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Earlier this month, the Department announced the ten student winners of our Iowa America 250 Student Contest, which challenged students in grades 3–12 to reflect on the American founding, Iowa’s important role in U.S. and World History, and how they live our founding principles today. Over 180 students submitted an essay, poem or video for the contest. All submissions were evaluated by our Iowa America 250 partners — including by our state partners such as the State Historical Museum, Secretary of State’s office, Iowa PBS and Iowa Economic Development Authority, as well as community-based partners like Living History Farms.
Winners for grades 3-5 are:
- Annora Roberts, Meskwaki Settlement School
- Mary Elouise Bowman, Waukee Community School District
- Manvi Tiwari, Waukee Community School District
- Henry Hammes, Van Meter Community School District
Winners for grades 6-8 are:
- Madhav Ganesh Kumar, Johnston Community School District
- Jason Dong, Iowa City Community School District
- Piper Stauffer, Homeschool student in the North Butler School District
Winners for grades 9-12 are:
- Abu Saddiq, Fort Madison Community School District
- Liza Mendelev, Ames Community School District
- Georgia Clark, West Liberty Community School District
The winning submissions were honored by Gov. Reynolds and will be displayed at the 2026 Iowa State Fair.
View the submissions on the Department’s America 250 Student Contest webpage.
In mid-May, the U.S. Department of Education announced the names of the semifinalists for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars program.This year, nine outstanding Iowa students are being recognized as semifinalists for their high achievements in academics, CTE and in the arts, which are highlighted in a headline story on the Department’s website.
The nine students were from the following Iowa high schools:
- Chetas Aduri, Ames High School
- Laura Chen, Ames High School
- Vienna B. Rossmanith, Ames High School
- Lucas M. Hagen, Bondurant-Farrar High School
- Bennett Scott Hansen, Charles City High School
- Amal E. Eltayib, City High School - Iowa City
- Brigid C. Bonner, Denison High School
- Christopher Kenneth Gebhardt, Guttenberg High School
- Jackson Wallace Andrew Lampe, Wahlert Catholic High School - Dubuque
Finalists will be announced later this summer.
This week, the Department announced the winners of the 2026 School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, showcasing student creativity and commitment to keeping their peers safe on the road. The following winners were selected from three grade level bands and were judged on safety impact, originality, artistic quality and visual impact of their safety message.
- Grades K-2 - Eleanor Draeger, Humboldt Community School District
- Grades 3-5 - Scout Sexton, Benton Community School District
- Grades 6-8 - Lexi Wiley, Benton Community School District
The poster competition is part of a national initiative to promote school bus safety, encouraging students from kindergarten through eighth grade to illustrate the importance of safe practices around school buses. Prints of the winning posters will be produced and distributed across the state during School Bus Safety Week in October. They will also be entered into the national School Bus Safety Poster contest. The winning posters can be accessed on the Department’s School Bus Safety Contest webpage.
Please contact Bureau Chief Kassandra Cline at kassandra.cline@iowa.gov with questions.
The 2026 Golden Root Award recipients were announced earlier this month, recognizing schools, early child care providers and residential child care institutions for their use and promotion of healthy local foods. Sponsored by the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition, this year’s Golden Root Award winners included Decorah Community School District as the 2026 School of the Year and Tri-County Head Start as the 2026 Farm to Early Child Care and Education (ECE) Program of the Year.
Decorah was recognized for its work to connect local foods and the school nutrition program to classroom learning experiences, such as gardening and health. Tri-County was honored for its commitment to its Farm to ECE mission, “Improve Nutrition One Bite at a Time.” Their approach is rooted in the core elements of farm to school, beginning with hands-on garden experiences.
Please contact Section Chief Meg Collins at meg.collins@iowa.gov with questions.
The latest video in Iowa Department of Education’s ‘Profiles of Excellence’ series features Storm Lake Community School District and its dedicated educators, passionate apprentices and talented students who, together, are advancing our shared priority of supporting a strong educator pipeline. Through successful participation in Iowa’s Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program, the district is supporting high school students and graduates in earning associate degrees and paraeducator certificates while also empowering paraeducators currently serving in classrooms to earn bachelor’s degrees and teaching licenses. Watch the video on the Department’s YouTube channel.
Please contact Communications Director Heather Doe at heather.doe2@iowa.gov if you would like your district or school to be featured in an upcoming profile.
Taking effect immediately upon enactment, House File 2754 establishes a new reporting requirement regarding open enrollment applications, requiring that a district “shall document the reason for the denial of a request and submit information related to the denial to the department of education in a manner prescribed by the department.”
Accordingly, the Department has begun immediately collecting this data for the recently concluded school year 2026-27 open enrollment period, which closed March 1, 2026. To facilitate this collection in the most efficient manner possible, the Department has developed a streamlined form to collect both the total number of applications and the specific reasons for denial of an open enrollment request. The statutorily required collection is due June 30.
Please contact Bureau Chief Adam Enter at adam.enter@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department recently issued guidance regarding the new 30% poverty threshold for Title I, Part A Schoolwide eligibility, newly including 593 of 975 schools receiving these funds. A Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program provides schools with greater flexibility to use federal funds to address schoolwide needs and support all students. Helping align resources to local priorities and drive continuous improvement, schoolwide programs allow schools to invest in strategies such as:
- High-dose tutoring,
- Extended learning time,
- Interventionists and expanded instructional coaching,
- Evidence-based professional development,
- School-level high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) upgrades, and more.
Additional information on participation requirements, timelines and the application process will be released when the Selection of Schools application reopens. The ESEA Bureau will also host a webinar in the coming weeks to provide guidance and answer questions.
Please contact Bureau Chief Jillian Dotson at jillian.dotson@iowa.gov with questions.
Iowa is empowering a school district and nonpublic school to choose – in meaningful consultation – to simplify the administration of equitable services to eligible nonpublic schools. As a reminder, this opt-in feature does not impact the equitable services proportionate share (amount of funds). Now, the Department has completed the procurement process and secured a third-party master services agreement with Catapult Learning to provide equitable services to nonpublic school students and teachers if chosen through meaningful consultation for the 2026-27 school year.
Please contact Ombudsman Luke Markway at luke.markway@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department’s School Improvement team is implementing a new risk assessment as part of the accreditation process that considers student outcomes, compliance history and infrastructure factors. This approach is designed to identify schools and districts that may benefit from targeted on-site support aligned to ESSA support visits. The risk assessment bridges the universal desk audit and ESSA monitoring efforts by providing more 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.
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This summer, the Department will again host regional professional development opportunities, including the following:
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CHAMPS focuses on establishing clear behavioral and academic expectations to help create classroom environments where all students and teachers can be successful.
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Early State Intervention focuses on helping educators intervene early using evidence-based instructional and support strategies.
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Engaging and Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviors focuses on providing practical, proven strategies to help students manage behavior, minimize disruptions, and maximize learning for all.
Additional professional development opportunities will also include:
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Every Learner Forward conference is a free, three-day professional learning event (July 7–9) focused on strengthening high-quality instruction and improving outcomes for all students.
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SIOP Professional Learning is a two-day training led by the Center for Applied Linguistics that provides educators with practical strategies for integrating language development and content instruction.
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School Nutrition
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Recipe Standardization Training for School Meals (July 7, July 9, and July 21) focuses on recipe standardization, meal pattern compliance, nutrition analysis and culinary best practices.
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New Directors: Know Your School Meal Requirements (August 3–4) is a two-day training covering program administration, compliance, meal requirements, food safety, financial management and operations.
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Back-to-School Nutrition Conference (August 11–12) focuses on school nutrition operations, menu planning, food allergies, financial management, procurement and program compliance.
Educators can register on the Department’s website.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Sarah Seney at sarah.seney@iowa.gov with questions.
Legal and Ethical Foundations and Effective Instructional Practices for Emerging Special Education Teachers is a comprehensive foundational course designed for emerging special education teachers. The course provides essential knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities through legally compliant, instructionally effective practices. Participants will explore the legal and ethical responsibilities associated with special education, build fluency in using Iowa’s SDI Framework to guide instruction, and deepen their understanding of special education procedures within the ACHIEVE system.
Special Education Leadership Series for Administrators is a comprehensive professional learning series designed for administrators responsible for leading and supporting special education programs. The series builds leadership capacity to support legally compliant, instructionally effective, and student-centered systems that ensure students receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Participants will strengthen their ability to lead special education through a systems-based approach that integrates legal requirements, instructional frameworks, and organizational leadership practices.
NEW Special Education Directors Series will be held in July and August and is designed to provide special education administrators with the essential tools, timelines and resources needed to lead a successful special education program in Iowa. The course includes content on state and federal special education finance, ACHIEVE, teacher rosters, teacher licensure, district developed service delivery plans, child count and alternate assessment. Dates and times are in the linked flyer along with the Zoom link.
Please contact Division Administrator Leisa Breitfelder at leisa.breitfelder@iowa.gov with questions.
The Iowa Department of Education has partnered with LRP Publications to bring DirectSTEP® eCourses at no charge to teachers and administrators. The goal of the Iowa Department of Education is to prepare all students to be successful in a college and/or career upon graduation from high school and to close the achievement gap for learners with disabilities. In order to help support these goals, the Special Education Division of the Iowa Department of Education is providing access to LRP Publications’ DirectSTEP® e-Learning courses at no cost to participants in each district in the state in order to assist in achieving these goals statewide.
Please contact Division Administrator Leisa Breitfelder at leisa.breitfelder@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department is offering a two-day virtual professional development opportunity, Preschool Foundations, which focuses on high-quality universal tier in preschool. It will be held on June 9-10 and will address the essential elements including relationships, assessment, planning, teaching and involving families. It is offered at no cost, and license renewal credit is also available. Register for one of the limited spots available.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Mary Breyfogle at mary.breyfogle@iowa.gov
with questions.
Starting in the fall of 2026, a new Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) Mathematics professional learning package will be offered for IDEA-DA Level 1 districts, with options for both elementary and secondary staff. Training dates, locations and additional information can be found in the SDI Math Professional Learning document, including a registration form.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Donna Sump McClain at donna.sump-mcclain@iowa.gov with questions.
The last Policy and Practice webinar of the school year will be held on June 10 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The topic is End of Year Program Evaluation. This webinar will provide an overview of how building administrators can conduct year-end special education program evaluation using the general supervision framework and Iowa’s continuous improvement model to improve special education outcomes for students with disabilities. Join the webinars on Zoom using passcode 431127.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Mary Beilke at mary.beilke@iowa.gov with questions.
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The Department recently launched the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement Program application to support Iowa educators who have earned this important endorsement. Established in 2025 through a Department proposal included in HF 890, the program provides eligible Iowa educators with a one-time stipend of $2,000.
The dyslexia specialist endorsement was first introduced in 2021 and requires educators to complete 18 semester hours focused on dyslexia strategies and instruction. Coursework includes dyslexia knowledge, the psychology of language and reading, curriculum and instruction, assessment, diagnosis and evaluation and practicum experiences. Educators may apply through June 30.
Please contact Dyslexia/Science of Reading Consultant Wanda Steuri at wanda.steuri@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department is partnering with national education research experts to investigate literacy tutoring models. The study examines how high-intensity human tutoring compares with AI-supported tutoring, supporting Iowa’s ongoing efforts to advance literacy and ensure students become strong readers. Specifically, it compares 1) AI-only tutoring, 2) Human-plus-AI tutoring, 3) Human-only tutoring and 4) a control group across multiple districts. The project also works with our university partners to deploy our future teachers as tutors, providing approximately 1,000 students across participating districts with additional tutoring support. The Department is currently identifying participating districts and higher education partners.
Please contact Educator Quality Consultant Lindsay Harrison at lindsay.harrison@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department is launching a new grant program inspired by your feedback to recognize school districts demonstrating excellence in postsecondary readiness, as reflected in metrics from the Iowa School Performance Profiles. This opportunity will be available to schools exceeding the state average on the Postsecondary Readiness Index in College Credit and/or Work-Based Learning. Priority consideration will be given to schools serving a high percentage of students from lower-income households. Invitations will be sent to eligible schools on Aug. 1, with the application window open from Aug. 15 through Sept. 15.
Awarded schools will receive a $50,000 grant to highlight successful outcomes, identify promising college and career readiness practices, and support the expansion of these practices to benefit additional students.
Please contact Community Engagement Coordinator Anne Thomas at anne.thomas@iowa.gov with questions.
The Department recently released the Approved Industry-Recognized Credentials List for the 2026-27 school year, featuring a new three-tier system that identifies credentials aligned to Iowa’s high-demand, high-skill and high-wage careers. The list is now available in a searchable spreadsheet format and is accompanied by the IRC List Technical Assistance Document to help students, families, educators and counselors use credentials to support career and postsecondary planning, including different scenarios that illustrate how the credentials list can be used.
For more information on industry-recognized credentials or the 2026-27 Industry-Recognized Credentials Approved List, visit the Department’s webpage.
Please contact Education Program Consultant Jodie Smith at jodie.smith@iowa.gov with questions.
Each year, Iowa high schools are eligible to receive recognition of their outstanding FAFSA achievements with the Department’s FAFSA Focused Awards. Determinations for awards are made based on FAFSA rates as of June 30, based on the following eligibility criteria:
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FAFSA Focused School of Achievement:
Schools that meet and/or exceed their FAFSA competition goal
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FAFSA Focused School of Excellence:
Schools that meet and/or exceed a FAFSA completion rate of 70% or higher
As of May 27, 52.3% of high school seniors have completed a FAFSA this year, which is 3.6% higher than last year. Be sure to visit fafsa.iowa.gov to see your school’s completion rate.
Please contact Community Engagement Consultant Elizabeth Yaddof at elizabeth.yaddof@iowa.gov with questions.
The Bureau of Community Colleges recently released its AY25 Annual Condition of Community Colleges report detailing comprehensive information about Iowa’s community colleges including credit and noncredit enrollment, concurrent enrollment, student outcomes and tuition and fees. Also available with new data is the Bureau’s Joint Enrollment dashboard, where you can find joint enrollment participation statistics by district, as well as the Tuition and Fees report, where you can find concurrent enrollment pricing across community colleges and delivery modes in Table 4, page 10.
Please contact Administrative Consultant Vlad Bassis at vladimir.bassis@iowa.gov with questions.
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The request process to fill an open position for the 2026–27 school year with a substitute will open at the end of July. In the meantime, districts will be required to advertise and recruit for a properly licensed individual or a licensed individual willing to pursue conditional licensure for the position. All requests to utilize a substitute for the position must include justification and documentation of recruitment efforts and applicants considered for hire.
Please contact Consultant Josh Moser at josh.moser@iowa.gov with questions.
The Bureau of Performance and Analytics has opened the window for four end-of-year data collections, with deadlines fast approaching. Please ensure your team is working toward timely completion of the following collections:
- SIU is OPEN, due June 1.
- SRI is OPEN, due June 24.
- Assessment Accountability is OPEN, due June 25.
- Spring BEDS is OPEN, due June 30.
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.
The statutory deadline to submit an electronic, word-searchable PDF copy of the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) 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.
As of June 1, for FY25, 16 local educational agency (LEA) audit reports are missing without an approved extension or have extensions that have expired. Additionally, 49 LEAs have approved extensions through June 30.
If you have not been granted an extension and have not yet submitted your FY25 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.
School food service directors are required to meet minimum education and work experience standards set by the USDA. If your school district will be hiring a food service director, review the professional standards requirements for hiring and annual training. A sample job description template for directors is available that may be a helpful resource.
Please contact your assigned regional nutrition consultant with questions.
The Department featured several schools and districts this month in headline stories covering exemplary programs across the state.
Please contact Communications Director Heather Doe at heather.doe2@iowa.gov if you would like your district or school to be featured in an upcoming headline story.
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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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