Reminder: 2020-21 Teacher Quality Course & Study Group Registration Info is Here!

Registration for Teacher Quality (TQ) courses and study groups begins Oct. 9 and ends Nov 1, 2020. TQ courses and study groups are offered as an optional format for professional learning for our Certified staff. They meet for 15 hours off-contract time, and participants are eligible for a stipend upon completion of the course. All Certified staff members are eligible to register for these opportunities. TQ opportunities are offered Nov. 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021.  

Heartland AEA has a strong commitment to time spent in service to our partners. TQ courses will be offered at times when service to children, educators and families is least impacted. TQ courses and study groups will be offered between Nov. 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, outside of contract hours Monday through Friday or on weekends, with only a few exceptions. 

TQ Timeline for 2020-21 

Study Groups 

Online and Remote TQ Courses

Repository of Course and Study Groups Here is the list of courses and study groups that were offered in 2019-20. If you want to request the syllabus for one of those courses or study groups so you can offer it, contact Dawn Peitzman. You can also create a new course or study group. Here is the running list of TQ courses and study groups approved for 2020-21. This list will be updated as courses and study groups are approved.  

Creating Study Groups 

Study groups must have at least four participants, and one participant must agree to be the study group facilitator and will not receive license renewal credit for the study group. The content must align with Heartland AEA’s four goals and/or support a specific job-alike function.   

Anyone who wants to participate in a study group on a book that was used last year or wants to create a study group for a new book still needs to fill out this form to indicate their interest in forming a study group between Sept. 7 and Nov.1, 2020. The Professional Learning Dept. will work with interested participants in writing new proposals and support them in entering the proposal in the AEA Professional Learning Registration System. Study groups can begin after Nov. 1 or Dec 1, 2020, depending on which window (see above) you submitted your study group proposal under. This allows time for books to be ordered and distributed.  

TQ Participant Stipends  

Those who complete a TQ course or study group and meet eligibility requirements will be provided a stipend. Eligible participants will receive $700 for completing a course/study group, and facilitators will receive a $750 stipend for facilitating a course/study group.  

License Renewal Credit to Move on the Salary Schedule 

Heartland AEA has changed its policy on paying for license renewal credit for TQ courses and study groups. If you want to use them to move on the salary schedule, the Agency will cover the license renewal fee for one TQ opportunity for which you are receiving a stipend even if you use it to move on the salary schedule. If you take additional TQ opportunities and want to use the additional credits to move on the salary scale, you will need to pay the license renewal fee. In order to have the license renewal fee covered, you will select “Purchase Order - HL” on the Payment Selection page. In the Purchase Order Number field, enter HEART (all capitals) and complete the required fields on the form. No other action will be needed on your part.  

FAQ Document 

Here is a frequently asked questions document that will help answer questions about Teacher Quality.  

Questions 

If you have any further questions about TQ payment or guidelines, contact Kevin Fangman, Chief Academic Officer. 
If you have any further questions about courses or study groups, contact Brandie Gean, Licensure & Conference Center Manager.