The Iowa Department of Education has opened the new application period for the 2024-25 Career Academy Incentive Fund. Grant applications will be accepted through Nov. 15 for the fall grant cycle. 

The Career Academy Incentive Fund supports increased access to career academy programs through regional centers and highlights partnerships between school districts, community colleges, business and industry and other partners. Successful proposals promote equitable access to high-quality career and technical education programs and include at least one school district and one community college. Priority consideration will be given to applicants who focus on programming delivered to at least four school districts. The Department will also consider tier 2 proposals that improve or expand existing career academies delivered through a regional center.

Through the 2019 Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) initiative, the Career Academy Incentive Fund annually awards up to $5 million in grants for projects that support career academy partnerships between community colleges, school districts, business and industry and other education and community stakeholders. Opportunities supported by the Career Academy Incentive Fund increase student access to higher education, industry-recognized credentials, valuable connections with employers and the discovery of potential career pathways.

Grant application materials and further details for the Career Academy Incentive Fund can be found on the Department’s website. Additional questions can be directed to Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or 515-326-5378. 

Iowa’s Gap Tuition Assistance Program was recently featured as a model for policy and procedure in a new national report on state financial aid for short-term noncredit programs.

The State Financial Aid for Non-degree Credentials was issued by the National Skills Coalition and featured six programs in five states that support student enrollment in short-term, non-degree programs. Gap Tuition Assistance and the other featured programs help to ensure credentials are high quality and result in strong and equitable outcomes for students while also supporting community and business needs. 

Programs from Indiana, Louisiana, Virginia and Washington were also highlighted in the report. 

For more information on the Gap Tuition Assistance Program, contact Lisa Gard at lisa.gard@iowa.gov or 515-418-3156. 

This summer, several career and technical student organizations (CTSO) held national conferences and skill-building opportunities. State champions from Iowa high schools and postsecondary institutions competed in different national competitions and placed high in their categories. 

At the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Competition in Atlanta, two Iowa students received medals for competing. West Lyon Community High School student Cole Balster received the secondary gold medal in diesel equipment technology, and Iowa Lakes Community College student Benjamin Nielsen received silver in the postsecondary power equipment technology competition. 

Additionally, Iowa students also made their mark at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando this past June. Students who placed in the top 10 of their competitions included: 

• Andrew O’Shea, Iowa State University - Business Ethics 1st place
• Danielle Bayless, Des Moines Area Community College - Computer Applications 2nd place
• Jonathan Nevenhoven, Iowa State University - Future Business Executive 1st place
• Emma LaFleur and Jonathan Nevenhoven, Iowa State - State of Chapter Presentation 2nd place
• Colton Ashley, New Hampton High School - Securities and Investments 4th place
• Iyana Nelson, Iowa State University - Parliamentary Procedure 7th place
• Danielle Forkner and Joyce Tonigar, Des Moines Area Community College - Community Service Project 8th place
• Victoria Christie, Des Moines Area Community College - Project Management 10th place

The University of Northern Iowa also placed first in the nation for Outstanding Chapter. Des Moines Area Community College placed 10th. 

Congratulations to all students for competing and representing Iowa at these national competitions! 

For more information on Iowa's CTSOs, contact Cale Hutchings at cale.hutchings@iowa.gov or 515-975-8193. 

The fourth annual Iowa BEST Summit is coming up on Sept. 15-16 in Coralville. This unique conference experience focuses on mental health and well-being and, for the second year in a row, will feature a learning track specifically tailored to higher education.

This year’s higher education track focuses on “Building a Health Promoting Campus” and will offer a day and a half-long training led by representatives from the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network. The training will focus on the following areas:

• Learning foundational concepts of the Okanagan Charter towards becoming a “health promoting campus.
• Discussing creative ideas with your colleagues and health promotion professionals from across Iowa’s higher education systems.
• Developing an action plan to take back to your campus for next steps in becoming a health promoting campus.

Registration for the Iowa BEST Summit is now open. Space is limited to the first 150 registrants. There is no cost to attend.

The Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness and Division of Higher Education are growing! Help us welcome our newest team members who will be leading our state efforts with community colleges and career and technical education. 

• Amy Mayer will serve as an educator program consultant for educator quality within the bureau. Her first day is July 29. 
• Nate Svare will serve as an executive officer 1, providing project management for the division. His first day is Aug. 2. 
• Michelle Meier will serve as an education program consultant for computer science initiatives within the bureau. Her first day is Aug. 5. 
• Shari Craven-Webb will provide duties as the bureau's new secretary 2, starting on Oct. 1. 

Welcome aboard to our newest team members!