|
Iowans now have access to district-level performance ratings through a new addition to the Iowa School Performance Profiles, providing critical, transparent information on how Iowa's public school districts are serving students. The new district-level ratings show more than 58% of Iowa’s 325 public school districts and four public charter schools during the 2024-25 school year performed in the top three of six rating categories, with over 88% rating acceptable or higher.
This is the first year of district-level designations and ratings, which were calculated based on Iowa’s updated unified accountability system approved by the U.S. Department of Education in 2024. The accountability system uses a clear, streamlined set of core indicators to provide an overall score and performance rating for all public districts and schools. Rating categories include exceptional (highest performing), high performing, commendable, acceptable, needs improvement and priority (lowest performing). The same methodology and cut scores were used for determining both school and district ratings.
The new district-level results also show achievement gaps experienced by student groups. A total of 125 public school districts and public charter schools, representing about a third of all public school districts, had a student group that experienced significant achievement gaps, which dropped their overall district rating by one category. All but one of the 125 districts that dropped a rating category did so based on the achievement gaps experienced by students with disabilities. No district dropped based on significant achievement gaps experienced by students from low-income backgrounds—an important celebration for the state of Iowa.
Please contact Jay Pennington, Division Administrator of Teacher Quality and Innovation, at jay.pennington@iowa.gov with questions.
In coordination with the launch of the Iowa School Performance Profiles district-level performance ratings, the Department has launched two new grant opportunities to further support district-wide improvement initiatives. Grants support aligning ESEA and IDEA school improvement plans with complementary activities and strengthening district-level continuous improvement supports.
The District-Level Evidenced-Based Professional Development Grant invites districts with an overall priority rating to apply for Department funds and support to build system-level capacity for implementing evidence-based instruction.
The IDEA-DA Continuous Improvement Grant is available to districts with priority or needs improvement ratings that also have level 2 or level 3 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - Differentiated Accountability (IDEA-DA)designations. (Please note that IDEA-DA’s tiered levels represent the intensity of support needed for special education program continuous improvement, with level 3 being the highest level of intensity.)
Both grant opportunities are open through Jan. 16, 2026.
Please contact School Improvement Administrative Consultants Heidi Anthony-Plahn at heidi.anthony@iowa.gov or Sarah Seney at sarah.seney@iowa.gov with questions on the
District-Level Evidence-Based Professional Development Grant.
Please contact Amy Thoms-Starr, Central Rivers Regional Special Education Director, at amy.starr@iowa.gov with questions regarding the IDEA-DA Continuous Improvement Grant.
The landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, commonly known as IDEA, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since 1975, the IDEA has ensured a free and appropriate public education for children and youth with disabilities across the country. In Iowa, special education programs and services support close to 76,000 students and learners, offering high-quality opportunities to learn and succeed.
To help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IDEA, the Department has released a new video, capturing testimonies on how this historic law has impacted children across Iowa.
The Department has launched a new contest, offering students in grades 3-12 an opportunity to learn and reflect on what America and the American founding means to them. Any Iowa student from a public or accredited nonpublic school in grades 3-12 can participate in the Iowa America 250 Student Contest. All submissions will be entered into one of three grade band levels for grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
Contest participants will select a topic from four provided prompts to develop their essay, poem or video. The four prompts focus on the impact and contribution of the following areas in Iowa and the United States:
- Creativity and innovation
- People
- Places and events
- America’s founding principles
Student submissions are due March 6, 2026. Additional information on the contest and the Department’s involvement in the state’s overall Iowa America 250 initiative is detailed in a recent Department feature story. Full contest details can be found on the Department’s Iowa America 250 Student Contest webpage.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Stefanie Wager at stefanie.wager@iowa.gov with questions.
Calling all Iowa middle school students! The 2026 National Civics Bee is now open to students in grades 6–8, and we encourage social studies educators, administrators and community partners to share this exciting opportunity. To enter, students must submit a four-paragraph essay explaining how they would make a difference in their community. Essays should:
- Identify a local challenge,
- Describe actionable steps for change,
- Highlight potential partners who could support the effort, and
- Connect the proposal to the civic values that have shaped our country.
Essays for the competition will be accepted through Feb. 3, 2026, on the National Civics Bee’s application portal. Full instructions for submitting a student essay can be found in the 2026 Essay Application Guide. All students must have the permission of their parents or guardians to participate. The 2026 National Civics Bee is sponsored by a partnership led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Please contact the National Civic Bee at civictrust@uschamber.com with any questions.
Iowa schools have until Dec. 31, 2025, to apply to participate in a new initiative dedicated to supporting the success of Iowa students from military families. Through the inaugural Iowa Purple Star School Program, official designations will be awarded to Iowa schools that show a strong commitment to military-connected students and implement effective strategies that foster stability and achievement.
To earn an Iowa Purple Star School designation, Iowa schools must implement the following requirements:
- Designate a staff member, such as a counselor, teacher or administrator, to serve as a military liaison for students and families.
- Maintain a dedicated webpage with resources tailored to military-connected families.
- Host programs and events that raise awareness and provide support for military-connected students.
- Offer staff professional development focused on the challenges military-connected students may face.
Additional information can be found on the Department’s website.
Please contact Jathan Chicoine, Veterans Education Program Consultant, at jathan.chicoine@iowa.gov with questions.
Last month, as a part of their continued work to return education to the states, the U.S. Department of Education announced six new interagency agreements (IAAs) with four federal agencies.
These interagency agreements do not apply to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) or the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
|
|
The Department will host the next Special Education Policy and Practice Webinar on Jan. 14, 2026, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. via Zoom. In coordination with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, all districts in Iowa are required to complete Department training on discipline procedures for students with disabilities. At least one school administrator from each district in Iowa is required to participate, but all school district administrators are welcome. At the end of the session, the district’s superintendent will receive an email requesting a list of who participated in the Policy and Practice webinar. If you are unable to join live, the session will be recorded and uploaded to the Department’s website.
Join the webinar on Zoom using passcode 431127. No registration is required. The same link will be used for all sessions.
Please also mark your calendar for these other upcoming webinar dates and topics:
- Feb. 11, 2026: Connecting Alternate Assessment (DLM) to Instruction and Licensure
- March 11, 2026: Extended School Year (ESY)
- April 8, 2026: FAPE – Special Requests
- May 13, 2026: Dispute Resolution
- June 10, 2026: End-of-Year Program Evaluation (ACHIEVE) and Year-to-Year Data Comparison
Recordings, materials and resources from the 2025–26 and 2024–25 webinar series are available on the Department’s Policy and Practice Webinar webpage.
Please contact the SDI Literacy Consultant Mary Beilke at mary.beilke@iowa.gov with questions.
IDEA-DA Level 2 and 3 districts will receive professional learning from the Department. Systems coaching will be provided by your Regional Special Education Director or Regional EPC, and practice coaching will be completed by an AEA school team member at no cost to the district. IDEA-DA Level 1 designated districts who want to engage in professional learning in a SDI package will be able to receive this from the AEA at no cost to the district.
Please contact Division Administrator Angelisa Fynaardt at angelisa.fynaardt@iowa.gov with questions.
Through Executive Order 13, Governor Reynolds directs the department to provide an extensive list of resources for Iowa schools to support Iowa’s content standards on Jewish history and related topics. Iowa schools can now access online resources including instructional best practices, links to professional development opportunities and other materials to support their classroom activities on Jewish history, the Holocaust and Israel.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Stefanie Wager at stefanie.wager@iowa.gov with questions.
Beginning January 8, 2026, the ESEA Programs Bureau will host monthly virtual office hours on the second Thursday of each month from 2:30–3:30 p.m. These informal, drop-in style sessions provide LEAs with an opportunity to engage directly with ESEA Program Consultants to discuss topics such as:
- Reimbursement claims
- Applications
- Allowable uses of funds
- Allocations
- Equitable services
- Other program-related questions
Each program will host its own virtual office hours, and participants may join or exit program rooms at their convenience. There is no registration required, and Zoom links will be posted on the Department’s website.
The ESEA Programs Bureau is also posting monthly informational webinars covering a range of ESEA program topics, including the claims process, equitable services, risk assessment and the Consolidated Accountability and Support Application (CASA). These informational sessions are designed to support local education agencies (LEAs) in understanding and meeting ESEA program requirements. The goal is to assist districts in using ESEA funds effectively to address achievement gaps and strengthen student outcomes by applying best practices and ensuring compliance. The webinars will be made available on the Department’s Guidance and Allocations webpage.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Isbelia Arzola at isbelia.arzola@iowa.gov with questions.
The Iowa State Patrol is offering Student Transportation Active Threat Training (STATT) to enhance school bus driver preparedness and safety. This training includes real-world examples of active threat incidents involving school buses—including events that have occurred in Iowa—as well as data and insights on past incidents.
Participants will learn about potential causes of violent behavior in children, common warning signs and proactive strategies to help prevent an incident. The training also addresses how individuals typically respond under extreme stress, techniques for managing that stress and the three options available when facing an active threat.
For more information about STATT or to schedule training, schools may contact their local Iowa State Patrol Public Resource Officer (PRO).
Register to join the next Work-Based Learning (WBL) webinar, Preparing Student-Learners for Construction and Advanced Manufacturing Careers, on Feb. 10, 2026, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. In this webinar, participants can learn more information about a student-learner program and how this type of work-based learning experience can be used to prepare students ages 16-17 years old for careers in construction, advanced manufacturing and more. Visit the Iowa Workforce Development website to explore upcoming webinar topics and watch recordings from previous webinar sessions.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Jodie Smith at jodie.smith@iowa.gov with questions.
Transfer in Iowa, a comprehensive website dedicated to postsecondary transfer information, is available for any Iowa college student and provides guidance, connections and information for a seamless transfer between schools. Established in 2005 through a legislated partnership between the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa’s three regent universities and the 15 community colleges across the state, Transfer in Iowa is a one-stop resource for students planning to transfer college credits.
Students can easily find information on transfer advising and distance education at Transfer in Iowa. Students who potentially need to transfer to a regent university prior to completing their associate degree can also find information on reverse credit transfer, which allows them to apply credits earned at the university back to the community college. Materials on transfer agreements, transition guides, financial aid, housing and links to each of the universities’ transfer process are also included on the website.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Derreck Calkins at derreck.calkins@iowa.gov with questions.
|
|
The FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Program grant application is available via the Shared Visions Program webpage in the FY27 Preschool Grant Application header. To be considered for funding, applications must be submitted to the Department through the online grant application system, IowaGrants.gov, by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2026. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis contingent upon the annual state appropriation.
Additional information regarding the application process and program requirements may be found on the Shared Visions Program webpage. Questions regarding the competitive grant process and application must be submitted in writing to Marianne Adams at marianne.adams@iowa.gov. All submitted questions will be addressed in a Frequently Asked Questions document and posted to the Shared Visions Program webpage.
Please contact Education Consultant Marianne Adams at marianne.adams@iowa.gov with questions.
The latest round of the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant, supporting the establishment and expansion of high-quality out-of-school time programs. The grant is open for applications through Dec. 31, 2025.
The 21st CCLC grant provides children and youth with academic and enrichment supports in a safe environment when school is not in session, including before or after school, on in-service days or during holiday and summer breaks. The grant serves communities where at least 40 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Iowa schools as well as community-based, faith-based, nonprofit and government organizations are encouraged to apply. Applicants may also include a consortium of combined school districts or organizations serving students in the community.
Grant application materials for the 2026-27 21st CCLC grant can be found on the Department’s website. Additional details on the 21st CCLC grant were featured in a recent Department headline story.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Joe Collins at joe.collins@iowa.gov with questions.
Beginning July 1, 2025, all student abuse investigations will be conducted by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This does not remove the responsibility of the Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) participation in this process. All suspicions of student abuse will be initially filed with HHS, via their 800 number (800-362-2178). If the complaint is credible, HHS will open an investigation, reaching out to the BoEE for Superintendent and Board Secretary of the school district responsible for employment of the individual. Within 30 days, HHS will complete their investigation and determine if the abuse allegation is credible.
- All allegations of student abuse must be submitted to HHS (licensed or non-licensed staff).
- If founded, a complaint must be filed with the BoEE.
- If unfounded, but the local district still believes the incident rose to an abuse situation, the local district still may file a complaint.
Please contact Bureau Chief and Executive Director Mike Cavin at mike.cavin@iowa.gov or General Counsel Thomas Mayes at thomas.mayes@iowa.gov with questions.
Consistent with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs’ 2025 findings as preempted in 2024 and addressed in House File 2612, the Department is assuming its general supervision responsibilities for the IDEA, Part B application process and related fiscal monitoring.
Historically, AEAs have overseen district accountability and fiscal monitoring processes. The Department’s work to restore general supervision responsibilities to the agency, consistent with federal findings, includes moving the application process, as well as the claiming process, to the EdPortal.
The application component is anticipated to be available in January, and the Department will host a statewide webinar to show districts how to use the application for budgeting. The initial claims period is anticipated to be available through the same mechanism in March, at which time another statewide webinar will be held to train districts on the claiming process. While the Department conducts its federally required monitoring responsibilities, this also will create a streamlined process for school districts to apply to use and claim reimbursement for such funds.
Please contact Bureau Chief Kassandra Cline at kassandra.cline@iowa.gov with questions.
The Early Literacy and Mathematics: Assessment and Intervention document was created to support schools in making informed instructional decisions while implementing three distinct pieces of legislation spanning multiple grade levels, content areas and data sources. This integrated decision-making matrix helps schools respond more effectively to both existing and recent data so they can better meet students’ needs and allocate resources efficiently.
The document outlines how students are identified as persistently at risk, the required actions schools must take and the criteria for exiting support. It also details expectations for engaging families, requirements for informing parents of their retention rights in reading and definitions of key terms.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Greg Feldmann at greg.feldmann@iowa.gov with questions.
|
|
Professor Angela Duckworth has recognized Iowa’s leadership in helping students stay focused in school. Building on this work, the Department and Iowa schools are partnering with her team to identify best practices for implementing the new state law that restricts student cell phone use. More than 1,300 educators—representing 25% of Iowa schools—have already shared their insights. If you haven’t yet, please take a few minutes to complete the survey at www.phonesinfocus.org.
Please contact Division Administrator of PK-12 Learning Tina Wahlert at tina.wahlert@iowa.gov with questions.
The draft social studies standards were presented to the State Board of Education for a first read on Dec. 4, 2025, and a second read is scheduled for the Board’s Jan. 15, 2026, meeting, at which time the standards may be adopted. If adoption occurs, districts should begin planning for implementation.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Stefanie Wager at stefanie.wager@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department will continue sharing brief legal reminders for school leaders in this and future issues of the Update.
Parent Access to Student Records (FERPA)
- All parents of PK–12 students have the right to inspect and review their students’ personally identifiable information under FERPA—regardless of custodial status. Schools must provide either parent with access unless you have documented legal evidence (e.g., court order, custody agreement, child welfare directive, protection from domestic abuse) that demonstrates that a parent does not have access rights (34 C.F.R. § 99.4). If questions arise, please consult your agency’s legal counsel.
Open Meetings Law: Voting Requirements
- When a meeting falls under Iowa’s open meetings law, all votes must be recorded in the minutes (Iowa Code § 21.3), and only three voting options are permitted: “yes,” “no,” or “present/abstain.” Consensus-building techniques such as dot voting, fist-to-five, and gallery walks can support discussion, but they do not satisfy legal voting requirements. Votes must be recorded unless they are unanimous. Under no circumstances are secret ballots permitted.
Please contact your local counsel or General Counsel Thomas Mayes at thomas.mayes@iowa.gov with questions.
An updated Letter to the Field is available on the Department’s website. This annual letter summarizes legislation enacted during the 2025 Legislative Session and includes links to relevant implementation resources. To improve usability, substantive updates will be noted with a publishing date (e.g., Updated 11/17/2025).
Please contact Legislative Liaison Eric St Clair at eric.stclair@iowa.gov with questions.
|
|
 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.
(Revised 7-1-25)
It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, 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, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, telephone number: 303-844-5695, TDD number: 800-877-8339, email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov
|
|
|
|
|
