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
This year Iowa’s AEAs again will be subsidizing the costs for schools to upgrade their DE-provided FAST subscriptions that include the expanded assessment suite in math and behavior for K-6 and literacy, math and behavior for grades 7 & 8. Participation is available both to schools that purchased the expanded assessment suite in previous years and those that want to use it for the first time in 2020-21.
Subscriptions are based on a per-student annual cost, and your AEA and the statewide AEA system have committed to covering 50 percent of the cost for each K-8 student in Iowa. The deadline to register is May 16. If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Chief Academic Officer.
FAST Registration for the 2020-21 School Year
Here's some good news. Ebook usage statistics for April show the high-use titles our students read for what we assume were assignments (The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, The Outsiders, Animal Farm, 1984) and for leisure (Harry Potter, Black Panther, Fault in our Stars). Stats are also showing that the ebook titles teacher librarians and teachers recommended for purchase in the last few months are also being widely read. Heartland AEA is pleased to play a part in providing remote access to reading materials.
New ebook additions in 2020
We hope you will consider joining us for UNI's self-paced Leadership Camp. This online learning will be in lieu of the June 18-19 face-to-face learning for renewal of evaluator license.
What: The UNI Leadership Camp is an opportunity to engage in reflection around the Iowa Standards for School Leadership, earn a reduced-cost Evaluator Approval Renewal credit ($75 reduced from $509), enjoy a meaningful, professional development experience hosted by UNI Educational Leadership faculty through online modules and have the opportunity to participate in a research project as part of a grant-funded by the Kern Family Foundation.
When: Self-paced modules and resources beginning on June 18 with one month to complete the work (UNI will communicate full timelines and expectations)
How: If interested, please email Denise Schares at denise.schares@uni.edu to register or for more detailed information regarding the course. Please note that we are also planning to host a Leadership Camp on July 21-22 and are hopeful that it will be safe to gather in person at that point.
In an effort to support the well-being of districts, educators, students and families, Heartland AEA is pleased to bring you, "Wellness Weekly," a weekly series dedicated to all things wellness and well-being.
Check out the Wellness Weekly site every week for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families!
This week features:
- Mental Health Resources
- Being Our Best Self During Challenging Times
- How to Manage Anxiety During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- May is Mental Health Month
- Staying Resilient During COVID-19
- It's Okay Not to be Okay
- Structure Your Day with Points
- Emotions at Home: How do we want to feel?
- 9 Ways to Relax Without Spending a Cent
- My 5 Parenting Rules for Letting Go and Getting Through the Coronavirus Crisis
- Resources to Support Your Emotional Health
- Compassion Resilience Toolkit
