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
The Heartland AEA Curriculum Network will meet Feb. 7 from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. at Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive in Johnston. The agenda includes a variety of updates from the Iowa Department of Education and the AEA system. During the Heartland AEA section of the agenda, Norwalk, Pella and Urbandale schools will be sharing their learning as they work to implement three different instructional frameworks. Zoom links are included in the agenda.
It’s only TWO weeks until the AEA 2020 Legislative Education Advocacy Event. Have you registered? On Feb. 10-11, Iowa’s AEAs 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. Check out the event plans and register at this link: https://www.smore.com/qe4y5.
ClassLink and Heartland AEA will be making it easier for educators and students to use critical AEA applications and resources. Through a new online platform featuring ClassLink’s Single Sign-On functionality, all students and educators across Iowa will easily find and use the AEA’s online professional learning and teaching and learning applications, such as:
- AEA Scout, a new site that houses high-quality digital learning resources
- AEA Professional Learning Registration System
- AEA Learning Online personalized learning system for students
- AEA Learning Online training system
Heartland AEA is excited for the opportunity to work with district technology directors, curriculum directors, teacher librarians and others to help bring this solution to all districts. Today, in fact, district tech directors will receive dedicated learning and implementation support for ClassLink during their networking meeting with Heartland AEA. If you haven’t already, make sure you talk with your tech director to learn how the ClassLink solution can help to increase classroom productivity and positively impact student learning outcomes. Then, contact Evan Abbey, Program Director with AEA Learning Online, and let’s get started!
*Districts are added individually with the goal of full connectivity by the fall.
Just four more EdCamp-style workshops will be held this 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.
Standards-Based Learning Framework Fridays
Next Session: Feb. 7
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Visit our website to learn more and register
Join your colleagues in an online book study course to explore ways to integrate curiosity and critical thinking into the classroom. Participants will be using Ditch That Textbook throughout the course. Be sure to get it before the course starts.
Fostering Curiosity to Empower Critical Thinking
Course Number 181915
Webinar with Matt Miller will be held on Feb. 20 from 1 - 3 p.m.
Did you miss the webinar with Eric Curts?
No worries! Watch the recording here.
Save the Date!
Heart of Innovation Summer Summit - June 10, 2020
Recertification Credit will be an option this year!
Professional Learning Opportunities
Check out upcoming professional learning opportunities with the Heartland AEA Instructional Technology team in their Smore newsletter. Follow and share!
The Iowa Department of Education is hosting a town hall on Feb. 6 to gather public input on Iowa’s state plan to meet the requirements of the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, commonly referred to as Perkins V.
This federal law reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, which provides support for secondary and community college career and technical education (CTE) programs in all 50 states and U.S. territories. CTE programs increase student engagement through the integration of technical and academic skills in hands-on, real-world learning experiences. Perkins V represents an important opportunity to expand opportunities for every student to explore, choose and follow CTE programs of study and career pathways to earn credentials of value.
The town hall meeting is a great way for school administrators, faculty, students and the public to learn about Iowa’s state plan, get questions answered and to provide valuable feedback. Comments will be considered in the final state plan, which will be presented to Gov. Kim Reynolds for approval prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Education in April.
Information about the town hall meeting is provided below:
Date: Feb. 6
Time: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Dr., Johnston (Room 107A)
Iowans can also submit questions and feedback by completing online surveys about the draft plan and performance targets. More information on Iowa’s state plan is available on the Iowa Department of Education website.
