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

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

Thanksgiving Holiday Office Hours & Van Delivery Schedule

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, all Heartland AEA offices will be closed Nov. 24 and 25. Our van delivery schedule will be as follows:

• Regular delivery Nov. 21-22
• No delivery Nov. 23-25
  

Regular delivery resumes Nov. 28. Additionally, there will be no Administrator Connection on Nov. 25.

Retirement Contribution Limits for 2017 Announced

The IRS has announced that the 403(b) contribution limits for 2017 will be the same as 2016:
    •    The regular elective deferral limit is $18,000 per calendar year.
    •    The catch-up contribution limit for employees age 50 and over is $6,000 per calendar year.

 
And as an education organization, if you have 15 or more years of full-time employment at Heartland AEA, you may be eligible for an additional catch-up contribution of up to $3,000 per calendar year (lifetime maximum of $15,000). A calculation is required to determine the actual amount, if any, available under this special catch-up provision. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

2017 Social Security Wage Base Announced

The Social Security Administration has announced the 2017 Social Security wage base will be $127,200. The tax rate remains the same at 6.2%. As in prior years, there is no limit to wages subject to the Medicare tax. The tax rate of 1.45% also remains unchanged. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

State Board of Education Adopts Minimal Revisions to Literacy Standards

Last week members of the State Board of Education adopted minimal revisions to Iowa’s academic standards for literacy as recommended by a state review team.

The board’s unanimous vote was based on the Literacy Standards Review Team’s recommendations, which aim to provide clarity and eliminate redundancy within the current standards. For example, the team recommended removing specific text titles and authors throughout the standards based on public feedback that some educators saw them as required reading rather than examples. The team also recommended additional resources for teachers and professional learning opportunities to strengthen instruction.

“These are not wholesale revisions, but they are helpful adjustments based on a lot of feedback,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise. “We thank the Literacy Standards Review Team for its hard work.”
 
The Literacy Standards Review Team represents the second phase of an ongoing state process for reviewing Iowa’s academic standards, which also cover science, social studies, mathematics and 21st century skills, such as financial literacy.
 
The Literacy Standards Review Team sought public feedback through an online survey as well as public forums, which drew more than 5,000 responses. A majority of comments were in favor of Iowa’s current literacy standards.

Additionally, two focus groups of teachers who met independently of the review team to discuss the standards said they had done extensive work to implement the literacy standards and would not support significant changes. But they also indicated they needed more time and collaboration with other educators to improve implementation of the standards.
 
For more information about Iowa’s state standards, visit the Iowa Core website. 

State Board of Education Begins Process of Adopting New Science Assessment

Last week members of the State Board of Education voted to start the formal process of adopting a new state science assessment as recommended by an Iowa task force.

Board members reviewed proposed administrative rules that would put in place a new science assessment and then voted to start the rule-making process required for adoption. The process, which includes public hearings and reviews by a legislative committee, takes at least 108 days.

Board members were acting on a recommendation from the Assessment Task Force, which was established as part of education reform legislation that Iowa lawmakers passed in 2013. Following the adoption of new state science standards in 2015, the task force studied options for a new science assessment and recommended ACT Aspire earlier this year.

The task force recommended ACT Aspire as a short-term solution, since an assessment that fully reflects Iowa’s new science standards is not yet available. Specifically, the task force recommended ACT Aspire be administered to students in grades 5, 8 and 10 starting in the 2017-18 school year and ending in the 2019-20 school year. Task force members intend to continue meeting to review long-term options for a state science assessment.

“While new, aligned assessments are being developed, it is critical that science continues to be assessed at the state level,” the task force concluded in its report. “Iowa students, families, educators and policy-makers need information about the effectiveness of science instruction and student needs. Further, the federal government requires that science achievement be reported on an annual basis; Iowa would risk losing federal education funding if science assessments were not administered in the interim.” 

Iowa students must take state tests in math, reading and science to meet state and federal education laws. Students currently take the Iowa Assessments in the following subject areas and grades (minimum requirements):
-       English language arts: Grades 3-8, 10 and 11
-       Math: Grades 3-8, 10 and 11
-       Science: Grades 5, 8 and 11

The state is on track to transition to the Smarter Balanced Assessments for math and reading, as recommended by the Assessment Task Force in 2014 and adopted by the State Board of Education in 2015. Iowa students in grades three through eleven will take the Smarter Balanced Assessments for the first time during the 2017-18 school year.

The proposed rules on a new science assessment will be published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin, the state’s official notice of all proposed and adopted changes to the rules in the Iowa Administrative Code. The Iowa Department of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposed rules on Jan. 6 and will accept written comments (see page 1 of the proposed rules).

Wellness Update: Here’s Your Opportunity to “Stressless!” Register Today!

You’ve got bills to pay, deadlines to meet – who wouldn’t feel stressed? Stress is a normal part of life, but if it’s not handled in a healthy way, it can negatively impact your physical, emotional and mental wellness. To help combat stress in your life, you’re invited to participate in the Stressless Challenge and for 28 days, challenge yourself to find 5 minutes each day to complete a relaxing activity. Reducing even just a little bit of stress can help you feel healthier and happier!

Registration begins: Nov. 21, 2016
Challenge runs from: Dec. 5, 2016 through Jan. 1, 2017
Registration: Employees who have created and/or logged in to their Wellmark account in the past 60 days should receive more information from Wellmark via email about the challenge and how to register.
 
Reminder on how to login to Wellmark.com: Review these instructions on how to login.

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman or Katie Streff, Wellness Leads.

Wellness Update: Results From “Hit Your Stride” Challenge

Final results from the Hit Your Stride Challenge are below. Congratulations to everyone who participated!

•    Total number of participants: 321
•    Total number of teams: 57
•    Total number of steps: 113,963,348
•    Total number of miles traveled: 57,000

Reminder: Eligible Staff Must Enroll In or Waive Dependent Care Flex Plan By Nov. 30

Reminder: Our online enrollment for the 2017 dependent care flex benefit plan is open until Nov. 30! All eligible employees will need to either enroll during this period or waive participation through the enrollment process. 

Remember:

• Those eligible are full-time staff and 96-day or over part-time staff (96 day or over can only enroll via paper enrollment w/Juliette). 

• Even if you choose not to participate in the plan, if you are a full-time employee, you must waive it! 

• Even if you are opting for the same deduction as last year, you must type over the amount in the box and then save it in order to complete your enrollment correctly. 

• Dependent care enrollment for 2017 must be completed online via the Employee Dashboard.
  

Instructions for enrolling or waiving: 


• Go to the Employee Dashboard. 

• Click on the Employee Online tab. 

• Click on the Enrollment link on the left hand side of the page. 

• Enter the amount to enroll or enter “0” to waive. 

• Save. 


  

If you have any questions, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, at ext. 14315.

Retirement Questions About IPERS or Social Security? Check Out Video Presentations

The recent retirement informational sessions with representatives from IPERS and the Social Security Administration were recorded and are available for viewing. They are archived on the Intranet > Benefits > Retirement.

• IPERS: Planning on taking a bona fide retirement (drawing your IPERS benefit)? Watch this video to gain insight and get the information you’ll need to help you make your decision!
• Social Security: Have questions about Social Security and how it will effect your retirement? Watch this video for helpful information, whether you are planning to retire or just considering it!

LifeWorks EAP Spotlight: Check Out the Health Library

Check out the Health Library on the LifeWorks EAP website! The Health Library includes valuable information about Wellness and Prevention, Conditions and Diseases, Procedures and Tests, Natural & Alternative Treatments and MUCH more!

Website: heartlandaea.lifeworks.com

Username: heartlandaea
Password: lifeworks

Reminder: Mentors: Remember to Submit Your Mentor Log No Later Than Dec. 1

As a reminder, mentors must submit mentor logs to Katie Streff, Human Resources Coordinator, no later than Dec. 1. The logs can be shared through Google Drive or emailed directly. If you have any questions, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Human Resources Manager.

AEA System Implements New Statewide Professional Development Fee Structure

AEA System Collaboration

Iowa’s nine AEAs and AEA PD Online are collaborating to move our individual professional development/licensure programs to a statewide system, the benefits of which include:

·       Access to professional development opportunities through a statewide course catalog in a shared registration system.

·       Greater equity and consistency to programming while reinforcing the value of learning and credit.

·       Generating resources to help support quality professional development/licensure programming.

PD/Licensure Participant Fees

As part of the program review and design, each AEA will be adjusting to the same participant fee structure. Changes for Heartland AEA participants will be effective Jan. 1, 2017. As part of this collaboration, Heartland AEA will be adjusting fees to align with the statewide system. Heartland AEA fees have not changed since 2007.

·       The standard registration fee for licence renewal credit will increase from the current $60 to $85 per credit hour.

·       Site-based courses and courses offered by Heartland AEA staff with no additional instructor costs will increase from the current $25 flat fee to $35 per credit hour.

Exceptions to this will be our certification programs:

·       Paraeducator Generalist Certification courses will be $60 per credit hour.

·       Substitute Authorization courses will be $100.

AEA Professional Development/Licensure Program
Learning activity with NO additional instructor cost to AEA: ·       Participant Only (no credit): no fee ·       Licensure Credit: $35/credit hour ·       Resources/Conference/Materials/ Speaker/Food/Facility fees: locally determined	Learning activity WITH additional instructor fee for AEA: ·       $85/credit hour: participant choice to earn licensure credit or not ·       Resources/Conference/Materials/ Speaker/Food/Facility fees: locally determined ·       Graduate credit is additional cost

Note: All participants, including those registering as "Participant Only," should plan to complete all of the work required (attendance, participation and assignments) to receive the full benefit of the learning opportunity.

PD/Licensure Instructor Pay

Heartland AEA, as well as the statewide AEA system, will also be increasing instructor compensation. Currently, instructors receive a flat fee of $725 per credit and will increase to the following scale:

Program Elements

AEA Licensure Programs

Instructor Pay

·       $750 per credit with a minimum of 10 paying students. ·       Agencies may choose to run courses with fewer than 10 in extenuating circumstances with administrative approval. ·       Instructor pay would be adjusted for additional students: o   $750 for up to 15 students o   $900 for 16 - 20 students o   $1,050 for 21 - 25 students o   $1,200 for 26 - 30 students ·       At 30 students, program administrators will evaluate the course to determine if there should be a second instructor or run two courses. ·       Co-instructors will share the pay.

If you have any questions, contact Brandie Gean, Licensure/Conference Center Manager at ext. 14459.

Agency iPad Users: We Need Your Feedback About How You Use Your iPad

If you do not have an agency-provided iPad, please disregard the following information.

As part of the Internal Technology Department’s ongoing efforts to manage the Agency’s iPad inventory and program, the Department would appreciate input based on your experience with an agency-provided iPad. If you have an agency iPad, please complete this survey by Nov. 28, 2016.