This one-time competitive grant is offered to public school districts in Iowa and is part of requirements set in place by Iowa Code 256.25. The grant supports public school districts to establish therapeutic classrooms for learners whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with their ability to be successful in their current educational environment. Districts applying for the grant may seek funds to establish new classrooms and/or install critical components into current classroom/programs that they are developing into therapeutic classrooms. 

Listen to a webinar providing details about the grant and learn more on the Therapeutic Classroom Grant Webpage

Timeline:
March 12:  Grant applicant questions due

March 19:  FAQ released for grant application questions

April 30:     Applications due

May 31:     Awards announced

No later than Aug. 1:  Funds distributed 

The state of Iowa is a part of the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission. The compact addresses key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation. 

In Iowa there are over 1,000 students who are currently covered by this compact, although this number fluctuates when servicemembers are put on or taken off of active duty orders. Each state has a board and an appointed commissioner to help implement the compact. For more information  view details of Iowa's board with commissioner contact information and access a brief video on what the compact does.

For questions or concerns about supporting military students in having successful transitions, contact Leah Johnson at newuanda@hotmail.com or 515-770-4474 or Dennis Harden at dennis.harden@iowa.gov or 515-281-4716.

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Coming up in April, we celebrate military kids. Across the nation, states and school districts will celebrate the important role military children play while their service member parents serve our country through special events and wearing the color purple. Schools are invited to participate in their own way. For more information, view this list of great ideas for schools to celebrate Purple Up Day.  

Iowa's Child and Youth Program has selected April 15 as Purple Up Day. Wear purple on April 15 and take a group photo to share with #iapurpleup.

For questions, contact Dennis Harden at dennis.harden@iowa.gov,

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School Nutrition Programs have a lot of their plates. School year 2020-21 continues to be challenging with adapting school meal service to be available for all learners, meeting United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations under USDA waivers, and now new and updated Food Code guidelines.

In Iowa, the Department of Inspection and Appeals (DIA) is the state agency authority who issues school food licenses to operate. The DIA conducts school food safety inspections and ensures proper compliance of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code regulations. Beginning February 2021, the food code has been updated from Food Code 2013 to FDA Food Code 2017.

Learn how these changes will impact school nutrition programs during the News to Know webinar on March 22 from 2-3 p.m. with Julie Kraling from the Iowa DIA and Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services staff. All are welcome to participate. Register now for the News to Know webinar.

For questions, contact Jean Easley at jean.easley@iowa.gov or 515-360-5149.

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With free school meals, there has never been a better opportunity to showcase school breakfast and remind students and families how breakfast helps children succeed. This school year, many Iowa schools have expanded their breakfast programs by implementing breakfast in the classroom and grab n’ go options. By making school breakfast the easy choice, schools have seen dramatic increases in participation.

School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) 2021 theme for this week is “Score Big with School Breakfast,” a fun way to show students, families, and stakeholders all the ways that the school breakfast program is a winner. SNA has created promotional resources and ideas to help celebrate.

For questions, contact Carrie Scheidel at carrie.scheidel@iowa.gov or 515-281-4758.

Pictured: All Saints School in Cedar Rapids offers Breakfast Buckets where students select breakfast items to fill their bucket and take to the classroom to consume. The school has similar levels of participation in breakfast and lunch programs.

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It’s not too late to begin early literacy screening for preschool. Spring myIGDIs information from preschool can be helpful for kindergarten teachers to plan instruction after a year that has been challenging in a variety of ways.

To reserve myIGDIs spring screening seats for preschool students if you did not screen in the fall or winter, complete this survey. Contact Heather Miller at Heather.miller@renaissance.com to add seats in myIGDIs if your district/program administered myIGDIs in the fall and/or winter. The spring window began Feb.15 and ends May 14. Contact myIGDIs support at  Myigdis-support@renaissance.com or 877-535-9299 for all other inquiries including status of setup information, login information, etc.

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Registration is now open for the March session of the Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy. These professional development courses are offered for license renewal, graduate credit, or for no credit (free).

The Academy was developed by Iowa College Aid in partnership with AEA Learning Online, AEA PREP, and the Iowa Department of Education.

Participants may earn a College Access Professional Certificate by completing 101-301, a College Access Specialist Certificate (101-501), and an Equity digital badge by completing 601.

See the full 2020-21 course schedule or contact Megan Sibbel at megan.sibbel@iowa.gov.

Courses beginning on March 15:

101: FOUNDATIONS OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN IOWA Register

201: CREATING IOWA’S COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CULTURE Register

401: PLANNING AND THE DISTRICT’S ROLE IN CREATING A STUDENT- CENTERED CAREER AND ACADEMIC PLAN Register

601: ADVANCED EQUITY ISSUES IN PLANNING, ACCESSING AND FINANCING POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES Register

[NEW!] 701: COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR K-5 SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND EDUCATORS Register

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