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 Superintendent Notes
June 2024
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This June, July and August, the Iowa Department of Education (Department) is hosting free regional sessions to provide essential learning opportunities for school districts across Iowa. Sessions include Instructional Rounds, CHAMPS/Discipline in the Secondary Classroom and Engaging Learners. Schools can sign up for one or more sessions using this registration form. Please disregard the maximum number of attendees per school listed on the form as schools are welcome to bring as many participants as appropriate to support implementation.
The Department encourages superintendents to consider these opportunities at the district level, and to coordinate schools’ attendance. For questions about which schools have already signed up for sessions, email Department consultants Heidi Anthony at heidi.anthony@iowa.gov, or Sarah Seney at sarah.seney@iowa.gov.
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HF 2612 requires the Department to “develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and area education agencies, a list of evidence-based professional development services that an area education agency may provide to a public school or accredited nonpublic school…”.In implementing these provisions of HF 2612, the Department will develop a list of evidence-based professional development services informed by expert reviews based on a public rubric.
To inform this process and the public rubric, the Department conducted three listening sessions in May 2024, inviting 1) all AEA chiefs and AEA special education and education services leaders; 2) the Curriculum Network, including school district curriculum directors and other instructional leaders; and 3) all superintendents. The Department then updated the draft public rubric, reflecting the feedback received in these listening sessions.
In May, the Department conducted three listening sessions, inviting all AEA chiefs and AEA special education and education services leaders, the Curriculum Network, including school district curriculum directors and other instructional leaders and all superintendents. The Department then updated the draft public rubric, reflecting their feedback.
The Department now seeks all public feedback on the updated draft rubric via this survey. Responses to the survey, which opened on June 6, are due by June 20. Thank you for your partnership in developing a process and rubric that supports evidence-based professional learning to improve student outcomes across Iowa.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that all states receiving education funds under the Act establish a school level accountability system. The Iowa Department of Education (Department) will be engaging in the 2024 school identification process under ESSA’s required accountability system, known as the Iowa School Performance Profile (ISPP), in the fall of 2024.
As mandated by ESSA, ISPP is designed to identify schools for additional state support, including technical assistance and access to federal funds. The Department has developed a comprehensive support system for identified schools that includes technical assistance, onsite supports and direct funding for improvement activities. ESSA Section 1003(b)(1)(B) allows the Department and its partners, with district approval, to directly provide support services to schools and school districts or arrange for their provision.
Superintendents received a notice in the Consolidated Accountability and Support Application (CASA) requesting district approval to retain not more than 25% (current retention percent) of 1003 funds so that the Department and AEAs can continue to provide all identified comprehensive (CSI) and targeted (TSI) schools and school districts access to its comprehensive support services. Responses to the survey, which opened on June 4, are due by June 24.
Please direct questions to School Improvement Bureau Chief Tina Wahlert at 515-326-0162, or tina.wahlert@iowa.gov.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, there will be noteworthy changes in the administration of federal funding for Neglected and Delinquent programs under Title I, Part D, Subpart 2. In previous fiscal years, funding generated for local education agency (LEA)-operated programs in neglected facilities was transferred from the Title I, Part A budget to the Title I, Part D budget, and administered under Title I, Part D. However, beginning in the 2024-25 school year, this funding for neglected children and youth will remain under Title I, Part A, and be administered according to Title, I Part A administrative requirements.
Some important notes for LEAs to consider during this transition:
- This administrative change will not impact LEA-operated programs in delinquent facilities such as juvenile detention centers. It will only affect neglected facilities, such as shelters and foster care group home programs.
- Neglected facilities will continue to participate in the annual October count using the Neglected and Delinquent application.
- Neglected facilities will no longer participate in the Title I, Part D Consolidated State Performance Report data collection.
- Neglected funds will be included in the Title I, Part A application, budget and claims process going forward.
- Because some Title I, Part A neglected programs are operated by AEAs, LEA and AEA program staff will need to meet annually to distribute and share funding through a memorandum of understanding or 28E agreement.
- This administrative change does not remove LEAs’ or AEAs’ legal obligation to provide educational services to children and youth in all neglected and delinquent facilities.
School districts affected by this transition may contact Title I Part D program administrator Elisa Koler at 515-669-4052, or elisa.koler@iowa.gov.
With the academic year wrapped up for most school districts and nonpublic schools, the Department reminds administrators that spring Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) must be certified by June 24. Administrators should review SRI reports to verify data accuracy. Only administrators can verify student counts in the various reports. All Level II errors must be resolved before certification. Please watch the Department’s recent Spring SRI webinar for more information.
In addition to spring SRI, public school districts must complete and certify the assessment accountability application by June 25. Administrators must include a “reason for no state assessment” in their filings for any students who did not take either the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress or the alternate Dynamic Learning Map assessment.
Please be sure to verify test start dates are accurate in the “Test Dates” tab, and review all data in the “Subgroups” tab. Do not assume all students listed in the “ITPvSRI” tab are errors. “SRI” shows the status of the student at the end of the school year. “ITP” shows the status of the student at the start of the test window. If a student’s data at time of testing (“ITP” column) is inaccurate, contact an SRI consultant. For more information, please watch the Department’s webinar on SRI assessment accountability. Feel free to contact any of the following SRI consultants with questions: Margaret Hanson at margaret.hanson@iowa.gov, Rachel Kruse at rachel.kruse@iowa.gov or Kerri Ladehoff at kerri.ladehoff@iowa.gov. Reach out to Jennifer Thomas at jennifer.thomas@iowa.gov for questions concerning nonpublic schools.
The Department is excited to launch the ACHIEVE Family Portal this fall. Before inviting families to the portal, AEAs and school districts need to validate current parent/guardian contact information in ACHIEVE to ensure personally identifiable learner information is adequately protected. AEAs and districts are strongly encouraged to designate a point of contact to receive training and communication updates, and to help coordinate this effort, no later than June 30.
The Department will schedule a live webinar providing details on how to complete the validation process in late July. Appointed AEA/district designees will receive webinar registration details via email. A recording of the webinar will also be available for those unable to attend. Validation of parent/guardian contact information is critical to the successful launch of the ACHIEVE Family Portal. The Department appreciates district and AEA support during this process.
Please direct questions about this initiative to Shannon Grundmeier, at shannon.grundmeier@iowa.gov.
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The Department is offering two new mini grant opportunities to further support school districts in meeting the needs of students and families experiencing homelessness. The Resource Hub Mini Grant provides up to $10,000 to support LEAs to create a space in a school building where students and families experiencing homelessness can access basic necessities that may be causing them to disengage from school. The Transportation Mini Grant, which prioritizes districts that meet the federal definition of rural, provides up to $30,000 to support LEAs in providing transportation options that meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness. State set-aside money from the American Rescue Plan-Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) will fund both mini grants.
Applications to the two mini grant opportunities must be completed in IowaGrants by June 24.
Please find more information about the Resource Hub and Transportation Mini Grants on the ARP-HCY Mini Grant webpage. Contact Tyler Navin with questions at tyler.navin@iowa.gov.
The Department is creating a file of emerging educational leaders, consisting of distinguished teachers and principals. The educators in this “talent pool” file may be considered for membership on state advisory boards and task forces, as well as candidates for recognition and award programs. The Department will identify these expert educators through superintendents’ recommendations.
To qualify for the talent pool, educators must have distinguished themselves above and beyond established, top-quality professionals in Iowa’s schools. They must have a minimum of five, but not more than 18 years of experience in education. Members of this talent pool must also be full-time, building-level personnel. They are typically classroom teachers, and occasionally principals, who are recognized by peers and supervisors as unique in their leadership and results with students. The Department is especially interested in educators who are outstanding, but have not received other state or national recognition.
Fill out this form to make any recommendations, and optionally, include a one-page narrative addressing how the candidate meets the above criteria, and a resume from their personnel file. Consider this recommendation confidential, and please do not share it with the individual or collaborate with colleagues to complete it.
Please send the completed recommendation form by July 1 to Molly McConnell, at molly.mcconnell@iowa.gov.
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Once a student has met proficiency requirements, institutions may not place restrictions on participation in Senior Year Plus (SYP) programming beyond what is specified in statute or administrative rule. For example, a school district may not require students to exhaust its curriculum prior to enrollment in SYP courses, or place restrictions on the number of credits a student is eligible to enroll. A school district also may not deny an eligible student from participating in concurrent enrollment courses during the school year, even if the courses occur before, during or after school, including winter sessions.
There should not be any restrictions placed on the number of credits a student can take. Prior to 2020, the cap on SYP credits was 23 per academic year at any one postsecondary institution; however, legislation in 2020 eliminated this limit.
For questions, contact Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov.
As a reminder, teacher salary minimum requirements under HF 2612 are effective July 1. Please see the HF2612: Teacher Salary Minimum Requirements FAQs for more information.
Direct questions regarding the Iowa Department of Management’s calculations to John Parker at 515-281-8485, or john.parker@iowa.gov. Questions relating to account coding or appropriate uses of Teacher Salary Supplement funds may be directed to Song Luong at 515-205-0259, or song.luong1@iowa.gov or to Jina Brincks at 515-313-5942 or jina.brincks@iowa.gov.
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Visit and subscribe to the Annual Notices and Deadlines Calendar for a list of state and federal notices and deadlines for all public and nonpublic schools.
It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, political party affiliation, or actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code sections 216.9 and 256.10(2), Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1681 – 1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy by the Iowa Department of Education, please contact the legal counsel for the Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E. 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0146, telephone number: 515-281-5295, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, telephone number: 312-730-1560, FAX number: 312-730-1576, TDD number: 800-877-8339, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
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