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Iowa’s high school graduation rate increased half of a percentage point, reaching 88.8% for the graduating class of 2025. That means, in our class of 2025, nearly 1,000 more Iowans earned their high school diploma, with graduation rates increasing 0.5 percentage points from 88.3% for the class of 2024. This marks the highest graduation rate in the past five years and the first time since 2020 that Iowa’s graduation rate has exceeded prepandemic levels.
In addition to overall gains, several student groups experienced significant graduation rate gains, including:
- Up 1.6 percentage points for students with disabilities (gains three times higher than Iowa’s overall gains)
- Up 1.0 percentage point for students with low-income backgrounds (gains two times higher than Iowa’s overall gains)
- Up 4.9 percentage points for students experiencing homelessness (gains ten times higher than Iowa’s overall gains)
More information on Iowa’s graduation rates and dropout rates, including rates by school district and student group, are available on the Department of Education’s Graduation Rates and Dropout Rates webpage.
Please contact Division Administrator Jay Pennington at jay.pennington@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department recently announced that 17 Iowa schools across 7 districts were the first to be awarded the distinguished Iowa Purple Star School Program designation, following enactment of the Department’s prefiled legislative proposal in 2025. As an Iowa Purple Star School, these schools demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and learners.
Held in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child, all schools were honored during a ceremony at the State Capitol on April 23. To earn an Iowa Purple Star School designation, each school prioritizes:
- Providing resources tailored to supporting military-connected families, including a dedicated military liaison and dedicated webpage.
- Hosting programs or events that raise community awareness about the unique challenges faced by military-connected students.
- Empowering educators and staff to best support military-connected students through tailored professional development.
Additional information on the Iowa Purple Star School Program can be found on the Department’s Purple Star Schools webpage. Photos from the ceremony can be viewed on the Department’s Flickr gallery.
Please forward questions about the Purple Star School designation to purple.star@iowa.gov.
The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development recently announced the state is the first in the nation to launch its application for short-term, in-demand postsecondary programs seeking to serve students with low-income backgrounds through federal Workforce Pell grants. This is an important milestone supporting an outcomes-driven, coordinated postsecondary and workforce system that advances economic mobility for Iowans.
By expanding federal Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, non-degree programs, which are between eight and 14 weeks in duration, Iowa is accelerating the path to high-demand, high-skill and high-wage careers for more Iowans. Working in partnership with postsecondary education and employers, Iowa’s implementation of Workforce Pell Grants directly aligns education programs with regional labor market needs in fields spanning health care, manufacturing, construction trades and information technology, among others. Additional details are available on the Department’s Workforce Pell webpage.
Please contact Bureau Chiefs Amy Gieseke at amy.gieseke@iowa.gov or Ryan Zantingh at ryan.zantingh@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department is currently seeking public feedback on proposed updates to the performance-level descriptors (PLDs) that will set new achievement levels on the new state summative assessment, known as the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). The statewide survey seeking feedback will be open through Thursday, May 14.
The PLDs are descriptions of the knowledge and skills a learner must demonstrate to be classified in one of Iowa’s four new achievement levels. Simply put, the PLD bridges the test score to what a student knows and can do. Currently, student performance on the state summative assessment is scored at three levels: Advanced, Proficient and Not Yet Proficient. The proposed new performance-level descriptors will assess student performance at four levels: Below, Approaching, Meeting and Exceeding grade-level expectations.
The Department is conducting Performance Standard Setting Panels from June 8–12 to advise on the new achievement levels (“Below,” “Approaching,” “Meeting” or “Exceeding” grade level expectations). Receiving and considering your feedback on the draft PLDs is a critical next step.
Please contact Division Administrator Jay Pennington at jay.pennington@iowa.gov with questions.
Standing in front of more than 7,000 FFA members at Hilton Coliseum with his fellow Golden Owl Award finalists, West Liberty High School agricultural education instructor Zach Morris was announced as the 2026 Golden Owl Award winner.
Presented at the 98th Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference and sponsored by Nationwide Insurance through the Iowa FFA Foundation, the Golden Owl Award recognizes outstanding work in agricultural education and promotes the importance of the field. Iowa is one of 15 states that honors its top agriculture educator with the Golden Owl Award that includes a $3,000 prize.
Please contact Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Consultant Alan Spencer at alan.spencer@iowa.gov with questions.
Decision Week, which occurs May 18–22, is an important opportunity to celebrate the postsecondary plans of Iowa high school seniors. Each year, the Department supports schools and students in advancing their next steps—whether in employment, apprenticeships, military service or degree programs. Support includes planning assistance, resources, promotion of school-based events and participation in celebrations when possible. Registered schools will receive a Decision Day toolkit with resources to support local events.
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Danielle Sampson at danielle.sampson@iowa.gov with questions.
The American College Application Campaign (ACAC),has named Southwest Valley High School a 2025 School of Excellence in recognition of its contributions to Iowa’s ACAC efforts. Southwest Valley is one of just 26 schools nationwide to receive this distinction for increasing the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income backgrounds pursuing postsecondary education.
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Danielle Sampson at danielle.sampson@iowa.gov with questions.
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The Department has prioritized limited resources to offer you a wide range of evidence-based, free Summer 2026 Professional Learning Opportunities, including:
- Classroom management and behavior supports (e.g., CHAMPS, early-stage interventions, behavior strategies)
- Student engagement and accessible instruction across content areas
- Language development and supports for English learners
- Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) across preschool, literacy, significant disabilities and secondary transition
- Leadership development, including HQIM implementation and charter school supports
- Work-based learning and postsecondary readiness
- Computer science integration into core instruction
- Nutrition, safety and compliance training for school programs
- Statewide professional learning structures, including coaching, cohorts and ongoing support
All programming emphasizes evidence-based practices proven to work for kids, their practical application and building system-level capacity statewide through coaching, collaboration and aligned systems of support. All registration links are included in the professional development guide.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Sarah Seney at sarah.seney@iowa.gov with questions.
As you plan your summer schedule, be sure to include Every Learner Forward, a three-day professional learning opportunity focused on enhancing high-quality instruction in every classroom.
Held July 7-9 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Every Learner Forward will feature interactive, intensive learning sessions that provide strategies and best practices that can impact student achievement and overall success. Teachers, instructional coaches, building and district leaders and educational partners are strongly encouraged to attend.
Iowa educators can now register to attend this summer’s Every Learner Forward. There is no cost to attend this professional learning event. Attendees are permitted to register for only one session per day, as some sessions are multiple days in length.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Sarah Seney at sarah.seney@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, is seeking input from school administrators on the development of a new behavioral threat assessment and case management program. This initiative, aligned with Iowa Senate File 583, is grounded in evidence-based practices and tailored to Iowa’s K–12 schools. The project team will host a series of webinars and listening sessions to gather feedback from school administrators, school mental health professionals and school safety personnel. For dates and registration details, please visit the Department’s school safety webpage.
Please contact School Safety Consultant DeAnne Sesker at deanne.sesker@iowa.gov with questions.
The New Special Education Directors summer learning series is designed to help district special education directors start the new academic year off right. The course will provide essential tools, timelines, and resources needed for a new director to lead a successful special education program in Iowa. Over the course of the series, participants will become familiar with key topics like special education finance, ACHIEVE, teacher rosters, teacher licensure, special education count and alternate assessment.
Dates for this course are: *Please note a time change.
July 22, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
August 10, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
August 18, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Join the learning series on Zoom using passcode 431127. No registration is required. The link remains the same for each session.
Please contact Division Administrator Leisa Breitfelder at leisa.breitfelder@iowa.gov with questions.
The Special Education Leadership Series is designed for administrators responsible for leading and supporting special education programs. The course is intended to build a leader’s capacity to ensure legally compliant, instructionally effective and student-centered special education systems that deliver a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for eligible learners. Participants will strengthen their ability to lead special education through a systems-based approach that integrates legal requirements, instructional frameworks and organizational leadership practices.
Register now through the Department’s flier to join the learning beginning on Sept. 16.
Please contact Division Administrator Angelisa Fynaardt at angelisa.fynaardt@iowa.gov with questions.
This comprehensive, foundational course is designed for emerging special education teachers and builds essential knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities through legally compliant and instructionally effective practices.
Participants will explore the legal and ethical responsibilities of special education, develop fluency in using Iowa’s SDI Framework to guide instruction and will gain an understanding of procedural requirements within the ACHIEVE system. The course uses a flipped learning model, featuring nine monthly learning sessions (60–90 minutes each) released on the first Wednesday of each month. In addition, participants will engage in two 45-minute, after-school coaching sessions to support application of the content and skills.
Register now through the Department’s flier to join the learning beginning on Sept. 2.
Please contact Division Administrator Angelisa Fynaardt at angelisa.fynaardt@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department will host the next Special Education Policy and Practice Webinar on Dispute Resolution on May 13 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
In addition to reviewing current statewide and national trends, the webinar will provide an overview of the state complaint, due process and mediation processes along with the corresponding timelines. The team will also explore prevention strategies districts can use to reduce conflicts and improve collaboration with families.
Join the webinar on Zoom using the passcode 431127. No registration is required, and the same link will be used for all sessions. 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.
The Department will host the next Special Education Nonpublic Webinar on Functional Behavior Assessments, Behavior Intervention Plans, and Manifestation Determinations on May 20 from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Join the webinar on Zoom using passcode 431127. No registration is required, and the same link will be used for all sessions. The webinar recordings and resources are posted on a new webpage for Accredited Nonpublic Schools and Special Education.
Please contact the Special Education Nonpublic School Liaison Janelle Danner at janelle.danner@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department is now accepting proposals for presentations, panelists and roundtable discussions at the 2026 Iowa STEM Summit, taking place on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Iowa educators, students, community partners and other STEM stakeholders are invited to submit a proposal for consideration. This year’s theme is “Where Bold Ideas Take Flight.”
Proposals across all STEM disciplines and content areas are encouraged. Ideal proposals are informative presentations that share information rather than promote a specific brand or product.
Submissions are being accepted through July 29. Speakers will be notified of acceptance by early September.
Please contact STEM Bureau Chief Justin Lewis at justin.lewis@iowa.gov with questions.
Annual Course to College program registration for the 2026–27 school year is now open. The program provides year-round support for school counselors and College and Career Transition Counselors (CCTCs) to strengthen postsecondary access and transitions, including free publications and student-level incentives to support completion of key postsecondary milestones. Supports include FAFSA and financial aid guidance, weekly virtual sessions featuring program updates and best practices, and annual in-person convenings to facilitate collaboration across Iowa’s college and career support systems. Currently, 240 Iowa high schools are registered for the 2025–26 school year.
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Danielle Sampson at danielle.sampson@iowa.gov with questions.
The final webinar in the Department’s American 250 series will be held on May 7 from 4–5 p.m. in partnership with Iowa PBS focusing on Artifact Iowa. Each Artifact Iowa episode centers on a single artifact and explores the broader human story behind it, highlighting moments of innovation, resilience, creativity, and change.
Recordings of all prior webinars and related resources – including sessions focused on
Revolutionary Iowans, The Intersection of Civic Discourse and the American Founding, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Our Founding Principles and the U.S. Constitution – are available on the Department’s Iowa America 250 Webinar Series and Recordings webpage.
Please contact Bureau Chief Tom Wood at tom.wood@iowa.gov with questions.
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The Department has launched a new opportunity to support Iowa educators who have recently earned a dyslexia specialist endorsement. Established through the Department’s proposal in House File 890, the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement Stipend program offers Iowa educators a one-time stipend of $2,000 for earning this specific endorsement.
Educators must be currently employed in an educational institution in Iowa and provide a letter of employment with their application. All eligible educators must have completed approved dyslexia specialist endorsement and have the endorsement listed on their teaching license. Any educator who is currently pursuing, but has not fully completed the endorsement course, is not yet eligible for the stipend.
Iowa educators with a completed dyslexia specialist endorsement that is listed on their teaching license can apply for the stipend in IowaGrants through June 30.
Please contact Science of Reading and Dyslexia Consultant Wanda Steuri at wanda.steuri@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department’s new WBL-LIFT grant competition will support the recruitment, preparation, and retention of CTE teachers by expanding access to WBL-focused professional development and credentialing.
School districts applying must demonstrate clear and sustainable plans to support professional learning and credentialing in the Multioccupations (MOC) Endorsement, the Work Experience Coordinator (WEC) Endorsement, and the Work-Based Learning Supervisor Authorization. Successful grants must increase the number of educators qualified to lead, supervise, and sustain high-quality WBL programs in Iowa. The Department will also prioritize supporting school districts identified with a WBL participation rate of 20% or below on the latest Postsecondary Readiness Index.
Applications are due June 30. Additional information is available in the IowaGrants application.
Please contact Bureau Chief Cale Hutchings at cale.hutchings@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department’s College and Career Transition Counselor (CCTC) grant competition is now open. CCTCs work directly through community colleges and local high schools to support the transition to postsecondary education and careers by making targeted connections with students and families at crucial points in the college-going process. Currently, more than 60 CCTCs serve over 100 high schools through 12 community colleges. The grants provide $50,000 per position over three years.
The application window in IowaGrants will remain open through June 15.
Please contact Bureau Chief Cale Hutchings at cale.hutchings@iowa.gov with questions.
The WIIN Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant, offered through the Department, provides training and resources to help schools ensure safe drinking water by testing for lead using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 3Ts model.
The program supports schools and school-sponsored child care centers in promoting water quality and safety through voluntary testing, communication, education, and mitigation. Grant funds may be used for initial testing, re-testing when lead levels exceed state or federal action levels, mitigation efforts, and related educational resources The State Hygienic Lab will provide test kits, including bottles, return labels, and required forms.
To learn more and sign up, visit the Lead – Water Testing webpage.
Please contact the Administrative Consultant Lyn Jenkins at lyn.jenkins@iowa.gov with questions.
Every Iowa school district is eligible to participate in the Midwestern Higher Education Compact’s (MHEC) Procured Technology Contracts. MHEC’s technology contracts provide access to discounted rates for computers, hardware, software, licensing, cloud services, data and voice networking, mobile device management, support services and cybersecurity services.
Please contact Bureau Chief Ryan Zantingh at ryan.zantingh@iowa.gov with questions.
Iowa STEM has awarded 17 STEM BEST Program model schools more than $300,000 to support real-world STEM learning opportunities for Iowa students this summer. Through STEM BEST Explore, schools can extend the work of existing STEM BEST Program models beyond the traditional school year. These expanded opportunities allow districts to engage students who may not otherwise be able to participate and to deepen the overall impact of their programs.
Please contact Iowa STEM Communications Specialist Jan Lockhart at jan.lockhart@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department recently announced 21 Shared Visions Preschool Grant awards for the next five-year grant cycle, beginning on July 1. All awardees of the Shared Visions Preschool Program serve children ages 3-5 who meet eligibility requirements and follow approved program standards. Funding must be used by the Child Development Coordinating Council (CDCC) to award grants for programs that provide services to families and children meeting identified risk factors.
A list of awardees is available on the Department’s Shared Visions webpage.
Please contact Education Consultant Marianne Adams at marianne.adams@iowa.gov with questions.
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As schools prepare for retention conversations this spring under House File 2618, it is important to note that ISASP data will not be available due to the administration of a new state summative assessment and ongoing standards-setting work.
In the absence of ISASP results, schools are encouraged to use all currently available data to inform these discussions. This includes spring screening results, formative assessment data, and ongoing classroom performance, along with meaningful consideration of parent input. Retention conversations should reflect a comprehensive, up-to-date understanding of each student’s progress and needs, ensuring decisions are grounded in the best available evidence.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Greg Feldmann at greg.feldmann@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department’s School Improvement team is now implementing a new risk assessment as part of the accreditation process that focuses on student outcomes, compliance history, and infrastructure factors. This approach is designed to identify schools and districts for on-site visits that closely mirror ESSA support visits. This process will bridge the universal desk audit and ESSA monitoring processes by delivering targeted, data-informed support to districts. Additional details are available in the District Accreditation Monitoring - Risk Assessment document.
Please contact Bureau Chief Joanne Tubbs at joanne.tubbs2@iowa.gov with questions.
The Bureau of Performance and Analytics has opened the window for three end-of-year data collections, with a fourth opening in May. Please ensure your team is working toward timely completion of the following collections:
- SIU is open, due June 1
- Spring BEDS is open, due June 30
- SRI is open, due June 24
- Assessment Accountability opens May 1, due June 25
Please contact Rachel Kruse at rachel.kruse@iowa.gov for questions regarding SRI and Assessment Accountability, Jennifer Schroeder-Thomas at jennifer.thomas@iowa.gov for questions regarding SIU and Shelly Wolterman at shelly.neese@iowa.gov for questions regarding Spring BEDS.
All schools planning to implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2026–27 school year—including both new and currently participating schools—must complete the required intent form by June 30. Schools that do not submit the form by the deadline will not be eligible to operate CEP in 2026–27. The U.S. Department of Agriculture CEP Factsheet provides a brief overview of the alternative claiming process.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Patti Harding at patti.harding@iowa.gov with any questions.
Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards: Following its first revision team, public comment survey, public forums, and second review team, the Department is presenting the second proposed revised draft Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (IQPPS) to the State Board of Education for a second read and consideration of adoption at its May 14 meeting.
Iowa Early Learning Standards Standards: Following its first revision team, public comment survey, public forums, and second review team, the Department is presenting the second proposed revised draft Iowa Early Learning Standards (IELS) to the State Board of Education for a first read at its May 14 meeting.
Please contact Bureau Chief Kimberly Villotti at kimberly.villotti@iowa.gov with questions regarding IQPPS and IELS.
The following information supports educators and administrators converting their initial teaching or initial administrator licenses to a standard license.
Initial Administrator License
To convert an initial administrator license, applicants must:
- Meet the experience requirement: one full year in an Iowa public school or two full years in a nonpublic or non-Iowa school in a licensed administrative role.
- Be reported as an administrator on Fall BEDS Staff; if not reported, applicants must work with the Iowa Department of Education to correct the assignment.
Initial Teaching License
To convert an initial teaching license, applicants must:
- Meet the experience requirement: two full years in an Iowa public school or three full years in a nonpublic, SWVPP, or non-Iowa school in a licensed teaching role.
- Complete mentoring and induction requirements.
- Be evaluated and meet the Iowa Teaching Standards.
Applications may be submitted beginning June 1.
A one-year extension is available if:
- The experience requirement has not been met and the license is expiring, or
- The teacher has not yet met all Iowa Teaching Standards.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Josh Moser at josh.moser@iowa.gov with any questions.
The statutory deadline to submit an electronic (word-searchable PDF) copy of the FY2025 audit report to the Auditor of State was March 31, and that deadline has now passed. Copies were also required to be submitted to the Iowa Department of Education by that date. Please note that the deadline to request an extension from the Auditor of State has also passed.
If you have not been granted an extension and have not yet submitted your FY2025 audit report, please submit it immediately by emailing the report to submitreports@aos.iowa.gov and to the Department at ed.audit@iowa.gov.
Please contact Chief Financial Officer Sandi Hurtado-Peters at Sandra.Hurtado-Peters1@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.
(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
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