Obama Administration announces Rural IMPACT Demonstration

The White House Rural Council in February launched “Rural Impact,” a sustained campaign to enhance quality of life and upward mobility for children in rural and tribal places. Through this effort, the Obama Administration aims to build upon the progress already made in reducing rural poverty by leveraging technology, forging new partnerships, and exploring new models of program delivery, to ensure that all kids have an opportunity to succeed.

In support of Rural Impact, the Obama Administration is announcing a new technical assistance demonstration initiative: Rural Integration Models for Parents and Children to Thrive (IMPACT) Demonstration. The Rural IMPACT Demonstration will focus on providing technical support for rural and tribal communities to incorporate a two-generation approach, with the goal of reducing child poverty.

The Demonstration will be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and will be implemented in collaboration with a broad range of Federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Labor, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. HHS has cooperative agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Community Action Partnership (CAP), to administer the demonstration and provide technical assistance to participating rural and tribal communities. By embedding a two-generation approach in programs and systems, HHS and its partners anticipate improvements in service delivery, participation, and outcomes for low-income families in rural and tribal communities. 

The Rural IMPACT Demonstration will provide technical assistance and other supports for up to 10 rural and tribal communities that have vision, capacity, and assets to develop innovative two-generation strategies.

Through Rural IMPACT’s two-generation approach, HHS and its partners will work with rural and tribal communities to address concurrently the needs of both vulnerable children and parents, with a goal of increasing parents’ employment and education and the well-being of their children and families.

August 31, 2015: Deadline for communities to submit their statement of interest

For more information, find the invitation letter or contact: RuralIMPACT@aap.org

Searching for Students to be Active with Broadband

The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is sponsoring an opportunity for students with powerful voices to share their perspectives on technology and broadband. The Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC) complements state efforts to gain input from various stakeholders that are passionate about broadband, technology, and apps that require robust broadband to provide the required high-speed Internet. The SYBAC will be made up of twelve (12) young leaders from across Iowa. 

The council’s goal is to gather useful information on what high school students feel could impact high-speed Internet in their schools and in their communities. Students will identify effective strategies to improve broadband connectivity and community environments, which could assist in advocacy efforts for rural Internet connectivity.

Ric Lumbard, ICN Executive Director says, “This initiative allows high school students to help steer the broadband and technology conversations. Our goal is to hear from the next generation.”

Students enrolled in 10th - 12th grades from public and nonpublic schools in Iowa may apply for membership. Meetings will take place monthly, beginning in October 2015 through May 2016, via video conference, teleconference, and/or in-person. Council members also will communicate via e-mail.

ICN is the executive agency sponsor with support from Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Students interested should visit the ICN website or the Broadband Matters website. Applications can be submitted between August 24-September 14. 

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.

Model Code of Ethics for Educators Released This Summer

Over the past 12 months, a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC ) task force, comprised of a diverse group of teachers, principals, superintendents (including Craig Menozzi, former Southeast Polk superintendent), paraprofessionals and state department officials, has developed the first Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE). 

The MCEE was launched on June 25, 2015, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. It should be noted that the members of the task force are all working educators who were nominated by national stakeholder groups; therefore, this is a document that has been developed, vetted and endorsed by those in the profession.

The purpose of the MCEE is to serve as a shared ethical guide for future and current educators who are faced with the complexities of PK-12 education. The code establishes principles for ethical best practice, mindfulness, self-reflection, and decision-making, setting the groundwork for self-regulation and self-accountability. There are five principles, which broadly define critical dimensions of ethical practice expected of the professional educator, each followed by performance indicators that more specifically define aspects within each principle. You can read more about the MCEE at the links below.

Rationale for the MCEE
Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE) Documents

The MCEE will remain as a living document that will adapt and respond to emerging issues in the education profession by maintaining resources that support continuous public comment and review. Toward this objective, the NASDTEC Executive Board established the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics (NCAEE) at its June 2015 meeting to further the intentional focus on ethics across the profession and establish an ongoing group to administer the code. This critical work will lead to an increased emphasis on ethical preparation at national, state and local levels.

You can review and consider possible uses for this historic document in your work. NASDTEC is making no attempt to press organizations to adopt the document as a whole, and its purpose is not to supplant current state and provider codes currently in use. Rather, the MCEE should be seen as a guide and a tool for your organization as it considers how to assist current and future educators in dealing with an area which grows more murky and complex on a daily basis.

The dissemination of information from external organizations by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. It is being passed on to our stakeholders for its educational value.