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
Nov. 5, 2019
Regular meeting
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA
Rooms 107A/B
9 - 11:30 a.m.
Agenda includes:
Director Ryan Wise from the Iowa Department of Education and a Legislative Education Panel:
- Margaret Buckton, Iowa School Finance Information Services
- Matt Eide, Iowa’s AEAs
- Phil Jeneray, Iowa Association of School Boards
- Tom Lane, Iowa’s AEAs
- Kate Walton, Iowa’s AEAs
- Dave Wilkerson, School Administrators of Iowa
Attention superintendents, we would like you or a designee to complete this brief survey by Nov. 1. We are attempting to gather data from all of the districts in our service area to see what data points are collected and measured during your school improvement process. The survey should only take you about five minutes to complete.
Pearson released the timeline for rolling out ISASP supports and results. This will be listed in the Bulletin Section of the ISASP Portal in the next few days. The Bulletin contains the following information:
- When performance level descriptors, cut scores and sample reports will be available
- Guidelines for accessing ISASP data (webinar)
- Interpretive manual and webinar for educators
- Interpretive information for families
- Overview of local support materials
- When ISASP results will be released to districts
- When the embargo is lifted and districts can publicly share results
Please note they will do a staggered release of information and tools and once schools get the results there will be an embargo on releasing the results for one week.
Iowa's AEA system has partnered with BrightBytes to bring you a tool that will help you proactively address growing concerns of safety in 21st century classrooms. This research-based framework collects, stores and updates formative data from diverse experts within each district. The Digital Privacy, Safety and Security module helps organizations create relevant policies to ensure a safe learning environment.
BrightBytes has also created a resource to help support you and your teachers in creating and nurturing a healthy digital culture. The Top 10 Student Privacy Tips for Educators highlights best practices for gathering, communicating and protecting student data, and much more.
If you would like to learn more about using the DPSS module in your district, contact Sheila King, Chief Information Officer or Jeff S. Weinberg, Director of Technology. For your reference, here are the BrightBytes Module Options & Pricing 2019-20.
Matt Townsley, Ed.D., will be the guest speaker at the "Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday" workshop on Nov. 1, 2019.
Dr. Townsley will share his best advice and answer questions about implementation of Standards-Based Grading. Through conferences, professional development and workshops, Dr. Townsley has consulted with thousands of teachers and administrators across the country on the topics of assessment and standards-based grading. His writing has been published in journals such as Educational Leadership (ASCD), School Administrator (AASA), The Journal of Research in Education, and American Secondary Education.
As a former teacher and administrator in Solon, IA, Dr. Townsley has experienced first-hand the benefits (and challenges!) of moving toward more effective grading practices. He is lead author of the forthcoming book, Making Grades Matter: Standards-Based Grading in a Secondary PLC (Solution Tree, March 2020) and an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa.
Join us for an up-close conversation!
Standards-Based Learning Framework Friday
With Guest Speaker Matt Townsley, Ed.D.
Nov. 1, 2019
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link http://bit.ly/2VV6umr with course number 180887, Section 272162
Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) are providing support to Iowa schools to meet the requirements of new legislation that requires school districts to provide annual employee training and protocols in two areas related to mental health:
- Suicide Prevention and Postvention
- Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response
Iowa’s AEAs also offer Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training that focuses on how to help students who are experiencing a mental health, addiction challenge or crisis. YMHFA is a nationally recognized curriculum.
In addition, Heartland AEA is offering Iowa Building Strong Brains, to provide all Iowa educators with awareness of brain-aligned, trauma sensitive strategies for working with all students in Iowa’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports. This professional learning opportunity meets Iowa’s legislative requirements for training school employees on “Identification of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Strategies to Mitigate Toxic Stress Response.”
For more assistance, contact the Heartland AEA Regional Director who serves your district or AEA Learning Online.
