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

Heartland AEA COVID-19 Dashboard for the Week Ending Dec. 4, 2020

We will provide you with COVID-19 case and quarantine data each Monday in The Connection. The numbers will fluctuate on a weekly basis, and our report will show what is current as of the previous Friday. If you have any questions, contact Nia Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources. Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we work together to support children, students, families, educators and each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Upcoming December Payroll Timelines Due to Holiday Schedule

Due to the upcoming agency holiday schedule, staff members paid from a timesheet must have their Dec. 1-15 timesheets completed, approved by their supervisor and submitted to the Payroll Department by the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 18 in order to ensure they receive pay at the end-of-month. The December end of month payday will be Dec. 30. 

If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.

Federally-funded Staff: A-87 Certification Notification Coming Dec. 9

Semi-annually, Heartland AEA must comply with the Federal Grant rules identified in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87, pertaining to documentation needed for federal expenditures. For employees who are funded 100% with federal funding, there are Circular A-87 audit requirements we need to meet in order to document appropriate expenditures.    


If you are in the fully-funded group, on Dec. 9, 2020, you will receive an email from heartlandworkflow with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required with a link to the certification page. The process is very simple and the same as in previous years.  



If you are new to this process or need a refresher, you can view this presentation, which explains the background for Circular A-87 and the steps Heartland AEA is taking to meet the A-87 requirements. (Keep in mind the video was created in March 2011. Although some of the dates and timelines in the video are old, the process and the purpose of the A-87 certification are still the same.) The video will explain that employees who are fully-funded from one grant will need to certify every six months that they are performing duties allowed under the federal grant.  



If you have any questions, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us comply with this reporting requirement.

State Board of Education Adopts Revisions to Rules on Seclusion and Restraint (Chapter 103)

The State Board of Education recently adopted revisions to Iowa administrative rules on seclusion and restraint (Chapter 103). The revised rules will go into effect on Jan. 20, 2021. 

In the December 2020 SAI Report, Matt Carver, School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) Legal Services Director, addresses the seclusion and restraint rules change on pages 4-5 (the revised Chapter 103 rules are linked in the first line of his article).

Dec. 2020 School Leader Update Available

The Dec. 2020 School Leader Update from the Iowa Department of Education is available. 

In this issue: 

• Dr. Ann Lebo: Reaching the halfway point 
• More equity webinars announced; get them on your calendar 
• There's still time to register for the Dec. 5 Emerging Educators Academy 
• myIGDIs Early Literacy Assessment 
• Preschool updates 
• Important dates for Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) 
• Student culinary competition • Computer Science legislation: House File 2629 
• Clearinghouse for Work-based Learning mini-grant opportunities

Look No Further for Guidance About Copyright in the Classroom!

Iowa’s AEAs have created an extensive, easy-to-use resource to help students and teachers understand copyright laws and the associated rights and responsibilities as users of copyrighted information.   

Two versions of Copyright BriefNotes are available to support students and teachers in virtual and physical classrooms: Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Teachers. Both are available as a flipbook, PDF and printed version. Teachers are welcome to link the flipbooks and PDFs to their school websites or LMSs.  

• Copyright BriefNotes for Students has been updated for 2021. 
• Copyright BriefNotes for Students and Teachers includes the same content from the student version plus information that helps address copyright questions related to online and virtual learning environments, digital content, copyright permissions and more. 

Visit the Copyright Information page of the Heartland AEA website to learn more.

Dec. 2020 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Available

The agenda for the Dec. 8, 2020, Heartland AEA Board of Directors meeting is available.