March 3 Heartland Administrators’ Association Meeting Features Breakout Sessions — Select Yours by Feb. 27

We have received some requests for deep-dive conversations on specific topics. To facilitate this, we will host three concurrent breakout sessions from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. during our March 3 meeting. Please complete this survey by Feb. 27 to indicate which session you will attend. This allows our facilitators to prepare district-specific examples, where appropriate, for the participants in the room. Superintendents can attend one session and are welcome to register their HR staff, SBOs or technology staff for the other sessions.

Our regular business meeting and legislative update will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Zoom links and further details will be sent to participants next week.

Breakout Sessions

Option 1: Property Tax Changes – Impact & Implications
Led by: Mike Guanci, IASB
Focus: A walkthrough of proposed property tax changes using IASB tools to show the specific impact on attending districts.
Target Audience: Superintendents and SBOs (Zoom option available for SBOs).

Option 2: Lessons from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners
Led by: Mike Cavin, BOEE
Focus: Insights into practitioner licensure, evaluator approval and the complaint process. Learn the most common ethical violations and the proper protocols for reporting.
Target Audience: Superintendents and HR Officials (Zoom option available for HR).

Option 3: District AI Considerations
Led by: Amy Wichman, Director of Media, Technology & Digital Learning, Heartland AEA
Focus: Navigating policies/guidelines, AI and the Google Domain and AI Innovation considerations. Amy will also share a few high-leverage AI tools for administrators
Target Audience: Superintendents and Tech Directors (Zoom option available for Tech Directors).

A Sweet Treat for Being Our Customer!

Our Creative Services team is offering a sweet treat as a thank you to our educator and district staff partners. We’re offering a one-time use discount of 14% off your entire Creative Services printing order. Enter the promo code SWEET14 on the payment screen and click Apply before paying for your order. Promotion code available for one-time use only. Offer available Feb. 1 - Feb. 28, 2026. Offer only available on new orders. Offer not available for Braille or custom graphic design orders. Visit our website to get started!

Turn Your Emergency Plan Into a Ready-to-Use Flipbook

Put your district or school’s emergency plan in a convenient flipbook. Flipbooks include pertinent safety information such as emergency phone numbers and procedures for fire, natural disasters and other emergency situations. Personalize the flipbooks from our ordering site or have our designers create a custom flipbook for your district or school. Contact Heartland AEA Creative Services to discuss your project or place your order on our website.

New Iowa DE-Approved AEA Professional Development Available Now

The Iowa Department of Education has approved a new list of AEA Professional Development, which is available now to districts and schools in our service area.

These DE-approved courses are designed to support Iowa’s strategic priorities and provide consistent, high-quality professional learning for educators—whether your focus is literacy, math, special education, English learners, leadership, mental health or preparing students for the future.

We invite you to connect with your AEA regional director to get started. Your AEA team can help you explore options, customize learning for your staff, and plan next steps that fit your goals. For more information about the professional development, see the 2026-27 List of Approved AEA Professional Development.

Paraeducator Certification & Areas of Concentration Summer 2026 Course Schedule

Paraeducator Certification

• Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course I Introduction/Foundation (Choose a session with start date of May 19 or June 2)
• Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course II Instructional Support (Choose a session with start date of June 30 or July 7)
• Paraeducator Generalist Certification Program - Course III Behavioral Supports (Choose a session with start date of Aug. 4 or Aug. 11)

For more information and to register, visit our website.


Paraeducator Areas of Concentration Courses

• Library, Media and Technology (June 15 and 22)
• English as a Second Language (Choose a session with start date of June 23 or Aug. 20)
• Early Childhood (June 29, 30, July 1, 6, 7 & 8)
• Special Needs (July 20, 21, 22 & 23

For more information and to register, visit our website.

Two New Sessions Added to Our CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Schedule

Feb. 23 - Ames
Register

March 27 - Johnston
Register

As shared in July 2025, Heartland AEA has transitioned our CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training model to be more cost-efficient. We are now operating under a service-area-based training model. This means we will offer CPI training across the Heartland AEA service area at multiple times throughout the year. These trainings are open to any districts/schools within the Heartland AEA service area. We will offer a series of pre-service sessions in August 2026, followed by offerings in September/October 2026 and January/February 2027.

Based on what we know at this point, we will continue to align with the Iowa Department of Education directive that Iowa’s AEAs utilize state-allocated, children’s mental health school-based training and support funds to offer CPI training, free of charge, to school districts. Therefore, for the 2026-2027 school year, Heartland CPI training facilitators and materials will continue to be provided at no cost.

Please refer to all the training details in the CPI Communication for 2026-2027. If you have any questions, please contact Jadie Boens, Director of School and Student Support Services.

Update on Testing for Homeschooled Students

There are no changes to testing procedures for homeschooled students this spring. However, beginning in spring 2027, there will be a cost associated with certain testing services. Here is information for testing in spring 2027:

Competent Private Instruction (CPI – Option 1 or 2)
Public school districts in Iowa are required to offer testing opportunities at no cost to families participating in CPI Option 1 or 2, as outlined in the Private Instruction Handbook. Districts may contract with Heartland AEA to provide these services. Beginning in spring 2027, districts will be billed for the cost of materials, test administration and any additional expenses incurred by the AEA, plus 14%. Parents with questions about CPI testing should contact their resident school district.

Independent Private Instruction (IPI)
Students homeschooled under IPI may request participation in an annual assessment from the list of approved options in the Private Instruction Handbook. The cost of the assessment is billed directly to the family. Families will work with Heartland AEA to schedule the assessment.

See this flyer for details on testing support for homeschooled students in spring 2027.