Friday, April 13, 2012

Federal Sequestration is a “Four-Letter” Word

The Iowa Department of Education's School Business Alert newsletter is sent to school and AEA business officials to inform them of new initiatives or emerging issues in school business management. The April issue included information about “sequestration,” a word that is creating growing concern nationally for any programs receiving federal funds for education. Click here to read more about how districts could be affected if the process is triggered.

2012-13 Student Planners Available through Heartland AEA

We are excited to announce affordable, durable school planners for the 2012-13 school year! Help your elementary, middle and high school students be more organized and better prepared with their own planner.

We have two available sizes (5.5x8.5 or 8.5x11). Choose your preferred cover, intro pages, planner pages, note pages and calendars from our set styles for basic planners. Optional pages can be added for an additional fee (student handbook, activities calendars, etc.). Order quantities must be a minimum of 50 planners.

Click here to see the standard styles you can choose from and the order form. Please complete and return the order form to Heartland AEA at graphics@aea11.k12.ia.us by May 31, 2012 so that we have ample time to process your order and have it ready by fall.

Standard Planner Prices
5.5 x 8.5 - $1.25 per planner
8.5 x 11 - $2.35 per planner

For more information or to personalize your school's planners, contact our graphic designers at graphics@aea11.k12.ia.us or (515) 270-9030.

Superintendents: April 3 HAA Notes

Click here to view notes from the April 3 HAA meeting.

ELL Strategies the Focus of Our Kids Summer Institute

Registration is now open for the 2012 Our Kids Summer Institute. Network with other Iowa educational professionals and learn new strategies for working with English Language Leaner students. Other topics include RtI, co-teaching, technology for ELLs and literacy for the limited formal school population. To register, go to https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/ES006769571301INV&*

UNI Principalship Master's Degree Application Deadline April 15

The University of Northern Iowa Department of Educational Leadership & Postsecondary Education is now accepting applications through Sunday, April 15, for the upcoming Principalship Master's Degree or Advanced Studies Certificate program offered at a distance. This program can be finished in two years by completing 13 courses, or 37 hours of graduate credit and an internship.

With cooperation from UNI Continuing and Distance Education, a new program for aspiring educational leaders begins this fall. The two-year program is designed for individuals seeking endorsement in the state of Iowa as a pre-K through 12 principal or pre-K through 12 supervisor of special education. This performance-based program is unique in that it minimizes student class time and maximizes on-site skill development while working with a mentor. Students entering this program will be required to devote a considerable amount of time in an internship experience.

Courses in this program are offered one night per week during the fall and spring semesters via interactive video conferencing. The first summer session includes a short on-campus experience. Some courses are offered entirely online.

For more information about the Principalship Master's degree program and additional offerings available through Continuing and Distance Education at UNI, visit www.uni.edu/continuinged or contact Betty Hogan, administrative assistant at Educational Leadership & Post-secondary Education, betty.hogan@uni.edu.

Iowa Reading Association Conference, June 26-27

The Iowa Reading Association, an interactive group of individuals promoting literacy through leadership and educational programming, is pleased to announce an exciting professional development opportunity for all K-12 educators interested in literacy! They will be hosting The Iowa Reading Association ESEA Title Conference on June 26-27, 2012 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa. The 2012 conference theme is “Summer Vacation: Destination Literacy!”

You and your staff are invited to come and experience the Iowa Reading Association’s first summer conference! Conference registration is now open and you can find a printable registration form at www.iowareading.org. Pre-register before June 1 and take advantage of special discounts on your registration fee. Groups of 6 or more from the same school or institution are also eligible for a 25% discount on registration (does not include meals). This is a great incentive for schools wishing to send their staff to the conference!

You and your staff will enjoy learning from nationally prominent speakers, meeting published authors, gathering strategies from experienced instructors, earning graduate/renewal credit, and shopping exciting exhibitors without the hassles of attending a conference during the school year.

A registration form, hotel information, daily conference schedules, keynote speaker information, concurrent session information, exhibitor lists, and details about earning 1 hour of graduate or renewal credit while at the conference are on their website at www.iowareading.org.

This event promises to be as relaxing as it is informative and will be one vacation destination you and your staff won’t want to miss! Please encourage all of your staff members interested in literacy to mark June 26-27, 2012 on their calendars and to attend this conference.