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

 

Superintendent Update December 2024

Welcome to Iowa’s AEAs December Superintendent Update. This update provides important information from Iowa’s AEAs within the Educational Services, Media Services, AEA Purchasing, Technology Services and Special Education Services areas. In this issue:

• 2025 Day on the Hill
• AEA Support for ESSA-Designated Schools
• Cybersecurity Summit on Dec. 6
• AEA Purchasing Winter Paper Buy

Join us for the 2025 Day on the Hill

ONE VOICE FOR IOWA STUDENTS! Join us for the 2025 Day on the Hill with Iowa's AEAs, IASB & SAI on Jan. 27 & Jan. 28, 2025! With three events across two days and two in-depth advocacy webinars, you will be well-equipped to advocate for public schools and student success! Learn more and register today! Do you have a stand-out student program? Showcase Your District’s Innovative Programs with a Compelling Exhibit at “Day on the Hill”.

Heartland AEA Winter Break & Van Delivery Schedule

Heartland AEA offices will be closed to the public from Dec. 23 - Jan. 1. Offices reopen on Jan. 2. Van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular van delivery: through Dec. 20
• No van delivery: Dec. 23 - Jan. 1
• Regular van delivery resumes: Jan. 2

Partnering with Heartland AEA: Tailored Support for Your District's School Improvement Journey

Heartland AEA is committed to addressing the unique school improvement needs of each district through tailored support that fosters meaningful collaboration and sustainable growth. Our team provides expertise in areas such as data analysis, implementation strategies and long-term sustainability planning, empowering districts to overcome challenges and enhance student outcomes.

Key Resources to Explore

• Slide deck: Discover how we support districts in meeting their goals through targeted services and collaborative strategies
• Des Moines Public Schools: Integrating Technology in Teaching and Learning: Watch how Des Moines Public Schools are integrating technology in teaching and learning with support from Heartland AEA 

Tools and Services to Elevate Your Work

• Data Dashboards: Designed to help districts collect, analyze and use data effectively to propel the district forward with intentional school improvement plans
• Heartland AEA ESSA Supports: Access resources to align with Every Student Succeeds Act requirements effectively.

Statewide Data Review Zoom Sessions

Join one of the facilitated sessions led by AEA staff to collaboratively analyze data and identify next steps for school improvement.

Iowa's AEAs will be providing four Zoom sessions for districts across the state to participate in. Please plan to join one of the statewide sessions below for the facilitated Data Review led by AEA staff.

Dec. 11, 2024 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.	Dec. 13, 2024 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.	Jan. 7, 2025 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.	Jan. 10, 2025 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Zoom Link	Zoom Link	Zoom Link	Zoom Link

Heartland AEA Digital Learning Newsletter is Now Available

In this issue of the Heartland AEA Digital Learning Newsletter:

• Trying to Navigate the world of AI with students?
• Adobe Express-12 Days of Creativity!
• Computer Science Ed Week 2024
• Library Tool of the Month!
• Tool Time With the Tech Team

Great News: Learning Ally Continues at No Cost Through June 2025!

We’re excited to announce that Learning Ally will remain available at no cost to schools through June 2025, providing critical support for struggling readers.

Already Using Learning Ally?
If your district used Learning Ally last year, you’re encouraged to continue utilizing this resource with eligible students.

Need a Refresher?
If your district used Learning Ally before but needs a refresher, contact Lynette Johnson at ljohnson@learningally.org to update your district records and provide webinars or training.

New to Learning Ally?
If your district hasn’t used Learning Ally yet, Lynette can guide you through the rostering process and discuss training opportunities.

What Does Learning Ally Offer?
Learning Ally provides more than 80,000 human-narrated audiobooks and textbooks aligned with your curriculum. Designed to bridge the gap to grade-level reading, its features include:

• Voice-to-Text: Supports word recognition by highlighting words as they’re narrated.
• In-App Dictionary: Allows students to define unfamiliar words while reading seamlessly.
• Annotation: Enables students to highlight, save, bookmark, and reference specific text.
• Customization: Offers adjustable settings to support diverse learning needs.

These tools help students build vocabulary, complete assignments, and actively participate in group projects.

Learn More:

• Explore Learning Ally 101
• Watch a 5-minute demonstration of features

Take advantage of this incredible resource to support your struggling readers today!

Checking Out the Value: Heartland AEA Library's First Quarter Summary

In response to HF2612, we are providing a first quarter summary of the value of the materials checked out from the Heartland AEA library from Sept.-Nov. 2024.*

While PK-7 educators are our largest users, middle and high school teachers also benefit from specialized resources like large-print books, high-interest/low-vocabulary texts, picture books with built-in digital audio, and multilingual materials.

Examples of teacher requests fulfilled this quarter:

• Middle Ages, feudal system, kings and queens
• 30 books | Reading level: 2–4 | Grade: 4
• Fables and pourquoi tales (including Aesop & Anansi)
• 25–30 books | Reading level: K–3 | Grade: 1
• Endangered animals (fiction & nonfiction)
• 25–30 books | Reading level: K–6 | Grade: 9–12
• Books about feelings and emotions
• 25 books | Reading level: K–2 | Grade: special education
• Ecosystems and renewable/nonrenewable resources
• 30 books | Reading level: 3–5 | Grade: 5
• Arabic language books for a family to build literacy at home
• 5–10 books
• Decodable readers—variety of series
• 30 books | Reading

Looking Ahead: Service-for-Fee Model Starts July 2025
As we transition to a service-for-fee model next year, we hope this information highlights the value and impact of Heartland AEA’s library materials and services. We anticipate a subscription model will be developed with each district. Just like Spotify where you can listen as much as you want, this model would allow districts to read as much as they want.

*Districts and nonpublic schools are listed by student population: PK-12 and PK-7.

Superintendent and Education Leaders Update Nov/Dec. 2024

The Nov./Dec. 2024 Superintendent and Education Leaders Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.