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
For the past four years, Iowa’s AEAs have hosted a joint legislative advocacy event for all superintendents. The evening program on Feb. 10 at Prairie Meadows will be structured differently this year to include more small group conversations and preparation for time with legislators at the Capitol the next morning. Here’s the schedule:
Feb. 10 at Prairie Meadows
5:00 p.m. - Registration & social time
5:25 p.m. - Welcome & overview
5:45 p.m. - First group discussion
6:05 p.m. - Second group discussion
6:25 p.m. - Large group debrief and preparation for Tuesday morning at the Capitol6:40 p.m. - Evening ends
You will select two group discussions that will be led by education legislative liaisons and/or Chief Administrators. Topics were chosen by our legislative liaisons and are currently receiving attention from legislators. The tentative list of discussion topics are:
- New superintendents
- Equity - transportation & per pupil
- Rural school need for AEA services for children & families
- Child care and the school’s role
- Teacher shortages/reciprocity with DE/BOEE/pathways for people to become licensed to teach in Iowa
- Operational sharing
- Room clears and seclusion
- Mental Health
Feb. 11 at the Capitol Rotunda
If you have a board meeting or other conflict on Monday evening, you’re encouraged to attend the Tuesday morning conversations with legislators at the Capitol Rotunda beginning at 7:30 a.m. Legislators appreciate and need to hear the perspectives of school leaders.
Registration
The registration link is available at: https://www.smore.com/qe4y5.
The Heartland AEA English Learners newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues!
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…
- 2020-21 IASL Award Order Form
- Research Skills and College Readiness Gap
- Financial Literacy Lessons and Books, K-5
- Digital Privacy Course
- E-sports and Digital Privacy
- Confirmation Bias
- Fact Checking
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- The Yearling and Audiobooks
- 2019 K-12 Digital Content Report
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!
Iowa’s AEAs bestow three awards annually to outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the work of Iowa’s AEAs. To submit a nomination, complete this application by Feb. 14, 2020. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination.
Awards will be presented during the annual Iowa’s AEAs Boards of Directors’ Conference and the ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 26, 2020 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston.
The three awards and criteria can be found in this document. Each nomination should include examples of why your nominee should receive the award.
The Heartland AEA Math Consultants are inviting you to participate in the Numeracy Project training. The training will introduce teachers, teacher leaders, consultants and administrators to the trajectory by which learners acquire a solid foundation in numeracy. Sessions provide training and materials around universal screeners, diagnostic tools, progress monitoring and intervention activities. Use this link to get you and your team registered and choose the section that works best for your team. Contact your Heartland AEA Math Consultant if you have any questions.
Numeracy Project Training Dates
Section 1: 2/19/20, 3/25/20 and 4/2/20 (8 - 11 a.m.), Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Section 2: 2/19/20, 3/25/20 and 4/2/20 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.), Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Section 3: 2/24/20, 3/9/20 and 4/16/20 (8 - 11 a.m.), Heartland AEA, 602 Visions Parkway, Adel
Section 4: 2/24/20, 3/9/20 and 4/16/20 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.), Heartland AEA, 602 Visions Parkway, Adel
Section 5: 2/27/20, 3/11/20 and 4/21/20 (8 - 11 a.m.), Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Section 6: 2/27/20, 3/11/20 and 4/21/20 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.) Heartland AEA, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
When it comes to turning around high poverty, low performing schools, Hamish Brewer accepts no excuses. This unconventional visionary and nationally recognized principal utilizes his ALL IN, relentless attitude and passion to motivate his students to succeed, no matter the circumstances in their lives. Hamish will share how he improves student outcomes with innovative, out-of-the-box thinking, pushing boundaries and challenging archaic processes and practices. His personal stories and challenges will make you rethink your practices, disrupt the norm and take your school or organization to the next level.
Be Relentless
March 3, 2020
Des Moines Area Community College, Student Center, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, IA
9:00-10:00 a.m. Keynote Message
10:00-10:30 a.m. Q&A
10:30-11:00 a.m. Book Signing with Hamish Brewer** (Books will not be available for purchase at the event. See note below)
Registration
Register for this event at bit.ly/2VLliHt using Course #180607
This is a no cost event! Bring your administrative team! If you missed him at IASB, see him here!
**SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT BOOK SIGNING: Mr. Brewer will be personally autographing his book, Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Educational Norm. Be sure to purchase the book in advance, bring it with you, meet the author and get your copy signed! Books will not be available for purchase at the event.
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 2020 meeting dates!
- Feb. 20, 2020
- March 12, 2020 (due to Spring Break)
- April 16, 2020
- May 21, 2020
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.
The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are continuing to work to launch a new, more robust system for special education procedures and web-based IEPs. The first phase of this system includes the platform for special education procedural guidance (known as i3) and will go live in Fall 2020. Implementation of the second and final phase includes the web-based IEP system (known as ACHIEVE) and will go live in Fall 2021.
i3 (Iowa IDEA Information): The next evolution of a fully-online and accessible platform for special education procedures, guidance and information. i3 is scheduled for release at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
ACHIEVE: The name of the next iteration of Iowa’s web-based IEP/IFSP system, with enhancements to allow better parent access, expanded progress monitoring tools and improved user experience. Anticipated release is the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Read more here...
These two aligned components, when complete, will position Iowa’s educational professionals to continue to provide the highest quality support for students with disabilities well into the future.
In this issue: Frequently Asked Questions, Renewal Credit Providers and Renewal Credit Options, New Online System, Expiration Dates, Ethics Spotlight, and Recent Cases.
The Feb. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.
