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 

Congrats! Webster Elementary Wins Blue Ribbon Honor

It's kind of a big deal!

Webster Elementary School in Urbandale earned the U.S. Department of Education equivalent of an Academy Award: a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School.

Students and staff watched U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan read the announcement this week. They will celebrate in a November assembly and will be honored with all the National Blue Ribbon schools at a recognition ceremony Nov. 9-10 in Washington, D.C. 

Every year the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels.

Check Status of Iowa TIER Assessments Online

A handy way to check the status of Iowa TIER Assessments - in the event of a technical glitch - is to visit the Iowa TIER status Google site. You might want to bookmark it if you haven’t done so already!

If you have any questions, contact Lance Wilhelm, Director of Technology, at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14324.

ELL Admin Academy Developed for Districts with AMAO Concerns

The upcoming Iowa ELL Administrator Academy is offered to administrators with English Language Learners (ELL) in their districts -- specifically, those districts that have failed to meet one or more Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) and must write a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). However, any Iowa district that serves ELLs is eligible to participate.

The Academy is designed to help increase the district’s ability to:

• Address the unique needs of the ELL population
• Significantly improve the ELL’s English language acquisition and academic achievement
• Provide administrators with appropriate instructional and assessment skills and cross-cultural understanding to make a difference in ELL programming

Academy participants will attend the 2015 Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) and pre-conference, Nov. 9-11, as well as additional professional development events throughout the two-year Academy commitment.

Timeline
Oct. 1: Districts that need to complete a CAP will be identified
Oct. 1-14: Districts select an administrator to participate in the academy
By Oct. 15: Districts email ELL Administrator Academy Application to program coordinator
Nov. 9-11: Academy participants attend 2015 Iowa Culture and Language Conference, pre-conference

Heartland AEA district administrative teams required to attend may register at the ICLC website and receive district reimbursement through their Title III consultants. District reimbursement claim forms will be available at the conference.

If you have any questions, contact Janet Hiatt, ESL/Diversity Consultant, at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14022 and review the ELL Administrator Academy program for complete details.

Calling All Administrators! Connected Administrators’ Workshop to Explore Social Media

Would you like to learn more about social media with other K-12 administrators but have time constraints, minimal resources and/or the lack of a ‘safe’ environment? 

Then you should attend Heartland AEA’s Connected Administrators Workshop! This workshop will be offered twice during the 2015-16 school year and will follow with more advanced workshops, if needed.

Dec. 9 
8:00 a.m. - Noon
Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston
Registration: FREE!

If you have any questions, contact Instructional Technology Consultants Marisa Dahl at (800) 255-0405 ext. 14214 or Tyler Youngers at (800) 255-0405 ext. 16307.

I Am Jack Returns to Stephens Auditorium, Explores Story of Bullying

Oct. 27, 2015
10:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
Stephens Auditorium, Ames

Admission: All seats $4 in advance; $5 at the door (available only through the Iowa State Center). Scholarship tickets available for students enrolled in the federal lunch program.

Based on Susanne Gervay’s inspiring novel, I am Jack explores the journey of a smart, funny, 11-year-old boy who is being bullied at school. This one-man show takes you on a touching and sometimes comical journey as Jack moves from victim to victor.

A brief study guide is available. View video clips from the performance here and here.

If you have any questions, contact Sara Compton, Iowa State Center, at (515) 294-7389.

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.

NCLB Annual Update Released, Includes New & Updated Guidance

Iowa Department of Education Deputy Director Dr. David Tilly has sent out annual information to public school districts regarding requirements included in the federal legislation, No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Please share with your district personnel who have responsibility for Comprehensive School Improvement Plans, Annual Progress Reports, and federal programs funded through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

If you have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at (800) 255-0405 ext 14374.

Oct. 2015 Each and Every Child Newsletter

The Oct. 2015 issue of the Each and Every Child newsletter is available from the Iowa Department of Education. In this issue, read about a middle school that has borrowed great ideas and is seeing results.

Oct. 2015 School Leader Newsletter

The Oct. 2015 issue of the School Leader Update is available from the Iowa Department of Education. In this issue, Director Ryan Wise reflects on highlights and headlines from the past month and Attorney Nicole Proesch addresses school visitation as seen through the lens of the Department of Human Services.

Feedback Needed: Educator Development Preliminary Recommendations

Iowans who make up the Council on Educator Development have spent the past two years studying and developing preliminary recommendations for teacher and administrator evaluation practices and professional development. Your feedback is now needed on these recommendations.

Please take this online survey by Nov. 30, 2015. All survey feedback will remain anonymous.

Gathering input is critical not only to this process, it is required by law. Read more information about the council’s work and timeline.