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
Each January/February, ISFIS partners with Piper Sandler and Iowa's Area Education Agencies to host ISFIS Budget Workshops. This is the 11th year of these hands-on workshops that provide the opportunity for superintendents, SBOs and their teams to prepare their individual district Certified Budget in one highly productive day. Districts will leave the workshop with a completed Certified Budget and will know all options for publications. Attendees also learn about sales and property tax debt and other variables affecting district finances.
Typically, ISFIS Budget Workshops are held in-person at an Iowa AEA location, but after much deliberation, we decided the 2021 workshops will be virtual to ensure safety for all involved.
ISFIS Budget Workshop
Jan. 25, 2021
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Virtual format
Cost to attend is $250 per district.
Register online at this link: https://www.iowaschoolfinance.com/Budget_workshops
For more information, contact Jen Albers at jen@iowaschoolfinance.com or (515) 251-5970.
Paul Gorski from the Equity Literacy Institute will share four racial equity detours commonly embraced in schools, followed by equity principles that can help educators avoid these detours and build a more transformational racial equity approach. This webinar will be held during Heartland AEA Curriculum Network. If you want to attend, please fill out this form and a Zoom link will be emailed to you the week of the webinar. There is no cost to participate.
Avoiding Racial Equity Detours
Feb. 5, 2021
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Audience: School administrators, teacher leaders and Heartland AEA staff
Iowa’s AEAs are collaborating to improve access for Iowa’s PK-12 educators to creative services (printing, lamination, graphic design, production of instructional materials). Equity and access are guiding principles that influence the common pricing of materials and services across the state. As a result, a common statewide pricing structure will be implemented for schools in the Heartland AEA service area beginning Feb. 1, 2021. Statewide pricing impacts costs for lamination, graphic design time and our various printing services (color, black/white, posters, banners, binding, special print, etc.). Production costs are subsidized by each AEA, and the AEAs do not profit from the schools’ purchase of these services and materials. If you have any questions, contact Kurt Subra, Heartland AEA Chief Financial Officer or Susan Schrader, Heartland AEA Director of Resources and Library Services.
The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues!
In this issue:
- Inaugural Primary Sources
- Civics Education Ebooks
- IASL Award Books 2021-22
- Civic Discourse Online
The Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue:
- Data-based Decision Making
- Corresponding with Parents and Guardians
- Tips for Parents
- Fluency and Comprehension
- Foundational Skills Practice
- Text Complexity Webinar Series
- And so much more!
As digital learning becomes more prevalent in face-to-face, blended and remote classrooms, it is essential that educators recognize the knowledge and behaviors that empower teachers and learners in a technology-rich environment. Dr. Jennifer Gonzalez, a leader in education, will lead a webinar session highlighting what it takes to be a leader in a digital world. The course is designed around the ISTE Standards highlighting the standards for Education Leaders. Participants will examine the ISTE Standards and create a plan to implement their learning. Learn more about the course and register at this link: https://bit.ly/2K77FO3.
Instructional Technology Newsletter
Take a look at the Instructional Technology newsletter for information on:
- Pear Deck Resources
- STEM Scale-Up Applications
- New Tech Tools
- Heartland AEA Online Resources
The Iowa Department of Education has released Frequently Asked Questions and additional guidance related to Senate File 2360: Safe Classroom Learning Environments. This resource answers common questions from educators regarding Senate File 2360 and state guidance. The DE anticipates this document will expand as it works through the rules writing process, the Therapeutic Classroom Grant, and development of standards and guidelines for response to classroom behavior. This represents the most current official position of the Department related to these questions and supersedes previous Department guidance on this topic. The Department will continue to review previous and new FAQs to include here and to ensure complete alignment with these responses. If your question is not answered in this resource, please email your question to barb.anderson@iowa.gov and the DE will update this list regularly.
