Iowa’s student results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress show some gains in math and reading since 2011, but stagnation over the long term remains a challenge statewide.
“We see some bright spots in today’s results, but they largely underscore the need to continue pushing forward with our education priorities,” Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck said.
Iowa has participated in NAEP assessments since they were first administered in 1990. Today’s NAEP results cover math and reading for grades 4 and 8. Iowa’s results show small growth from 2011 in fourth- and eighth-grade reading and fourth-grade math. The long-term trend remains flat in reading at both grade levels, with small growth in math.
The results also show no single demographic group stands out for Iowa’s relative stagnation. White students, who make up 81 percent of Iowa’s student population, are behind their white peers nationally across all tested grade levels and subject areas.
Significant gaps in achievement also remain for black and Hispanic students, students who do not speak English as their native language, students from low-income backgrounds and students with disabilities.
Click here for additional information.
Friday, November 8, 2013
November 2013 School Leader Update
Click here to find a link to the November 2013 issue of the School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education.
Flyer for Iowa ASCD’s 4th/5th Grade Teacher Conference
Click here for a flyer that can be shared with fourth- and fifth-grade teachers to attend the Iowa ASCD’s Teacher Conference on December 4, 2013. With four teacher registrations, the principal comes free.
DMACC Surplus Available
DMACC has eight of the instructor stations available for pick up after December 1 at the Hunziker location in Ames. Click here for pictures and more information. These surplus items are free to the first school to ask for them. Please contact Julie Klocke at jaklocke1@dmacc.edu if you are interested.
SchoolReach and CyberBully Hotline to Hold Webinars in November
Bullying in Schools: What Can We Do?
Tues. Nov. 19th @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. Central
Register here: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/540564623
Join a free webinar in a professional development series featuring anti-bullying author and speaker, Stan Davis. Stan will discuss strategies for reducing bullying in schools AND for reducing the harm that bullying can cause, based on a recent large national research project.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
Thurs. Nov. 21st @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. Central
Register here: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/384218335
Join retired police officer, School Resource Officer, and School Safety expert, Gary Sigrist, Jr. as he discusses reunification plans for schools. Many schools prepare for emergencies, but many are not prepared for the reunification that happens following an emergency. Reunification occurs when events at the school or in the neighborhood demand students are physically returned to parents. In the event of criminal activity, injury or death, additional time may be needed for law enforcement interviews or crisis counseling.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
Tues. Nov. 19th @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. Central
Register here: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/540564623
Join a free webinar in a professional development series featuring anti-bullying author and speaker, Stan Davis. Stan will discuss strategies for reducing bullying in schools AND for reducing the harm that bullying can cause, based on a recent large national research project.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
- Ways to talk about bullying with youth that make it both less frequent and less damaging
- Ways to broaden your focus beyond just stopping mean behavior to also building community, inner strength and helping behaviors
- Strategies for empowering peers to give effective, safe support to bullied youth
- How adults can best support bullied youth to reduce emotional harm
Thurs. Nov. 21st @ 10:30-11:30 a.m. Central
Register here: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/384218335
Join retired police officer, School Resource Officer, and School Safety expert, Gary Sigrist, Jr. as he discusses reunification plans for schools. Many schools prepare for emergencies, but many are not prepared for the reunification that happens following an emergency. Reunification occurs when events at the school or in the neighborhood demand students are physically returned to parents. In the event of criminal activity, injury or death, additional time may be needed for law enforcement interviews or crisis counseling.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
- How to choose a reunification site
- How to manage the reunification process
- Where to direct parents who come to pick their children up
- Who's allowed to pick students up
- Where to stage students
- How to reduce parents' drama and anxiety
- What to anticipate regarding medical issues
Friday, November 1, 2013
Reminder About Iowa Alternate Assessment for Homebound Students and Students on Shortened School Days
This is a reminder that homebound students (usually for medical reasons) and students on shortened school days who receive educational services from a district are required to be tested for NCLB.
Homebound students take the same assessments as if they were in a school building. Iowa Code does not provide exemption of assessment for students on shortened school days. For homebound/shortened school day students where instruction and assessment on the Iowa Alternate Assessment requirement of 15 items per content area assessed may be problematic, IEP teams must convene and come to consensus that a reduction of the requirement is warranted and then submit a request to the Department. The Department will then make a determination on the number of rating scales required for assessment.
If you have questions about IAA requirements, contact your regional director or Angela Calhoun at acalhoun@heartlandaea.org.
Homebound students take the same assessments as if they were in a school building. Iowa Code does not provide exemption of assessment for students on shortened school days. For homebound/shortened school day students where instruction and assessment on the Iowa Alternate Assessment requirement of 15 items per content area assessed may be problematic, IEP teams must convene and come to consensus that a reduction of the requirement is warranted and then submit a request to the Department. The Department will then make a determination on the number of rating scales required for assessment.
If you have questions about IAA requirements, contact your regional director or Angela Calhoun at acalhoun@heartlandaea.org.
Superintendents: November 5 HAA Meeting
Click here for the updated HAA agenda for next week’s meeting. The meeting will be held from 9:00-11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, November 5 in Rooms 13 A & B of the Heartland AEA Johnston Regional Education Center (6500 Corporate Drive). Meeting topics include a session with SAI Legal Counsel Matt Carver about school safety and related legal issues and breakouts dealing with district-wide technology and negotiations.
Assessing Academic Rigor, Spring 2014
Spring dates for Assessing Academic Rigor courses are set! If you are looking to renew your Administrative License, one of the courses you may want to take is Assessing Academic Rigor. The spring dates are January 23, 30, February 20 & 27 at Heartland AEA. Click here to register.
Teacher Leadership and Compensation Model Google Site
Heartland AEA has a Google Site of resources to support schools as they plan their teacher leadership and compensation model. The site can be accessed here. One key resource listed under the October 30 meeting documents is the planning template. Districts that attended the first planning workshop really found this template helpful.
Background Checks Requirements for School Employees
This guidance is from Iowa Department of Education website.
Under Iowa Code section 279.69, the Legislature has closed the gap on the requirement for school district employees to have background checks. The newly passed law requires that all school district employees have a background check conducted in compliance with various Iowa laws by July 1, 2014. This legislation includes other school employees such as cooks, custodians, paraprofessionals, and administrators who are not licensed with the Board of Educational Examiners. These employees must have a background check upon initially being hired and then every five years on the anniversary date of the employee. The law requires the school district to review information in the Iowa court information system, the sex offender registry, the child abuse registry, and the central registry for dependent adult abuse for information regarding the applicant. The school district must pay the costs of the checks and maintain documentation of compliance with this law. Click here for an ISFIS report for guidance with the new background check law.
Under Iowa Code section 279.69, the Legislature has closed the gap on the requirement for school district employees to have background checks. The newly passed law requires that all school district employees have a background check conducted in compliance with various Iowa laws by July 1, 2014. This legislation includes other school employees such as cooks, custodians, paraprofessionals, and administrators who are not licensed with the Board of Educational Examiners. These employees must have a background check upon initially being hired and then every five years on the anniversary date of the employee. The law requires the school district to review information in the Iowa court information system, the sex offender registry, the child abuse registry, and the central registry for dependent adult abuse for information regarding the applicant. The school district must pay the costs of the checks and maintain documentation of compliance with this law. Click here for an ISFIS report for guidance with the new background check law.
November-December 2013 Each & Every Child Newsletter
Click here to for a link to the November-December 2013 edition of the Each & Every Child newsletter from the Iowa Department of Education. This issue introduces you to the school that is simply the best in the state when it comes to bringing their students on Individualized Education Plans up to grade-level achievement. Take a bow, Northeast Elementary in Ankeny!
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