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

 

Strengthen Your Elementary Comp Sci Teaching Skills

Heartland AEA is offering the Elementary Computer Science Teacher Academy (ECSTA) for elementary teachers, coaches and administrators in Iowa to enhance their computer science teaching skills and earn license renewal credit.

Why it matters: Starting August 2023, at least one grade level in Grades 1-6 must include high-quality computer science instruction.

Catch up fast: Read House File 2629

Zoom in: The academy will help to prepare elementary teachers for the content and rigor of teaching computer science.

Academy Goals:

• build capacity with teachers
• connect and share with other elementary teachers who are teaching computer science
• provide ongoing exclusive learning opportunities
• administer differentiated professional development that's applicable practice

Of note: A unique feature of the academy will be mentorship from experienced computer science educators at Heartland AEA.

Apply! ECSTA is accepting applications for Cohort One that begins in early August.

Summer Course on Data-Driven Decision Making for Iowa Schools

Maximize Your Data will help build the capacity of individuals to be able to maximize the use of data-driven decision making tools that are available to Iowa Schools within an MTSS Framework. 

Participants will learn how to maximize their use of several available data sets including:

• Panorama (including Conditions of Learning) 
• FastBridge 
• Iowa School Performance Profile 
• Post Secondary 

Who should attend: All educators who use data to make decisions at the district, building, classroom, small group and/or individual student levels. 

Course objectives 

1. Understand the purpose and design of each data source Interpret the information provided by each data source 
2. Describe connections among data sources 
3. Prepare for leadership of each data source within the school or district 
4. Connect with resources for future support 

When and where: June 22-23 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, in Johnston 

Register at this link: https://bit.ly/44oltrT (course #203942) 

This course is offered at no cost to participants. License renewal cost is $35. 

Evaluator Approval renewal available. 

More information contact Heartland AEA Professional Learning & Leadership Consultants: 

Shannon Harken or Kevin Schlomer

Significant Disabilities Summer & On-Demand Professional Learning + Fall Assessment Supports

Teachers and administrators, we have professional learning, on-demand learning and fall assessment supports in your work with students with significant disabilities:

Summer Professional Learning Opportunities

Conventional Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment)
July 10, 13, 14 2023, 316369

Emergent Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment)
July 10-12, 2023, course number 316368

Conventional Literacy Strategies for Students on Alternate Assessment
July 17, 20, 21 2023, course number 182326

Emergent Literacy Strategies for Students on Alternate Assessment
July 17, 18, 19 2023, course number 182335

On-Demand Learning

Self-Paced Learning Modules: Overviews for instruction, assessment, core vocabulary, literacy, and math

Fall 2023 Assessment Support

Administrator Support for Data Stewards and Assessment Coordinators (DLM)
The SDLT will offer a virtual help session for district administrators who are Data Stewards and/or Assessment Coordinators. This session will have two distinct times. The Data Steward help session will be Sept. 8, 2023, 11-11:30 a.m. Directly following will be the Assessment Coordinator help session from 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. DLM Support for Data Stewards and Assessment Coordinators (same virtual room): https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/98510300021

Teachers: ELAA Certification
Teachers will need to take the self-paced certification course that the DE will release in August of 2023. The SDLT will host a virtual facilitated training to support teachers having difficulty accessing the certification and answer questions related to evidence requirements. ELAA Support for Teachers: Aug. 30, 2023 8 a.m.-12:00 p.m. https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/95480322736

Teachers: DLM Certification
DLM will continue to require teachers to pass the self-paced certification course that the DE will send out in August. The SDLT will offer a virtual facilitated training for teachers on preparing for DLM administration. DLM Support for Teachers: Aug. 30, 2023 1-4:30 p.m. https://heartlandaea.zoom.us/j/95152126006

Wait! There's More!

Check out our Significant Disabilities/ Alternate Assessment Google Site that has a variety of resources for teachers with learners with significant intellectual disabilities and learners assessed using the Iowa Alternate Assessments.

• The Site includes a comprehensive math framework with ready-to-use lesson plans, routines and assessment resources for math instruction for students that require instruction aligned to the Essential Elements and who are on Alternate Assessment. The lessons are grouped in sets for emergent and conventional learners.

Free Training in Panorama's Student Success

The Iowa Department of Education is offering training opportunities in the use of Student Success, the MTSS Data Platform from Panorama.

Student Success is available to all Iowa public schools as a MTSS data tool to gather, store, display and organize student performance data with the intent to improve services to all students.

Outcomes:

• Finding sources of data in Panorama Student Success
• Understanding the Healthy Indicator data and how it connects to writing Interventions in Student Success
• Learning how to enhance use of Student Success from Panorama for interventions

Free: There is no cost to attend.

When and where: Two, half-day learning opportunities are available at each of four AEA locations listed below.

• District or school leadership teams may bring up to eight attendees.
• Interested individuals or teams may attend any of the locations.

Registration will be open until May 26.

• If enrollment numbers are low the sessions may be canceled. This will be communicated by May 30.

Questions: Greg Feldman

Date, Location	Audience, Time	Registration Link
June 19 Mississippi Bend AEA Central Office, Bettendorf (70 limit per session)	Elementary 9:00 a.m. -12 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/elementary-panorama-student-success-training
	Secondary 1-4 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-19-secondary
June 20 Green Hills AEA Regional Office, Avoca (85 limit per session)	Elementary 9:00 a.m. -12 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-20
	Secondary 1-4 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-20-secondary
June 21 Heartland AEA Regional Office, Ames (65 limit per session)	Elementary 9:00 a.m. -12 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-21-elementary
	Secondary 1-4 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-21-secondary
June 22 Central Rivers AEA Central Office, Cedar Falls (90 limit per session)	Elementary 9:00 a.m. -12 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-22-elementary
	Secondary 1-4 p.m.	https://calendly.com/juneiowa/using-panorama-student-success-on-6-22-secondary