Our Mission
To provide services and leadership, in partnership with families, schools and communities, that improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth.

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

Administrator Connection to Go on Summer Break

Since the school year is winding down, so will our Administrator Connection (our weekly blog update for school leaders). There will be two more updates, May 23 and May 30, with May 30 as the last issue. If you have any information you’d like to communicate to school administrators before then, be sure to send it to Claire Sowder, Communications Specialist, at csowder@heartlandaea.org by noon on May 29. The blog will start up again around the middle of August.

Sign Up for News Clips – A Daily Round-Up of Education News

A few of you have recently asked how to sign up to receive the daily News Clips compiled by the Communications Department. The News Clips is a short compilation of state and national education news sent daily by email to agency leaders, board members and agency and district staff who have subscribed. It is an overview from various state and national media outlets and other websites – it is by no means an exhaustive list. If you’d like to be added to the list, just send an email to comms@heartlandaea.org. 

Here is a sample of the clips: 
Please find listed below today's local and national education news headlines courtesy of the Heartland AEA Communications Department. Some media sources require digital access subscriptions. News clips receivers are responsible for setting up their own digital access for these media sources. Heartland AEA is unable to provide this digital access for our news clips receivers. We thank you for your understanding. 

Iowa News 
Transformed Teaching through AEA Collaboration 
Summer: Romping, reveling and…reading 
Building Confidence by Strengthening Voices 
Dike-New Hartford High School first in Iowa to be Safe School Certified 
Program helps children who don’t speak much find voices 
Children’s Water Festival enables kids to protect H20 

National News 
Federal Enforcement Is Key to Brown Legacy 
NAEP Tech., Engineering Test Brings Interactivity 
Schools Could Face Slower Internet Under Proposed 'Net Neutrality' Rules
Study: New Leaders-Trained Principals Boost Student Scores in Some Schools 

Note: The dissemination of these compiled news articles by Heartland AEA does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of the information. The articles come from independent media sources who are solely responsible for their content and are being passed on to our stakeholders for their educational value.

Focus on Financial Wellness

We all know how having a healthy body can contribute to our well-being, but what about how having a healthy financial situation can contribute to well-being? When your finances are in check, the rest of your life can seem more manageable. On the other hand when your finances seem to be in chaos, it can make life seem overwhelming.

Did you know that 80% of workers polled nationally indicate they want their employer to provide financial wellness education? Consider where we are as a society today: 

• 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck – Wall Street Journal 
• 30% of Americans have outstanding loans on their 401(k)s – Business Record
• #1 cause of stress is money problems and money fights – multiple studies 

First Financial Wellness Offering – Budgeting & Planning for Emergencies 

Heartland AEA is excited to announce our first financial wellness offering, Budgeting & Planning for Emergencies! Whether you are looking to pick up a few nuggets of information, or you need a financial overhaul, this 90-minute lunch and learn workshop will teach you all of the basics of how to handle your money well. This interactive, hands-on workshop will teach you how to: 

• Improve communication about money 
• Save for emergencies & pay off debt 
• Create a spending plan that actually works 
• Achieve your financial goals 
• Find your motivation for financial success 

 Each attendee will also receive a workbook with personalized budget forms. 

Bring your lunch to this event, which will be held on June 11 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Johnston REC in Conference Room 13B. All are welcome, but registration is required because space is limited to the first 50 participants to sign up. If you are interested, register before June 6 using the link below. If you’re unable to register, it is because the registration is full. 
http://heartlandaea.eventzilla.net 

If you have any questions, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, at tchiaramonte@heartalandaea.org or ext. 14534. 

College Savings Iowa 529 Plan 

Did you know? The College Savings Iowa 529 Plan is a tax-advantaged program intended to help an individual or a family pay the costs of higher education. Although sponsored and administered by the Treasurer of the State of Iowa, the plan is available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens with a valid Social Security or other taxpayer identification number. Plan information and FAQs can be found on the College Savings Iowa website. 
(Heartland AEA does not endorse any particular savings program and recommends individuals talk with their personal financial advisors when making investment decisions.)

Reminder: June 2014 Grace Period Being Applied to Medical Flex Plan

For the current year, the Agency’s medical flexible benefit plan runs from June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014. As we transition to a July 1 to June 30 plan year, a one-time, one-month grace period will occur in June 2014. For the month of June 2014, flexible medical deductions and administrative fees will not be deducted from employee pay. Deductions for dependent care will still occur in June 2014. 

Covered expenses incurred during the June 2014 grace period will be reimbursed to the extent the employee has unused funds as of May 31, 2014. Employees will have until July 30, 2014 to submit claims for costs incurred prior to June 30, 2014. Funds not claimed by July 30, 2014 will be forfeited. 

The new medical flexible benefit plan year will run from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. If you signed up for the medical flexible benefit plan during the recent benefit enrollment, monthly medical deductions and administrative fees will be begin again in July 2014. Going forward from June 30, 2015 employees will now be allowed to carry over a maximum of $500 to the following year. 

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14315 or Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at sjordan@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14908.

April 2014 Regional Meetings Q & A Now Available

During the April regional meetings, staff members submitted questions in response to the information shared. The Coordination Council reviewed questions and several themes emerged. Please see the Q & A document that was created. For further information, contact your regional director or a member of the Coordination Council.

May 2014 AEA PD Online & AEA K-12 Online Updates Now Available

The May 2014 updates for AEA PD Online and AEA K-12 Online 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 
• AEA PD Online Launches Self-Paced Courses in June 
• Upcoming Course: June 15-July 31, 2014 
• External Partners

AEA K-12 Online 
• Everfi: Free E-curriculum for Iowa Teachers 
• Infuse Learning: Learner Response System

Webcasts Provide Information About Iowa’s Alternate Assessment

This series of short webcasts provides introductory information on Iowa’s AYP Alternate Assessment Policy, Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Assessment System, Iowa Alternate Assessment Science (IAAS) System and processes for the 2014-15 school year. Additional information includes assessment training requirements, roles and responsibilities of district personnel including tech support and a comparison crosswalk document between IAAS and DLM ELA & Math assessment processes. Participants are encouraged to make comments and submit questions through the survey link identified for each webcast. A frequently asked questions document will be constructed from the surveys and posted on this Department of Education Iowa’s AYP Alternate Assessment for 2014-2015 webpage.