Apply for Computer Science Curriculum, Professional Development Grants

Grants for high-quality computer science curriculum and aligned professional development for teachers are available to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools.

The grants will assist with implementing a 2020 state law that requires high schools to offer computer science instruction starting July 1, 2022, and middle and elementary schools to provide computer science starting July 1, 2023. The goal with this funding, however, is for teachers to begin professional development in the summer of 2022 and for classroom instruction to begin in the fall of 2022.

This is possible thanks to a portion of a 2007 court-approved settlement of a class-action antitrust lawsuit filed against Microsoft Corp. being designated for this purpose. In addition to the $3.7 million provided, up to $300,000 will be spent to help districts and nonpublic schools develop local K-12 computer science plans as required by the 2020 state law. More details will be provided soon regarding the $300,000 for computer science plan development

School districts and accredited nonpublic schools may apply to receive grants in each of the grade bands, up to a total of $30,000.

Priority will be placed on awarding school districts and accredited nonpublic schools that do not currently offer computer science in one or more of the designated grade bands: K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. After adhering to that priority, awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information on how to apply, go to the Iowa Department of Education’s webpage.

K-12 Teachers, Students Invited to Sign up for Statewide ‘Design Challenge’

Work-based learning is an essential tool to connect what students learn in the classroom to future careers. That’s why the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning and the Home Builders Association of Iowa are pleased to announce the statewide Build Iowa's Future Design Challenge for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools. Teachers and school administrators across the state are invited to sign up starting Aug. 18 for their K-12 students to participate with the chance to win up to $1,000 for their school.

Please encourage teachers and students you know to get involved in either the Iowa Home Design Challenge for grades K-5 and 6-8 or the Iowa Dream and Design Challenge for grades 9-12. Learn more about the challenge at https://clearinghouse.futurereadyiowa.gov/challenge. Assistance is available from your Heartland AEA PLLC or a member of our Future Ready Team.

 Our Mission 

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

Our Goals

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

Heartland AEA Math Minutes Newsletter is Now Available

The Heartland AEA Math Minutes Newsletter is now available. Make sure to follow the newsletter and share it with your colleagues! In this issue…

• Numeracy Project 2.0
• Coming Soon to Creative Services at Heartland AEA
• Heartland AEA Math Consultants
• Heartland AEA Math Consultants on Twitter

Contact the Heartland AEA Math Team if you need any assistance!

Emergent Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment) - Starts in September

This course will cover a framework for instruction of mathematical ideas for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This course is designed for students who are progressing on the Iowa essential elements aligned to the Iowa core standards. Links to the literacy framework will be made, along with a process for determining whether students are at an emergent or conventional level for instruction. Strategies and routines for emergent learners will be provided. Teachers will participate in mathematical activities in order to increase understanding.

Emergent Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment)
Sept. 21 & Oct. 1 and 7, 2021
Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3zgdCMz
Course #201608
Section #307491

Conventional Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment) - Starts in October

This course will cover a framework for instruction of mathematical ideas for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This course is designed for students who are progressing on the Iowa essential elements aligned to the Iowa core standards. Links to the literacy framework will be made, along with a process for determining whether students are at an emergent or conventional level for instruction. Strategies and routines for conventional learners will be provided. Teachers will participate in mathematical activities in order to increase understanding.

Conventional Mathematical Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Alternate Assessment)
Oct. 12, 22 & Nov. 4, 2021
Heartland AEA, Regional Education Center, 6500 Corporate Drive, Johnston
Register at this link: https://bit.ly/36LxjQc
Course #201609
Section #307492

New Resources Around Seclusion & Restraint Hot Off the Press from Department of Education

The Iowa Department of Education has recently published new resources for educators around seclusion and restraint (Chapter 103). A new Top 10 Points About Chapter 103 is available on the Department’s Seclusion and Restraint webpage.

Top 10 Points About Chapter 103

Iowa Department of Education Seclusion and Restraint webpage

Hiring a New School Nurse This Year?

Heartland AEA is offering a year-long mentoring class for new or nearly-new school nurses. The content is entirely online and job embedded. Class spans Oct. 4, 2021-May 27, 2022 and is self-paced. It includes instruction regarding:

• Delegation of health procedures to paraprofessionals
• Individual health plan (IHP) and emergency plans
• Health evaluation for special education student
• Understanding special health services and the IEP
• Medicaid billing and the role of the school nurse
• Section 504 and the nurse as a team member
• HIPAA/FERPA and Social Media and confidentiality in Iowa Schools
• Heartland AEA resources available to assist nurses

School nurses will be taught by Heartland AEA Special Education Nurse Consultant, MaryAnn Strawhacker, MPH, RN, with opportunities for 1:1 instruction as needed. Please share the attached flier with new school nurses and those with 1-2 years of experience who have not previously completed the class. Cost is $85 and offers 15 contact hours of free license renewal credit.

Updated Data Can Be Found in PREP Dashboards on Iowa Postsecondary Readiness Site

Updated data can now be found in the PREP Dashboards (EdInsight version). In addition, the PREP Trendlines are now available publicly via the Iowa Postsecondary Readiness site. This is the full Postsecondary Readiness Reports site, with a dedicated PREP Trendline page. You will notice a series of sortable filters as well. For more information on these reports or how to use them, contact Sue Schirmer.