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Voting is now open for all Iowans to help select the state’s next education license plate design. The license plate designs feature original artwork from 16 student semifinalists from across the state. The contest voting period is open through April 15.
“Earlier this school year, the Department asked students to help us reimagine Iowa’s education license plate, and now it's time for you to pick your favorite submissions,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “This first-of-its-kind design challenge is helping us celebrate education across Iowa while recognizing the incredible artistic talent of our students.”
A committee representing art teachers from across the state reviewed and selected the 16 semifinalists from over 100 qualified designs submitted by Iowa K-12 art classes. Each entry was reviewed for creativity, originality, artistic skill and its representation of celebrating Iowa education. Please select your favorite designs from four students in each of the following grade bands: 3-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12. Then select your top three overall favorite designs on our online voting form.
From the results of the public voting, 3-4 finalists will be selected for final consideration. The winning design will be announced at the end of the school year, replacing the current design that has been in place for more than 20 years. The redesigned license plates will tentatively go into production this summer and all semifinalist and finalist art designs will be permanently displayed at the Department’s Grimes State Office Building.
Please contact Education Program Consultant for fine arts Kris VerSteegt at
kris.versteegt@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department released a public version of the EVAAS application on March 13. The public site includes the scatter plot reports that allow for the analysis of growth and achievement data by district and school. To access the public site, click the Public Assess button on the EVAAS home page. Additional resources, including reference guides, are available on the home page of the EVAAS application.
Please contact Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Information and Analysis Services Jay Pennington at jay.pennington@iowa.gov with questions.
Responding to requests from instructional leaders across Iowa and school needs, the Department conducted a request for proposals to identify and enter into statewide contracts with negotiated pricing for high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) aligned to Iowa’s state standards for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics.
During a competitive bidding process, publisher submissions were first reviewed to meet rigorous evaluation criteria and the highest levels of quality on EdReports. They were then reviewed and scored by a team of literacy and mathematics experts. Districts interested in utilizing the statewide contracts can contact ELA and Math consultants to obtain the contract number(s) and then are able to work directly with the vendor(s).
While not exhaustive, the following optional list of statewide HQIM aligned to Iowa content standards is intended to support schools with options in their evidence-based curriculum review, adoption, and implementation processes. Please note, this purchasing list is not an “approved list.”
The English Language Arts and Mathematics resource list includes:
- K-5 ELA:
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Amplify CKLA by Amplify Education
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Benchmark Advance by Benchmark Education Company
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HMH Into Reading by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- 6-12 ELA:
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Amplify ELA by Amplify Education
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HMH Into Literature by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- K-5 Mathematics:
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HMH Into Math by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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i-Ready Classroom Mathematics by Curriculum Associates
- 6-12 Mathematics:
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i-Ready Classroom Mathematics by Curriculum Associates
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Illustrative Mathematics IM 9-12 Math by Imagine Learning
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Illustrative Mathematics Traditional by Kendall Hunt
Please contact ELA Education Program Consultant Leigh Bellville at leigh.bellville@iowa.gov or Math Education Program Consultant April Pforts at april.pforts@iowa.gov with questions.
Starting March 24, the Iowa Department of Education will collect public comment on the Iowa Perkins V State Plan. The public comment period will remain open for 30 days until April 24, and two public hearings are scheduled with in-person and virtual participation options. The next public hearing is next Tuesday, April 1 9-11 a.m. at the Grimes State Office Building, Room B100, 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines or by Zoom. Feedback can also be submitted by email to cte@iowa.gov or via USPS mail.
The Strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) for the 21st Century Act, also known as Perkins V, is the largest federal funding source for secondary and postsecondary CTE programs. Perkins V provides approximately $14.5 million annually in federal funding to Iowa. A four-year full state plan will be developed for federal FY25 to FY28 or school years 2025-26 to 2028-29, encompassing all administrative and financial activities under the act.
The Iowa Department of Education will review all public comments for possible revisions to the proposed Perkins V Iowa State plan. The final Iowa Perkins V State Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov with questions.
Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Department recently awarded four Iowa community colleges nearly $4 million in competitive grants through the state’s Career Academy Incentive Fund. The grants support partnerships between community colleges, schools, industry and community stakeholders to empower more students with multiple pathways to postsecondary success. To increase access to career academy programs in high-demand fields through new or expanded regional centers, Northwest Iowa Community College (Marcus), Southwestern Community College (Creston) and Western Iowa Tech Community College (Denison) will each receive grants of $1 million and Iowa Central Community College (Fort Dodge) will receive a grant of over $944,000.
Through the Career Academy Incentive Fund, students in partnering school districts will earn industry-recognized credentials and high school and college credit, while gaining technical and academic skills through career and technical education (CTE) programs aligned with business and industry. Additional information and application materials for the Spring 2025 CAIF grant cycle can be found on the Department's Career Academy Incentive Fund webpage. Applications are due April 18.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov with questions.
On March 3, education and industry stakeholders from Iowa’s six STEM regions came together in the State Capitol rotunda to meet Iowa students showcasing their impressive work and to recognize amazing STEM teachers across all corners of Iowa.
Please join the Department and the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council in congratulating the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Awards for their innovation and dedication to students in Iowa:
- Northwest STEM Region: Alex Spooner, Okoboji Community School District
- North Central STEM Region: Tara Gray, Marshalltown Community School District
- Northeast STEM Region: Dan Kuchera, Clarksville Community School District
- Southwest STEM Region: Dustan Kern, Lewis Central Community School District
- South Central STEM Region: Maddie Kampf, Indianola Community School District
- Southeast STEM Region: Chuck Tonelli, Cedar Rapids Community School District
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Registration for the sixth round of LETRS for Elementary Educators, LETRS for Administrators and LETRS for Early Childhood is now open. Eligible applicants are public school PK-5 educators, middle school special education and literacy intervention teachers, higher education instructors, and administrators. Links to the registration forms are on the Iowa LETRS website. Registration will be open until August 22. Participants will receive their materials and online access early in September.
Please contact ialetrs@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department recently published its Iowa Dyslexia Handbook, created in response to an Iowa Dyslexia Task Force recommendation and in partnership with the Iowa Dyslexia Board. The handbook includes an overview of general dyslexia information, parent information and resources, educator information and resources, FAQs, and more. Visit the Department’s Dyslexia webpage to access the handbook. The Department’s Dyslexia Consultant, Wanda Steuri, will provide statewide training on the use of the new Iowa Dyslexia Handbook this spring and summer, including at the 2025 Iowa Science of Reading Summit July 29–30, 2025 in Cedar Rapids.
Please contact Education Program Consultant for dyslexia/science of reading Wanda Steuri at wanda.steuri@iowa.gov with questions.
On the evening of Friday, February 28, the U.S. Department of Education’s (USED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) following its February 14 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) regarding the prohibition of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
This DCL reiterates existing legal requirements under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, and other related federal laws, as well as the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The DCL states:
“Federal law thus prohibits covered entities from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life. Put simply, educational institutions may neither separate or segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race.”
Please review the DCL and FAQs carefully and consult with your institution’s legal counsel to ensure continued compliance.
The Department has released an updated list of approved universal screening and progress monitoring tools to meet the requirements of 279.68 Early Literacy Implementation (ELI) and House File 2618. The approved list for the 2025-26 school year is posted on the Department’s Early Literacy page.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Greg Feldmann at greg.feldmann@iowa.gov with questions.
New Board of Educational Examiners rules benefiting licensed practitioners in Iowa went into effect last month.
First, new endorsements may be added to an Iowa Educator license with verification of the endorsements existence on a non-Iowa educator license. Upon application, the Bureau of Educational Examiners will add the new endorsement, providing Iowa has a similar endorsement, without the completion of additional coursework.
Second, moving forward, mandatory reporter training for dependent adults will no longer be required for renewal of an educator license; child abuse reporter training will continue to be required.
Please contact Lead Consultant Joanne Tubbs for the BoEE at joanne.tubbs@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department and Iowa Workforce Development are continuing to support work-based learning (WBL) through a series of webinars showcasing the partnerships between schools and employers across Iowa. The final webinar of the SY 2024-25 series will be held on April 8 at 3:30 p.m. The webinar will focus on how to link Perkins, career and technical student organizations (CTSOs), and other programs for sustained WBL. Melanie Bloom, 2025 Teacher of the Year, will be presenting. Register for upcoming sessions or view past recorded sessions at the Iowa Workforce Development’s webinar series webpage.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov with questions.
The Division of Special Education continues to provide special education support for administrators through the Special Education Policy and Practice webinar series. The series highlights important special education policies and their application in the school setting.
Recordings and resources from prior sessions are located on the Department’s Special Education and Guidance webpage, including:
Upcoming webinars and topics are scheduled for
- April 9, 2025: Least Restrictive Environment
- May 14, 2025: Principles of FAPE
All participants may join the webinars via Zoom using the passcode 431127.
Please contact the Student Instruction, Evaluation and Services Consultant Mary Beilke mary.beilke@iowa.gov with questions.
In partnership with Iowa Health and Human Services, the Department of Education is preparing for the 2025 Iowa Youth Survey that will be available in the Fall of 2025. All Superintendents will receive an email in the coming weeks with more information and a link to register. Please visit the Iowa Youth Survey webpage to learn more.
Please contact Administration Consultant Lyn Jenkins at lyn.jenkins@iowa.gov with questions.
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The Department will open the 2025 Credentials to Careers grant in IowaGrants on April 1 and close it on May 30. School districts can apply for grants of up to $50,000, completing a separate application for each industry-recognized credential (IRC). Priority will be given to school districts not previously awarded a Credentials to Careers grant. Please find more information on the IRC webpage.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov with questions
With recent legislation defining high-quality work-based learning (WBL) experiences and including WBL attainment in Iowa’s Postsecondary Readiness Index, the Department is working with Iowa Workforce Development to further support local school-employer WBL partnerships. We invite all administrators and relevant educators to complete the Work-Based Learning Outreach Survey to indicate the types of WBL offered at your school district and the types of opportunities you would like to expand or offer in the future.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Career and Technical Education Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov or Business Engagement Liaison with Iowa Workforce Development Kathy Leggett at kathy.leggett@iwd.iowa.gov with questions.
The HF2612 Implementation FAQ resource document on the Department’s HF2612 Implementation webpage has been updated to include information regarding district use of special education support services funding beginning July 1, 2025, and flexibilities available for tracking educational and media services funding.
Notably, beginning July 1, 2025, the cost of a special education director may be paid from the 10% retained special education support services funds without SBRC approval.
Questions regarding allowable uses of special education funds, including either weighted dollars or the 10% retained amount of special education support services funding, can be sent to specialeducationfinance@iowa.gov.
Iowa is a member state of MHEC, an interstate compact established to further higher education in the Midwest through interstate cooperation and resource sharing collectively among its 12 member states. The statutory language establishing MHEC makes it an instrumentality of state government and gives it broad procurement authority to contract for the benefit of its member states, including the procurement of technology hardware, software, and services. Higher education institutions, K-12 school districts and local units of government can use these contracts. A list of available resources is provided below:
Please contact Bureau Chief of Iowa College Aid David Ford at david.ford@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department has begun creating a file of emerging classroom leaders, consisting of a cadre of distinguished teachers and principals. The educators in this “Talent Pool” file may be considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces and could be considered as candidates for recognition and award programs.
To qualify for this Talent Pool, educators must have distinguished themselves as above and beyond established, top-quality professionals in our schools. They must have between 5-18 years of experience in education and currently serve as full-time, building-level personnel who directly instruct students (e.g., classroom teachers, related arts teachers, etc.) or as principals who are recognized by peers and supervisors as unique in their leadership and results with students.
If you know one or more educators who fit these parameters, please complete the Talent Pool Recommendation form. Please keep this recommendation confidential; do not share it with the recommended individual or collaborate with colleagues to complete the form.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Molly McConnell at molly.mcconnell@iowa.gov with questions.
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Training for all Educators Supporting Learners with Disabilities will be held in Des Moines June 5-6, 2025, and registration is now open.
The Teaching for Impact training is for educators to develop and expand knowledge and skills related to the education of learners with disabilities from birth to age 21. Training will be centered around academics, college and career readiness, early childhood, school-based behavioral health, and support for student success. Emphasis will be placed on integrating information into practice across a variety of educational settings. Sessions will include examples of the content in practice as well as suggestions for classroom application. Participants will have the opportunity to share emerging ideas and network with one another.
School administrators, building leadership teams, Early ACCESS providers and service coordinators, educators and providers from early childhood to high school, AEA professionals and higher education faculty supporting pre-service educators and providers will all benefit from the training.
We are also pleased to announce, Leading for Impact: Workshop for Administrators, a new opportunity specifically designed for district and building school administrators who support special education services and supports! While this workshop will be at the same time and location as Teaching for Impact, the topics will be unique for administrators. District leaders will have opportunities woven throughout the two-day event to learn and work alongside peers to strengthen their district’s provision of special education services.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Nancy Hunt at nancy.hunt@iowa.gov with questions.
All school food authorities are required to annually report identified student and enrollment data in the IowaCNP data system between April 1 and April 15. The data reported is used to calculate the Identified Student Percentage (ISP) for each school and determine school eligibility for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Eligible schools interested in operating CEP during the SY 2025-26 will have a separate reporting requirement due by June 30. Additional information on the June 30 CEP notification requirement will be shared in an upcoming Superintendent and School Leader Update. For additional information on the April reporting requirement for all schools or the June reporting requirement for schools interested in operating CEP in SY 2025-26.
If you have questions, contact your assigned regional School Nutrition Consultant.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets minimum hiring requirements for new school food service directors administering the National School Lunch Program. Districts that will be hiring a new food service director are encouraged to review the federal education and work experience requirements for food service directors. In addition to hiring standards, annual training is required for all school food service directors and staff.
If you have questions, contact your assigned regional School Nutrition Consultant.
This spring, Decision Day activities will be held in Course to College Corps high schools across the state. These events celebrate the class of 2025’s postsecondary decisions, culminating many years of awareness and participation in exploration activities and work-based learning experiences. Decision Day celebrates students and families as they finalize their choices to pursue multiple postsecondary pathways. Iowa schools, educators and students are encouraged to join in these celebrations!
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Danielle Sampson at danielle.sampson@iowa.gov with questions.
March 31 is the last day for LEAs and AEAs to submit their FY2024 Electronic Annual Audits to the Department and Auditor of the State's Office. A LEA may request an extension should it not be able to meet this deadline.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Sandi Hurtado-Peters at sandra.hurtado-peters1@iowa.gov with questions.
All Governor’s education bills have made it through committee in one or both chambers, including:
Similarly, all Department bills have made it through committee in one or both chambers, including:
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HF316 - career education, Industry-Recognized Credential diploma seal
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SF275, HSB45 - Purple Star School initiative
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HSB43, SSB1075 - Department of Education administrative provisions (Note: SSB1075 does not include the proposed dyslexia endorsement stipend, which was amended into SF286.)
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HF167, SF273* - definition of grooming (*amended in Senate committee)
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HSB105 - charter schools (amended in House committee)
A legislative funnel is a procedural deadline that serves to narrow the scope of legislation under consideration in both chambers. Bills must pass out of a committee in the originating chamber to remain eligible for consideration in its current form (i.e., House bills out of House committee, Senate bills out of Senate committee).
Please contact Eric St Clair (eric.stclair@iowa.gov) 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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