Friday, October 26, 2018

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

Registration is Open for the 2019 AEA Legislative Advocacy Event

Iowa’s AEAs will host the Legislative Advocacy Event on Feb. 4-5, 2019 at Prairie Meadows. This event will take the place of the regularly scheduled Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) February meeting.

This year’s event begins with an update from members of the education lobby and preparation for the morning conversations with legislators. We will meet at the capitol the next morning to talk with legislators. We all know this will be a challenging session for state funding. Please make it a priority to join us in Des Moines. Making your voice heard has never been more important. Registration and more details available at: https://www.smore.com/h04a9.

New AEA PREP Dashboards Provide Picture of Student Postsecondary Readiness and Success

Recently, the Iowa Department of Education released the AEA PREP Dashboards providing a portrait of how prepared Iowa high school graduates are for success in postsecondary education and training. The dashboards are intended to help guide school and district school improvement efforts using statewide, AEA, district and building level data. Schools can use their local information to benchmark and monitor progress toward locally defined goals as they relate to postsecondary readiness and success, including enrollment, persistence and completion of postsecondary programs. The AEA PREP Dashboards are highly interactive in nature and allow schools to examine the postsecondary success of their students through a variety of postsecondary readiness and demographic filters. The dashboards are housed within EdInsight; if you desire access to these dashboards and currently do not have an EdInsight (also known as an “A & A” account), please see these instructions for creating a user account and/or requesting access. If you recall, TJ Jumper and Sue Schirmer presented on these dashboards at our September Superintendent's meeting.

What data are included/what data are excluded
Data included: PREP Dashboards include postsecondary readiness and demographic data provided by Iowa school districts through State Reporting in Iowa (SRI). In addition, postsecondary enrollment and award data are provided through three sources: Iowa Board of Regents (for public Regent universities in Iowa); Iowa Division of Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation (for public community colleges in Iowa); and the National Student Clearinghouse (for in-state private colleges and universities and all out-of-state colleges and universities).

Data excluded: Postsecondary enrollment data is considered directory-level data and thus does not include any postsecondary performance data, including but not limited to college GPA, college credit accrual, financial aid information, or other course-specific performance data.

How to use or interpret PREP Dashboards
Specifically, AEA PREP Dashboards are intended to help guide districts in establishing and monitoring postsecondary readiness goals aligned with both the Iowa College and Career Readiness definition and overall school improvement efforts. The information contained in the dashboards can be used to identify programmatic areas of success in relation to increasing postsecondary enrollment and award/completion. These reports are intended to support the entire school improvement process in conjunction with the other data sources already in use (i.e. ESSA reporting, school report cards and DA/Healthy Indicators). Please note: AEA PREP Dashboards are intended for in-district use only and are not intended for public distribution due to their inclusion of small cell size data.

For more information from Heartland AEA, please contact Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant (sschirmer@heartlandaea.org) or TJ Jumper, Regional Director (tjumper@heartlandaea.org).

Could Fridays Get Any Better? Only If You Join Us for Standards-Based Learning “Framework Fridays!”

EdCamp-style workshops will be held throughout the 2018-19 school year to provide additional learning, collaboration and conversation for those interested in Standards-Based Learning (SBL) Including Grading and Reporting. The workshops coincide with specific strands of the Standards-Based Learning Framework developed by Heartland AEA. You can attend whatever sessions are of interest to you--you don’t need to attend all nine. Come learn with us!

Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
First Friday of the month from Oct. 2018 to May 2019
Next Session: Dec. 7, 2018
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Visit our website to learn more and register

If Your District or Building is Looking at Behavioral Interventions in the Classroom, This Workshop is for You - and it's FREE!

This is a reminder that Shannon Suldo, Ph.D., will be here on Nov. 6 to deliver a free workshop to educators. If you have questions about student behavior outcomes, this session might be a support that could enhance energy in buildings with some new approaches to behavioral interventions in the classroom.

This workshop will also look at specific strategies at the Tier 1 level for promoting all children’s happiness through schoolwide and classwide strategies that target improvements in the factors correlated with children’s subjective well-being, including positive teacher-student relationships evident in schools with a healthy climate, as well as students’ personal levels of gratitude, optimism and use of character strengths. Participants will also become familiar with tools to assess positive psychology constructs, including how to incorporate such measures in universal screenings and progress monitoring.

Shannon Suldo, Ph.D., is a professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of South Florida. She is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida and provides school-based mental health services to youth in the Tampa area.

Registration
Nov. 6, 2018
DMACC, Student Center, Bldg. 5, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
1:00-4:00 p.m.

Register at this link: https://goo.gl/Nvp8w6

Free Tuition AND Free Housing?! Check Out All the Benefits of This Year’s Global Education Institute for Teachers

The 2018 Global Education Institute for Teachers will be held on the University of Iowa campus on Dec. 8-9, 2018. The institute is sponsored by the Stanley Foundation and UI International Programs. K-12 teachers of all disciplines are invited to attend this year’s institute, a two-day, one license renewal credit experience taught by University of Iowa professors Greg Hamot and Jason Harshman.

FREE tuition! The first 20 teachers to register who live outside a 25-mile radius of Iowa City will also receive FREE housing at the Iowa House Hotel. Registration deadline is Nov. 12, 2018. More information may be found on the institute website. To register, contact Amy Green at amy-green-1@uiowa.edu or (319) 335-1433.

Friday, October 19, 2018

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

Diga Know? Iowa’s Digital Learning Plan Is Ready to Roll!

Iowa’s Digital Learning Plan, a collaborative effort between the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies and school districts, is ready to roll! The goal of the Plan is to provide a vision for what digital learning could look like in Iowa with the hope of bridging the gap that exists between islands of excellence around the state. The Plan includes real life examples of digital learning and teachers modeling instructional practices in their classrooms. To download the Plan, visit http://bit.ly/IowaDigitalLearningPlan. Then reach out to an AEA instructional technology consultant for guidance as you bring digital learning to life in your school!

Prairie Lakes AEA Invites You to Attend a Conference Focused on Creating a Trauma-responsive School

The conference will be held Nov. 2-3 at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. A trauma-responsive school is a safe and respectful environment that enables students to build caring relationships with adults and peers, self-regulate their emotions and behaviors, and succeed academically, while supporting their physical health and well-being. It is about creating a culture that prioritizes safety, trust, choice, and collaboration.

Breakout sessions include:
  • ACES and the impact of trauma on youth
  • Restorative Justice - what is it and how does it work in education
  • Blue Zones
  • Therapy dogs
  • Collaborative and Proactive Solutions
  • Mindfulness, self-care, and more
Register by clicking here now!

Pre-Registration is Open for the 2018 Iowa Culture and Language Conference

When
Nov. 5-7, 2018
Pre-Conference on Nov. 5
Regular conference on Nov. 6-7

Where
Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 300 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA

Registration
Pre-Registration ($180): Oct. 16-31, 2018
​Onsite Registration ($220): Nov. 5-6, 2018
Students - full-time ($105)
Register at the Iowa Culture and Language Conference website


The Mission of the Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) is to advocate for culturally and/or linguistically diverse students and their families, educators, and service providers. For more Information, visit the Iowa Culture and Language Conference website.

Title III Support is available to public and nonpublic districts. Contact your ESL/Diversity Consultant for more information: Janet Hiatt at jhiatt@heartlandaea.org; or Cindra Porter at porter@heartlandaea.org.

Join Us for an EdCamp-style Workshop on Standards-Based Learning: Rubrics and Scales

Nov. 2, 2018
12:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Register for this event at this link.

Check out all of our Framework Friday sessions in this flyer!

Explore Strategies for Promoting All Children’s Happiness in This Upcoming Workshop with Shannon Suldo

Participants will learn specific strategies at the Tier 1 level for promoting all children’s happiness through schoolwide and classwide strategies that target improvements in the factors correlated with children’s subjective well-being, including positive teacher-student relationships evident in schools with a healthy climate, as well as students’ personal levels of gratitude, optimism and use of character strengths. Participants will also become familiar with tools to assess positive psychology constructs, including how to incorporate such measures in universal screenings and progress monitoring.

Shannon Suldo, Ph.D., is a professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of South Florida. She is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida and provides school-based mental health services to youth in the Tampa area.

Registration
Nov. 6, 2018
DMACC, Student Center, Bldg. 5, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/Nvp8w6

See You Tomorrow at the Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair at the Science Center!

Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair
Oct. 20, 2018
Science Center of Iowa
8:30 a.m. - noon

Families, educators, community and agency staff who support students with special needs are invited to attend the Heartland AEA Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair.

This free event offers families of children with special needs and educators an opportunity to connect with valuable community and agency resources. You're welcome to tour the Science Center as our guest after attending the fair. Breakout sessions will be held concurrently at 9:00 a.m., followed by exhibits with more than 40 local agencies from 10 a.m. - noon.

To assist families in getting the most benefit, families are given complimentary admission to the entire Science Center for the entire day. A stipend is also available for childcare, and you’re invited to bring your childcare provider along to assist while you attend a session. For more information, contact Terry Mendell, Heartland AEA Lead Parent Coordinator, at tmendell@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 17135.

Second Session of the Level 2 Section 504 Class Coming in November

You asked and we listened! Heartland AEA is offering a second opportunity to register for and attend the "Level 2 Section 504 Training for Public School Staff" live training on Nov. 12, 2018, from 9 a.m. to Noon. Class will be held in Room 107 A&B at the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center. You must register to attend. Previous attendance at a Level 1 class is recommended.

Topics to be covered include:
  • Processing 504 evaluation data
  • How to consider and include outside expert reports
  • Determining whether or not a plan is needed
  • Eligible but not in need of a plan, how to manage?
  • Linking physical and mental health disabilities to the right accommodations
  • Resources available to assist districts to spark accommodation planning
  • How to construct an inclusive 504 plan
  • Implementing a 504 plan with integrity
  • Determining whether or not a 504 plan is effective
  • Annual reviews and 3-year reevaluations
Level 2: Section 504 Training for Public School Staff

Date: Nov. 12, 2018

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

Registration: Register at this link

Cost: This class is free to school districts residing within the Heartland AEA service area.

Audience: New administrators, counselors and 504 coordinators are key staff to include in this training.

Course Instructor: MaryAnn Strawhacker, MPH, RN, Heartland AEA Special Education Nurse

Administrative Consideration for Changes in Definition of Diploma

The Iowa State Board of Education amended Iowa’s special education rules to conform with ESSA-required language related to the graduation of individuals eligible for special education. This amendment makes clear that a regular high school diploma must be fully aligned to State-required standards. It is no longer permissible to award a regular high school diploma based on IEP goal attainment solely. Please refer to this handout from the Iowa Department of Education for more information about the amendment and implications for district policies and procedures.

The Iowa Department of Education is working with numerous stakeholders to provide tools and strategies to support Districts and IEP teams. More information will be available at the start of the second semester. Add your questions and support needs to this document so that the DE is sure to address your concerns or contact Kirsten Lane at kirstenlane3107@gmail.com.

DMACC Carroll Campus Has Surplus Furniture Available

Des Moines Area Community College, Carroll Campus, has surplus furniture available from a recent library remodel. View all of the options available here. Contact Julie in Purchasing at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu if your school is interested in any of the items.

Available items include:

  • Computer desks/cubbies
  • Red armless chairs (qty 54)
  • Red chairs with arms (qty 2)
  • Tables: 3' x 5' sq (qty 4)
  • End table: 2'h x 29" sq
  • Coffee table: 16"h x 36" sq
  • Round tables: 4' diam. (qty 3)
  • Round coffee table: 16"h x 36" diam.
  • Magazine rack shelving: 3 ft x 82in (8 sections)
  • Large circulation desk


Thursday, October 11, 2018

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

HAA Meeting Reminder - Nov. 6

The Heartland Administrators’ Association (HAA) will meet on Nov. 6 at DMACC in Ankeny. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. with partner updates. At 9:00 a.m. guest speaker and professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of South Florida, Shannon Suldo, Ph.D., will present a workshop entitled, “Promoting Students’ Complete Mental Health in a Multi-Tiered Framework.” This session is designed for superintendents; all other educators are invited to an afternoon session with Suldo on “Providing Positive Psychology Practices to Improve Students’ Happiness.”

HAA Meeting

Date: Nov. 6

Location: DMACC Ankeny: Student Center, Bldg 5, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny

Time:
8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Partner Updates
9:00 - Noon Workshop with Shannon Suldo, Ph.D

Register at this link: https://goo.gl/tHa5MA

Agenda: HAA Nov. 6 Agenda

Registration for the 2018 Iowa Culture and Language Conference is Now Open!

When
Nov. 5-7, 2018

Pre-Conference on Nov. 5
Regular conference on Nov. 6-7

Where
Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 300 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA

Registration
Early Bird Registration ($150) ends Oct. 15, 2018
Pre-Registration ($180): Oct. 16-31, 2018
​Onsite Registration ($220): Nov. 5-6, 2018
Students - full-time ($105)

The Mission of the Iowa Culture and Language Conference (ICLC) is to advocate for culturally and/or linguistically diverse students and their families, educators, and service providers. For more Information, visit the Iowa Culture and Language Conference website.


Title III Support is available to public and nonpublic districts. Contact your ESL/Diversity Consultant for more information: Janet Hiatt at jhiatt@heartlandaea.org or Cindra Porter at cporter@heartlandaea.org.

Join Our EdCamp Session on Nov. 2 to Learn More About Rubrics and Scales in Standards-based Learning

Framework Friday: Standards-based Learning -- Rubrics and Scales
Nov. 2, 2018
12:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston

Register for any of the events at this link.

Check out all of our Framework Friday sessions in this flyer!

Registration Has Opened for Shannon Suldo’s Workshop on Providing Positive Psychology Practices to Improve Students’ Happiness on Nov. 6

Participants will learn specific strategies at the Tier 1 level for promoting all children’s happiness through school wide and class wide strategies that target improvements in the factors correlated with children’s subjective well-being, including positive teacher-student relationships evident in schools with a healthy climate, as well as students’ personal levels of gratitude, optimism and use of character strengths. Programs for promoting the well-being of students with low happiness will be referenced. Participants will also become familiar with tools to assess positive psychology constructs, including how to incorporate such measures in universal screenings and progress monitoring.

Shannon Suldo, Ph.D., is a professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of South Florida. She is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida and continues to provide school-based mental health services to youth in the Tampa area. Dr. Suldo has extensive research and clinical experiences in school-based mental health services. She also studies the stress, coping strategies and mental health of high school students in accelerated courses.

Providing Positive Psychology Practices to Improve Students’ Happiness
Nov. 6, 2018
DMACC, Student Center, Bldg. 5, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/Nvp8w6

Don’t Miss Out on the Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair in October

Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair
Oct. 20, 2018
Science Center of Iowa
8:30 a.m. - noon

Families, educators, community and agency staff who support students with special needs are invited to attend the Heartland AEA Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair.

This free event offers families of children with special needs and educators an opportunity to connect with valuable community and agency resources. You're welcome to tour the Science Center as our guest after attending the fair. Breakout sessions will be held concurrently at 9:00 a.m., followed by exhibits with more than 40 local agencies from 10 a.m. - noon.

To assist families in getting the most benefit, families are given complimentary admission to the entire Science Center for the entire day. A stipend is also available for childcare, and you’re invited to bring your childcare provider along to assist while you attend a session. For more information, contact Terry Mendell, Heartland AEA Lead Parent Coordinator, at tmendell@heartlandaea.org or (800) 255-0405 ext. 17135.

$500 Energy Educational Grants Are Available From Halvorson Trane

Halvorson Trane, one of Iowa’s longest-established HVAC companies, is offering three, $500 grants to K-12 Iowa schools to fund energy education projects on school grounds (projects can be inside or out). See the Halvorson Trane website for more information about the grants and view last year’s winners. Apply by Oct. 26, 2018.

ISU Continues its Tradition of Inspiring Girls to Pursue STEM Careers With “Taking the Road Less Traveled” Conference


Taking the Road Less Traveled (TRLT) is a one-day conference on the Iowa State University campus for middle school and high school girls to learn about STEM fields and how to infuse their passions within a career. TRLT gives students the opportunity to explore STEM through hands-on sessions, meeting female STEM undergraduates, and learning from STEM professionals. To top it off, students receive lunch, prizes and trivia!

The cost to attend TRLT is $15 per person (students and chaperones) and includes lunch. Students may bring extra money for a TRLT t-shirt ($15) or Iowa State souvenirs.

Scholarships are available for students in need. For more information, contact Sarah DuBois, Events and Operations Coordinator, at sedubois@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5883. For more information and to register visit www.wise.iastate.edu.

TRLT is hosted twice in the fall and twice in the spring. Dates for the 2018-19 academic year are:

  • Oct. 25, 2018 (8th grade)
  • Nov. 8, 2018 (9th/10th grades)
  • April 4, 2019 (8th grade)
  • April 11, 2019 (9th/10th grades)

Friday, October 5, 2018

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

Share Your Experiences on Children’s Mental Health Services in Iowa at a Listening Post on Oct. 8

Educators, families and residents within the Heartland AEA service area are invited to share personal experiences on children’s mental health services at a listening post to be held on Oct. 8, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Heartland AEA at 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston.

Listening posts are being hosted at locations across Iowa on behalf of the Children’s System State Board established by Gov. Kim Reynolds in April. The board will review the information gathered from these listening posts as part of its charge to review existing resources and develop a strategic plan with specific recommendations to implement a better approach to help children with mental health issues. The report is due to the governor on Nov. 15.

Two additional opportunities have been created for individuals who are unable to attend the Oct. 8 event:

Join an Online Listening Post
An online listening post has been scheduled for Oct. 4 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. To join from your computer, click on this link: https://zoom.us/j/290354386. To join via phone, dial (646) 876-9923 and enter meeting code: 290-354-386.

Complete an Online Survey
A survey is available for those unable to attend a listening post. That survey can be accessed at this link: https://goo.gl/V25AeU. The deadline to complete the survey is Oct. 12.

Questions can be directed to Jeff Herzberg, Children’s System Board Member and Chief Administrator at Prairie Lakes AEA at jherzberg@plaea.org or (515) 570-2601.

Save the Date: AEA Legislative Advocacy Event

Iowa’s AEAs will host the Legislative Advocacy Event on Feb. 4-5, 2019 at Prairie Meadows. Registration and more details available at: https://www.smore.com/h04a9. This year’s event begins with an update from members of the education lobby and preparation for the morning conversations with legislators. We will meet at the capitol the next morning to talk with legislators. We all know this will be a challenging session for state funding. Please make it a priority to join us in Des Moines. Making your voice heard has never been more important.

Registration Has Opened for Shannon Suldo’s Workshops on Providing Positive Psychology Practices to Improve Students’ Happiness, Nov. 6

Participants will learn specific strategies at the Tier 1 level for promoting all children’s happiness through school wide and class wide strategies that target improvements in the factors correlated with children’s subjective well-being, including positive teacher-student relationships evident in schools with a healthy climate, as well as students’ personal levels of gratitude, optimism and use of character strengths. Programs for promoting the well-being of students with low happiness will be referenced. Participants will also become familiar with tools to assess positive psychology constructs, including how to incorporate such measures in universal screenings and progress monitoring.

Shannon Suldo, Ph.D., is a professor in the School Psychology Program at the University of South Florida. She is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Florida and continues to provide school-based mental health services to youth in the Tampa area. Dr. Suldo has extensive research and clinical experiences in school-based mental health services. She also studies the stress, coping strategies and mental health of high school students in accelerated courses.

Registration

Nov. 6, 2018
DMACC, Student Center, Bldg. 5, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny

Superintendent Session8:30-9:00 a.m. HAA Partner Updates
9:00 a.m.-Noon Shannon Suldo
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/tHa5MA


Break
Noon-1:00 p.m.Lunch on your own


All Educator Session
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Registration fee $25 per person
Register at this link: https://goo.gl/Nvp8w6

Jan Chappuis to Present Standards-based Learning on Nov. 29

Jan Chappuis Presents "Standards-Based Learning"

Nov. 29, 2018
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny
Register at this link by Oct. 15

Teachers, curriculum directors and instructional coaches will have the opportunity to learn from Jan Chappuis, one of the nation’s leaders in Standards-based Learning. Jan’s expertise could help in all areas of instruction from formative assessment instruction to standards based practices. In this session, Jan will:

  • Focus on all aspects of curriculum: the intended, the enacted, and the assessed
  • Address the work of identifying and unpacking standards of learning to create learning targets.
  • Help teachers know how to identify those learning targets into categories such as knowledge, reasoning, skills or products
  • Lead learning on what a balanced assessment system looks like, and what it takes to create that system within the instructional cycle
  • Address the need to plan for accommodations and modifications for exceptional learners such as special education students, ELL and gifted/advanced learners

Share This Networking and Support Opportunity with Your Parents and Caregivers of Students with Special Needs

Parents and caregivers of students with special needs: join us for “Conversation & Coffee,” our monthly morning coffee group! Learn about community resources and upcoming events and network with parents who have similar experiences and challenges.

Mark your calendar for these 2018-19 meeting dates!
  • Oct. 18, 2018
  • Nov. 15, 2018
  • Dec. 20, 2018
  • Jan. 17, 2019
  • Feb. 21, 2019
  • March 14, 2019 (due to Spring Break)
  • April 18, 2019
  • May 16, 2019
Conversation & Coffee meets the third Thursday of each month from 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the 100th Street Corner Café in Urbandale.

RSVP appreciated but not necessary: Kari Paulsen, Family & Educator Coordinator, Heartland AEA, at kpaulsen@heartlandaea.org or (515) 270-9030 ext. 14493.

Don’t Miss Out on the Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair in October

Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair
Oct. 20, 2018
Science Center of Iowa
9:00 a.m. - Noon

This free event offers students with special needs and their families an opportunity to meet service providers from around central Iowa.

Family members can attend presentations on Challenging Behavior (all ages), Transition (families of students 14 and older) and Family Engagement (all ages).

The Family & Educator Partnership Resource Fair is an event for families to enjoy together. To enable parents’ full participation in breakout sessions, stipends are available for parents to bring along a childcare provider or assistant for their child.

Families attending the Resource Fair receive free admission to the Science Center and free parking in the parking ramp. The Science Center opens to the general public at 10 a.m., and families are welcome to explore at their leisure. Park in the parking ramp across from the Science Center, and we will validate your parking ticket.

8:30 - 9 a.m.
Registration (if not attending a breakout session, check in at 9:45 a.m.)

9 - 10 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Service Provider Tables Open

Business Owners, Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Apply to ‘10,000 Small Businesses Program’

Please forward to small businesses in your communities and urge them to apply for the first cohort that starts in January.

Iowa small business owners and entrepreneurs can grow their businesses with the help of the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses Program.” Beginning in January 2019, the program will be hosted in the State of Iowa and is free to Iowa businesses. The program includes curriculum developed by Babson College, recently named No. 1 for Entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report for the 22nd year in a row.

Accepted applicants receive hands-on education for business growth, access to highly-trained, small business professionals and an expanded peer network of small business owners from across the country.

Eligible businesses have been in business for at least two years, have at least $100,000 in revenues and employ at least two employees (including the business owner). Qualified prospects can apply and gather additional information at www.10KSBapply.com/Iowa. Applications are due by Oct. 15, 2018.

Participants may also learn more through online information sessions offered Oct. 3 and Oct. 9. To register, visit www.tinyurl.com/10kSBIowa.

October 2018 BoEE Update

The Oct.2018 BoEE Update is available. Topics include state BEDS reporting, computer science, STEM award deadline and more!

$500 Energy Educational Grants Available From Halvorson Trane - Apply by Oct. 26

Halvorson Trane, one of Iowa’s longest-established HVAC companies, is offering three, $500 grants to K-12 Iowa schools to fund energy education projects on school grounds (projects can be inside or out). See the Halvorson Trane website for more information about the grants and view last year’s winners. Apply by Oct. 26, 2018.

October 2018 School Leader Update

The Oct. 2018 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.