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

 

Superintendent Update October 2024

Welcome to the Iowa’s AEAs Superintendent Update. This update provides important information from Iowa’s AEAs within the Educational Services, Media Services, Technology Services and Special Education Services areas. In this issue:

• Brief Survey Coming Soon: Your Input Matters!
• Complete the Needs Assessment for Educational Technology Solutions
• Iowa’s AEAs Launch New Statewide Technology Services Marketplace
• Tech Talk: Two New Featured Services – Equipment Repair & E-Rate Consulting & Filing
• Cybersecurity Summit to Focus on K-12 Solutions
• Reminder: Special Education Count Coming Oct. 25

Why Self-Assess Your Gifted & Talented Program?

Heartland AEA offers a facilitated program review of your Gifted & Talented program using a tool called the Gifted Self Audit and Planner (G-SAP). The G-SAP is a set of rubrics for districts to evaluate the current state of their gifted program at a K-12 systems level. Rubrics in the G-SAP are aligned to Iowa Code and best practices in current gifted education research.

By engaging in the facilitated G-SAP process, your district team will:

• Learn about Iowa Code requirements for gifted and talented programs and best practices in the field of gifted education and talent development
• Discuss with colleagues to gain a system-wide understanding of your district’s gifted program as implemented
• Use the findings of the review to develop a prioritized work plan for system improvement

For more information or to schedule a facilitated program review, reach out to Kyra Wilcox-Conley or Kate Boonstra today!

Building Strong Readers: From Early Intervention to Upper Grades

The Heartland AEA Literacy newsletter is now available. In this issue:

• Administrators' Leading for Literacy
• Landmark Studies Pointing to the Importance of Early Reading Intervention
• How Do We Accelerate Literacy Learning for Older Students?
• Teachers' Toolkits to Support Student Reading in Grades 3–8
• Free Professional Learning We Recommend & Can Help Support Implementation

Cognitive Coaching Opportunities for 2024-25 Across Iowa’s AEAs

Research indicates that teaching is a complex intellectual activity and that teachers who think at higher levels produce students who are higher achieving, more cooperative and better problem solvers. It is the invisible skills of teaching, the thinking processes that underlie instructional decisions, which produce superior instruction. Cognitive Coachingsm is a research-based model that capitalizes upon and enhances teachers’ cognitive processes. Our Cognitive Coaching Level 1 and Level 2 courses have been approved for Evaluator Approval as well! Read more and register today!

Introducing: Effective Science Instruction Workshop for Students on Alternate Assessment

This 3-day workshop presents a systematic approach to K-5 science education designed for students on alternate assessment called CREES: Curriculum & Resources for the Essential Elements for Science. We will present ready-to-use curriculum resources for science instruction for students who require instruction aligned to the Essential Elements and who are on alternate assessment. The lessons can be flexibly grouped based on instructional setting, making this workshop appropriate for both K-5 special education and general education teachers. Attendees will engage in an overview of the standards, training on the resources and materials and content-area learning and will discuss options for serving the unique needs of this student population.

Dates
Nov. 19, Dec. 3 & Dec. 17, 2024

Time
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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

Registration
Register Now
Course #48889

Featured Professional Learning Courses Coming from Heartland AEA

Check out these learning opportunities!

• Evidence-Based Classroom Practices: Academic & Behavior Oct. 17 & Nov. 6
• Fundamentals of Restorative Practices Oct. 24-25
• Numeracy Project Workshop Oct. 23, Oct. 31
• Section 504 Workshop Nov. 14

Revised Standards (Essential Elements) for Students on Alternate Assessment Available

The English/Language arts and math Essential Elements documents have been updated on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. They are now in alignment with the new state standards and include the unpacking information within the same document. We will be working on updating the science document as the state is reviewing science standards beginning in October.

Promoting Successful Transition for Students with Disabilities

In this hybrid course, we will explore best practices around postsecondary transition for students with disabilities and how to plan, develop and implement these practices using the Heartland AEA Postsecondary Success Transition Action Plan along with other provided resources.

We know how critical this work is and how it can be life-changing for our students with disabilities. During this course, you will have the opportunity to network with colleagues, learn from one another and build your transition toolbox to promote successful transition for the students you serve.

View the course details and register today!

Hybrid Canvas Course
Zoom Sessions
Nov. 4 & Dec. 12, 2024
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Registration

Registration Link

Session ID: 49120

Superintendent and Education Leaders Update Sept. 2024

The Sept. 2024 Superintendent and Education Leaders Update from the Iowa Department of Education is now available.