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As we prepare to visit with friends and family to reflect and offer our thanks for all that we hold dear, I wanted to take a moment to offer a sincere note of appreciation for all that you do within your schools and districts across the state. Your work is deeply important and impactful in not only the lives of your students, but also for the families, economies and communities to which they belong.
We continue to work through the rebranding process of guides, toolkits, websites and related resources to align with the new terminology of Career-Connected Learning (CCL), which encompasses the two types of learning of "career exploration" (learning about work) and "work-based learning" (working to learn). We appreciate your patience as we work to make sure our interpretation of new state code aligns correctly with recent changes to various reporting and performance measures.
Please don't hesitate to reach out though with any questions, concerns, ideas or other feedback for how we can better serve you and your amazing work.
Sincerely,
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The Iowa School Performance Profiles (ISPP) is an online tool showing how public schools performed on required measures on an annual basis. The website was developed to meet both federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and state requirements (House File 215) for publishing online school report cards. Recent changes to the Postsecondary Readiness Index (PSRI) now include an analysis of percentage of high school students earning college credit, a qualifying work-based learning experience and a state-approved industry-recognized credential.
The website includes:
- Scores on school accountability measures required under ESSA
- Ratings based on those scores: Exceptional, High Performing, Commendable, Acceptable, Needs Improvement, and Priority
- Identification of schools for support and improvement based on accountability scores (Comprehensive and Targeted schools)
- Additional education data that must be reported by law but do not figure into school accountability scores
To review the 2024 findings and learn more about school scores, measures, rankings and other data, visit the “Help” section for a user guide, technical guide and other resources.
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The interactive work-based learning dashboard available on the Iowa Student Outcomes website is also currently being updated to be reflective of the new state definition for work-based learning.
District or school staff should review the updated information and conduct a thorough review of all identified courses, as well as any that may be missing or seemingly incorrect due to coding or reporting issues. A new feedback form is being added to the site to request corrections, clarifications or other information. This is being done to help ensure courses are being adequately coded within district student information systems before the transmittal and analysis of winter Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) data files in the December-January time frame.
Note: The current dashboard displays 2022-2023 data that includes both career exploration and work-based learning experiences. Districts will be alerted once the updated information and supporting documentation is posted to the site for district review. Your assistance is greatly appreciated to ensure the Department has the most accurate and updated information available for your work-based learning courses and experiences.
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The deadline is quickly approaching for schools to apply for the 2025-2026 STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) award. Applications are accepted in Iowa Grants until Dec. 11th at 4:59 p.m.
Funds can be used to support the launch of a new program or expand an existing one in Iowa schools. 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.
Over the last 10 years, Iowa STEM has awarded funds to over 121 STEM BEST® programs across the state of Iowa.
Having issues with your submission or application? Connect with STEM BEST Program Coordinator, Tanya Hunt. Sign up for a coaching session over zoom using this link.
Both public and nonpublic school districts and buildings in Iowa serving students in grades K-12 may apply for the competitive grant opportunity. The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 11 at 4:59 p.m. Good luck to everyone!
The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development are continuing their efforts to expand work-based learning through a collaborative and informative series of webinars aimed at showcasing the many ways that Iowa schools and employers are building the workforce pipeline across our state. Special guests also include strategic partners like the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Association, Iowa Business Council and the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council.
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)
11/19 - Iowa Business Council’s ‘Top Four' List of Professional Proficiencies (recording)
Upcoming Sessions:
12/03 - Where to Find Funding and Other Resources for Work-Based Learning - NEXT WEEK!!!
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
The Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Committee would like to invite you to consider signing up to present at their informative and invaluable conference at the Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona on April 14, 2025.
The deadline for submitting a proposal is the fast approaching December 13, 2024. Proposals will be review and applicants will hear back from the committee on January 10, 2025.
This is a "must attend" conference, especially for any staff that are new to the world of work-based learning. In addition to hearing from nationally reknown speakers, there are so many opportunities to network, connect and learn from others from across the state.
In addition to the STEM BEST grant that closes 12/11, there are a few other work-based learning or related funding opportunities currently available for schools, districts or other partners. Pay special attention to fast approaching deadlines! Good luck.
Teacher & Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship (TPRA) Program 2.0 - Closes 12/02
The 2nd round of TPRA funding will support two Registered Apprenticeship (RA) pathways to help spur new careers in education:
- Teacher Aide RA Program -Awarded school districts will be eligible to claim up to $8,200.00 per eligible apprentice each semester up to the maximum apprentice amount of $32,800.00, or for a maximum of four (4) semesters.
- Teacher Educator RA Program - Awarded school districts will be eligible to claim up to $9,500.00 per eligible apprentice each semester up to the maximum apprentice amount of $38,000.00, or for a maximum of four (4) semesters.
Credentials to Child Care Careers (C4) Grant - Closes 12/04
The Credentials for Child Care Careers (C$) Grant supports districts and accredited, non-public schools, in providing students with a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) through local Family and Consumer Science (FCS) programming, while building the child care workforce through community partnerships with licensed child care centers.
Please consider taking a minute to ROAR for WBL - 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.
Submit 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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- There were too many fun and informative sessions from across the state during National Apprenticeship Week last week to list, so I'll just send out a shout-out to everyone that worked hard to make sure they went off without a hitch!
- Sending a note of appreciation to the amazing team at Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators who helped to provide some guidance and connect me with other WBL Coordinators in my region! They are so helpful and a breath of fresh air in this sometimes chaotic area of education.
- Central Lyon High School recently opened up student-run coffee shop as part of their special education life skills classes. Teachers love the opportunity to have coffee orders delivered to their classrooms each Friday morning and the students have fun while also learning some professional and personal skills. The school is considering adding food options prepared by the students in the future as well. The Central Lyon School Foundation provided grant funding to purchase the necessary items to start the coffee shop and the school’s robotics program helped with 3D printing the drink holders used when delivering the drinks by coffee cart.
- I have so much respect and appreciation for Chris Dicus, who leads out CTE Regional Planning Partnership through the Northwest AEA! She helps us understand all of the changes coming our way with state rules or federal Perkins stuff and is always so professional. I can't speak for other regions, but everyone should consider reaching out to their RPPs for similar support and guidance.
- Business students at Vinton-Shellsburg High School have sold more than 500 items of clothing to their peers and people in the community through a newly established program. Items like t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats and koozies are made by the students and sold through their virtual store called Viking Edition. Not only do students create the clothing, but they learn at what price point it should be sold, how to market it and how to keep a budget. The district has also partnered with Kirkwood Community College to offer a growing number of internships, apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities, despite some limitations associated with being located in a rural area.
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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