21st Century Community Learning Centers RFA and Application Workshops

The Iowa Department of Education is working in conjunction with the State Public Policy Group to promote a federal grant for the development of after-school programs. Below is information about the grants and workshops that give insight on requirements and goals. Questions about the grants and/or workshops can be directed to Michelle Rich, Senior Program Manager at State Public Policy Group, at (515) 243-2000.

21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants
Letters of Interest due February 1 to chris.fenster@iowa.gov
Proposals due by 4:00 p.m. on March 4, 2011
Approximately $4 million in grant funds this year have been set aside to fund new programs across the state. The intent of the 21st CCLC funds is to enable communities to design and implement effective out-of-school programs that will result in improved student achievement and be enhanced by and sustained through community partnerships beyond the term of the grant.

Applications must be submitted through www.iowagrants.gov. For information on how to register and use iowagrants.gov, please reference the documents below.
Registration Training
Application Submission

21st Century Community Learning Centers Application Workshops
January 31 - February 9, 2011; Statewide
The Iowa Department of Education is hosting five workshops across the state to give applicants the opportunity to learn more about the requirements and goals of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Each workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with lunch provided at no cost to attendees. An ICN will be held on February 22 in addition to the workshops to answer any final or additional questions regarding the grant goals, requirements and application submission. The workshops are NOT required to apply for the grant.

January 31: Ames, Location TBD
February 1: Waterloo, Waterloo Public Library
February 2: Ottumwa, Location TBD
February 8: Red Oak, Red Coach Inn
February 9: Spencer, Clay County Events Center

February 16-18 are reserved in case of cancellation due to inclement weather. Workshops are capped at 20, so each organization is limited to one representative.

2011 Diverse Learner’s Resource Fair & Mini Conference

Heartland AEA’s and Des Moines Public Schools’ Parent & Educator Connection coordinators are combining two informative events for one great day! The 2011 Diverse Learner’s Resource Fair & Mini Conference will be held on Saturday, February 5 at the Botanical Center in Des Moines. Please pass on the attached flyer to educators, parents and students who may be interested in attending.

Reminder About Inclement Weather Closing & Cancellation Communication

Since we are in the thick of the winter season, here’s a friendly reminder about how the Agency will be communicating about inclement weather office closings and professional development cancellations. We have changed our way of communicating closings and cancelations to make sure the information is communicated correctly, consistently and in a timely manner. We will no longer broadcast closings via TV and radio stations, but through the following ways:

Website
We will post closing/cancellation information on the front page of the Agency’s website (www.aea11.k12.ia.us) at the top of the Latest News section.

Cancellation Hotline
We will record closing information on a “cancellation hotline” at (515) 270-0405/(800) 255-0405 ext. 14041. When you call in, you will hear a recorded message that says the date and offices/classes that have been closed/canceled. If there are no closings/cancellations, the message will reflect that.

Social Media
We will post closing/cancellation information on the Agency’s Facebook & Twitter accounts at www.facebook.com/heartlandaea & twitter.com/HeartlandAEA.