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

Our Goals

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

Iowa’s AEAs Seek Nominations for Annual Awards Recognition

Do you know someone who has made outstanding contributions to education and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs)? Please take a few minutes to nominate this person for recognition by Iowa’s AEAs. The AEA awards -- the Friend of the AEA Award, the E. Robert Stephens Award and the Innovative Creator Award -- recognize outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the AEA system.

To submit a nomination, complete this application by Feb. 2, 2018. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination. The nominations will be reviewed by a selected group of AEA personnel in February. Both the nominating individual and the person who is selected to be recognized will be notified the first week in March. The awards will be presented at the Iowa AEA Boards of Directors’ Conference on April 5, 2018 in Johnston.

More information about the awards can be found on the Iowa AEA website.

Constantino Returns to Iowa to Present “Engaging Every Family to Support Student Achievement”

Are your students’ families really involved in their education? At this FREE event on June 18, participants will will learn the importance of family engagement in the academic lives and success of learners and discover how to create a culture that is conducive to engaging every family in the school and classroom.

Save the Date! Engaging Every Family to Support Student Achievement
June 18, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Johnston Middle School Auditorium6501 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA

For more information, contact Terry Mendell, Heartland AEA Family & Educator Lead Coordinator, at (515) 270-0405 ext. 17135 or tmendell@heartlandaea.org.

Invited Audience: school administrators, teacher leaders, general and special education teachers

Presenter: Steve Constantino, Ed.D.
As a high school principal in 1995, Steve Constantino, Ed.D. became aware of research about the effects of family engagement on student learning and was convinced that this was the missing ingredient in helping all children learn. Using his high school as a laboratory, Dr. Constantino began to read more and more research and more importantly, figure out ways to apply it to his school.

Steve’s work has gained national prominence as he’s traveled the United States speaking and working with all types of educators, school board members and businesses to promote sound practices in family engagement that result in increased academic achievement for all students.

Today, he is the Acting State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Virginia and is an adjunct professor at the School of Education, College of William and Mary where he teaches courses in the Executive Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership.

DMACC Surplus Available

DMACC has the following surplus items available. If interested contact Julie Klocke in Purchasing at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu.

15 - 60” gray laminate tables

33 - 36” tables with wooden top

15 - 60” tables with dark wood laminate

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

Our Goals

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

Heartland AEA Introduces the 2018 Leadership Series

Heartland AEA is pleased to invite you to participate in a new comprehensive leadership development experience. We are proud to announce the launch of the Heartland AEA Leadership Series. This new opportunity will give educational leaders and their teams the opportunity to learn and interact with national recognized leaders in education. Each session is designed to be highly interactive and provide participants an opportunity to draw upon the speaker’s expertise.

Morning sessions will be held for superintendents and afternoon sessions will be opened up to include building leaders, curriculum directors, teacher leaders, instructional leaders and teachers. It is recommended that districts consider bringing a team to the experience.

By attending the Heartland AEA Leadership Series you’ll join others from all sectors and levels of leadership with a common aspiration: to move forward on what you care about most.

Learn more about the speakers and schedule in this flyer. More information will be coming but if you have questions now, contact Jim Verlengia, Ed.D., Director of Leadership Supports at Heartland AEA, jverlengia@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14388.

Upcoming HAA and SAC Meetings - Mark Your Calendar!

There have been some changes to the Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) and Superintendents Advisory Council (SAC) meetings for Feb. and March. Mark your calendars with this information and be sure to stay tuned into meeting dates, agendas and materials on the HAA Google Site.

February
There will be NO Superintendents’ Advisory Council or Heartland Administrators’ Association meetings

March 6
Superintendents Advisory Council meeting
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Rooms 107A/B
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

Heartland Administrators’ Association meetingHeartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Rooms 107A/B
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

It's So Nice to Put a Face With a Name!

The Heartland AEA Staff Directory has been enhanced with staff photos so as you recall the name of one of our employees, you can now view a picture of the person! The directory can be used to quickly find an Agency employee by name, office or region, school building or district, job title or work group. You can even print a full contact list with photos of Heartland AEA staff who are assigned to your district or building.

The Heartland AEA Staff Directory is easy to use!

1. Go to www.heartlandaea.org

2. Click on the Staff Directory link in the top right

3. Start searching! 
Click on the preferred search criteria to view a staff list or go directly to Photo Directory to view the contact list with photos in a pdf. You may download, save, print and bookmark the pdf.

The New Year Brings Personnel Changes for Iowa’s Area Education Agencies

In Dec. 2017, Brent Siegrist retired from his former role as Iowa’s statewide AEA Executive Director, but will continue to support the AEA system by focusing on legislative advocacy. This change offers the AEA system the benefit of Brent’s considerable background, knowledge and expertise in the legislative process, and enhances relationships with policymakers. We are grateful for the leadership that Brent has provided for over 15 years.

Tom Lane, who has served as a legislative liaison for Iowa’s AEAs the past four years, has been named Executive Director and will now focus the majority of his time on coordination of our statewide work. His priority is to enhance and promote the work of the AEA system, and he will work closely with chief administrators, strengthen relationships with the director groups, and continue to maintain legislative advocacy efforts. Tom’s experience as a teacher, counselor, principal and superintendent will strengthen the community building, both within the AEA system and with other entities.

Brent and Tom have already begun to transition to these new responsibilities. We are fortunate to have the ability to capitalize on the strengths and interests of each of these professionals and to have two staff members who have the ability to complement each other and the work of the AEA system.

Tell Your District’s Story at This Month’s Legislative Advocacy Event

Iowa’s AEAs are bringing school administrators from across Iowa together to learn the most up-to-date legislative insight and meet with legislators face-to-face at the Capitol. This event opens the door for district leaders to share their stories about education with the state’s top elected officials.

Learn more about the event and register to attend by Jan. 23 at this link.

Legislative Update
Legislative update and preparation with education legislative liaisons Dave Wilkerson, Margaret Buckton, Emily Piper and Tom Lane. Moderated by Brent Siegrist.

Jan. 30, 2018
5:30 p.m.
Prairie Meadows Hotel, Skinner Ballroom
New! If you can’t attend this session in person, join by Zoom.

Visits with Legislators
Meet with legislators. Continue advocating in the rotunda if desired after the event. Individual meetings with legislators may also be arranged.

Jan. 31, 2018
7:30 - 9 a.m.
Iowa State Capitol, Room 116

Iowa’s AEAs Seek Nominations for Annual Awards Recognition

Do you know someone who has made outstanding contributions to education and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs)? Please take a few minutes to nominate this person for recognition by Iowa’s AEAs. The AEA awards -- the Friend of the AEA Award, the E. Robert Stephens Award and the Innovative Creator Award -- recognize outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the AEA system.


To submit a nomination, complete this application by Feb. 2, 2018. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination. The nominations will be reviewed by a selected group of AEA personnel in February. Both the nominating individual and the person who is selected to be recognized will be notified the first week in March. The awards will be presented at the Iowa AEA Boards of Directors’ Conference on April 5, 2018 in Johnston.

More information about the awards can be found on the Iowa AEA website.

Steve Constantino, Ed.D., Returns to Iowa to Present “Engaging Every Family to Support Student Achievement” -- Save the Date

Are your students’ families really involved in their education? At this FREE event on June 18, participants will learn the importance of family engagement in the academic lives and success of learners and discover how to create a culture that is conducive to engaging every family in the school and classroom.

Engaging Every Family to Support Student Achievement
June 18, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Johnston Middle School Auditorium, 6501 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston

For more information, contact Terry Mendell, Heartland AEA Family & Educator Lead Coordinator, at (515) 270-0405 ext. 17135 or tmendell@heartlandaea.org.

Invited Audience: school administrators, teacher leaders, general and special education teachers

Presenter: Steve Constantino, Ed.D.
As a high school principal in 1995, Steve Constantino, Ed.D. became aware of research about the effects of family engagement on student learning and was convinced that this was the missing ingredient in helping all children learn. Using his high school as a laboratory, Dr. Constantino began to read more and more research and more importantly, figure out ways to apply it to his school. Steve’s work has gained national prominence as he’s traveled the United States speaking and working with all types of educators, school board members and businesses to promote sound practices in family engagement that result in increased academic achievement for all students.

Iowa's Educators Who Want to Continue Inspiring Students in STEM Now Have an Opportunity!

Through legislative appropriation, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is able to offer exemplary STEM programs throughout the state. The STEM Scale-Up Program has demonstrated success in increasing student interest and achievement in STEM across all demographics. Through a rigorous review process, the STEM Council selected nine programs to be offered on the 2018-19 STEM Scale-Up Program menu to provide high-quality STEM education offerings to schools, after-school programs and other settings for grades PK through 12.The 2018-19 Scale-Up Program application will open Jan. 22 and remain open until March 5, 2018. The Scale-Up program menu ranges from coding programs to hands-on biotechnology and agriculture projects to STEM career exploration. Any educator, formal or informal, serving Iowa students PK-12 grade may apply. For more information and to apply, visit the Iowa STEM Scale-Up website.

Peter DeWitt to Lead Collaborative Leadership Curriculum Academy in April

Want to learn more about collaborative leadership and how Iowa schools are leading the way? Plan on attending the 2018 Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy on April 19-20, 2018. Details about the event are listed below and registration is at this link.

Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most
April 19, 2018
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny

Peter DeWitt will provide a day-long presentation/workshop on "Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most." Dr. Dewitt is a former K-5 teacher and principal. He is known for his workshops and keynotes nationally and internationally focusing on collaborative leadership, fostering inclusive school climates, and connected learning. Additionally, Peter is a Visible Learning Trainer for John Hattie and an Instructional Coaching Trainer for Jim Knight.

Connecting CBE and Personalized Learning Utilizing the Collaborative Leadership Framework
April 20, 2018
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny

Andrea Stewart will present "Connecting CBE and Personalized Learning Utilizing the Collaborative Leadership Framework." Following her presentation, several Iowa schools will share "Stories from the Fields of Iowa" focusing on collaborative leadership.

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

Our Goals

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

Please Provide Feedback on the Crisis Management & Communication Workshop

Heartland AEA would like to thank you for your participation in Tuesday’s Crisis Management & Communication Workshop at the Hilton Garden Inn. We invite you to take a moment to complete our post-event survey. Your feedback will enable us to better meet your needs for future presentations. Thank you for your collaboration.

Should We Bring Back Collaborative Leadership as an Option for Evaluator Approval Credit?

Heartland AEA is again considering offering Collaborative Leadership as an option for Evaluator Approval Renewal. We’re interested in knowing if your educational leaders would like this offered again. As you may recall, the two-credit hour course that we offered in 2017 consisted of four days of instruction facilitated by Peter Dewitt Ed.D, who unpacked six leadership factors in Collaborative Leadership, all framed through the lens of John Hattie’s Visible Learning research. Tell us what you’d like. Take our short survey. The survey remains open until Jan. 19, 2018.

HAA and SAC Feb. and March Meetings - Save These Dates!

There have been some changes to the Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) and Superintendents Advisory Council (SAC) meetings for Feb. and March. Mark your calendars with this information and be sure to stay tuned into meeting dates, agendas and materials on the HAA Google Site.

February
There will be NO Superintendents’ Advisory Council or Heartland Administrators’ Association meetings

March 6
Superintendents Advisory Council (SAC)
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Rooms 107A/B
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA)
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Rooms 107A/B
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Prepare Your District Budget During The ISFIS Budget Workshop

Each year, ISFIS partners with Piper Jaffray and Iowa's Area Education Agencies to provide face-to-face budget workshops for business managers and superintendents. These hands-on workshops are an opportunity for leaders from each district to prepare their individual budgets in one highly productive day. Workshops are scheduled at Heartland AEA on Jan. 29 and Feb. 19. Register online

ISFIS Budget Workshops at Heartland AEA
Dates: Jan. 29 or Feb. 19
Location: Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston
Registration: Register online

For more information, contact Marissa Gaal at marissa@iowaschoolfinance.com or (515) 251-5970 ext. 4.

Additional Budget Offerings
IASB also offers certified budget workshops for superintendents and school business officials, and two of them are held at the IASB office in Des Moines on Feb. 6 and Feb. 26. Workshops are free for IASB members. For more information, visit the IASB website.

Register Your District for the Heartland AEA Career Fair

​

Date: March 7, 2018

Time: 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. 

Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center
, 6500 Corporate Drive, 
Johnston

This will be an opportunity for you to recruit quality candidates to your district, as well as a chance to help keep quality teaching talent in Iowa!

To register your district/school, complete this form by Jan. 25, 2018. More information will follow.

If you have any questions, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Heartland AEA Human Resources Manager. We look forward to this opportunity to serve you and hope your district will be able to attend this exciting event!

Heartland AEA Introduces the 2018 Leadership Series

Heartland AEA is pleased to invite you to participate in a new comprehensive leadership development experience. We are proud to announce the launch of the Heartland AEA Leadership Series. This new opportunity will give educational leaders and their teams the opportunity to learn and interact with national recognized leaders in education. Each session is designed to be highly interactive and provide participants an opportunity to draw upon the speaker’s expertise.

Morning sessions will be held for superintendents and afternoon sessions will be opened up to include building leaders, curriculum directors, teacher leaders, instructional leaders and teachers. It is recommended that districts consider bringing a team to the experience.

By attending the Heartland AEA Leadership Series you’ll join others from all sectors and levels of leadership with a common aspiration: to move forward on what you care about most.

Learn more about the speakers and schedule in this flyer. More information will be coming but if you have questions now, contact Jim Verlengia, Ed.D., Director of Leadership Supports at Heartland AEA, jverlengia@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-0405 ext. 14388.

FastBridge Update from Iowa’s AEAs; Check Upcoming Deadlines

Many districts have already expressed interest to their respective AEA about using this suite of assessments. There are two different window available, thus two potential deadlines are listed below. FastBridge will include the Spring 2018 assessment window for districts/schools who commit to 2018-19 participation, at no additional charge.

Option 1: If your district would like to commit to participation in 2018-19, but start using the assessment in the spring 2018 at no additional charge, complete this complete this formal interest survey by Jan. 15, 2018.

Option 2: If you don't want to use tools for free during the spring 2018 screening window, but plan to use them beginning in the fall of 2018, then you have until June 15, 2018 to commit and complete this formal interest survey.

This one-hour webinar recording provides an overview of the FastBridge suite of formative assessment tools available for K-6 students in math and was presented during the Statewide Curriculum Network last December. These are the slides used during the webinar.

This is information shared by the AEAs regarding the pricing structure negotiated with FastBridge Learning by the AEAs, and deadlines for notifying your AEA if your school plans to participate in 2018-19.

This is a FAQ document that was created to capture questions related to the FastBridge formative assessment tools for behavior and math.

If you are a school in the Heartland AEA service area and have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Chief Academic Officer with Heartland AEA, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14374.

Iowa’s AEAs Seek Nominations for Annual Awards Recognition

Do you know someone who has made outstanding contributions to education and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs)? Please take a few minutes to nominate this person for recognition by Iowa’s AEAs. The AEA awards -- the Friend of the AEA Award, the E. Robert Stephens Award and the Innovative Creator Award -- recognize outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the AEA system.


To submit a nomination, complete this application by Feb. 2, 2018. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination. The nominations will be reviewed by a selected group of AEA personnel in February. Both the nominating individual and the person who is selected to be recognized will be notified the first week in March. The awards will be presented at the Iowa AEA Boards of Directors’ Conference on April 5, 2018 in Johnston.

More information about the awards can be found on the Iowa AEA website.

Join Your Colleagues at This Month’s Legislative Advocacy Event

Iowa’s AEAs are bringing school administrators from across Iowa together to learn the most up-to-date legislative insight and meet with legislators face-to-face at the Capitol. Learn more about the event and register to attend by Jan. 23 at this link.

Legislative Update
Date: Jan. 30, 2018
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Prairie Meadows Hotel

Visits with Legislators
Date: Jan. 31, 2018
Time: 7:30 - 9 a.m.
Location: Iowa State Capitol

Registration is open until Jan. 23 at this link.

Registration Closes Jan. 15 for Jim Knight’s High Impact Instruction Workshop; Last Chance to Attend This Training in Near Future

The registration for Jim Knight's High Impact training on Feb. 5-6, 2018 closes on Jan. 15. The High Impact Instruction workshop provides coaches a framework to use with teachers and is focused around content planning, instruction, community building and assessment for learning. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the high impact instructional strategies and how principals and instructional coaches can support implementation of those practices.

High Impact Instruction
Date: Feb. 5-6, 2018
Time: 8:oo a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: The workshop location is now in Ames at Heartland AEA, 511 S. 17th Street.
Target audience: Classroom teachers, instructional coaches, teacher leaders and administrators

NEW! A Class for Teachers Who Work with Alternative Assessment

Linking Alternate Assessment, Essential Elements, and Quality IEPs for Literacy is a 2-day course that will help teachers, related service providers and AEA staff who support students with significant intellectual disabilities make connections between assessment, curriculum and instruction.

Participants will learn about the alternate assessment tools and resources that help match instruction to student need; how to unpack and apply essential elements to establish present levels of performance; and ways to write ambitious IEP goals, align services to needs, monitor progress and meet requirements of both alternate assessments. The five routines of literacy will be reviewed, but not explored in depth.

Linking Alternate Assessment, Essential Elements and Quality IEPs for Literacy
Dates: April 23 and 30, 2018
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston

Registration: Register at this link

BoEE Superintendent Update – Jan. 2018

Topics in the Jan. 2018 BoEE Superintendent Update include information about substitute teachers, 2018 proposed legislation, checking on coursework progress, new applications, hiring new graduates, and the CTE Information Technology endorsement.

Registration is Open for 2018 Iowa Go Alliance Online Academy Courses

Are you looking for ways to increase the knowledge and skills of your staff and yourself regarding college and career readiness? Iowa Go Alliance Academy and AEA Learning Online have set up a number of online courses to help enhance your knowledge and save you time and money!

Building a College-Going Culture for All Students
How to remove barriers to higher education, especially for low-income, first-generation and minority students.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018 

College, Career and Academic Planning
(Prerequisite: Building a College-Going Culture for All Students)
How to engage students in early college and career awareness, and support students in postsecondary and career planning.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018

Financial Aid and College Applications
(Prerequisite: Building a College-Going Culture for All Students)
How to support students and families navigating the complexities of filing the FAFSA and other financial aid and college applications.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018

Maximizing Counselor Impact: Module for Administrators
How school leaders can engage effectively with school counselors. Developed in collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018

Iowa Go Alliance Academy is a college and career counseling training program provided by Iowa College Aid in partnership with Southern Regional Education Board and AEA Learning Online. See best practices in action and gain knowledge and resources that can be incorporated in your work with students immediately. Courses are offered for license renewal or graduate credit through Drake University, Morningside University and Viterbo University. Space is limited, so register today. For more information about Iowa Go Alliance Academy and course availability, contact Ashley McKenna at ashley.mckenna@iowa.gov.

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

Our Goals

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

Prepare Your District Budget During The ISFIS Budget Workshop

Each year, ISFIS partners with Piper Jaffray and Iowa's Area Education Agencies to provide face-to-face budget workshops for business managers and superintendents. These hands-on workshops are an opportunity for leaders from each district to prepare their individual budgets in one highly productive day. Workshops are scheduled at Heartland AEA on Jan. 29 and Feb. 19. Register online

ISFIS Budget Workshops at Heartland AEA
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston
Jan. 29 or Feb. 19
Register online

For more information, contact Marissa Gaal at marissa@iowaschoolfinance.com or (515) 251-5970 ext. 4.

Additional Budget Offerings
IASB also offers certified budget workshops for superintendents and school business officials, and two of them are held at the IASB office in Des Moines on Feb. 6 and Feb. 26. Workshops are free for IASB members. For more information, visit the IASB website.

We are pleased to hold our 4th annual Education Career Fair in March 2018!

March 7, 2018

2:00 - 5:30 p.m. 

Heartland AEA
Johnston Regional Education Center

6500 Corporate Drive

Johnston, IA 50131

This will be an opportunity for you to recruit quality candidates to your district, as well as a chance to help keep quality teaching talent in Iowa!

RETURNING THIS YEAR: Mock Interviews!

In addition to the opportunity to meet with districts, prospective employees will also have the opportunity to attend career fair etiquette, interviewing and resume writing classes on-site.

To register your district/school, complete this form by Jan. 25, 2018. More information will follow.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Tony Chiaramonte, Heartland AEA Human Resources Manager.

We look forward to this opportunity to serve you and hope your district will be able to attend this exciting event!

FastBridge Update from Iowa’s AEAs

Many districts have already expressed interest to their respective AEA about using this suite of assessments. There are two different window available, thus two potential deadlines are listed below. FastBridge will include the Spring 2018 assessment window for districts/schools who commit to 2018-19 participation, at no additional charge.

Option 1: If your district would like to commit to participation in 2018-19, but start using the assessment in the spring 2018 at no additional charge, complete this complete this formal interest survey by Jan. 15, 2018.

Option 2: If you don't want to use tools for free during the spring 2018 screening window, but plan to use them beginning in the fall of 2018, then you have until June 15, 2018 to commit and complete this formal interest survey.

This one-hour webinar recording provides an overview of the FastBridge suite of formative assessment tools available for K-6 students in math and was presented during the Statewide Curriculum Network last December. These are the slides used during the webinar.

This is information shared by the AEAs regarding the pricing structure negotiated with FastBridge Learning by the AEAs, and deadlines for notifying your AEA if your school plans to participate in 2018-19.

If you are a school in the Heartland AEA service area and have any questions, contact Kevin Fangman, Chief Academic Officer with Heartland AEA, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14374. We will be collecting questions and facilitating feedback from FastBridge Learning and will share this in an FAQ document in the near future.

Iowa’s AEAs Seek Nominations for Annual Awards Recognition

Do you know someone who has made outstanding contributions to education and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs)? Please take a few minutes to nominate this person for recognition by Iowa’s AEAs. The AEA awards -- the Friend of the AEA Award, the E. Robert Stephens Award and the Innovative Creator Award -- recognize outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the AEA system.

To submit a nomination, complete this application by Feb. 2, 2018. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination. The nominations will be reviewed by a selected group of AEA personnel in February. Both the nominating individual and the person who is selected to be recognized will be notified the first week in March. The awards will be presented at the Iowa AEA Boards of Directors’ Conference on April 5, 2018 in Johnston.

More information about the awards can be found on the Iowa AEA website.

Time is Running Out to Register for the 2018 Legislative Advocacy Event

Register now for the 2018 Legislative Education Advocacy Event sponsored by Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This event will bring together school administrators from across Iowa to learn the most up-to-date legislative insight, and meet with legislators face-to-face at the Capitol.

Legislative Update
Jan. 30, 2018
5:30 p.m.
Prairie Meadows Hotel

Legislative Visits
Jan. 31, 2018
7:30 - 9 a.m.
Iowa State Capitol

Registration is open until Jan. 23 at this link.

Registration is Open for 2018 Iowa Go Alliance Online Academy Courses

Are you looking for ways to increase the knowledge and skills of your staff and yourself regarding college and career readiness? Iowa Go Alliance Academy and AEA Learning Online have set up a number of online courses to help enhance your knowledge and save you time and money!

Building a College-Going Culture for All Students
How to remove barriers to higher education, especially for low-income, first-generation and minority students.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018 

College, Career and Academic Planning
(Prerequisite: Building a College-Going Culture for All Students)
How to engage students in early college and career awareness, and support students in postsecondary and career planning.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018

Financial Aid and College Applications
(Prerequisite: Building a College-Going Culture for All Students)
How to support students and families navigating the complexities of filing the FAFSA and other financial aid and college applications.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018

Maximizing Counselor Impact: Module for Administrators
How school leaders can engage effectively with school counselors. Developed in collaboration with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
January 22-March 16, 2018
March 2-April 20, 2018
June 11-July 27, 2018

Iowa Go Alliance Academy is a college and career counseling training program provided by Iowa College Aid in partnership with Southern Regional Education Board and AEA Learning Online. See best practices in action and gain knowledge and resources that can be incorporated in your work with students immediately. Courses are offered for license renewal or graduate credit through Drake University, Morningside University and Viterbo University. Space is limited, so register today. For more information about Iowa Go Alliance Academy and course availability, contact Ashley McKenna at ashley.mckenna@iowa.gov.

Changes Required by ESSA to Graduation Requirements for Children with Disabilities - Revised Timelines for Public Comment and Hearing

Last month, the Iowa Department of Education provided information about a required change in practice that they will phase in over time regarding graduation requirements for children with disabilities. This change is required by an amendment made to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by the Every Student Succeeds Act. That federal amendment changes the definition of a “regular high school diploma.” Due to scheduling conflicts and difficulties, a public hearing that was scheduled for Jan. 8 is postponed and will be rescheduled to a date later this spring. The period of public comment is open now and will be extended to the date of the rescheduled public hearing. The DE will communicate the new hearing date. Refer to this letter from the DE for more information.