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 Creative Services team has been working hard to support districts during these unprecedented times. We’re offering some essentials to combat the spread of COVID-19 and help you to maintain a healthy environment in your buildings. Our collection of posters can be used to provide critical information for your staff, students and visitors. We will be adding more resources like directional arrows for floor or walls, footprints, etc. We are also happy to discuss any additional materials you need. Contact Creative Services. To order posters, go to Creative Services Online, enter COVID and browse. Remember, you need to log in to place an order.
AEA Online Learning services are provided at a low price for Iowa school districts. AEA Learning Online has an annual opt-in fee for districts to help support many programs and services they provide. For years, AEA Learning Online has been able to maintain the same low cost for districts, in large part through revenue from required Mandatory Reporter training. By charging individual employees for completing this required training, AEA Learning Online was able to lower costs to districts.
In the summer of 2019, legislation was passed requiring the use of one Mandatory Reporter curriculum from the Iowa Department of Human Services. While this has the advantage of lowering the cost for educators to renew their own licenses, it also meant AEA Learning Online would not be able to rely on that revenue to lower costs for districts. As a result, the opt-in fee will be going to $1 per enrolled student in the 2020-21 school year.
Heartland AEA has always paid the opt-in fee for districts in our area. For 2020-21, the agency will continue our current funding level of support for our districts of .$50 per enrolled student, and the remaining $.50 will be invoiced to districts by AEA Learning Online.
Beginning July 1, 2020, AEA Learning Online is pleased to offer Mandatory Reporter trainings for Child Abuse and Dependent Adult Abuse at no cost for district employees in the AEA Learning Online Training System. Teachers will no longer need to go to the DHS site to complete their training, meaning: 1) they will now have the active phone and help-ticket support that the AEAs provide, and 2) districts will have access to their records of completion.
Refer to this AEA Learning Online document for complete details of AEA Learning Online, the opt-in program and how Heartland AEA supports districts.
The Heartland AEA Science Consultants are facilitating a wide array of online summer professional learning opportunities at no cost to educators or districts. Choose from topics, such as:
- Mystery Science
- Defined Learning
- Iowa Phenomenon Project
- NGSS Science Standards
- Science in Early Childhood
- OpenSciEd Curriculum Resource and Instructional Model
Sessions are held over Zoom for approximately 30-45 min. Check out our entire list of learning activities. For more information, contact the science consultant who serves your district.
With up to one in three children struggling with anxiety in this country, overwhelmed adults require a new approach as well as a practical and easy-to implement toolkit of strategies that work. In the time of COVID19, and the subsequent societal changes, anxiety has become ever-present in students of all ages. It is probable that during a pandemic that heavily impacts everyday life, levels of anxiety in children and teens are even higher, and the possibility of subsequent trauma greater. Through the use of case studies, humorous stories and examples of everyday challenging situations, participants will learn easy to implement preventive tools, strategies and interventions for reducing anxiety, increasing self-regulation, accurate thinking, and self- monitoring in students. Virtual classroom and traditional classroom examples will be shared.
Practical Strategies for Reducing Anxiety and Challenging Behavior
Featuring: Jessica Minahan, MEd, BCBA
Live Webinar
When: June 18, 11:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. (CST)
Where: Online
CE Hours: 3
Cost: $60
Registration information
Summer Institute’s design provides a variety of sessions to help prepare paraeducators, general education and special education teachers from school districts to support students with visual impairments. Sessions address literacy, math, STEM, assistive technology, students with additional disabilities including blindness, transition (Part B to C and age 14) and general sessions about working with students having visual impairments.
Sessions presented by Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired consultants, staff and outside presenters range in time from 90 minutes to 3 hours. The 2020 Summer Institute will provide sessions virtually to allow for participation during restrictions related to COVID-19. Summer Institute will not be offering license renewal or ACVREP credit this year. Educational staff wishing to attend who are not currently working with a student having a visual impairment and those wishing to attend only specific sessions will be able to do so.
You can find more information about the Summer Institute on the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired website.
Summer Institute 2020 Registration
Summer Institute 2020 Agenda
In order to empower Iowa students with a greater voice amid national unrest, Roosevelt’s Student Council plans to host a series of ‘Youth Voice Forums’ over Zoom starting next week. These sessions will serve as Q&As between students and Iowa’s elected officials and political figures.
Students will have the ability to submit their questions online, and may listen to leaders address them from the comfort of their homes. At such an unprecedented time in our country, youth are strongly encouraged to ask about current events, for advice, and about the experience of each individual speaker. Each Zoom session will feature an independent guest, and will last 45 minutes to 1 hour long.
The following speakers will participate:
- Senator Charles Grassley (June 8 at 2:30 p.m.)
- Fmr. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack & Fmr. First Lady of Iowa Christie Vilsack (June 10 at 2:30 p.m.)
- Eric Branstad, Iowa Director of Trump 2016 Campaign (June 12)
- Misty Rebik, Iowa Caucus Director of Bernie Sanders 2020 Campaign (Date TBD)
- Janice Rottenberg, Iowa Caucus Director of Elizabeth Warren 2020 Campaign (Date TBD)
DMPS students are strongly encouraged to submit questions, and can register for free through the following link: bit.ly/youthvoiceforum.
Please be sure to register by June 4 for more information on each forum — only registered students will be admitted into each session. Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram with any questions!
Instagram: @veltcouncil
Facebook: @DSMRoosevelt
In an effort to support the well-being of districts, educators, students and families, Heartland AEA is pleased to bring you, "Wellness Weekly," a weekly series dedicated to all things wellness and well-being.
Check out the Wellness Weekly site every week for well-being resources, tips and fun and share with colleagues and families!
This week features:
- New State Program Offers Free Counseling & Stress Relief Resources
- How to Love Yourself to the Core
- Avoid Burnout While Working from Home During COVID-19
- Apps: 7 Self-Care Apps to Help You Stay Balanced
- Hopscotch Learning!
- Funnies: Comics Perfectly Capture the Struggle of Working from Home with Kids
The June 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.
The Iowa Department of Education has been asked the question that if a parent decides to not send their child to school in the fall because of perceived safety issues, but wishes to take advantage of the district’s ability to provide learning virtually, does the district count that student as a resident, full-time student. The DE has responded that the student would be counted if they otherwise meet the definition of resident and are in attendance on count date. The decision about whether the child's absences are excused or not is a local decision. The parent always has the option to homeschool and dual enroll.
