The reports and data disks for the New Iowa Assessments are now showing up in our schools. This affects our work in several ways. Please take a moment to read the information below.
Proficiency definitions are no longer based on National Percentile Rank. Instead, National Standard Scores are used. Click here to access the Iowa Testing Program’s documents on testing proficiency. These documents are preliminary information; more details will be forthcoming later this month.
Please follow current guidelines for accommodations. Click here for guidance from the Iowa DE on accommodations. Click here for a PDF excerpt from the new Iowa Assessments administration manual. Old accommodations documents for the ITBS should be discarded. (For example, there is a document entitled: "ITBS accommodations by subtest" from the Lincoln, Nebraska schools that has been used by some of our consultants. This document contained district-specific policy and reflects the old tests.)
New Iowa Assessment data will not be available in HEART for at least a month, pending necessary reprogramming. Thank you for your patience.
There are new and redesigned reports from Iowa Testing Program. There are videos, handouts and other resources that may be useful to understand these new reports and other changes.
Link for ITP workshop handouts:
http://curriculumnet.pbworks.com/w/file/49340377/handouts.zip
Links to videos:
Video 1: https://aea111.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx?q=X3Y5NcZVhaCz%252fCjEvIzUAQ%253d%253d
Video 2: https://aea111.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx?q=X3Y5NcZVhaATNjYcNHu5yA%253d%253d
Video 3: https://aea111.eduvision.tv/Default.aspx?q=X3Y5NcZVhaCjA8T%252f4Ut4eQ%253d%253d
If you have specific questions, feel free to contact your region’s assessment consultant.
Region 1: Conact your regional director
Region 2: Jennifer Adkins, jadkins@aea11.k12.ia.us
Region 3: Diane Schnelker, dschnelker@aea11.k12.ia.us
Region 4: Mike Szymczuk, mszymczuk@aea11.k12.ia.us
Region 5: Mariann Culver, mculver@aea11.k12.ia.us
Region 6: Jennifer Riedemann, jriedemann@aea11.k12.ia.us
Region 7: Berrett Rice, brice@aea11.k12.ia.us
Region 8: Diane Schnelker, dschnelker@aea11.k12.ia.us
Monday, February 20, 2012
Information about Iowa IDEA Shutdown on Feb. 16
As you are aware, the Iowa IDEA system had to be shut down last Thursday. The shut down was due to a laptop being stolen at another AEA. The Web IEP and IMS applications were both logged in at the time the computer was stolen. The AEA staff member was only gone for 30 minutes.
The very good news for the security of the data was that there were no password notes taped to the computer. The staff member simply remembers all passwords. Also, the browsers used were not set to remember passwords. This was a big relief to the IMS Center.
Had there been browser-remembered passwords or written passwords attached to the computer, the Iowa IDEA would have considered forcing everyone in the system to create a new password.
In light of last week's event in which the Web IEP/IFSP and IMS needed to be shut down for a period of time, please adopt the following practices:
• If you currently have your web browser remember your Web IEP/IFSP or IMS username and password, please change that setting immediately and delete any currently stored usernames and passwords. (See the instructions below for doing this on the Firefox browser.) If you are using more than one browser to access the Web IEP/IFSP or IMS applications, remember to change security settings on each browser.
• If you have passwords attached to your computer (taped or written somewhere), remove them. If you need a listing of your passwords, consider creating a secure (e.g. encrypted with a password) document. You then only need to remember one password to access the listing of passwords.
• Log out of the Iowa IDEA applications when you leave your workstation.
• Notify Misty Christensen at mchristensen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 11203 if you believe security has been breached for any of the Iowa IDEA applications.
Clearing Stored Passwords on Firefox Web Browser
• Click “Firefox” on the top menu bar in the upper left corner and select “Preferences.”
• Click “Security” tab on the top menu.
• Uncheck “Remember passwords for sites.” This will disable future passwords for being saved for sites.
• Click on “Saved Passwords…” and then “Show passwords” and confirm to display a list of sites and passwords that are saved.
• Make sure you know all your passwords before you click “Remove all.”
Your username and password habits could end up affecting 10,000 Web IEP, IFSP and IMS consumers. Thank you in advance for taking necessary precautions in keeping student data secure.
The very good news for the security of the data was that there were no password notes taped to the computer. The staff member simply remembers all passwords. Also, the browsers used were not set to remember passwords. This was a big relief to the IMS Center.
Had there been browser-remembered passwords or written passwords attached to the computer, the Iowa IDEA would have considered forcing everyone in the system to create a new password.
In light of last week's event in which the Web IEP/IFSP and IMS needed to be shut down for a period of time, please adopt the following practices:
• If you currently have your web browser remember your Web IEP/IFSP or IMS username and password, please change that setting immediately and delete any currently stored usernames and passwords. (See the instructions below for doing this on the Firefox browser.) If you are using more than one browser to access the Web IEP/IFSP or IMS applications, remember to change security settings on each browser.
• If you have passwords attached to your computer (taped or written somewhere), remove them. If you need a listing of your passwords, consider creating a secure (e.g. encrypted with a password) document. You then only need to remember one password to access the listing of passwords.
• Log out of the Iowa IDEA applications when you leave your workstation.
• Notify Misty Christensen at mchristensen@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 11203 if you believe security has been breached for any of the Iowa IDEA applications.
Clearing Stored Passwords on Firefox Web Browser
• Click “Firefox” on the top menu bar in the upper left corner and select “Preferences.”
• Click “Security” tab on the top menu.
• Uncheck “Remember passwords for sites.” This will disable future passwords for being saved for sites.
• Click on “Saved Passwords…” and then “Show passwords” and confirm to display a list of sites and passwords that are saved.
• Make sure you know all your passwords before you click “Remove all.”
Your username and password habits could end up affecting 10,000 Web IEP, IFSP and IMS consumers. Thank you in advance for taking necessary precautions in keeping student data secure.
Earn a Reading Endorsement Through Heartland/Morningside Partnership
Heartland AEA and Morningside College have partnered up to offer a reading endorsement opportunity for area educators. The first class begins July 5, 2012. Two informational sessions have been scheduled for March 13 and March 21 for teachers to find out more about the program. Click here for more information about the sessions. If you have any questions, contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@aea11.k12.ia.us or Lori Pearson at lpearson@aea11.k12.ia.us.
Iowa's AEAs are "Impacting Lives"
Through their many years of service, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies have impacted the lives of many Iowa children, youth and educators. Individuals have shared how Iowa’s AEAs have supported them in the latest edition of Impacting Lives, a blog newsletter that shares AEA stories across the state. Find the Impacting Lives blog at http://aeas4iowa.wordpress.com/.
• Providing Resources to Brighten Children's Futures: Caroline’s Story
• Supporting 1:1 Schools in Northeast Iowa
• Early Intervention Brings Boy’s Speech Up to Speed
• Collaborating to Build Social Skills
• 21st Century Learners Conference: Great Day of Learning for Green Hills Area Educators
• Swift Interventions Unleash Boy's Potential
• Assistive Technology Works for Student with Autism
• Braille Contests Offer Unique Experiences for Visually Impaired Students
• Closing the Achievement Gap for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
• Iowa’s AEAs – Partners in Education!
• Providing Resources to Brighten Children's Futures: Caroline’s Story
• Supporting 1:1 Schools in Northeast Iowa
• Early Intervention Brings Boy’s Speech Up to Speed
• Collaborating to Build Social Skills
• 21st Century Learners Conference: Great Day of Learning for Green Hills Area Educators
• Swift Interventions Unleash Boy's Potential
• Assistive Technology Works for Student with Autism
• Braille Contests Offer Unique Experiences for Visually Impaired Students
• Closing the Achievement Gap for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
• Iowa’s AEAs – Partners in Education!
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