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Congratulations! We made it to the end of the school year! You have all accomplished a lot this year and your work is greatly appreciated!
Just a couple of Department updates from me...
- We are working diligently to hire our next consultant for work-based learning and industry-recognized credentials.
- The next round of the Credentials to Careers Grant just closed and announcements regarding who received the grant will be coming out soon.
I look forward to continuing to work with you and support you in this important and impactful work in the future. Have a great summer and feel free to reach out of there are any questions!
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Are you looking for another great conference to attend? Please register for the Iowa ACTE Conference! This is a great opportunity to learn about innovative approaches to career and technical education. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting in the field, there's something for everyone at this year's conference. Topics include how to implement industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) to equip students for high-demand careers; develop work-based learning (WBL) opportunities like internships, apprenticeships, and project-based partnerships to transform educational experiences; enhances career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) to foster student's leadership and technical skills; and more.
The Iowa ACTE Conference will be held on Wednesday, June 18th at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa. Late registration is due by June 16, 2025. For more information, check out the conference flyer.
During this past legislative session, the governor signed House File (HF) 316. This bill expands career exploration to grades 5 and 6 to ensure that students are prepared to develop and implement well-informed ICAPs in 8th grade. It also requires that career exploration curriculum includes career investigation, career connections, and career intentions.
This bill also requires that the Department develop and distribute to school districts a seal aligned to a Department-approved list of IRCs to be affixed to high school transcripts or certificates. Additionally, school districts will be required to recognize high school graduates who, prior to graduation, have attained an IRC aligned to the student's CTE program of study and is on the approved list.
More information will be coming soon. For additional questions about the IRC seal, please reach out to Heather Meissen at heather.meissen@iowa.gov. For additional questions about career exploration in the middle grades, contact Erica Woods-Schmitz at erica.woods-schmitz@iowa.gov.
Governor Kim Reynolds recently announced $2.94 million in new grant awards for the Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant. This program will support the workforce by funding WBL programs that include an earn-and-learn component. Fourteen projects supporting employees in healthcare occupations, such as Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Certified Medical Assistant, were provided financial support through the grant.
For more information, visit Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant.
The Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education announced that 12 STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program model partner schools have been awarded over $200,000 in competitive grants as part of a pilot program this summer. Through the STEM BEST Program, students and teachers work closely with local workplaces and professionals to introduce and prepare learners for future success in their communities and to strengthen Iowa's future workforce through the development and expansion of work-based learning and career exploration opportunities.
More information can be found on the Department of Education's STEM BEST webpage.
The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) recently announced that starting this summer, students will be able to take their CNA written exams online, eliminating the need to travel to one of Iowa's testing sites. Two nationally-recognized testing providers, Headmaster and Credentia, will be offering secure, remote online written testing for CNA candidates. Students will still be required to complete the skills test onsite at approved locations to demonstrate practical competencies.
For more information, contact Stefanie Bond (515-281-7376) or Diane McCool (515-249-7074) or send an email to PIO@dia.iowa.gov.
Effective August 18, 2025, the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship through the Iowa Workforce Development will no longer be utilizing the Merit data platform to collect and manage quality pre-apprenticeship (QPA) participant information. The Merit platform was previously used during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years for submitting and tracking QPA data, as well as issuing credentials to students. However, when the contract ends, the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship will transition to a new system.
If your high school has previously used the Merit platform to submit QPA data, you will no longer need to do so. Future instructions and details on the new process for reporting QPA data and recognizing students will be sent out by the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship in the future. In the meantime, please temporarily use this form to input QPA program information.
If you have any questions, please contact Abby Tibbetts at Iowa Workforce Development at Abigail.Tibbetts@iwd.iowa.gov.
We are still looking for topics for next year's WBL webinar series hosted by Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Department of Education! Please fill out the following survey to indicate which topics you would like to be presented. Also, if you are interested in presenting, please indicate that as well!
If you missed any webinars from this year, you can access the recordings here.
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As the school year wraps up, it's time to kick back, relax, and soak up some well-deserved summer vibes! As a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, you've poured time, energy, and heart into shaping futures--not just for students, but for the entire community. Your impact is real, and it's powerful.
Thank you for an incredible year and an inspiring conference. We're so grateful for your passion and partnership. Enjoy your summer--you've earned every minute! We can't wait to collaborate again in the new school year.
If you'd like to connect or need anything over the summer, feel free to reach out--I'll be checking in throughout the summer at iowawbl@gmail.com.
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The Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning (WBL) is a place to create awareness for all WBL stakeholders on different WBL and Career Exploration opportunities. Create custom local boards for partners to easily post opportunities or explore the statewide board for opportunities for your students.
Ways to engage now!
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The interactive work-based learning dashboard available on the Iowa Student Outcomes website provides an opportunity to review what is being offered across the state for WBL.
District or school staff should check 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 feedback form has been added to the site to request corrections, clarifications or other information.
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Quick reminder that we posted a new resource in February that serves as a collection of questions, comments, and other feedback we received during the WBL Coding & Reporting Support webinar regarding recent changes to the definition of “work-based learning” (WBL), the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state plan and the new Postsecondary Readiness Index (PSRI) measure within the Iowa School Performance Profiles (ISPP). Questions have been organized as closely as possible to common themes or topics. Please review and reach out with any additional questions or requests for clarification. A similar FAQ resource is currently being developed for Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs).
Heather Meissen
Administrative Consultant - CTE and Health Sciences
Bureau of CTE and Postsecondary Readiness
Division of Higher Education
Iowa Department of Education
515-326-5378
heather.meissen@iowa.gov
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