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
In partnership with local United Ways and school districts across the state, the Iowa Reading Corps AmeriCorps program launched in the fall of 2013.
Research shows that after third grade, students start reading to learn rather than learning to read. United Way chapters in Iowa are working together to partner with schools and maximize opportunities for communities to access evidence-based reading initiatives that will support the tremendous work of educators in our state.
With an overarching goal of ensuring that more Iowa students are on track to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade, Iowa Reading Corps is replicating the successful, evidence-based model first launched in Minnesota in 2003.
Iowa Reading Corps AmeriCorps members are currently serving in the following Heartland AEA districts in their K-3 elementary schools: Ames, Ballard, Carroll, Collins-Maxwell, Colo-NESCO, Knoxville, Johnston, Nevada, Madrid, Pella, Roland-Story and Twin Cedars.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of this purposeful practice support has shown these students make anywhere from 1.5 or twice the expected growth rate on progress monitoring measures. More students are reaching the expected grade level benchmark and there are reductions in students who need more intensive intervention or special education services.
What a great program supported by United Way! If you haven’t yet filled out a pledge form for this year’s campaign, contact Samantha Perry or Courtney Croatt to get yours today.
Have you followed Heartland AEA and
the AEA system on social media yet? If yes, great—now tell a friend! If
not, what are you waiting for? Email the Communications Department any time you want to promote a program or service via social media!
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Saturday, Oct. 10 is Heartland AEA night at the Iowa Wild game. Enjoy the Wild’s opening night of hockey action for only $18 a ticket. If interested, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager, by this Friday, Sept. 25.
Indicate whether this is a new FBA/BIP, a revision of an existing FBA/BIP or a review of an existing FBA/BIP without any changes being made. A review without change indicates that the information contained in the FBA is accurate, sufficiently current and valid as a basis for planning and decision-making.
When to Choose New, Review Without Change or Revision:
• Select “New” when you are completing an FBA/BIP for the first time, if the behavior(s) of concern have changed significantly (e.g., new behavior(s) of concern) or if significant changes in the type of strategy are made to the BIP. Note: When a new FBA or BIP is created to replace a previous version, both are archived each time a new archive is created. When reviewing archived IEPs, it is important to look carefully at the date listed on the FBAs and BIPs to determine which is most recent.
• Select “Review without change” when the team reviews the document and does not make changes.
• Select “Revision” when making any changes to the document.
• Access the document through the “Forms for Active IEP” on the IEP overview screen.
When Completing a Review Without Change:
Leave the assessment date at the top unchanged. This will reflect when the assessment information was collected. Also, leave the names of the people involved in creating the document the same.
Next, add your name (the reviewer) to the list of individuals completing the document. Identify your name as the reviewer and add a date.
Example: Jane Smith, School Psych, reviewed 5/23/12 (because these fields only allow for a specific number of characters, abbreviations or multiple text boxes may need to be used.)
When Completing a Revision:
Change the assessment date at the top to reflect new information has been collected.
Next, add your name to the list of individuals completing the document. Remove any previous names listed who are not currently involved in revising the document. Remove information that no longer applies throughout the document. If there are sections or fields in the document to be deleted, contact Sue Dunsmoor or Mary Keul and ask them to delete that information for you.
Once an FBA or BIP is ‘Finalized,’ it can be revised at any time by checking the ‘Revision’ box. This opens the document up for editing. It does not change the state of ‘Finalized,’ as that is a one-time process.
IMPORTANT: Will I lose previous versions if I chose Revision?
The ‘history’ for both forms is kept in the archives ONLY WHEN the second behavior box on page B “Yes, behavior is a concern and will be addressed in the attached Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan” is checked. Every time an IEP is archived, the current state of the FBA and BIP are included. Therefore when completing an amendment IEP to revise the FBA or BIP, the ‘history’ for each form would be archived as long as the second behavior box is checked. Additionally, if a revision occurs outside of an IEP review or amendment (ex.: only revising FBA/BIP forms without an amendment) or if a revision occurs and the second box on page B is not checked, the version will not be archived.
When Discontinuing a BIP:
If the team has determined there is no longer a need for a formal BIP, the team will select the appropriate box on page B of the IEP either indicating “Yes,” behavior is a concern and will be addressed in this IEP or “No,” behavior is not a concern. This will then also be reflected in the PWN indicating there is no longer a need for a BIP and the current BIP (date) will no longer be included as part of the current IEP.
Are You Making Good Choices When It Comes Your Computer Bag?
The Agency provides bags to help protect our computer equipment and most people use them regularly and appropriately. Below are some “best practices” worth sharing related to the use of computer bags:
- Don’t put any liquids (even an empty pop can) in your computer bag. We have had several computers in bags ruined in this manner. Remember -- liquids and computers are not friends!
- Don’t overstuff your bag. You can certainly store a limited amount of papers and other items in your bag, but overloading it will put stress on the frame of your computer, causing damage such as a bent case or a broken screen.
- Don’t keep a list of your passwords in your computer bag. Find a much more secure spot!
- Don’t store your portable hard drive/Time Machine drive in the same bag as your computer. You can lose both your original files and your backups if the bag is lost or stolen. (Remember that we have unlimited storage in Google, so consider uploading important documents into Google as an additional backup.)
- Switch your wireless mouse off when not in use. An enabled wireless mouse stashed in the bottom of a bag may unpredictably affect your computer. Also, switching off the wireless mouse when not in use will extend its battery life.
