Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education recently announced over $24 million available in competitive grants to support Iowa school districts and public charter schools in developing and implementing state-aligned strategic plans to improve student reading proficiency. The awards are part of a multi-year federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant awarded to the Iowa Department of Education by the U.S. Department of Education to advance effective evidence-based literacy practices and interventions across the state.
The subgrant application for the planning portion is now open for Iowa school districts and public charter schools to access through the Department’s Consolidated Accountability and Support Application (CASA) system. Out of the $24 million investment, a total of $4 million is specifically dedicated to planning subgrants, with the opportunity for an additional $5 million annually in implementation subgrants over four years, 2025 through 2029. The deadline to apply for the planning subgrant portion is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10.
The Department's webinar earlier this week was recorded and will be made available on the Department’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant webpage.
Please contact Administrative Consultant for Literacy Darcie Kress at darcie.kress@iowa.gov with questions.
Governor Reynolds recently announced a new Continuum of Care grant to support partnerships between high-quality preschool and child care programs, providing a full day of care for 4-year-olds for working Iowa families. Administered by Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS), information on the new Continuum of Care grant is available here, and applications are due June 25, 2025, by 4:00 p.m.
This grant is an opportunity for HHS to continue this vision, supported by federal funds available to provide grants of up to $300,000 over three years to support partnerships between Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) sites and licensed child care centers.
A recorded webinar that answers questions and provides an overview of the grant program is posted on the Department’s Early Childhood webpage and HHS’s Early Childhood Iowa webpage.
Please contact HHS Program Officer John McMullen at john.mcmullen@hhs.iowa.gov or 515-416-8565 with questions on the Continuum of Care Grant. Please contact Early Childhood Bureau Chief Kimberly Villotti at kimberly.villotti@iowa.gov with questions specific to the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.
The Department recently announced a new, statewide partnership with National Math Stars to help identify and develop the talents of mathematically extraordinary students across Iowa. In Iowa, our National Math Stars will start as rising fourth graders in a fully funded program that provides individualized support aligned to student strengths and interests through twelfth grade. All National Math Stars have a budget tailored to their learning and financial needs, which may total more than $100,000 in philanthropic support for a student. Supports include a dedicated family advisor, free weekly math mentoring, advanced technology and educational resources, pathway exploration and counseling, STEM summer experiences, family and community events, and more.
Last week, Dr. Jay Pennington reached out to districts and nonpublic schools that serve identified students. Identified students will only be able to access this opportunity if your team provides the nomination letters to families. Please consider doing so as soon as you are able, as families have until Sunday, June 15, to submit an application for their student to be considered for the 2025 cohort.
Please contact Bureau Chief Jay Pennington jay.pennington@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department named 16-year-old high school sophomore Erin Cho as the Iowa Education License Plate Design Challenge winner during a surprise announcement at Ames High School on May 19.
Launched last fall, the challenge offered K-12 students the opportunity to reimagine the state’s current education license plate, which has been in place since 1997. As a result, Iowa art teachers submitted more than 100 qualified license plate designs featuring original artwork from talented students across the state. A committee of expert Iowa art teachers reviewed and selected 16 semifinalists from the total number of submissions. Through a public voting period earlier this spring, Iowans narrowed the field to finalists for consideration.
Erin’s winning design features Iowa’s state bird, the American goldfinch, depicted as an educator and students perched upon three colorful school books.
The new license plate, featuring Erin’s design, can be ordered later this summer through the Iowa Department of Transportation. The fees collected from the purchase of the education license plate support school districts with the highest per-pupil transportation costs.
The artwork of all 16 semifinalists will be displayed later this year at the Department’s Grimes State Office Building and viewed now on the Department’s website. Photos from the event can be viewed on the Department’s Flickr album.
Please contact Education Program Consultant for Fine Arts Kris VerSteegt at kris.versteegt@iowa.gov with questions.
The Library and Instructional Materials Center at the Iowa Department for the Blind can connect blind and visually impaired students with thousands of titles in braille and large print and many are free to your district. Materials available include textbooks, workbooks, worksheets, literary books and even online curriculum. The library has state-of-the-art equipment, a large transcriber network and highly trained professionals to ensure quality and accuracy.
Please contact the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled and Instructional Materials Center at 515-281-1323 or imclibrary@blind.state.ia.us with questions.
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