AEA Legislative Update

Click here to read the first update of the 2014 Iowa legislative session from the AEA system’s lobbyists, Matt Eide, John Pederson and Tom Lane. We plan to bring you these updates weekly throughout the legislative session.

The Facts About Education Funding – A Team Approach

The Joint Education Allowable Growth Group (IASB, UEN, AEAs, SAI, ISEA) developed an action plan to address Iowa’s declining education funding and the need for consistent growth in the annual spending rate (as well as the need to set the rate consistent with law). A weekly “Fact About Education Funding” will be sent to all legislators, Gov. Branstad and Dept. of Education Director Buck highlighting a pertinent fact about education spending in Iowa. Each week this link will be shared in The Connection. Here are the first few that have been generated. 

Iowa Per Pupil Funding Compared to U.S. 

Student Need is Increasing While Funding Lags: The Poverty Example

Heartland AEA Area Legislator Contact Sheet

Click here for a list of the contact information for all Iowa House and Senate members in Heartland AEA’s area. The sheet has been updated to reflect the recent changes in Senate District 13 and House District 25. Legislators are also listed by district in the back pages.

Updated Special Education Procedures Manual & Release Notes Available

The new Special Education Procedures Manual and Special Education Procedures Manual Release Notes, both dated January 15, 2014, are now posted on the Iowa IDEA website at www.iowaideainfo.org. These documents are currently posted on the front page of the IDEA website in addition to their permanent location under the IEP downdrop menu > Statewide Special Education Procedures > Manual. 

If you have any questions, contact Misty Christensen, Regional Director/Assistant Director of Special Education, at mchristensen@heartlandaea.org.

Update on Parent Summary of the Educational Evaluation

Beginning January 15, 2014, when an Educational Evaluation Report (EER) is printed in the web system, a Parent Summary of the EER is also produced. Please note the Parent Summary draws from text that practitioners enter in the EER. There are no extra items and no additional input is required on any practitioner’s behalf to produce the summary. 

Within the EER in the Web IEP program, a red “H” denotes the items from which text is drawn for the Parent Summary document. Additionally, page 391 of the AEA Special Education Procedures Manual (January 15, 2014) outlines information about the Parent Summary. Staff may review pages 392-393 of the AEA Special Education Procedures Manual to see a complete example of a Parent Summary. 

Within the AEA Special Education Procedures Manual and accompanying release notes (both dated January 15, 2014), direction is given to follow your AEA’s guidance for use of this summary. At Heartland AEA, practitioners will provide the Parent Summary in conjunction with the full Educational Evaluation Report. Practitioners are not to provide the Parent Summary without the full EER. 

If for any reason an EER is modified after it has been supplied to parents, please remember to reprint the EER and Parent Summary and provide the revised copies to parents.

Reminder: Medicaid Q & A Session Jan. 22

Please join us January 22, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Conference Room 13A at the Johnston Regional Education Center for a presentation by our MJCare representatives regarding updates to the online billing system. Following a short presentation, the MJCare reps will be available to answer questions from staff regarding billing and the new system. Join via Adobe Connect at http://iowa.adobeconnect.com/medicade_training/. The session will be taped and will be made available for viewing at a later date as well.

IFAS System Down the Evening of Jan. 24 Until Noon on Jan. 27

The IFAS system will not be available this weekend due the application of a system upgrade. The system will be taken offline at 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 24 and will not be available until noon Monday, January 27. This includes all functions available via the IFAS Dashboard along with the Applicant Online system available on the agency website. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Rod Howell, Information Systems Manager, at rhowell@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14599.

Four More Google Basics Trainings Added in January

Four more Google “Basic” trainings will be held on Jan. 24 & 28 at the Johnston REC. The training will cover the basics for using Google Mail, Calendar and Contacts. Topics covered will include managing your email, such as filing, deleting, composing and covering Gmail settings. Calendar topics include, sharing your calendar, creating an event, inviting participants to an event, adding a coworker’s calendar and covering Calendar settings. Contacts will include managing contacts, creating distribution lists, sharing a distribution list and importing a distribution list. You can sign up for either a morning or afternoon session, and please bring a laptop and charger to the training. 

January 24 
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
IN058992111401 

January 24 
1:00-4:00 p.m. 
IN058992111402 

January 28 
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
IN058992111403 

January 28 
1:00-4:00 p.m. 
IN058992111404