The Iowa Department of Education has launched a public opinion survey of Iowans regarding the Next Generation Science Standards.
The survey is part of a broader state effort to seek input on the new science standards, which represent a multi-state effort to develop a common set of learning expectations for students in kindergarten through high school.
Iowa was one of 26 states that worked to develop the science standards, which were released in April and are available for voluntary adoption in states.
Last month, the Iowa Department of Education convened a state task force to review the science standards. The task force will make a recommendation later this year to the State Board of Education about whether to adopt the standards as part of the Iowa Core, the statewide academic standards in math, science, English/language arts and social studies.
Survey results will provide guidance and feedback to the task force, the Iowa Department of Education, and the State Board of Education.
“In Iowa, we support efforts to improve science education in a way that challenges students to apply what they’ve learned, which is so important in a new economy that demands innovation,” Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck said. “Now is the time to review these science standards statewide and determine whether they should move forward in Iowa schools. We want as much input as possible from Iowans.”
The Next Generation Science Standards were developed during a two-year, state-led process that was managed by Achieve, a nonprofit education organization. About 70 Iowans were involved, including K-12 educators, science consultants, higher education faculty, and Iowa Department of Education staff members.
The standards are internationally benchmarked and identify science and engineering practices and content with a focus on preparing K-12 students to go to college or to enter the workforce. To read the Next Generation Science Standards, visit http://www.nextgenscience.org/.
The survey will be open through Friday, Oct. 11. To participate, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JBQM56P.
After recent feedback from staff, our business cards have been revised to have a plain white backside so staff may write on that side of their cards.
The business card order form has also been revised to reflect updated contact information. Click here for the order form, which can also be found on the Intranet > Communications > Forms.
To avoid confusion for our schools and families, we ask that you please use your contract title when requesting business cards and in your email signature. Contract titles are used in our online directory and our Staff & Schools Directory, so using a different title can be confusing for those trying to contact us. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Also note that the Agency has one set of phone numbers that all staff members’ direct dial extensions are routed through: (515) 270-0405 and (800) 255-0405. Each office does not have its own direct dial numbers. These are the direct dial numbers that will be printed on business cards. Please also allow two weeks for delivery of requested business cards.
This message was emailed to staff on Sept. 19 and is being repeated here as well.
Many of you have not been able to access the Intranet tab on the Employee Dashboard using the most recent version of the Firefox web browser. Communications and Internal Technology identified a solution to the problem, and you are now able to access the Intranet via Firefox. Thank you for your patience as we worked to alleviate this problem.
It is time, once again, to think about getting your flu or pneumococcal vaccines. There are several options available under the Agency’s health insurance plans.
• Use your PCP (primary care physician) or any other in-network Blue Choice physician. The flu or pneumococcal vaccines will be covered at 100%. Your physician has the right to charge you for an office visit, so check ahead.
• A pharmacist may give the flu or pneumococcal vaccine at a pharmacy approved by Wellmark to give vaccinations. Check with Wellmark to see if your pharmacist is on the list. Wellmark will pay 100% of the cost of your flu or pneumococcal vaccine at your approved pharmacy only if your shot is given BY THE PHARMACIST.
We will not be offering flu vaccinations this year at the Heartland AEA offices.
If you have any questions, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14385.
This message was emailed to staff on last Friday and is being repeated here as well.
The Heartland AEA Notice of Privacy Practices has been updated as of September 23, 2013 and is now available for all staff to read and become familiar with. All previous versions of the Notice of Privacy Practices should be discarded or archived. The notice is required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and describes how the Agency may use and disclose your protected health information to authorize treatment, initiate payment, conduct healthcare benefit operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. If you have any questions, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at tchiaramonte@heartlandaea.org or Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@heartlandaea.org.
The Iowa AEA system has selected Tom Lane as its new legislative liaison. Lane recently retired after 10 years as superintendent of the Carlisle Schools, where he also served as elementary principal. Lane was named the 2012-13 School Administrators of Iowa Superintendent of the Year.
Lane began his education career as a social studies teacher, and he has also been a counselor, coach and secondary principal. A graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in counselor education, Lane earned his administrative certification, specialist’s degree and doctorate in education leadership from Drake University.
“I’ve always valued the work of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies and had a passion for kids with special needs,” Lane said. “I am focused on building advocates for the AEAs at the grassroots level.” He will work side-by-side with the AEAs’ current lobbyists – Matt Eide and John Peterson – and will help them better understand the issues in Iowa’s K-12 education system in order to better advocate for the AEA system.
Education is definitely a family business. Lane’s wife, Kathy, retired after a career as a first grade teacher. Son Mark is an elementary principal in Urbandale, and son Kelly is an elementary PE teacher in Colorado Springs, Colo. Daughter Darcy is legal counsel for the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
“I live fifteen minutes from the Capitol, and I’ve always believed that talking and working with legislators was part of my responsibility to my colleagues,” Lane said. “As I considered other opportunities for work, I ultimately chose this work because it’s a great match for my passion and beliefs. I can’t imagine any better way to continue being involved in education.”
AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online’s September updates are now available. For real time updates, follow AEA PD Online on Twitter @aeapdonline or on your mobile device by accessing our app at myapp.is/aeapdonline.
• AEA PD Online Training System
• AEA PD Online Changes Student Policies
• AEA PD Online Updates to Moodle 2.5
• Tool of the Month: Symbaloo Moodle Mashup
• Upcoming Courses
• AEA PD Online: Live!
• External Partners
• Moodle for K-12 Teachers
• View from the Field: Janet Wills
This message was emailed to certified staff on Sept. 17 and is being repeated here as well.
Registration for 2013-14 Teacher Quality (TQ) courses and study groups is open. Courses and study groups are posted here under “Teacher Quality Information.” Four study groups were inadvertently left off the list and have been posted today. TQ options are open to certified staff only. Registration will be open from September 17 through October 1, 2013. You must be registered on or before October 1 to participate.
Study groups have been identified by the Teacher Quality Committee. Interested participants will form their own groups and identify a facilitator. The facilitator will email the study group members and the dates and times the group will be meeting to Dawn Peitzman at dpeitzman@aea11.k12.ia.us. Dawn will then email the facilitator the appropriate study group proposal. If a staff member wants to participate in a study group and can't find other colleagues to participate, email Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org, and she will help interested participants find a group to join.
The Teacher Quality/Professional Learning Committee will establish the stipend staff members will receive for participating in courses and study groups during their next meeting on Thursday, October 10.
If you have any general questions about TQ, please contact Kevin Fangman, Executive Director of District Services, at kfangman@heartlandaea.org.
As part of the Drake University/Heartland AEA ESL Endorsement partnership, a first-person account of Sudanese survival, sorrow and triumph will be presented on September 30, 2013, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Drake University, Meredith Hall, Room 106.
Abeny Kucha Tiir, author of Tears of a Mother, will share her personal narrative, insights and reflections as a refugee from South Sudan. Photos and video footage from three return trips to her former homeland will enhance audience understanding of the realities faced by Ms. Kucha and other refugees from the world’s newest democracy.
The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship, Heartland AEA and the Drake University School of Education.
The Weighted Enrollment Factor (WEF) Matrix has been revised and was released in the Special Education Procedures Manual on July 25, 2013, on pages 500-501. All IEPs with a Prior Written Notice will be weighted using the WEF matrix. Please contact the Regional Director who serves your district if you have any questions regarding a student’s IEP weighting. Remember that the most important factor is to write clear IEPs that articulate what the child needs to access FAPE.
Important questions have been recently raised regarding progress monitoring and special education records. Click here to download a document that provides additional information to assist us in supporting our districts with this information. The document will also be provided to district administrators in the September 27th issue of the Administrator Connection.
In 2013, legislation was passed and signed by the Governor that significantly changed the homeschooling options in Iowa. These changes are indicated in the 2013-14 Private Instruction Handbook; however, these changes are not reflected in the current Statewide Procedural Manual dated July 25, 2013. Additional guidance documents have been developed to support AEA and LEA staff in meeting the new requirements and to assist with ensuring the appropriate paperwork is completed for students who are entitled to special education services.
Below are links to three additional guidance documents related to this topic:
• Heartland AEA Guidance Private Instruction Requests for Special Education Entitled Individuals
• CPI Worksheet
• 2013-14 Private Instruction Handbook which includes Form A, referenced throughout the guidance
If you have any questions regarding this information, contact Keri Steele, Regional Director/Assistant Director of Special Education, at ksteele@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14372 or Sara Mercer, School Psychologist, at smercer@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14312.
The Heartland AEA Parent & Educator Connection has organized two fall workshops to benefit families and educators of 7th-12th grade students who are served on an IEP. Below is information on the two upcoming workshops.
ASPIRE Transition Times Workshop
October 1, 2013
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Ames AEA Office
ASPIRE is a parent-led support group for parents, educators and professionals who have or work with children who have special needs. Click here for more information for our co-sponsored Transition Times workshop that feature a panel of persons with disabilities who will share their success stories and what helped them along the way.
Transition Times Workshop
October 3, 2013
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Johnston REC
Click here for more information. A panel of experts will describe job-seeking skills. Discover how to build on your child’s/student’s current skills. Join us for an interesting discussion with time for questions.
The Agency has nearly completed its conversion from Keriomail to Gmail, and the Internal Technology Department has fielded quite a few questions regarding Gmail features and requests for training. In response to these requests, the Agency will be providing a variety of resources and trainings in the coming months. As has been mentioned in previous editions of The Connection, there are extensive resources available on the Email Migration Tab on the Employee Dashboard.
We will be offering a series of face-to-face trainings, details for which will be announced in upcoming issues of The Connection. We will also be providing short tips and tricks in each issue of The Connection and posters and other resources across the Agency. All of these trainings this fall will be focused on basic features and getting started with using Gmail and Google Calendar. This spring and summer, we will be offering trainings and resources focused on more advanced features.
This week’s tip on Getting Great With Google
When composing an e-mail, how do I use spell check?
