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
About 20 districts have started the online Request for Transportation Approval process for the 2016-17 year. You may check your district status here. Review the instructions and timelines including the updated video tutorials to complete the process. Districts are asked to begin the process this month and to complete step III by April 30.
Chapter 285.9(3) of the Iowa Code requires the Area Education Agency Board of Directors to approve all bus routes outside the boundaries of the school district operating the buses. This has been interpreted to mean regular routes and regular special education routes, not bussing for field trips or activity trips. The Code requires you to request permission from neighboring district(s) before any bus routes cross district boundaries.
For more information, contact Jenny Ugolini at (515) 270-0405 ext. 14441.
Our Kids Summer Institute 2016 registration is OPEN! The 12th Annual Institute, “Trip the Light,” provides participants an opportunity to network with other educational professionals, discover new strategies for working with English language learners in Iowa, and learn from national and local experts to enrich their practices for increasing EL achievement.
Title III will reimburse Heartland AEA district educators for their registration fees, plus provide a stipend for attendance and full participation in either/both the pre-conference workshop on June 15, and/or the full two-day Our Kids Summer Institute on June 16 and 17, 2016. Claim forms will be available at each event. (Please note that this reimbursement through Heartland AEA does not include Des Moines Public Schools).
Date: June 15-17, 2016
Location: Waukee High School, 555 SE University Ave., Waukee, IA
Read more about the conference
Register for the conference
Iowa administrators and teacher leaders are invited to three professional learning events on the components and interconnectedness of Chapter 62/Early Literacy Initiative, Teacher Leadership Compensation, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Differentiated Accountability, Collaborating for Kids and Standards and Curriculum.
Impacting Literacy Leadership - Making the Connections
This one-day training provides an overview of the components of Multi Tiered Systems of Support while connecting this learning to Early Literacy Implementation and Differentiated Accountability. Members from the Iowa Department of Education and state AEAs will lead collaborative learning around the continuous improvement tools that have been developed through the Collaborating for Iowa's Kids (C4K) and the Teacher Leadership Structure. Action planning for implementation will also be integrated throughout the day so administrators can think about how to leverage their teacher leader resources back in their buildings.
Date: June 20, 2016
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, Des Moines
Cost: $25
Register by June 15
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Tools to Support MTSS Implementation
Save the date for this follow-up event to the June training. Administrators AND their teachers/teacher leaders and training cadre are invited.
Date: Aug. 1, 2016
Location: Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, Des Moines
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Keeping School Improvement Practical, Reasonable, and Doable for PK - 6 Leadership Teams
PreK - 6 Elementary Building Leadership Teams across Heartland AEA will come together to deepen their understanding in:
- Effective leadership team traits
- The interconnectedness of Chapter 62/Early Literacy Initiative, Teacher Leadership Compensation (TLC), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Differentiated Accountability, Collaborating for Kids (C4K) and Standards and Curriculum
- Building consensus with staff and constituents and the use of C4K school improvement tools
This opportunity will assist teams in moving forward from the summer TLC-C4K (June 20 and Aug. 1, 2016), however attendance at those leadership sessions is not required for this day.
Date: Sept. 29, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register here. There is no cost to attend.
STEM educators in grades 4-8 are eligible to apply for a full scholarship to STEMcon Space Academy for Educators at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. STEMcon is an immersive, collaborative professional development workshop that provides educators with mission critical tools for engaging and exciting their students. This NASA grant-funded professional development program is located at the home of Space Camp and will be offered in two sessions, June 2-5 and July 8-11. The scholarship includes tuition, meals, lodging, lesson materials and a stipend to help offset travel expenses. For more information and to apply by April 8, visit http://rocketcenter.com/educators/STEMCon.
The University of Iowa College of Education is inviting you and members of your leadership team to join them for lunch, April 18 at 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Greenbriar Restaurant in Johnston. The Dean and other faculty and staff will be in attendance primarily for the purpose of listening and learning about district issues and needs as well as providing updates on learning initiatives for teachers and administrators available through the University. If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to Jenny Ugolini by April 15.
The DMACC Ankeny Campus has the following surplus supplies available. If interested, contact Julie Klocke, DMACC Purchasing, at (515) 964-6386.
Three, 4’ x 4’ and two, 5’ x 3’ enclosed lockable bulletin boards. There are two metal and the remaining are wood.
7' x 42" oval conference room table with six chairs
The Iowa Department of Education will hold a summer institute for teachers on June 15-17, 2016. National experts in science will lead elementary, middle and high school teachers through the standards. The goal is to give educators tools they need to implement the innovations in their practice. This institute assumes that attendees are familiar with the new science standards (attended Module 1 AEA training), as the Institute is not an introduction to the standards. If you are interested in attending and need the introductory Module 1 training, contact your AEA Science Consultant. Registration links are below for this free training.
Elementary - June 15
Middle School - June 16
High School - June 17
