Rooted to Grow: Diverse Learners in the 21st Century

The annual Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) will be held on February 9-10, 2010 at Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. A Pre-conference will take place on February 8. This year's theme is "Rooted to Grow: Diverse Learners in the 21st Century."

Eight speakers have been invited to speak at the conference. The mission of the annual event is to advocate for culturally and/or linguistically diverse students and their families, educators and service providers. Schools are encouraged to bring a team.

For budgeting purposes, please send the number of participants you will be registering for the ICLC and Pre-conference to Pat Latham at platham@aea11.k12.ia.us no later than November 30, 2009.

After sending your anticipated number of participants to Pat Latham, you may register each participant through the Northwest AEA Web site at http://www.nwaea.k12.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/iowa_culture_language_conference/.

Make sure to register before December 11, 2009 to receive the Early Bird Rate. Title III will only fund the Early Bird Rates to your district. The following are conditions Title III will fund:

Pre-conference registration based on ELL enrollment

1. Schools without English language learners will receive reimbursement for one participant to attend a Pre-conference session (up to $100 registration fee, only).
2. Schools with one or more English language learners receive reimbursement (up to $100 registration fee, only) for each of three participants to attend the Pre-conference sessions.

Iowa Culture and Language Conference Registration and Sub-pay based on ELL enrollment

1. Districts with 75 ELLs and up will be reimbursed for 10 participants.
2. Districts with 15 to 74 ELLs will be reimbursed for 3 participants.
3. Districts with 10 to 14 ELLs will be reimbursed for 2 participants.
4. Districts with 9 and below ELLs will be reimbursed for 1 participant.

Participants must have full attendance at the Pre-conference or ICLC to qualify for Title III reimbursement. The Heartland AEA sign-in table will be located by the registration booth, lower lobby of the Polk County Convention Center.

Signed, hard copies of Title III claim forms for both the Pre-conference and ICLC (one form for the Pre-conference, another for ICLC) must be submitted no later than February 26, 2010 to Jeri Messenger at 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131.