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

  

May 6 HAA Meeting Reminder

The May 6 HAA meeting will be held in person from 9 - 11:30 a.m. at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston. At 10:30 a.m., the meeting will transition to a zoom option for a legislative update with Dave Daughton and other educational partnership updates.

Summer Paper Buy is Here – Order Now to Ensure Fall Delivery!

The eagerly awaited Summer Paper Buy order form is now available. Don't miss your chance to stock up on paper and envelopes! Please submit all order forms to The Paper Corporation by May 18. Deliveries will be completed by Sept. 5. The order form and additional details can be found on Iowa's AEAs statewide website.

Secure Heartland AEA Continuous Improvement Support for the 2025–26 School Year

As you plan for the 2025–26 school year, Heartland AEA is here to support your district’s continuous improvement goals. Our team of Professional Service Providers is ready to partner with you in delivering high-quality professional learning and services aligned with your district’s needs.

Availability is limited, so we encourage you to complete your orders early to secure support on your priority dates.

Submit your 2025–26 service requests now using the Heartland AEA Service Request Form.

Let’s work together to make next year a success for your educators and students!

Why Self-Assess Your Gifted & Talented Program?

Ensuring all students thrive includes your gifted learners. A self-assessment can provide crucial insights.

Heartland AEA offers the Gifted Self Audit and Planner (G-SAP), a facilitated review using rubrics aligned with Iowa Code and best practices.

Why engage in the G-SAP? 

Your team will:

• Understand Iowa's G&T requirements and current best practices
• Gain a system-wide view of your implemented program
• Identify strengths and areas for growth using clear rubrics
• Develop a prioritized work plan for impactful improvement

Invest a day and a half (3 half-day sessions) with participating teaching staff, administrators and coaches. Follow-up coaching from Heartland AEA supports your implementation.

Don't wait to enhance your G&T program. Contact Kyra Wilcox-Conley or Kate Boonstra to schedule your facilitated G-SAP review and empower your gifted students.

Clarity for Your Team: Language Acquisition vs. Learning Differences

When multilingual English learners struggle academically, it can be difficult to know whether it’s due to typical language development or a possible learning difference. Heartland AEA offers a structured, evidence-based coaching cycle to help your team make this important distinction.

Our EL/Diversity Consultant works alongside educators to:

• Analyze student data to understand academic and language progress
• Differentiate between language acquisition and potential learning disabilities
• Review interventions to determine effectiveness and next steps

With guided support and clear data analysis, your team can make confident, informed decisions about student needs.

Let’s Collaborate
Cindra Porter, Heartland AEA EL/Diversity Consultant, cporter@heartlandaea.org

Requesting AEA Services: Start with Your Local AEA

If you would like to request a service for your district, please contact your local AEA as usual. If the requested service is not available through your local AEA, they will reach out to the AEA statewide system to coordinate the service on your behalf and manage all billing internally. All communication regarding the service will continue to go through your local AEA, in collaboration with the AEA delivering the service. If you reach out directly to the AEA providing the service, you will be referred back to your local AEA. It is essential that we follow this process to ensure accurate billing and efficient scheduling for staff. Thank you for your cooperation as we implement this updated system.

Example:
A school district requests a professional development session on inclusive classroom strategies. The district contacts their local AEA to request the training. However, this specific training is not currently offered by the local AEA. The local AEA then contacts another AEA that provides the inclusive classroom strategies training and coordinates the details. The local AEA handles all communication with the district and manages the billing internally with the other AEA. The district continues working with their local AEA throughout the entire process.

If the district had reached out directly to the AEA offering the training, they would have been referred back to their local AEA to begin the process. This approach ensures consistent communication, accurate billing and smooth scheduling for everyone involved.

Secure Your Digital Resources for 2025–26 - Last Call

If your district has already completed the Digital Resources Commitment Form—no further action is needed. We’ve got your information.

Still deciding? This is your last chance to commit to the AEA Digital Resources Bundle for the 2025–26 school year. The bundle provides access to high-quality digital tools for just $7.00 per student, available exclusively through the AEA partnership.

What’s Included

• Top tools like PebbleGo, Britannica, Gale (40+ products), Scholastic Flix series, Learn360 and more. 
• See the full list in the AEA Personalization Resource Guide.

Action Needed by May 15, 2025:

• If your district has NOT yet submitted its commitment, please complete the Digital Resources Commitment Form (one per district) **Only fill out the form if you haven’t already submitted it**

• Interested in select tools only? Contact your AEA Media Representative.

Questions?
Contact Tracie Marshall at tmarshall@iowaaea.org.