Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

New ELL PD Opportunities: Language Objectives & GO TO Strategies

Course registration is now available for this foundational English Language Learners (ELL) learning opportunity that focuses on how to infuse language objectives into content classrooms and introduces basic strategies that enable teachers to plan scaffolded, yet rigorous and relevant content lessons for ELLs.

Choose to attend either the Elementary or the Secondary session. Both sessions will be co-facilitated by Laura Lukens and Linda New Levine, Ph.D. of GO TO Educational Services.

Language Objectives and GO TO Strategies for Elementary ELLs
Date: March 21, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Rooms 152 A/B/C
Register: Here

Language Objectives and GO TO Strategies for Secondary ELLs
Date: March 22, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Heartland AEA, Johnston Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Rooms 152 A/B/C
Register: Here

Other Information:

• Participants will leave with abundant resources for scaffolding instruction for ELLs, including the complete GO TO Strategy materials and handouts of workshop activities.
• ESL and non-ESL teachers and administrators are encouraged to attend.
• District Claim Forms: Title III funds are available to cover the cost of substitute teachers. District claim forms will be available at the event.
• Individual Claim Forms: If off contract due to spring break, an individual stipend of $200 will be provided. Individual claim forms will be available at the event. This stipend is only available to participants whose spring break coincides with this training.
• Lunch will be on your own from 11:30-12:45, with morning and afternoon breaks.

ISU Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest

It’s important not only for adults, but children to know the dangers and risks during severe weather events and how they can be prepared during such an event. 

For this reason, the Iowa State Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (ISU AMS) is sponsoring a Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest for Iowa students in grades K-6. Entries will be judged on how well students can illustrate what they and their families can do to prepare for severe weather events in Iowa.

For more information, visit the poster contest website or contact Kelsie Ferin, Iowa State University Meteorology Academic and Forecasting Chair.

DE Provides Universal Screening Resources

As the early literacy winter universal screening window opens, many educators and school administrators are preparing to communicate assessment results to parents and families.

The Iowa Department of Education has provided a FAQ document, outreach tips, and talking points designed to support building administrators and teachers in communicating to parents and families of students identified as “at risk” or as having a substantial deficiency in reading based on assessment results.

The DE welcomes your feedback on communication needs around implementation of the early literacy progression law. Send feedback to staci.hupp@iowa.gov.

Annual Condition of Education Report is Available

The Iowa Department of Education today released the latest edition of the annual Condition of Education report. The report provides a wide range of state-level data, including shifts in student populations and demographics, teacher salaries and characteristics, student achievement results and school financial information.

Our Mission

To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students

• Decrease gaps in achievement

• Increase annual graduation rates

• Increase gateways to post-secondary success 

Save the Date: Our Kids Summer Institute, June 16-17

Save the date for the annual Our Kids Summer Institute on June 16-17. This institute provides participants with the opportunity to network with other educational professionals and to discover new strategies for working with English Language Learners throughout Iowa.

Remember that districts writing Corrective Action Plans are required to send a team, so early registration is recommended. Registration for this outstanding professional development opportunity will be capped at 400. Keep watching for more information!

Smarter Balanced Assessments Implementation Put On Hold

In an email to superintendents this week, Ryan Wise, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, said that the administrative rules proposed by the State Board of Education (IAC 281.12) to implement the Smarter Balanced Assessments beginning in 2017 were put on hold this past Friday, when the proposed rules came up for a second review before the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee. These reviews are a required part of administrative rules adoption.

After raising questions about the State Board’s legal authority to adopt a state accountability assessment, the committee voted unanimously in favor of a session delay on the proposed rules. A session delay means that the effective date of the rules implementing the Smarter Balanced Assessments will be delayed until the end of the 2016 legislative session, unless legislators take action on assessment during the session.

Wise noted that putting in place a state assessment that accurately measures how students are progressing toward state standards is a critical part of the work to prepare Iowa students for success in college and in the workforce. And according to Iowa Code, a new assessment must be in place in schools by the 2016-17 school year.

Clarification Provided for ELPA21 Operations and Administration

There have been a number of general questions related to the first operational administration of ELPA21 (the new Annual English Language Proficiency Assessment). 

Please review the DE memo, the ELPA21 Testing Administration and directions to Create Account on DE Portal that help answer these questions and to fully engage in the required webinar trainings in preparation for practice testing and live administration.

All general information related to ELPA21 can be accessed on the public side of the Portal. There are several items that are locked due to security and only users with A&A Accounts will be able to access those items when they become available on Jan. 19.

For more information, contact Jobi Lawrence, Ed.D., Title III Director, Iowa Department of Education at (515) 281-3805 or Colleen Anderson, Assessment Consultant, Iowa Department of Education at (515) 281-3249.

Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

Our Goals

• Increase learning growth for students
• Decrease the gap in achievement
• Increase annual graduation rates
• Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Heartland AEA Begins Serving Ames Christian School

Heartland AEA is pleased to begin providing services to Ames Christian School. In addition to grades K-6, the school has a full day preschool, half-day preschool and pre-kindergarten and is exploring the addition of 7th and 8th grades.

If you have any questions, contact Kristi Upah, Regional Director, at (515) 270-9030 ext. 12306.