Superintendents: December HAA Meeting

Download a Word Doc or PDF version of the of the December Heartland Administrators Association meeting agenda. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 7 at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center starting at 9:00 a.m.

Last month, David King, Heartland AEA Director of Finance, was invited to attend the HAA meeting to discuss AEA funding. Because time ran short, it was decided to postpone his discussion for the December meeting. In preparation for Tuesday's meeting we encourage you to download two documents that will be the main focus of his presentation. Mr. King will review the documents in full and will address any questions you may have.

• The first document, AEA Funding Chart, is a general explanation of how AEA's are funded and what types of funding resources an AEA has to provide services. This one-page document was created as a simple and quick reference for AEA funding.

• The second document, AEA 11 Flow Through 06-11, is a workbook with two worksheets of data regarding AEA 11's history of flow through funds from fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2011. These documents were developed to explain why all AEA's, and specifically why AEA 11's, total flow through moneys have increased over the last several years at different rates than the basic school foundation aid formula would yield from the allowable growth rate. There are two worksheets in the workbook depicting the same data. The first worksheet reflects dollar amounts and the second reflects the percent change in the dollar amounts over the years. A short explanation for the total flow through increase above allowable growth can be attributed to the legislature not reducing AEA funding as much as it had in FY2005-06 coupled with the addition of teacher salary supplement funding being added to the formula. Both of these increases were from State revenues, not property tax.

I-ELDA trainings for Teachers and Administrators serving ELLs

Districts are encouraged to send representatives to one of the two state I-ELDA trainings scheduled in Denison and in Marshalltown, listed below. These test administration trainings will support the newly- shortened I-ELDA form.

Go to the link below to register for the I-ELDA training in Denison, Iowa on January 11, 2011.
http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp&invite=0gfm52331ec01cwgy8kra214dr03cgystkmgx0p4a15vmb8d4nsd

Go to the link below to register for the I-ELDA training in Marshalltown, Iowa on January 18, 2011.
http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvphttp://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp Questions can be directed to John Scott at john.scott@iowa.gov or (515) 281-3805.

Doing What Works Implementation Awards Request for Proposals

Doing What Works (DWW), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, is seeking proposals for Implementation Awards designed to strengthen implementation of research-based practices through DWW. Awards will be used to integrate DWW resources into professional learning or school improvement support processes that support integration of evidence-based education resources into their daily work.

Access the RFP and download the required forms from the awards webpage at www.wested.org/dww. Proposals are due December 17, 2010. For additional information, email dww@wested.org or call Kacey O’Kelly at (415) 615-3111.

Eligible: States, districts, intermediate service organizations, networks of schools or institutions of higher education with established capacity to deliver professional development, inquiry groups or other improvement processes that could incorporate DWW resources.

Timeline: Awards will be announced by January 14, 2011. Projects to be completed and reported by August 2011.

Award Size: $15,000 to $75,000

Awards Granted: Approximately 15

DWW is an online library of media, tools, and other resources to help educators learn about and implement recommendations from practice guides published by the Institute of Education Sciences.

Tips & Trends of the Heartland AEA Print & Production Services

Click here for a flyer that details the many different Print & Production services we provide. See what fun ideas your teachers could use to brighten the classroom or encourage students to do their best! During Winter Break, we will have limited Print & Production staff on hand. Please inform your staff to keep this fact in mind when submitting their Print & Production requests. If possible, school staff should send in job requests by the second week of December to ensure orders will be completed by the time school is back in session.

Resources from WestEd for supporting English Language Learners

SchoolsMovingUp is a WestEd initiative designed to help schools and districts address the challenge of raising student achievement. In an interactive Web format, SchoolsMovingUp offers resources to help education professionals make sound decisions and take action in their school reform efforts. To find out more about upcoming webinars and resources to support English Language Learners, please click here.

Curriculum Network: December Curriculum Network Meeting

The December Curriculum Network meeting is scheduled for Friday, December 3, 2010. The meeting will go from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and will be held at St. Mary's Church (4600 Meredith Drive, Des Moines, IA). The agenda and a map for the church are available at http://curriculumnet.pbworks.com/w/page/32779192/December-2010-Agenda

You will be able to choose one of four topics to participate in for the second part of the morning.

Area Counselors Receive Awards From Iowa School Counselor Association

Congratulations to area educators who received awards at last week's Iowa School Counselor Association Conference! Thanks for all you do for students!

Elementary Counselor of the Year: Meredith Dohmen, Walnut Creek Campus, West Des Moines

High School Counselor of the Year: Tami Valline, Perry High School, Perry

RAMP Award Winners (Recognized for having American School Counselor Association model programs): Sarah Majoros, Madison Elementary & Damon Holland, Brubaker Elementary, Des Moines

Thanksgiving Week Van Delivery Schedule

We wanted to remind you that all Heartland AEA offices will be closed November 25 & 26, and there will be no van delivery November 24-26.

Contribute to the First National Study of Social Studies Teachers

The University of Iowa Social Studies Education Program has asked Heartland AEA to help them in the first ever national study of social studies teachers. Their role in this study is to collect survey data from as many Iowa social studies teachers as possible to assess the state of social studies at this time in our history. As a result, we’ve been asked to request your help in contacting elementary teachers and secondary social studies teachers in the Heartland area.

A consent form can be found here and includes a description of the study and a link to the survey. All responses are anonymous, and the aggregate Iowa data will be made available after completion of the study. This study will not only be the first of its kind for the nation, but also the first of its kind for our state.

Appropriate Use of Special Education Funds Document Available

In October 2010, the Iowa Department of Education released a question and answer document about appropriate use of special education funds in local school districts and area education agencies. This clarification is the result of conversations and questions that have been discussed throughout recent months both in local school districts and AEAs. At Heartland we are discussing the answers that are provided and confirming that our practices are in alignment with the guidance contained in this recent Department of Education document found by clicking here.

Early Childhood Administrators Network, Dec. 10

Join us for the Early Childhood Administrators Network on Friday, December 10 from 8:30-11:00 a.m. This learning opportunity is designed for administrators and principals of early childhood programs (State Voluntary Preschool Programs, Early Childhood Special Education and/or Community based Preschools). Focus topics will include IQPPS and program portfolios, preschool curriculum and assessment, early childhood-focused professional development and current early childhood updates. Participants will have an opportunity to network, get answers to frequently asked questions and develop future topic ideas.

Go to the Heartland Professional Development Catalog to register. The activity number is EC008292111201.