June Community College Leader Bulletin

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Community College Leader Bulletin

Volume 7, Issue 10                                                                       June 2018                                                 www.educateiowa.gov


Inside this issue

Jeremy Varner

Administrator, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation
515-281-8260
jeremy.varner@iowa.gov

Barbara Burrows
Chief, Bureau of Community Colleges
515-281-0319
barbara.burrows@iowa.gov

Pradeep Kotamraju

Chief, Bureau of Career and Technical  Education
515-281-4716
pradeep.kotamraju@iowa.gov

Heather Doe

Communications Consultant, Bureau of Community Colleges
515-281-7967
heather.doe2@iowa.gov

Applications to provide Iowa High School Equivalency Diploma Alternative Pathways now available

grad

The application process for eligible institutions wishing to provide one or more high school equivalency diploma (HSED) alternative pathways is now available.

Previously, the only way for students to earn a HSED was by passing the HiSET®, the state-approved high school equivalency test. This changed when the Iowa State Board of Education (Board) adopted an administrative rule change earlier this year establishing alternative pathways for Iowans to earn a HSED.

To provide students with alternative pathways, eligible institutions may submit applications, along with all required signatures, to the Iowa Department of Education (Department) for approval and authorization for any or all of the following HSED options:

  1. HSED Based on Department-Approved Test
  2. HSED Based on Attainment of High School Credit
  3. HSED Based on Postsecondary Degree
  4. HSED Based on Foreign Postsecondary Degreee

Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis and applicants will be notified of the Department's decision regarding approval within 10 business days. Approved institutions may begin offering options 2, 3, and/or 4 as early as July 1, 2018.

For implementation guidance concerning these four options, programs are strongly encouraged to review the Chapter 32 Implementation Guide. More information regarding these four options can be found on the Department's HSED Alternative Pathways webpage.

Contact Jayne Smith, Education Program Consultant, jayne.smith@iowa.gov, or 515-725-0046, with comments or questions.

Tool connects student skills, interests to careers in advanced manufacturing

manufacturing

The Iowa Department of Education, in partnership with Elevate Advanced Manufacturing and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, has developed classroom resources to highlight and promote the wide range of career opportunities in Iowa’s advanced manufacturing industry.

The Opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing tool gives students, parents, and educators a better understanding of what jobs in the advanced manufacturing industry look like. Matching education and skills with different high-demand jobs that span a wide-range of occupations, the tool shows how career opportunities exist for every type of person, no matter interest or skill.

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Work-based learning critical to the country's future

Joe

Is work-based learning critical to the country's future? In a word, yes.

That’s according to Joseph Fuller, a Harvard business professor and business consultant. Fuller, who was in Des Moines speaking at the Future Ready Learning Conference this month, said it is well past time to get schools and business on the same page.

“At graduation, we celebrate the captain of the football team or the valedictorian, but we don’t have an award for outstanding representative of a work-based learning program.

“I think a serious commitment to work-based learning is, arguably, the single most important initiative a state can take.”

The Future Ready Learning Conference was aimed at connecting careers and civic life to instruction of the Iowa Academic Standards. In addition to Fuller, participants heard from other national experts, including Gary Beach from the Wall St. Journal who moderated a panel of business and community leaders about future skills and market needs.

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Registration under way for the Iowa Adult Education and Literacy Conference

Adult ed logo

There is still time to register for the 2018 Iowa Adult Education and Literacy Conference to be held July 16-18 at the FFA Enrichment Center on the DMACC campus in Ankeny.

The conference, called Educate and Elevate, is aimed at administrators and educators who help adults get the basic skills they need, including reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving to be productive workers, family members, and citizens. Professionals in adult and family literacy and those who address workforce initiatives also are encouraged to attend.

Keynote speaker, Juan Garcia, program director for client relations with ACT Inc., is a former English language learner who graduated from Des Moines Area Community College’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Garcia will share his own unique path as he promotes educational opportunities to ensure all students have the support they need to succeed.

Online registration, a schedule and summary of conference sessions, as well as site and hotel information, is available on the Department's website.

Contact Jayne Smith, Education Program Consultant, jayne.smith@iowa.gov, or 515-725-0046, with comments or questions.