Friday, January 6, 2012
Branstad-Reynolds Administration’s Final Recommendations for World-Class Schools Available
This morning, Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds released their final recommendations for making Iowa’s schools world-class. Find a link to the report here as well as the Department’s press release about the recommendations.
Bookmark HEART’s New URL
In September 2011, the HEART database was moved to a new address. We recently discontinued the redirect messages from the old server addresses. All HEART users in the Heartland area now use this address: https://heart1.aea11.k12.ia.us to log in. If you haven't already, please update your bookmarks to this address.
Check Out the Latest Issue of Our Educator Connection Newsletter!
On Wednesday, Heartland AEA Communications Department sent out the latest issue of the Educator Connection newsletter. It was e-mailed to all educators in the Heartland area and is intended to keep our educators better connected to our agency and to the many programs and services we offer to educators, students and families. Click here to download the newsletter. We've already heard some positive feedback and requests for information to be included in the next issue. We're eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions as well! If you have any comments, please post a comment below or e-mail them to the Heartland AEA Communications Department at comms@aea11.k12.ia.us.
IEC Winter Paper Buy Extended to Jan. 13
In an effort to be more accommodating for Iowa schools, the Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) has extended the date for schools to order their winter paper supply to January 13, 2012. Ordering and pricing information is available on the IEC website at http://www.iec-ia.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4cea867abe0cf. If you have questions regarding the IEC ordering process, contact Joni Puffett at jpuffett@iec-ia.org or (319) 268-9008.
Save the Date: 2012 Statewide Special Education Conference
The Iowa Department of Education is excited to announce a statewide meeting of state and federal policy makers, special educators, school administrators, higher education representatives, community partners, parents and students to be held June 11-13, 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Presenters include:
Jason E. Glass, Director, Iowa Department of Education
Martin J. Ikeda, State Director of Special Education
Keynote speakers focusing on Students with Disabilities Coming to School Ready to Learn, Going Through School in Safe and Caring Environments, Achieving at High Levels, and Leaving School Ready for Life
Including: VSA Iowa
Additional details including speakers, programming, accommodations and registration will be available at www.educateiowa.gov at a later date. Please mark your calendars and join us as we work together to discuss the future of our children's education.
June 11-13, 2012
Iowa Events Center
Hy-Vee Hall
730 Third Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Registration: Free
Presenters include:
Jason E. Glass, Director, Iowa Department of Education
Martin J. Ikeda, State Director of Special Education
Keynote speakers focusing on Students with Disabilities Coming to School Ready to Learn, Going Through School in Safe and Caring Environments, Achieving at High Levels, and Leaving School Ready for Life
Including: VSA Iowa
Additional details including speakers, programming, accommodations and registration will be available at www.educateiowa.gov at a later date. Please mark your calendars and join us as we work together to discuss the future of our children's education.
June 11-13, 2012
Iowa Events Center
Hy-Vee Hall
730 Third Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Registration: Free
Feb. 20 Sessions Added to Heartland AEA Budget Workshops
Registrations for our February Budget Workshop sessions filled very quickly. In order to ensure that everyone got a chance to participate, we have added a third day with two sessions on February 20. Larry Sigel and Margaret Buckton will facilitate all sessions in the computer lab at the Johnston Regional Education Center at 6500 Corporate Drive. Click here for session descriptions and registration information for this year’s budget workshops.
Ed. Department Seeks Students for New State Advisory Council
Iowa students are invited to apply for a seat on a new state advisory council formed by Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass.
The Learning Council, which will be made up of 15 students, complements efforts by the Branstad-Reynolds administration and Director Glass to get input from various stakeholders across the state on transforming Iowa’s education system. The administration will release a comprehensive education package on Friday that focuses on three key areas: highly effective educators, high expectations for all students with fair measures for results, and innovation that boosts learning.
“Students deserve a seat at the table in discussions about the future of their schools,” Glass said. “I look forward to hearing their input and ideas.”
Students enrolled in grades 8-12 from public and nonpublic schools in Iowa may apply. Meetings will take place in March, May, September and December. Council members also will communicate via e-mail.
Applications can be found here and must be returned by January 31. Students who are chosen to serve on the council will be notified by February 10.
The Learning Council, which will be made up of 15 students, complements efforts by the Branstad-Reynolds administration and Director Glass to get input from various stakeholders across the state on transforming Iowa’s education system. The administration will release a comprehensive education package on Friday that focuses on three key areas: highly effective educators, high expectations for all students with fair measures for results, and innovation that boosts learning.
“Students deserve a seat at the table in discussions about the future of their schools,” Glass said. “I look forward to hearing their input and ideas.”
Students enrolled in grades 8-12 from public and nonpublic schools in Iowa may apply. Meetings will take place in March, May, September and December. Council members also will communicate via e-mail.
Applications can be found here and must be returned by January 31. Students who are chosen to serve on the council will be notified by February 10.
Students Can Enter the 2012 World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute
The World Food Prize challenges Iowa high school students to put their minds and leadership toward combating global hunger. How? Students research food security in a developing country and write a five-page paper under the supervision of a teacher mentor. Each Iowa high school may nominate up to two student delegates to participate. Students will discover their role in the fight against hunger. All Iowa high school Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors are welcomed to participate.
Mark your calendar for April 30, 2012. Learn more about how to participate at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/youth_programs/global_youth_institute/iowa/
Participating students are eligible for selection to attend the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines during the World Food Prize events week. These students may apply for the prestigious Borlaug-Ruan International Internship and Wallace-Carver Internship.
For more information on how to participate in the Iowa Youth Institute, contact the World Food Prize Director of Iowa Education Programs Catherine Swoboda at cswoboda@worldfoodprize.org or at (515) 245-3727.
Mark your calendar for April 30, 2012. Learn more about how to participate at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/youth_programs/global_youth_institute/iowa/
Participating students are eligible for selection to attend the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines during the World Food Prize events week. These students may apply for the prestigious Borlaug-Ruan International Internship and Wallace-Carver Internship.
For more information on how to participate in the Iowa Youth Institute, contact the World Food Prize Director of Iowa Education Programs Catherine Swoboda at cswoboda@worldfoodprize.org or at (515) 245-3727.
Iowa KidsNet: Explore Foster Care and Adoption
Please distribute this information as you see fit.
Imagine you are ten years old, and one day you are told you are going to live with a foster family you have never met. You may have to change schools and be separated from your friends. If a family isn’t available to take both you and your siblings, you might be sent to live miles apart. You probably feel confused and even scared.
In December of 2010, over 6,300 Iowa children were in foster care. Children enter foster care through no fault of their own, but often because of circumstances of abuse or neglect. A foster family provides a temporary safe, structured and loving home until a child can either be reunified safely with his or her birth family or find a new permanent home through adoption. Unfortunately, each year many teens turn 18 and age out of foster care without having a connection to a permanent family.
Iowa KidsNet is a statewide collaboration of agencies that recruit, train, license and support Iowa families to foster and adopt Iowa children. Iowa has a great support system for foster and adoptive families, as well as ongoing training and peer support.
In the Des Moines region, Polk County has the most urgent need for more foster families, particularly for African American and Latino foster families. Having a foster or adoptive family who shares a child’s ethnic or cultural background can be an important asset for children who have been removed from their home.
Families who can foster teens, sibling groups and children with special needs or behaviors are also needed.
There is no typical model for a foster family - people from all walks of life are needed. If you have a heart for children, enjoy teamwork and also have patience, flexibility, stability and a sense of humor, you could be a great foster parent.
There are many ways to get involved! Find out how you can make a difference and explore foster care and adoption at www.iowakidsnet.com. You can also join Iowa KidsNet on Facebook at www.FB.com/IowaKidsNet, follow them on Twitter at @IowaKidsNet or visit their blog at www.potentialforgreatness.blogspot.com.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Imagine you are ten years old, and one day you are told you are going to live with a foster family you have never met. You may have to change schools and be separated from your friends. If a family isn’t available to take both you and your siblings, you might be sent to live miles apart. You probably feel confused and even scared.
In December of 2010, over 6,300 Iowa children were in foster care. Children enter foster care through no fault of their own, but often because of circumstances of abuse or neglect. A foster family provides a temporary safe, structured and loving home until a child can either be reunified safely with his or her birth family or find a new permanent home through adoption. Unfortunately, each year many teens turn 18 and age out of foster care without having a connection to a permanent family.
Iowa KidsNet is a statewide collaboration of agencies that recruit, train, license and support Iowa families to foster and adopt Iowa children. Iowa has a great support system for foster and adoptive families, as well as ongoing training and peer support.
In the Des Moines region, Polk County has the most urgent need for more foster families, particularly for African American and Latino foster families. Having a foster or adoptive family who shares a child’s ethnic or cultural background can be an important asset for children who have been removed from their home.
Families who can foster teens, sibling groups and children with special needs or behaviors are also needed.
There is no typical model for a foster family - people from all walks of life are needed. If you have a heart for children, enjoy teamwork and also have patience, flexibility, stability and a sense of humor, you could be a great foster parent.
There are many ways to get involved! Find out how you can make a difference and explore foster care and adoption at www.iowakidsnet.com. You can also join Iowa KidsNet on Facebook at www.FB.com/IowaKidsNet, follow them on Twitter at @IowaKidsNet or visit their blog at www.potentialforgreatness.blogspot.com.
The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)