Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Iowa Student Learning Institute, Nov. 8

School is changing. As the world grows ever-more complex, the education system meant to build and unleash the individual potential of every student is undergoing a revolution. However, the very students whose future depends on education are often unaware and uninvolved in this process.

We want to change this. We are organizing the second annual Iowa Student Learning Institute, an education conference for over 200 students with the theme "Students of Iowa: how can your learning change the world?" The morning will feature speakers (including Jeff Herzberg of Prairie Lakes AEA, Zach Wahls who is an author, advocate, and entrepreneur, and Mike Draper who is the founder and CEO of Raygun) to spark transformative thinking. Then in the afternoon students will collaborate in breakout sessions to formulate their vision for education and explore ways in which they can improve their schools and communities. They will also be invited to facilitate their own sessions to share projects they are doing at their schools. We want students to take home two messages: that they have a critical role in shaping the future of their schools, and that the world beyond needs them to take a stand and fight for change.

ISLI 2014 will be Sat., Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Waukee High School. Get a group of students together from your school and join us! Registration is free through Nov. 1. For more information, please check out our website at www.iowasli.org or contact us directly. We hope to see you at ISLI 2014!

November Issue of Each & Every Child

Please find the a copy of the November issue of Each and Every Child, the Iowa Department of Education’s e-newsletter that goes to over 15,000 Iowans who are a part of the special education community. In this issue, you will read about two special education teachers who are unpacking the Iowa Core, and loving it.

Mark Your Calendars: Optional Zoom Sessions for Chapter 62

In November Heartland AEA will begin offering Zoom sessions related to Chapter 62 requirements, FAST assessments and implications for our practice. Mark your calendars for these optional sessions. Details about joining the November session are below. Watch The Administrator Connection for details on how to join the December session.

Nov. 3, 2014
1-2 p.m.
Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon
Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/776587538

Or join by phone:
+1 (415) 762-9988 or +1 (646) 568-7788 US Toll

Dec. 10, 2014
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Facilitated by Wendy Robinson and Martha Condon

Superintendents: Nov. 4 HAA Meeting

Find an overview of the early literacy conversation that will be conducted by staff from the DE and the Iowa Reading Research Center as part of the HAA meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 4. All meeting materials are also posted at: http://tinyurl.com/k96lt5a

Move Creativity Into 3D Reality! - 3D Printing Available at Heartland AEA

From engine parts to human organs, 3D printing opens a wide variety of creative solutions for the world's problems. And now, students have access to that technology though Heartland AEA! After a successful pilot year with the Stratasys UPrintSE Plus 3D printer, the agency is ready to offer 3D printing services to area schools.

Industrial tech and tech classes will find immediate applications. As you read more about the 3D model applications, we think other teachers will also see the potential in their classrooms. Make those math and science abstractions concrete with a 3D model!

Using special software, students will be able to submit designs electronically to our Creative Services and then the printed object will be shipped back to the school via the Heartland van mail. Visit our 3D Printing page for more information.

iOS8 in 8 Minutes

Did you recently upgrade your iPhone or iPad? If you’ve got 8 minutes, look at the tutorials to learn about the features you didn’t know you need to know! Go to www.atomiclearning.com, enter the your school’s online database username/password (available by asking your school librarian) and search for “iOS8.” Topics include: Interactive Notifications, QuickType, Family Sharing, iCloud® Drive, Spotlight® and more!

CenturyLink Technology Mini-Grants for Iowa Educators

The CenturyLink Foundation and Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency are working together to award technology mini-grants to Iowa educators who are interested in fostering innovative classroom uses of digital learning tools. Visit the CenturyLink Foundation website for more information.

Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Update on Microsoft Settlement: Application Window Approaching

There is now a second round of the Microsoft settlement which provides funding to many schools in Iowa targeted at improving early literacy. Up to $70 per student is guaranteed. Visit the DE's Microsoft Settlement webpage for more information, including lists of eligible schools and the PowerPoint from recent informational webinars.

The application window runs from Nov. 10 through Dec. 19. During this window, there will be a Microsoft Settlement button on the DE's portal where you will submit your application.

If you have questions, contact John O'Connell at john.oconnell@mchsi.com.

Heartland AEA Staff & Schools Directory Now Available

Download a PDF version of the 2014-15 Staff & Schools Directory. Heartland AEA no longer prints bound copies of the directory to be more environmentally friendly and budget conscious.

Also please keep in mind that Heartland AEA has an online staff directory. This electronic directory contains the most up-to-date information about Heartland staff members. To access this directory, visit our homepage and click on the “STAFF DIRECTORY” link on the top right hand side of the page. You may search for Heartland staff members by last name, position or by the school districts they serve.

IEC News You Can Use…Or Spend!

The Iowa Educators Consortium (IEC) has recently begun a monthly newsletter in an effort to stay connected to Iowa educators. Each month, the newsletter will focus on a specific area of savings opportunities. October’s feature is Buildings & Grounds. This issue highlights news you can use directly from the IEC and our Buildings & Grounds vendor partners, as well as an article on the benefits of cooperative purchasing. Subscribe to the IEC newsletter to ensure you're not missing out on possible savings!

History Alive! Sessions at the State Historical Museum

Teachers can bring 5-8 grade classes for History Alive! sessions at the downtown State Historical Museum. Programming correlates with state and national social studies and literacy standards.

The next session is Nov. 6 and 7. Discover Iowa’s film history through the new exhibit Hollywood in the Heartland and join filmmaker Michael Zahs for a journey through 19th Century Projected Entertainment, showcasing pre-cinematic magic lantern slides and some of the earliest films ever made. Students explore storyboarding, animation, early cameras and optical effects. Reserve Today! For more information, contact Sarah.Macht@iowa.gov or (515) 242-5193.

Weekly Round Up of Educational Best Practices Research

Many educators are finding the Marshall Memo a helpful to keep well-informed on current research and best practices in the field. To produce the Marshall Memo, editor Kim Marshall, drawing on his experience as a former educator, consultant and writer, looks through scores of articles each week to select 5-10 that have the greatest potential to improve teaching, leadership and learning. Find more information and subscribe to updates on the Marshall Memo website.

National History Day (NHD) in Iowa—Get Involved!

An enthusiastic Johnston CSD teacher gave us this information. Please pass this message on to your teaching staff.

While “HISTORY” may be a part of the title, this program prepares students for LIFE!  Teachers in any discipline, grades 4-12, will find a link to reading, writing, research, analysis, creativity and problem solving skills.

If you are an educator who is looking for an exciting way to merge your curriculum with real-life skills, this could be the answer.
 
National History Day students use primary, secondary, community and statewide resources on a subject of their choice related to the annual theme. The 2015 theme is Leadership and Legacy in History.
 
Working individually or collaboratively in groups of 2 to 5, students produce documentaries, exhibits, performances, papers or websites. Students may choose to participate in the national event cycle by presenting their research at a competitive series of local, district, state and national events. Students in grades 4 and 5 may participate in a non-competitive Youth Division.
 
Start now!  Work can take place throughout the year and can tie into your standards. Go to
http://www.nhd.org/Standards.htm to learn how NHD will help you meet national education standards.

National History Day encourages students to develop relationships with individuals, organizations and agencies in their communities and state in the process of their research. The program also promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and students' love for learning by making history come alive. Curriculum materials are available to through the state NHD office. Contact katie.craven@iowa.gov, phone (515) 725-0506 to begin your NHD experience today.

#stucamp: EdCamp for Students

The Webster City CSD will be hosting an EdCamp for Students, #stucamp, on Feb. 28. #stucamp is a time for students to come together and give voice to their opinions, beliefs and hopes for their education. Students, grade levels 7-12, may register at http://www.stucamp.org/. 

Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Districts: Apply for One of Six ESL Materials Mini-Grants

Administrators who have ELLs in your districts: Please forward the following mini-grant opportunity to individuals in your district responsible for the programming of English Language Learners. 

You or representatives from your district are invited to attend the Dec. 4, 2014 ESL Advisory meeting at our Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston from 4:00-5:00 p.m. At this quarterly meeting, we will offer an ESL Materials Mini-Grant for districts who write a successful application using a provided template. Up to six $3,000 mini-grants will be awarded to districts that successfully address the need to provide ELLs access to the Iowa Core. (This might be leveled books, manipulatives, hands-on materials, etc.)

Parental Notification Template for Chapter 62

On Oct. 15, 2014, the Iowa Department of Education hosted a webinar regarding the Parental Notification requirements of Chapter 62. During this session, the DE provided a template for schools. Additionally, a Family School Partnership sheet was provided. For in depth information regarding these tools, access the archived webinar on the DE website. 

We have linked the Parental Notification Template and Family School Partnership Sheet here, and they can be found on the DE website as well.

High School Students: Submit Your Business/Invention/Innovation Idea to the Quick Pitch Biz Competition

Greetings from the Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa! We have an exciting opportunity for high school students, and we need your help with promoting our event throughout your high school. How cool would it be to have one (or more) of your students win? 

The Jacobson Institute is hosting a Quick Pitch Biz Competition for high school students in grades 9-12. You don’t need a business background to compete! 

Competitors need: 
• Motivation 
• Passion 
• Good idea 
• Read about past competitors 

You can compete using a new or existing business/invention/innovation idea OR build off an innovation developed from an existing program. Deadline to submit application and 1-page executive summary is Friday, Nov. 21. $4,500 in cash prizes will be given away! 

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.

Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Information About & Registration For English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21) Field Tests

Registration recently opened for the ELPA21 field test, and the Iowa Dept. of Education is encouraging all districts with ELLs to participate. The first round of registration will remain open only until Oct. 17. During this time, the Dept. needs to get as many districts registered as possible. After that, ELPA21 will determine where gaps in student population arise and invite only some districts to participate. Iowa has more ELLs than many of the other consortium states, so the consortium is looking to us to provide enough students for a successful field test. 

Iowa is a member of the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21). The consortium is developing a replacement assessment for our Title I mandated English language proficiency assessment, Iowa English Language Development Assessment (IELDA). This new assessment will begin in spring 2016 with the first administration of the online K-12 summative assessment. Beginning in spring 2017 an online screening assessment for placement of students into an ESL program is due to be completed. 

ELPA21 is a consortium of states committed to supporting educators, member states and the public as they adopt and implement the new English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards and college- and career-ready standards. These standards have been adopted by the Iowa State Board of Education and will begin being implemented by districts during the 2015-16 school year. The consortium is developing an assessment system based on these new ELP Standards that will provide valuable information to inform instruction so that all English language learners leave high school prepared for college and career success. 

There are two field tests for ELPA21. The January dates are for just testing the platform and could be done with only adults taking the role of a student in a district. It is to ensure the test platform works on the district’s system. This one is called the Platform and System Trial. The second dates, Feb. 2 to Mar. 31 are for field testing with students. To assist, Iowa has left open the testing window from Feb. 2 to Mar. 31 to accommodate districts’ schedules rather than setting required testing window dates. 

The Dept. is hosting two Zoom meetings on Oct. 13 – one at 9:00 a.m. and one at 2:00 p.m. – to support anyone assisting districts in their registration and to answer any questions not answered above. They have also placed additional information on their English Language Learners webpage. 

For your assistance, here are five documents from the Iowa Dept. of Education: 

• A memo from David Tilly, Deputy Director of the Dept. of Education 
• A Field Test Walk-Through PPT that we will use on Monday
• ELPA21 Field Test FAQs to assist you in answering questions
• A minimum technical requirements document you can share with tech support in a district
• ELPA21 First Edition Newsletter

Differentiated Math Instruction for ELLs Course to be Offered Soon

A new class, Differentiated Math Instruction for ELLs, for grades 2-12, is being offered for math teachers of ELLs on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 in Johnston. Title III will provide a stipend of $200 for teachers (except those from Des Moines) who have 100% attendance and complete the class requirements. Register soon!

Iowa Department of Education Announces New Website Devoted to Iowa Core

Website Announcement 
From Brad Buck, Director, Iowa Department of Education 

I’m excited to share that IowaCore.gov is now available. This new, user-friendly website is a major step forward in supporting your hard work to implement the Iowa Core standards in schools across the state. 

IowaCore.gov is for educators, parents and other stakeholders to better understand, access and deliver the Iowa Core standards. For the education community, this website is the centerpiece of what’s called the Iowa Core Resources Project. This project is about providing the concrete tools and resources that teachers need to put the Iowa Core into practice. Teachers and school administrators have been asking for this information, and we are now in a position to provide them. 

The Iowa Core Resources Project was made possible with a $1 million state appropriation approved by Iowa legislators in 2013. This funding was used to develop a new Iowa Core website and to secure examples of optional instructional resources that teachers can use, if they so choose, to implement the Iowa Core in kindergarten through 12th grade. More than 8,000 resources are available at no charge in a central, searchable online location called IowaLearns.org, which is accessible through IowaCore.gov. The materials are adaptable to fit the individual needs of local classrooms. 

The new Iowa Core website also provides much more information about the standards to parents and other Iowans. The Explore the Core section provides the standards in a user-friendly format that is searchable by grade level and subject. The parent guides found under the Parents & Community section provide an overview of the Iowa Core standards, examples of what students are expected to know and be able to do and activities that can be done at home to support this learning. The math and English language arts portions of the parent guides were completed in partnership with the National PTA, while the science, social studies and 21st century skills portions were developed by Iowa teachers. 

Please take some time to become familiar with the website and help us tell Iowans about this great new resource that will support Iowa Core implementation. The Iowa Department of Education will continue to improve and expand the new website. You can help us by filling out a feedback form found under the "Contact Us" section of IowaCore.gov. Questions about the website project can be directed to Brad Niebling at brad.niebling@iowa.gov. 

Toolkit 
From Brad Buck 
As described in my announcement of IowaCore.gov to the field, the resource toolkit is designed to assist school administrators and other instructional staff in discussing the new website. Because we also understand you may be fielding questions about the Iowa Core in your communities, I’m including a set of talking points that may be customized to fit your individual needs, as well as a fact sheet and FAQ that may be distributed as handouts or posted online if you see fit. 

The website communications toolkit includes the following elements in a single document that you can easily forward to other stakeholders: 

• Website talking points 
• Sample text that may be customized for use in education newsletters or on websites 
• Sample letters that may be customized for use and distributed to teachers, parents/families, and school board members 
• Sample tweets

• Fact Sheet
• FAQ
• Talking Points
• Website Toolkit

We hope you find these resources helpful and welcome your suggestions for improvements. Questions and feedback about these communications resources may be sent to Staci Hupp Ballard at staci.hupp@iowa.gov. 

Access to Resources 
You will be asked for a username/password to access some of the IowaLearns resources available through IowaCore.gov. The username/password combinations that are used to access AEA online resources are being used, with a slight modification. 

Go to IowaCore.gov. 
Click Educator Resources tab. 
You’ll notice the IowaLearns section. Many of the resources are available through Guest access. Others require a username/password. Staff will use the school online database username/password used for our AEA online resources (Learn 360, EBSCO, Gale, etc.) BUT the prefix “dr” must be added to the beginning of the password (dr stands for digital resource). Ask your teacher librarian for your school’s username/password combination.

Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals
• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Registration Deadline Extended for Iowa Culture and Language Conference

November 10-12, 2014 • Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center 

We heard you and are now EXTENDING the pre-registration deadline to October 20, 2014. 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear national experts on English Language Learners and related topics! 

Conference Presenters 
Miriam Burt 
Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, D.C. 
What I’ve Learned Since 1975: Seven Strategies for Teaching Adult English Learners 

Wayne Wright, Ph.D. 
Purdue University, Indiana 
Strategies for New ELL Teachers 

Roger Rosenthal 
Migrant Legal Action Program, Washington, D.C. 
Rights of Immigrant Students and Other Topics of Interest 

Brenda Custodio, Ph.D. 
Newcomer and ELL Services, Ohio 
Best Practices for Newly Arrived Immigrants 

Kathy Olson 
Consultant and Author 
Brain-Based Learning 

First Person Voices Panels 
Bor Women of South Sudan Monica Nathaniel (President of the Executive Office) and Monica Akuien (President of the Board) 

Refugee and Immigrant Panel of First Person Voices and Parents 
Facilitated by Deng Tiir, multilingual 
Refugee Case Manager First Person Voices from EMBARC Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center 

Charles Pratt 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Washington, D.C. 
Citizenship 

Abeny Kucha Tiir 
Author: Tears of a Mother: The True Story of One Woman’s Determination 

Joanne Knapp-Philo 
National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness, Washington, D.C. 
Early Childhood 

Rita Platt and John Wolfe 
Wisconsin & Minnesota 
Assessment for ELL 

Mark Grey, Ph.D. and Michele Devlin, D.P.H. 
University of Northern Iowa 
Trends in Immigrant/Refugee Relations with Iowa Law Enforcement and Emergency 

Judy Kinley 
Consultant, Iowa 
Differentiating Math Instruction for English Language Learners 

Doreen Underwood 
Great Prairie AEA, Iowa 
Identification of ELL Gifted 

Aiddy Phomvisay 
Marshalltown High School, Iowa Iowa 
ELL Force Activities and Plans 

Danielle Garegnani 
WestEd, San Diego, CA 
ELL Literacy Strategies 

Tonnie Martinez and Jessie Myles 
Midwest Equity 
Kansas State University 

To register, please visit www.iowaclc.com

FAQ from AEA Elementary and LEA Building Leadership Sessions on Chapter 62 and ELI

We have compiled a document of frequently asked questions regarding Chapter 62 requirements. 

Topics include: 

• Chapter 62 requirements and resources 
• Universal Screening 
• Progress Monitoring 
• Early Childhood and Transitional Kindergarten 
• Intensive Instruction 
• Parental Notification 

As additional questions arise, responses will be added to this resource. If you have further questions, contact your Regional Director.

Superintendents: No Regular October HAA Meeting

The October HAA meeting was held in conjunction with the Oct. 3 Iowa Dept. of Education Mini-Summit, so please note that there will not be a separate HAA meeting on Oct. 7.

We Are Social! Are You?

Have you followed Heartland AEA and the AEA system on social media yet? If yes, great—now tell a friend! If not, what are you waiting for? 

Heartland AEA 
• Facebook 
• Twitter

AEA System 
• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• Blog 
• Pinterest

Would Your Science Teachers Like to Use a STARLAB Planetarium? Get Them Signed Up for Trainings

Classic STARLAB consists of an inflatable room that can hold about 30 children or 25 adults. Inside is a novel projector, which can show the night sky with very realistic stars, planets and the moon. By changing the projection cylinder, the projector can also produce constellation outlines, a globe of the Earth or a diagram of a human cell. For astronomy, the changing motions of the sun, moon, planets and stars can be shown with a whole year condensed into a few minutes. 

Classic STARLAB Training 
Oct. 8, 2014 
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. 
Lakewood Elementary School, 9210 Happy Hallow Drive, Norwalk 

The Digital STARLAB portable planetarium projects high-resolution images of celestial bodies of the night (and daytime) sky. The Digital STARLAB consists of an inflatable dome that can hold about 30 children or 25 adults. Inside is a digital projector (with speakers) that can display celestial images and even movies onto the dome. This STARLAB is powered by Starry Night software that is run on a MacBook Pro computer that comes with the STARLAB. The seasons, the solar system (including the sun, planets, moon, constellations, etc.), as well as numerous other celestial bodies can be observed. There are mythology, weather and biological cell cylinders included with the software, as well. 

Digital STARLAB Training 
Oct. 27, 2014 
3:30 – 6:30 p.m. 
Lincoln High School, Small Gym, 2600 S.W. 9th St., Des Moines

Coon-Rapids Bayard Hosting Oct. 22 West Central Iowa Tech Institute

Heartland AEA area educators are invited to attend the West Central Iowa Tech Institute at Coon Rapids-Bayard on Oct. 22, 2014. The Tech Institute’s goal is to provide learners with four to five sessions over the course of the day that will introduce them to a new application, Web 2.0 tool or online resource. The sessions will be organized into brief 15-20 minute session with another 40-45 minutes for teachers to collaborate with the expert presenter and fellow session attendees to develop a lesson/project/assessment that uses the application/tool/resource they just learned about. 

If you would like to attend personally or send a team of teachers, please sign-up by going to this link. If you have any questions, contact Brent Jorth at brent.jorth@crbcrusaders.org.