newsletter

The Iowa Department of Education’s Feb. 2017 Each and Every Child Newsletter is now available. It stands to reason that higher attendance rates and lower office referrals would increase instruction time. But the million-dollar question is how. This school in northeast Iowa tackled behavior with impressive results. Read what they are up to.

Feb. 2017 School Leader Update

The Iowa Department of Education’s Feb. 2017 School Leader Update is now available.