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As we kick off a new year, I'd like to share some exciting state and federal work-based learning updates and opportunities.
Here in Iowa, Governor Reynolds discussed plans for expanding quality WBL in our high schools during the Condition of the State Address, an improved Iowa Department of Education site has been launched and a new $1.7MM grant has been released to help support our secondary partners in providing students with valuable industry recognized credentials.
Things are really heating up at the national level as well, as we see signaling for new or expanded technical and financial support opportunities for quality WBL programs and experiences. Of special note are some proposed changes to the National Apprenticeship System, including the addition of new Registered CTE Apprenticeship programs.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, ideas or other feedback for how we can better serve you and your amazing work. Take care, stay warm and Happy New Year everyone.
Sincerely,
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The Iowa Department of Education is rolling out a new website to be more streamlined, efficient and easier to navigate. Although it seems like a minor changed to move from "www.EducateIowa.gov" to "Educate.Iowa.gov", this change carries with it some big improvements and corresponds with the continued alignment of state government agencies and resources to better serve Iowans.
New WBL site link = https://educate.iowa.gov/higher-ed/cte/iowa-quality/work-based-learning
Special note: Be sure to change any of your bookmarks, references or links on your sites, communications, plans, templates or other areas and resources. The old links will cease working very soon, if they haven't already. Please take a minute to run through and check your links to ensure there are no issues.
The Iowa Department of Education has opened up $1.7 million in competitive grants to Iowa school districts to align secondary career and technical education programs with industry-recognized credentials. The new Credentials to Careers grant will support high school students earning credentials with labor market value.
Allowable costs for this opportunity may include:
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- instructional equipment
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- wired and wireless internet connections
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- non-consumable instructional supplies
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- installation costs
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- computer equipment and software
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- student assessment fees
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- curriculum enhancements
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- student-required materials
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- instructor training related to new equipment purchases
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- instructor training expenses required to offer the desired credential(s)
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Applications will be accepted on IowaGrants.gov through Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. A webinar is being offered on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 3:00 PM. Click on the link below to register to attend. A recording will also be sent out to all registrants following the webinar.
As I had mentioned in the December newsletter, one of my new year's resolutions is to begin a new section of this newsletter dedicated to allowing you to ROAR!
This is your opportunity to Recognize the great work of new or existing work-based learning programs or initiatives; Offer exciting news, updates or plans; Acknowledge others with notes of appreciation or kudos; and brag a little about Rewards or awards earned for Iowa's amazing work-based learning programs, coordinators, educators, counselors, employers and other partners or support staff.
Below are a few great examples of submissions received of Iowans doing amazing work at both state and national levels! Please consider submitting your ROARs anonymously through the basic Google Form at the link below. Submissions may also be sent directly to me at joe.collins@iowa.gov.
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- On 12/07/23, Unity Point Health, Kirkwood CC, Grant Wood AEA and 8 school districts celebrated a signing day for Patient Care Techs in a registered apprenticeship Program. (link)
- Gena Gesing, Manager of CTE and Work-Based Learning Initiatives at Northeast Iowa Community College (Calmar, IA) won the 2023 ACTE Region III Counseling and Career Development Professional award. (link)
- Ashlee Spannagel, Dean of Career and Technical Education & Workforce Development at Southeastern Community College (Burlington, IA) won the 2023 ACTE Region III Postsecondary Educator of the Year award and the national 2024 ACTE Postsecondary Educator of the Year award. (link)
- Laura Van Waardhuizen, Family and Consumer Science Education & Studies Program Coordinator and Assistant Teaching Professor at Iowa State University (Ames, IA) won the 2023 ACTE Region III Teacher Educator of the Year award and the national 2024 ACTE Teacher Educator of the Year award. (link)
Registration is now open for the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Conference, scheduled for April 2, 2024 at The Meadows Event Center - Prairie Meadows in Altoona, IA. This one-day conference brings together leaders in work-based learning to build knowledge, capacity and skills to strengthen work-based learning and access for every student.
There are some amazing sessions and speakers lined up for this year! Learn more and register at the link below. Members of ACTE/IACTE also receive a $50 discount. Hope to see you there!
Early Bird: $200 if registered by February 1, 2024
Regular: $250 if registered by March 1, 2024
Late: $300 if registered by March 22, 2024
We are in the process of updating some of our WBL resources that can be found at our new site of educate.iowa.gov/higher-ed/cte/iowa-quality/work-based-learning. Three that were recently updated in late 2023 are:
Work-based Learning Course Naming & Coding - Updated October 2023
School-Based Enterprise Toolkit - Updated November 2023
Perkins V WBL Indicator SCED Codes Guidance - Updated December 2023
Be sure to keep these two upcoming work-based learning conferences on your radar:
Iowa Work-Based Learning Conference, April 2, 2024 at the Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, IA
ACTE Work-Based Learning Conference, May 1-3, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI
Share the Work-Based Learning Coordinator newsletter with your colleagues. Invite them to sign up to receive it in their mailbox using the following button.
Joe Collins
Work-Based Learning Consultant
Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness
Division of Higher Education
Iowa Department of Education
515-419-5190
joe.collins@iowa.gov
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