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

 

FastBridge Registration for 2023-24 Ends May 10

This year Iowa’s AEAs again will be subsidizing the costs for schools to upgrade their DE-provided FAST subscriptions that includes 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 2023-24. Refer to this FastBridge registration overview for details on registration process, training, pricing and more. Contact Kevin Fangman for more information.

Get Ready for a Summer of Digital Learning

Heartland AEA's Digital Learning News covers end-of-year projects, Heart of Innovation Summit, CS updates, Pear Deck features and more!

• End of Year Project Ideas
• Heart of Innovation Summer Summit
• Computer Science Updates
• What’s New in Pear Deck?
• Graduate & License Renewal Options

Wrapping Up a Fruitful Year with Pear Deck

It’s hard to believe that we’re quickly approaching the end of another school year. Hopefully it’s been a truly fruitful year full of growth, learning and collaboration as you’ve explored how to leverage Pear Deck within your classroom! Hopefully hearing tips and tricks from your fellow Iowa educators helped to plant a seed that will continue to flourish for years to come.

Even though the “Illuminating Pear Deck: Ideas from Iowa Educators” series will go on a bit of a hiatus, Pear Deck partner Brittany Dykes highlights several opportunities to continue to connect and grow (and she even throws in a helpful organizational reminder)!

Want to continue to learn and grow with Pear Deck? Be sure to subscribe to the Pear Deck News to receive a weekly newsletter and stay in the know about updates, new releases and learning opportunities! You can always check out the Pear Deck Institute page to continue growing your Pear Deck practice!

Each month, be on the lookout for a variety of tips, tricks and testimonials shared via our newsletter, the statewide Iowa AEA website and via social media (@iowa_aea, #iowaaea, Heartland AEA Twitter).

For more information or to share your favorite Pear Deck features and ideas, check out the AEA website!

ESL/Diversity Newsletter: Celebrating Student Achievements

The Heartland AEA ESL/Diversity newsletter highlights experiences of ESL Specialists in districts we serve who attended the annual TESOL Convention this past March. Please read about these awesome folks! Contact your Heartland AEA ESL/Diversity consultant if you would like to explore opportunities to invest in professional learning with your educators now and in the future!

Evaluator Approval Credit Summer Courses

If you’re an educator or administrator looking to improve your skills and advance your career, then these summer courses for Evaluator Approval Credit are a must!

• Cognitive Coaching Level I
• Cognitive Coaching Level II
• Maximize Your Data
• Leadership Camp 2.0: New Iowa Standards for School Leaders
• Leadership Camp 1.3 with Special Education Focus
• EdTech for Administrators

UNI is Offering Two Leadership Camps for Evaluator Approval Credit

The University of Northern Iowa Institute for Educational Leadership received a grant called Leading and Learning with Character through the Kern Family Foundation. As part of the grant, UNI continues to host Leadership Camps (approved for evaluator renewal) for $75. The two camps being offered at Heartland AEA this summer are:

CANCELLED: Leadership Camp 2.0: New Iowa Standards for School Leaders
June 22-23, 2023

Leadership Camp 1.3 with Special Education Focus
July 24-25, 2023

Free lunch is provided.

Gifted & Talented News from Heartland AEA

This issue of Gifted & Talented news includes some high quality online curriculum resources as well as a list of the newest books we have added to our professional library that you may want to check out over the summer.

• Teacher Resource Edition
• Learning Opportunities
• Good Reads
• Online Curriculum Resources
• New in the Professional Library!

Learning Ally and OneClick Updates

There is still time this spring for your district to roster with Learning Ally or sync your district’s user information with OneClick!

What is Learning Ally?
This digital resource is designed for students with an identified reading difficulty.

Fun Facts:

• Learning Ally includes 80,000 human-read audiobooks for K-12 students
• Students have read 1,010,512 pages since January!

How do I get Learning Ally for my district?
Contact your Heartland AEA Literacy Consultant to start onboarding, and Learning Ally and Heartland AEA reading consultants will provide training.


What is OneClick?
OneClick provides faster and more secure access to the digital resources Heartland AEA provides. It uses a version of ClassLink for single sign-on.

How do I get OneClick for my district?
Districts can start the process by completing this onboarding questionnaire. Then, your tech director will schedule a meeting to get connected!


Questions?
Email Susan Schrader, Director of Resources and Library Services at sschrader@heartlandaea.org

Heartland AEA Literacy Newsletter is Here

In this issue of the Heartland AEA Literacy newsletter:

• Maximizing Small Group Reading Instruction
• Selecting EBP for ESSA and Beyond
• Understanding Dysgraphia
• Learning Bit By Bit
• Sentence Combining
• Iowa Department of Ed: Teaching for Impact
• Summer Literacy Resources and Classes

Looking for Summer PD? Here You Go!

Classes offered by Heartland AEA practitioners - Searchable by interest area!

Classes offered in Heartland AEA

Classes offered across the AEA system - Searchable by AEA or month, this list is updated weekly!

For more information about Heartland AEA’s professional learning opportunities, email profdev@heartlandaea.org.

Nothing Says Summer Like Social Studies Professional Learning!

Four differentiated professional learning "pathways" will be offered this summer to support teaching and learning in social studies.

Pathway 1: Inquiry 101
Pathway 2: Unit Planning in Social Studies
Pathway 3: Disciplinary Literacy and the Use of Primary Sources
Pathway 4: Visible Learning in Social Studies Book Study

→Take this pre-assessment - see which workshop fits your needs!

→Then Register

License renewal credit is available if you take two workshops

New at the DE

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

New Guidance on HF 68 and TLC Funds

New guidance on House File 68 and Teacher Leadership and Compensation program funds has been released. This guidance document outlines options for districts when utilizing TLC funds.