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 November Meeting Cancelled

The regular Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) and Superintendents' Advisory Council (SAC) meeting on Nov. 3 has been cancelled. The HAA will meet via Zoom on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. as scheduled. Calendar invitations have already been sent.

Join Our New Facebook Group: Heartland AEA Innovative Educators

The Heartland AEA instructional technology consultants' have created the new Heartland AEA Innovative Educators Facebook Group to advance authentic technology integration and to inspire adult and student learners to innovate. You don't have to be working in technology to be a member of the group. All are welcome! Become a member on Facebook if interested!

Take the Next Steps in Supporting Postsecondary Transition for the 2021 Graduating Class

AEA PREP is providing the additional resources for supporting the successful postsecondary transition for the class of 2021. You may recall, the first step provided direction on developing your Postsecondary Response Team. Steps two and three will center around collecting and analyzing data, step four will provide potential resources, and the last step is to provide ongoing follow-up. Visit the AEA PREP Supporting the Class of 2021 for more information.

Our Wellness Resource Has Great Information For Educators, Families and Students

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration," a resource dedicated to well-being.

Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This week features:

• 5 Ways to be Kinder to Yourself
• Halloween Funnies
• 8 Steps to Combat Video Conference Fatigue

New Tutorials for Web Paint, Pear Deck and Defined Learning Now Available

The Heartland AEA Instructional Technology team has added new tutorials to their newsletter. Check out the supports for Web Paint, Pear Deck and Defined Learning! Also, many technology integration courses start in November. Be sure to check those out if you are looking to earn credit this winter!

Licensure News from the BoEE – Nov. 2020

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners newsletter is now available. In this issue:

• Licensure System Update
• Renewal Tips
• Substitute Authorizations
• December Graduates
• Hints for School Administrators
• Holidays
• Ethics
• Teaching Online
• Recent Cases

HHS is Providing Masks to Schools; Districts Can Immediately Begin Requesting Masks

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be providing up to 125 million cloth masks to states for distribution to schools. The Administration intends for these masks to support students, teachers, and staff in public and private schools when reopening and emphasizing students who are low-income or otherwise with high needs and schools providing in-person instruction.

School districts can immediately begin requesting masks from state health departments for adults. All states have received white, reusable, and washable masks for adults and districts in need of additional masks can request them anytime. A few states are already in receipt of reusable, washable masks for youth/children, but most of these masks are still being manufactured and distributed. It is expected that many more states will have youth size masks available in the next two weeks, and by early November, all states will have both youth and adult size masks available for distribution to schools. More information

Application Window is Closing on Nov. 9 for the Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund

The Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund application process is now open through Nov. 9 for districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and collaboratives. Funding is aimed at building the computer science teacher workforce by offering high-quality professional development to prepare Iowa teachers to teach computer science, engaging teachers who are new to computer science and encouraging innovation.

The incentive fund was created through 2017 legislation that encourages computer science in every school in Iowa, and is funded through a state appropriation as well as with dollars from a 2007 settlement of an Iowa class-action lawsuit filed against Microsoft Corp.

Applications for funding must demonstrate how schools will prepare K-12 educators to teach computer science and expand high-quality computer science instruction based on Iowa’s computer science standards adopted by the State Board of Education. The goal is for students to have a strong computer science foundation in elementary school, and then build upon it as they move through middle and high school.

For questions about the incentive fund, contact Wren Hoffman at wren.hoffman@iowa.gov or (515) 981-3306.

Read more about the Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund

Nov. 2020 School Leader Update Available

The Nov. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available.

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 School PR Association Offers Virtual Conference - Great Learning Opportunity for Administrators

The Iowa School PR Association (ISPRA) is hosting a fall virtual conference Oct. 28–30. Speakers are spread out over three days, with recordings available to attendees following the event. Topics include new challenges like communicating with stressed audiences and de-stressing professionally. 

1. Superintendents who do not have a communications team may find value in this conference. 
2. Superintendents who do have communication teams may want to attend alongside their PR pros. 

Learn more about the ISPRA 2020 Virtual Fall Conference.

The Des Moines Art Center is Bringing the Museum to Your Classroom

In looking for ways to support your work, adapting to needs and challenges that this year has presented, the Des Moines Art Center has new educational resources to utilize in your classrooms and learning environments. Please help us spread the word about these resources with your colleagues and anyone else that may have interest.

Creative Connections
PDF step-by-step explorations of artwork in the Des Moines Art Center’s collection. All lessons are designed around one work of art and an accompanying theme with prompts, questions, activities and related links for further learning. These activities help to build critical thinking, cultural awareness, empathy, and a connection to artwork and the human spirit!

Virtual Viewing
Practice the art of slow looking with your students with these two-to-five minute videos focusing on a wonderful artwork in the Des Moines Art Center's collection and narrated by an Art Center Docent. Looking closely, students see, learn, and think about artwork, artists, and how it all applies to their own lives.

We are working on additional resources and programming (including virtual tours) to be released in the coming months. Please help us understand what further resources/opportunities would be most helpful for your instruction by taking this five question survey.

We hope these resources will help you find creative ways to bring the museum into your teaching this year!

 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

Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund Application Process Now Open

The Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund application process is now open through Nov. 9 for districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and collaboratives. Funding is aimed at building the computer science teacher workforce by offering high-quality professional development to prepare Iowa teachers to teach computer science, engaging teachers who are new to computer science and encouraging innovation.

The incentive fund was created through 2017 legislation that encourages computer science in every school in Iowa, and is funded through a state appropriation as well as with dollars from a 2007 settlement of an Iowa class-action lawsuit filed against Microsoft Corp.

Applications for funding must demonstrate how schools will prepare K-12 educators to teach computer science and expand high-quality computer science instruction based on Iowa’s computer science standards adopted by the State Board of Education. The goal is for students to have a strong computer science foundation in elementary school, and then build upon it as they move through middle and high school.

For questions about the incentive fund, contact Wren Hoffman at wren.hoffman@iowa.gov or (515) 981-3306.

Read more about the Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund

Heartland AEA Literacy News and Notes is Available

The Heartland AEA Literacy News and Notes is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• October is Dyslexia Awareness Month
• Fluency Protocol for Middle School and High School
• How to use UFLI’s Blending Board
• What are the Heartland AEA Literacy Consultants reading?
• Keys to Literacy Offering Webinars on Virtual Learning
• 3-8 and K-12 High Impact Instructional Routines

Wellness Inspiration for Districts...is Back!

In an effort to support the well-being of districts, students, educators and families, we're pleased to bring you "Wellness Inspiration." We are reviving our wellness resource site to bring you resources dedicated to well-being.

Check out the Wellness Inspiration site for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families! This week features:

⇨ “Five Favorite Tips for Coping When Times are Really Challenging & Tough”

In this video, Laurie Santos, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Yale, highlights five evidence-based ways to cope as we are battling a worldwide pandemic that is causing fear, uncertainty and disruption in our normal routines.

Updated DE Return-to-Learn Guidance on Recovery Services

Two new documents to address COVID Recovery Services were released on Oct. 13, 2020 at the AEA System Special Education Network Webinar.

COVID-19 Recovery Services for Learners Receiving IDEA Services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): The previous Recovery Services FAQ was updated on Oct. 13, 2020. It has also been updated on the Return to Learn Special Education Compendium.

Considerations for Recovery Services: This document is a flowchart to support IEP teams through the process of considering when COVID Recovery Services are warranted for an individual student with a disability.

Loads of Instructional Technology Opportunities Await! EdTech Guides + Join Our New Tech FB Group!

Are you looking for upcoming tech integration professional learning opportunities? Check out what our team has to offer in their current newsletter:  

• Mini webinars
• New Facebook Group
• EdTech Learning Tools
• Professional Learning Opportunities

UNI Leadership Camp Online Opportunity for Evaluator Renewal Coming Soon

The University of Northern Iowa Institute for Educational Leadership received a Leading and Learning with Character Grant through the Kern Family Foundation. As part of the grant, we are offering Leadership Camps, approved for evaluator renewal, for principals, superintendents and other school leaders. We are currently offering an online Leadership Camp from Nov. 9 - Dec. 10, 2020, with self-paced modules.

What: The Leadership Camp is an opportunity to engage in reflection around the Iowa Standards for School Leadership, earn a reduced-cost Evaluator Approval Renewal credit ($75 reduced from $509), enjoy a meaningful, professional development experience hosted by UNI Educational Leadership faculty through online modules and have the opportunity to participate in a research project as part of a grant funded by the Kern Family Foundation.

When: Nov. 9 - Dec. 10, 2020 (15 self-paced modules and resources with one month to complete the work.

Email Denise Schares if you would like to join the Leadership Camp.

Registration is Now Open for the ISPRA 2020 Virtual Conference

Registration is now open for the Iowa School Public Relations Association 2020 Virtual Fall Conference on Oct. 28-30. ISPRA is excited to offer you and your leadership team communications-focused professional development over three days at a great value without the need to travel.

Topics include:

• Communicating to Stressed Audiences in Unpredictable Times
• The Power of Digital Storytelling
• Expanding Your Communications Team by Partnering with Your Staff
• Media Relations and Legal Obligations
• David and Goliath PR: Assembling your Communications from a Large Team to a One-person Office

Register before Oct. 21 to receive an ISPRA conference welcome kit!

http://ispra.org/events/ispra-2020-virtual-fall-conference/

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

IMPORTANT: Schedule Changes for Heartland Administrator’s Association

Based on input from superintendents in the Heartland AEA service area, the future schedule for the Heartland Administrators’ Association will be as follows:

• Weekly Wednesday Check-ins: Will transition to every-other-week through November. Future dates: Oct. 21, Nov. 4 and Nov. 18

• Monthly Tuesday Meetings: Beginning Dec. 1, we will resume our monthly Tuesday meetings. These will be held in person from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Heartland AEA Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston, with a Zoom option as well.

• Zoom Check-ins: Also beginning in December, Zoom check-ins will be held at 10 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.

Additional Wednesday Zoom meetings will be scheduled as needed.

View the meeting schedule here

Watch your inbox for calendar invitations. If you have any questions, contact Jenny Ugolini. We will see you again virtually on Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.

Iowa Teacher Librarians Have Opportunity to Collaborate During Monthly Online Sessions

Have you ever wanted to reach out to other teacher librarians to get ideas, collaborate with other teacher librarians to "talk shop" or network with other teacher librarians?

If so, Iowa's AEAs are providing you that opportunity! Join AEA library and media consultants for the monthly "Better Together" webinar series. This year's online conversations will focus on the School Librarian Role in Pandemic Learning Conditions from AASL. In between all the serious conversations, we'll also allow time for you to build relationships with other teacher librarians across the state because we're BETTER together!

And the best part? No cost, no long agenda and no drive time! Check out this online flyer for all the details.

Now Available: Class Sets of Titles That Can be Used in a Whole-class Read

Over the last few years Heartland AEA and other AEAs have created a robust ebook collection of fiction and nonfiction titles in MackinVIA. Much of the collection has been built with recommendations from teachers. There are multiple copies of most titles, but not enough titles to meet the needs of a whole-class read or unit study for a specific period of time.

Some background.

Ebooks are sold by publishers in different licensing models—perpetual license, 2-year subscription, 26-checkout and more. Why do we mention this? The publishers determine which titles are available in which models and the price. Heartland AEA looked at a couple of vendors that aggregate ebook content from publishers and then resell. Mackin had the publisher relationships, titles, plus the MackinVIA reader that most of our students already use.

The new class set model.

• This summer many K-12 publishers have (finally!) decided to offer a class set licensing model. Schools can order x number of ebook copies that can be assigned to individual students for a set number of days (usually 30, 60, or 90 days). It’s basically a rental.
• If your school, for example, orders 50 copies and 47 were used this school year, the remainder will roll over for next year.
• How much? It depends. For budgeting purposes, you could use an average of $3.50/copy. Some titles are $.86 some are $5.30.
• Mackin will provide the school a title registration code for the student. The individual class set title is only available to that student.

Why consider class sets?

• Guaranteed availability for the number of days you purchase.
• Familiar ebook reader format (in MackinVIA and AEA Scout.)
• Students can write in the book—highlight, underline, take notes.
• When the license expires, the notes and highlights remain in the student’s account for easy access.
• Roll-over unused ebooks to the next school year.

Before you order.

You might want to think about who will schedule and take on some admin responsibilities for creating accounts. Click here and scroll down to the Admin Overview of Class Sets video to determine what setup will work best for your school or district.

How to order.

• Create an account at www.mackin.com. Be sure to click Use Iowa State Contract Pricing when you create your admin account profile. We’re pleased to report that there is a 7% discount through AEA Purchasing--AEPA Contract #020-C.
• You can search for the individual titles or authors at www.mackin.com.

How to assign the ebook to a student.

• Students will need a personal account in MackinVIA. We’d like to suggest you use the student Google or Microsoft login. It can be a self-registration process or import of user data. More info is at https://help.mackinvia.com/backpack-accounts/.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Student Overview of Class Sets video that shows the process for activating the code.

Heartland AEA hopes that this new class set model will help support your curriculum. We also encourage you to continue to recommend titles that Heartland AEA can purchase for the general MackinVIA collection.

Heartland AEA Library & Digital Newsletter

The Heartland AEA Library & Digital Resources newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• From my mailbox to yours... (library webinars)
• Representation Matters: Annotated and Sortable List of New Ebooks and Audiobooks
• Celebrities Reading Children's Lit
• Ebooks Added in September and October
• News Literacy Project and News Goggles
• Young Voter's Guide to Social Media
• Clipart: New Name, New Access
• DVD, Books/Cassette Kits, and Leap Frog Give-away

5 Steps To Support the Successful Postsecondary Transition for the Class of 2021

AEA PREP is sharing an important resource for counselors working with high school students. This document highlights the five steps taken to support the successful postsecondary transition for the class of 2021 and this video provides direction on the first step of developing your Postsecondary Response Team. AEA PREP will be providing additional resources for the other four steps over the next few weeks.

Senate File 2360: Guidance for Safe Classroom Learning Environments Released Last Week

On June 29, 2020, Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2360, an Act, which provides a comprehensive approach to create a safe learning space for students and teachers.

Recently, the Iowa Department of Education released guidance on Senate File 2360 to inform Iowa public school districts of the requirements and to aid Iowa’s school districts in interpreting and implementing this comprehensive legislation. The requirements of Senate File 2360 apply to all public school districts in Iowa and requires a comprehensive approach to create a safe learning space for students and teachers. The requirements are organized around five topics. The first two topics require immediate action by school districts, while subsequent topics require actions of the Department and other agencies.

If you have any questions, contact the regional director who serves your district or Jadie Boens, Director of Special Programs.

UNI Leadership Camp Online Opportunity for Evaluator Renewal Coming Soon

The University of Northern Iowa Institute for Educational Leadership received a Leading and Learning with Character Grant through the Kern Family Foundation. As part of the grant, we are offering Leadership Camps, approved for evaluator renewal, for principals, superintendents and other school leaders. We are currently offering an online Leadership Camp from Nov. 9 - Dec. 10, 2020, with self-paced modules.

What: The Leadership Camp is an opportunity to engage in reflection around the Iowa Standards for School Leadership, earn a reduced-cost Evaluator Approval Renewal credit ($75 reduced from $509), enjoy a meaningful, professional development experience hosted by UNI Educational Leadership faculty through online modules and have the opportunity to participate in a research project as part of a grant funded by the Kern Family Foundation.

When: Nov. 9 - Dec. 10, 2020 (15 self-paced modules and resources with one month to complete the work.

Email Denise Schares if you would like to join the Leadership Camp.

 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

Oct. 6 HAA Meeting Cancelled

The regular Heartland Administrators' Association (HAA) meeting on Oct. 6 has been cancelled. The HAA will meet via Zoom on Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. as scheduled.

NEW! OSEP COVID-19 Q&A: Implementation of IDEA Part B Provision of Services in the Current COVID-19 Environment

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document in response to inquiries concerning implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B provision of services in the current COVID-19 environment: IDEA Part B Provision of Services. 

OSERS/OSEP will continue to work with state and local leaders to identify any additional areas where it can provide information to support stakeholders in their important work. For more information about COVID-19, visit ED COVID-19 Information and Resources and U.S. Government COVID-19 Information and Resources.

DE Releases New Preschool Programming Guidance

The Iowa Department of Education has released new preschool programming guidance. The guidance addresses frequently asked questions regarding attendance, programming and services, and the use of different Return-to-Learn educational delivery models for Statewide Voluntary Preschool Programs, Early Childhood Special Education and Shared Visions Preschool Programs.

The DE will continue to keep you informed of any new updates. All current guidance is included on the COVID-19 Guidance and Information page on their website. In addition, recordings of the previous Zoom sessions can be found on their YouTube channel or COVID-19 Webinar Recordings for PK-12 School Administrators in Iowa webpage (along with PowerPoint slides as applicable).

Alternate Assessment Updates for 2020-21

For Teachers: If you are teaching students who are on the alternate assessment, you must complete student profiles and certification training. This document contains the deadlines, new information and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

For Administrators: All teachers who have students on the alternate assessment must be certified as strategist II ID and complete certification training. Administrators are responsible for creating teacher accounts for the ELAA system, as well as creating rosters for DLM. This document contains deadlines, new information, and links to the state commencement letter, training sites, office hours and other resources.

COVID Recovery Iowa Offers FREE Counseling and Other Services to Any Iowan Who Has Been Affected by COVID-19

COVID Recovery Iowa is a grant that Iowa received in order to offer services and supports to individuals and families who have been impacted by COVID-19. COVID Recovery Iowa provides support groups, crisis counseling, educational and supportive information to those in need over email, phone, zoom and social media. Share this information with your colleagues and friends!


Helpful Links:

COVID Recovery Iowa website

COVID Recovery Iowa Facebook

COVID Recovery Iowa Instagram

COVID Recovery Iowa Twitter

Narrated Books on YouTube

Oct. 2020 School Leader Update Available

The Oct. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available.