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
Greetings for 2015! As we return to our routines and busy schedules, we can anticipate several major proceedings will affect your work and the work of the educators in our area schools.
State Issues
Teacher Leadership and Compensation System
Fifteen districts within Heartland AEA were notified in December that they have been awarded funding in the second round of grants to implement Iowa’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation System (TLC). They will join 14 area districts that began implementation this year. An additional five districts within the Heartland AEA area have had their TLC grant approved for funding in the 2016-17 school year. Additional grant application cycles will be available for districts next year with a hope that all districts have an approved grant by 2016-17. Heartland will continue to coordinate professional development opportunities in cooperation with the other AEAs and in response to interests by area districts.
Attendance Center Rankings
Part of the education reform legislation adopted by the legislature in 2013 was a requirement for the Iowa Department of Education to develop a system for evaluating the performance of public schools on nine specific measures. The DE will launch a website this month that provides data on academic growth and student proficiency rates for public schools. Over time, this information along with other selected measures, will be incorporated into a new accreditation system for local schools.
Heartland AEA Accreditation
Heartland AEA will participate in an accreditation review with the Department of Education this spring as part of the five-year cycle of accreditation. Accreditation is determined based on a review of AEA standards in service areas such as school-community planning, professional development, curriculum/instruction/ assessment, diverse learners, leadership, school management services, instructional media and school technology. Heartland AEA will provide a self-study documenting services and artifacts to the DE in February of this year. The DE will use this information and the newly developing attendance center rankings to identify the school sites they would like to learn more about. We anticipate that Heartland AEA staff providing services in identified schools, selected early childhood areas and some off-site programs will be invited to participate in focus groups with the accreditation team. As we receive additional information from the DE on the details of the accreditation process, we will provide additional updates to staff.
Iowa Legislature
The AEA system is once again working with a unified legislative platform. At the top of the priority list is continued support for implementation of a multi-tiered system of support with emphasis on early literacy and restoration of the Iowa funding formula for AEAs. The Iowa funding formula is the source of funds for AEA services in the area of special education. Other requests are continued funds to assist local school with implementation of teacher leadership systems and personalized learning systems.
Today marks the opening day of the Iowa legislature’s 2015 session. Find a list of contact information for all Iowa House and Senate members in Heartland AEA’s area. As is normally the practice, our lobbyists will provide us with weekly updates throughout the session that we will share with you via The Connection. Please be aware of education issues being discussed and communicate with your legislators when appropriate.
Federal Issues
ESEA
It is expected that the 114th Congress will focus on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). You may remember that this is the legislation (often referred to as No Child Left Behind) that requires standardized testing in grades three to eight and at least once in high school. Additionally, schools are required to show annual growth in student achievement or to face sanctions (Schools in Need of Assistance, Districts in Need of Assistance), with all students expected to be proficient in reading and math this year.
The new incoming chairman overseeing education in the senate, Senator Lamar Alexander, has stated that addressing this law is his top education priority.
Heartland AEA staff will be interested in the likely debate about the merits of standardized testing as a means of informing parents about student progress and the effectiveness of the SINA/DINA sanctions in improving student learning. Any changes in this law will have an impact on school and state assessment requirements, which could translate into changes in Iowa for school and AEA accreditation processes, as well as annual progress reporting.
E-Rate
On Dec. 11, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took action to increase the funding level ($1.5 billion) of the E-Rate program. This action will provide increased funds to support access for schools and libraries to external high-speed Internet connections and to increase Wi-Fi access for students. Heartland AEA technology staff will continue to be involved in assisting schools as they navigate the programmatic changes that accompany this funding increase.
While I have highlighted a few issues related to school accountability, assessment, technology and school leadership and funding, these are just a few of the issues that will in some way have an influence on the field of education this year. Expect ongoing conversations about the Common Core, the personalization of student learning, child poverty and the role of social media, too. With so many issues receiving national as well as local attention, it can be overwhelming to consider how any of these affect us as individuals. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to become informed on a few of the issues of interest to us and join in the debate. Let’s hope that 2015 is the year we see cooperative work in unexpected ways to reach positive results for children.
Paula
The Iowa Dept. of Education has launched a web-based survey and could use your help. The Department is interested in learning about partnerships between Iowa schools and parents of school-age children who receive special education. If you are a parent with a child who receives special education services in Iowa, please take a few minutes to complete the 25-item survey. The results will be compared to national findings and used to identify areas of success and those in need of improvement. The survey will close Jan. 15, 2015.
Please share the link with parents of children who receive special education services!
Welcome to a new year and your next issue of the Each and Every Child newsletter! In this issue, meet Jason Volmer, the coordinator of special education in the Urbandale Community School District. You’ll understand what motivates Jason on a very deep level. (Jason is also a former Heartland AEA staffer and the husband of our own Stacy Volmer!)
Sign up now to get your biometric screening completed at Heartland AEA-specific sites!
A Hy-Vee dietitian will provide these screenings. Please fast for a minimum of 8 hours prior to screening. The Hy-Vee dietitian will review the results of a full lipid panel, blood glucose, BMI, body fat and blood pressure. Remember if you get your biometic screening and fill out your health assessment, you’ll receive a FitBit!
A full schedule of screening locations, dates and times can be found on the Hy-Vee website. The Johnston screenings on Jan. 14 and Jan. 21 will be in the Johnston Regional Education Center (Rooms 104, 108 and 113) and the screenings on Jan. 16 will be held in the Administration Center (Human Resources/Business Office Room, Whitson Room and Board Room). Check back if dates currently listed don’t work for you, as they could change weekly. Katie Streff or Juliette Houseman in Human Resources will contact you if there aren’t enough people signed up at your location and the date is canceled. (They are unable to see who has signed up or when.)
Once you’re in the Hy-Vee website, go to the drop down box and select “Heartland AEA,” and then select the location that you’d like to visit, then you can choose a date and time to reserve for your screening. The Lutheran Church of the Cross option is also one of our agency options for those of you working near Altoona.
And remember, you can still make your own appointment at Hy-Vee as long as there is a dietician on staff at the location you choose to visit.
If you have any questions, contact Katie Streff at kstreff@heartlandaea.org or Juliette Houseman at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org.
As you all know, we are in the midst of cold and flu season, but it’s not too late to get your flu shot in case you weren’t able to get one at this fall’s All-Staff meeting. You can still visit your doctor or pharmacy to receive a flu shot and accumulate points in our Wellness Challenge toward winning a $50 Visa card! If you have any questions about what insurance covers, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org.
Here are some other tips from the CDC to stay healthy and well this winter.
- Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
- Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
- Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
The “Healthy Express” Wellness Google Site is now up and running! The site is full of information, such as:
- A monthly calendar for 2015 that will have wellness activities you can participate in on a regular basis
- Tips on how to setup and use your Fitbit
- Information about the five elements of wellness
- Recipes
- General wellness information/tips
- Information on how to use the Wellmark/WebMD sites
We have now shared the site with all staff, which should make it accessible to you through your Google Sites list. You can find the site by clicking to your Apps Grid in Gmail (next to your name at the top) and scrolling to and clicking on the Sites App. The site is also linked on the Intranet under Human Resources.
If you have any questions, contact Katie Streff, Human Resources Assistant, at kstreff@heartlandaea.org or Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at jhouseman@heartlandaea.org.
Heartland AEA is pleased to announce the commencement of contract negotiations as outlined below. Meetings are open to all staff and the public.
Teamsters
The Teamsters Local #238 and Heartland Area Education Agency will be exchanging its opening negotiations proposals on January 14, 2015, beginning at 3:00 p.m., at the Heartland Area Education Agency Administration Center, 6445 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131, in the Board Room.
HEA
The Heartland Education Association (HEA) and Heartland Area Education Agency will be exchanging opening negotiations proposals on January 14, 2015, beginning at 4:00 p.m., at the Heartland Area Education Agency Administration Center, 6445 Corporate Drive, Johnston, IA 50131, in the Board Room.
The agenda for the Jan. 13, 2015 Board of Directors meeting is now available.
Scavo High School moved over winter break. It is now located on the 4th floor of Central Campus at 1800 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309. The phone and fax numbers did not change.
Beginning Jan. 15, 2015, two changes will occur with the Web IEP system.
1. The Extended School Year (ESY) form will be available on the IEP program when “Yes” is checked to the question “Are Extended School Year (ESY) services required?” on tab G. The form will be available via the Forms tab.
Users will be able to document up to four goal areas on the ESY form. The Incomplete Data Report (IDR) will require the form when “yes” is selected to the ESY question. An explanation will also be required when the question is answered “yes.” The form will be editable regardless of the IEP status (open, submitted, ready to review, validated and archived). This is similar to updating progress on graphs.
If ESY on tab G was marked “yes” previously, the ESY form can be added via the “Forms for Active IEP” button on the IEP overview screen.
2. Forms created on an IEP will be restorable. Currently, when a form is deleted, it is gone and cannot be retrieved. Beginning Jan. 15, 2015, users of the Web IEP will be able to contact the Web IEP Administrators (Sue Dunsmoor and Mary Keul) requesting that the deleted form be restored or permanently deleted.
If there is a form in the recycle bin, the IDR will display a message and the count number on the tab will show a number other than “0.” However, users will be able to mark the IEP “Ready to Review,” and the IEP can go through the review process and be validated.
If you have questions, please contact Misty Christensen, Regional Director/Assistant Director of Special Education at mchristensen@heartlandaea.org or ext. 11203.
The 2015 Diverse Learners Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Johnston Regional Education Center from 9 a.m.-noon. There will be a session for families from 9-10 a.m. on managing your child’s challenging behavior, then the table session portion of the resource fair will begin at 10 a.m. The resource fair is free and registration is not required. Please share this information with families and teachers. You are also welcome to attend to learn about the variety of community resources that are available.
Additionally, we are looking for a fun activity for attendees, especially the children. Do you do face painting or have a fun talent you would like to share at the resource fair? It wouldn’t have to be for the entire time, maybe from 10:30-11:30 a.m. or whatever works in your schedule. If you are interested, contact Sue Becker, Parent Coordinator, at susan_becker@heartlandaea.org.
