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The Iowa Department of Education recently announced that it was awarded a multi-year competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling over $24 million to advance effective evidence-based literacy practices and interventions across the state. The federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant will support the implementation of Iowa’s State Literacy Plan over the next five years, including district development of local literacy plans aligned to a statewide plan.
As a part of the grant, the Department will support schools in implementing Science of Reading-aligned instruction, including through continued professional learning, school-based literacy leadership teams, high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials, strong community and family partnerships, and high-dose tutoring and targeted interventions informed by student data. The Department will also work closely with institutions of higher education to align accredited teacher preparation programs to the Science of Reading focused on phonetic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension.
For more information, please visit the Department’s website.
Following five pilot awards, the Department has opened the Credentials to Child Care Careers (C4) Grant statewide, due November 21, 2024, to support districts in aligning Family and Consumer Science CTE programs to the attainment of a nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
The $1 million Credentials to Child Care Careers grant program supports school districts in:
- Preparing students for success in postsecondary education and in-demand careers through attainment of a CDA;
- Recruiting and retaining an early childhood workforce that is of and for local communities; and
- Expanding access to high-quality child care, supporting working families and students and teachers who are parents of young children.
Allowable grant uses include student exam fees, textbooks, CDA course materials, student stipends, licensed child care partner stipends and other approved expenses that help remove barriers to participation. Consideration of stipends for mentoring/coaching and portfolio development is encouraged.
Additional information, including an overview webinar about the grant opportunity, is available on the Department’s Industry-Recognized Credentials webpage.
Please contact Bureau of Early ACCESS and Early Childhood Education Consultant Amy Stegeman at amy.stegeman@iowa.gov with questions.
For the second year in a row, Iowa has been named one of the top 10 states in the nation for providing access to high-quality computer science education. Released by Code.org, the Computer Science Teachers Association, and the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance, the 2024 State of Computer Science Education report offers a deep dive into the state of computer science education across the nation. Iowa’s top-10 ranking, its second in history, shows 84 percent of public high schools in the state offering foundational computer science courses to students during the 2023-24 academic year.
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An approved employment reference form is now available for use statewide. Iowa Code 256.9 (67) (e) requires school boards, accredited nonpublic schools and charter schools to maintain reference information for their employees and respond to any request for such information from potential employers. The form is available on the Department’s Education Licensure webpage under the Licensure Tips for Administrators quick link.
Please contact Bureau of Educational Examiners Lead Consultant Joanne Tubbs at joanne.tubbs@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department and Iowa Workforce Development are continuing to support work-based learning through a series of webinars showcasing the partnerships between schools and employers across Iowa. Special guests will include strategic partners like the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Association, Iowa Business Council and the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Register for Upcoming Sessions:
- 11/19 - Iowa Business Council’s ‘Top Four’ List of Professional Proficiencies
- 12/03 - Where to Find Funding and Other Resources for Work-Based Learning
- 01/21 - A Deeper Dive into Starting and Expanding Work-Based Learning
- 02/11 - Using Labor Market Information to Drive Work-Based Learning Decisions
- 03/04 - Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Work-Based Learning for Students with Disabilities
- 04/08 - Linking Perkins, CTSOs and Other Programs for Sustained Work-Based Learning
See Recordings of Past Sessions:
- 10/01 - Work-Based Learning: Essential Tool for Preparing Students for Careers (recording)
- 10/21 - Jump-Start Careers: Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship and Industry-Recognized Credentials (recording)
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or Iowa Workforce Development Business Engagement Liaison Kathy Leggett at kathy.leggett@iwd.iowa.gov with questions.
Registration for Round 5 of LETRS is open through November 22, 2024, and participants will start their course in January 2025. Districts and nonpublic schools are encouraged to consider full implementation to best improve instructional effectiveness and accelerate reading. In addition to all PK-5 elementary teachers, middle school special education educators and interventionists, curriculum directors, district administrators, and college preparation professors can sign up now.
To sign up for the different LETRS offerings, please use the following links:
Please contact IALETRS@iowa.gov with questions.
Restored this fall, Teach Iowa provides key functionalities education leaders need to post positions, recruit high-quality candidates, and track applicants. The Department is hosting open office hours every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. through December 5 available here. Administrators, human resources staff, and other hiring personnel are invited to join representatives from the Department for any of the 30-minute virtual sessions to learn more on how to maximize their use of the Teach Iowa job posting platform. You do not need to be a current registered user on Teach Iowa to attend.
Please contact Bureau of Learner Strategies and Supports Consultant Lora Rasey at lora.rasey@iowa.gov with questions.
Registration is now open for November 2024 courses through the Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy. These Iowa-specific online courses are designed for school counselors, teachers, administrators and other college access professionals.
The Academy was developed by the Department in partnership with AEA Learning Online, and has been endorsed by the Iowa School Counselor Association (ISCA). Individuals can register as participants at no cost, or they can select an option to earn license renewal or graduate credit.
The November session begins on November 4 and runs through December 29, 2024. Courses include:
101: Foundations of College and Career Readiness in Iowa (2 credits)
Prerequisite for most other Academy courses
Register here
201: Creating Iowa’s College & Career Readiness Culture (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101
Register here
501: An Introduction to Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101
Register here
602: Supporting College and Career Readiness for Systems-Involved Students (2 credits)
Register here
603: Supporting Graduation, College, and Careers for English Learners (3 credits)
Prerequisite: N/A
Register here for no credit (free)
Register here for licensure renewal
Register here for graduate credit
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Megan Sibbel at megan.sibbel@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department is available to provide technical assistance on the implementation of ESEA program funds. These professional learning opportunities are intended for LEA leadership teams and include a range of topics such as management and compliance, allowable uses of funds, CASA application and claims submissions. Training may be delivered virtually or in-person, depending on the needs of the LEA.
Please contact Federal Programs Bureau Chief Jillian Dotson at jillian.dotson@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department’s second annual Iowa Agricultural Education Summit will be held January 26-28, 2025, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Knapp Varied Industries Building in partnership with the Iowa FFA Foundation. All secondary and postsecondary agriculture instructors are welcome to attend at no cost. The focus of the Summit will be Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) and how agriculture educators can effectively work with student development in those areas.
Please contact Education Program Consultant (Agriculture) Alan Spencer at alan.spencer@iowa.gov with questions.
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Grants through the state’s Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund are now available. Iowa school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, Area Education Agencies and other collaborative organizations are encouraged to apply. Applications for the professional development grants will be accepted through Nov. 17, 2024. Applications for educator endorsement will be accepted through May 31, 2025. More information about these opportunities is available on the Department’s Computer Science Professional Development Incentive Fund webpage.
Please contact Education Program Consultant (Computer Science and Information Solutions) Michelle Meier at michelle.meier@Iowa.gov with questions.
Competitive grant applications for the Shared Visions Preschool Program will be available November 21, 2024, with a closing date of January 22, 2025. Grants provide funds to assist child development programs and school districts in serving children ages three to five years who are determined to meet certain at-risk criteria as defined in Iowa Administrative Code 281-64. These grants are governed by Iowa Code 256A and Iowa Code 279.51. Shared Visions Preschool Grants support classroom-based services including teacher salaries, administration costs, supplies and more. More information, including the grant timeline, is available on the Department’s Shared Visions Preschool Program webpage.
Please contact Bureau of Early ACCESS and Early Childhood Education Consultant Amy Stegeman at amy.stegeman@iowa.gov with questions.
The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Department is accepting applications for the STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program through December 11, 2024. The STEM BEST® funding opportunity offers schools award amounts up to $40,000 to help educators connect with local industry professionals. The program provides the opportunity for students to work side-by-side with professionals, develop in-demand 21st century skills and better prepare students for exciting STEM careers local to their communities.
Funds can be used to support the launch of a new program or expand an existing one. Awards may be used for a variety of related items including facility upgrades, the purchase of industry-grade equipment, acquiring additional space, travel needs for exploration and costs associated with planning with partners and integrating curriculum into existing courses.
Iowa public and nonpublic schools serving students in grades K-12 are eligible for this competitive grant opportunity. To apply or learn more, visit the Department’s STEM BEST® webpage.
Please contact STEM BEST® Program Coordinator Tanya Hunt at tanya.hunt@iowa.gov or info@iowaSTEM.org with questions.
The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Department is accepting nominations for the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program. Administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, students and community members are invited to nominate an inspirational science, technology, engineering or mathematics teacher for the prestigious 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program. The Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program is dedicated to honoring the passionate teachers who are making a significant difference in the lives of students across the state. It recognizes one full-time, licensed PreK-12 Iowa STEM teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions. The six selected recipients will each receive a monetary gift for their classroom and a second for personal use.
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 15, 2024. Nomination forms and additional information can be found on the Department’s Iowa STEM Teacher Award Program webpage. The award recipients will be announced in early 2025 and honored at STEM Day at the Capitol on February 12, 2025.
Please contact info@iowaSTEM.org with questions.
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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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