StandardsInsight Tool Now Available

All school districts now have access to the StandardsInsight Tool, which was developed to provide an in-depth look into the Common Core State Standards. The tool “unpacks” the standards into several categories and has also been adjusted to reflect the Iowa Core Standards. StandardInsights is available thanks to a partnership between the Iowa Department of Education and the Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium (MISIC). 

A webinar has been developed to provide information on how to access the Standards Insight Tool. Districts/schools were to identify administrators who will view this initial webinar, as it gives information about how to set up an account for your district/school. http://misiciowa.org/StandardsInsight.html

A second webinar for teachers is also available; this webinar includes information about how teachers can access the district’s account to enter grade level/course specific information about each of the standards. In order for your teachers to have access, you will need to make sure that you have registered your district and set up accounts for your staff. 

Note: The Department of Education has had recent feedback about difficulty and confusion regarding district account set-up and access. We expect further information from the Department soon to help address those technical difficulties. 

For now, if you have technical questions about accessing or using StandardsInsight, please contact Jamie Morgan at jamie@misiciowa.org. You can also contact Deb Hindman at the Iowa Department of Education at deb.hindman@iowa.gov. If you need support in your district or school with your individual efforts to implement Iowa Core, please work with your regional director from Heartland AEA.

Addendum Window for the Microsoft CyPres Program

October is the window for making this years addendum to the Microsoft CyPres Settlement application. The window closes October 31, 2012. Changes can be made to the hardware, software, and teaching strategies sections to reflect what the school will be doing this school year. The last window will open up on August 1, 2013 and close March 31, 2014. The program will come to an end on June 30, 2014. No invoice dated after June 30, 2014 will be eligible for reimbursement. Questions may go to John O'Connell, john.oconnell@mchsi.com.

Students Can Participate in the Stop Bullying Challenge

October is Bullying Prevention Month and www.stopbullying.gov is challenging your students to create a “Stop Bullying Video.” This challenge invites youth ages 13-18 to create a 30 to 60 second video that will inform and motivate youth to prevent bullying, and that promotes an environment where kindness and respect for others matters.

If your students participate in this challenge send us a copy of your video to comms@aea11.k12.ia.us to be featured on our Facebook page!

Save the Date
October 10 is Unity Day sponsored by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Encourage your students to wear orange and send us pictures of your unity day to comms@aea11.k12.ia.us . Learn more at http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp.
   
Register for the Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit which will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Des Moines. https://preventbullying.iowa.gov/