Session 3 of the Leadership for the Iowa Core Curriculum training is quickly approaching. Registered participants received an email reminder of their session's date, time and location. The session will focus on building capacity for alignment and assessment and on a preview of the implementation plan.
The session held in Indianola will be offered only in the morning of December 3rd and will move to the Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Howard, Indianola, IA for the December session only. Please contact Linda Biermann Hoobin, Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Iowa Core Curriculum, 515-270-0405 ext. 14327, if you have questions.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Preschool Program Requirements for Early Childhood Special Education
Iowa law requires accredited school districts and nonpublic schools operating preschools and child care programs to either meet Iowa Department of Education (DE) Program Standards or obtain Department of Human Services (DHS) licensure [Iowa Code § 279.49, 280.3A].
The DE has defined the Preschool Program Standards as the following:
1.) Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS);
2.) Head Start Program Performance Standards; or
3.) National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation.
The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Early Childhood (EC) programs serving children on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must meet the DE Preschool Program Standards requirement. Therefore, beginning in 2008–2009, ECSE and EC programs serving children on an IEP are expected to select and implement one of the above mentioned three required Preschool Program Standards.
District administrators with ECSE and EC programs serving children on an IEP that implement QPPS may want to consider the following:
The DE has defined the Preschool Program Standards as the following:
1.) Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS);
2.) Head Start Program Performance Standards; or
3.) National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation.
The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Early Childhood (EC) programs serving children on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must meet the DE Preschool Program Standards requirement. Therefore, beginning in 2008–2009, ECSE and EC programs serving children on an IEP are expected to select and implement one of the above mentioned three required Preschool Program Standards.
District administrators with ECSE and EC programs serving children on an IEP that implement QPPS may want to consider the following:
- Contacting area education agencies (AEA) early childhood leadership for information about early childhood professional development;
- Becoming familiar with the QPPS standards and criteria;
- Completing the QPPS self-assessment with support from the AEA ECSE/EC staff; and
- Developing a QPPS quality improvement plan.
Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Courses
Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program Level II: Evaluation of Teachers courses are being offered this spring. Courses are being offered on the following dates:
- February 14, 21, 28, March 7, 28, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the West Des Moines Learning Resource Center (snow make-up date is April 4, 2009).
- January 8, 20, February 12, March 10 & April 28, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Woodside AEA Office in Ankeny except for February 12 which will be held at Johnston AEA Office (snow make-up date is May 4, 2009).
- January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2, 30 & April 6, 2009 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Johnston AEA Office (Room 8).
Student Poetry and Art Opportunity
Every year, River of Words® (ROW) conducts an international environmental poetry and art competition in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book for youth ages 5 to 19 in grades K-12. This free contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live and to express what they discover through poetry and art.
Iowa entries not chosen as finalists or grand prize winners in the international contest are returned to IOWATER, where they are judged in a statewide IOWA River of Words® Environmental Poetry and Art competition. The IOWATER Volunteer Water Monitoring Program of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources coordinates the IOWA River of Words® Environmental Poetry and Art competition.
Over 350 students from Iowa entered the 2008 contest either through their schools, community art centers, local libraries or on their own. Because of the large number of quality Iowa entries, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art generously offered to host a juried River of Words® IOWA Environmental Poetry and Art Exhibit. Fifty-one works of poetry and art were selected to be included in the exhibit, held August 30 through September 21, 2008.
If your students would be interested in entering the contest for 2009, entries must be sent to:
River of Words, PO Box 4000-J
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
Phone: 510-548-POEM (7636)
Fax: 510-548-2095
ROW returns Iowa's entries to IOWATER in April for state competition and Iowa’s state winners are chosen in May.
For more information and entry forms click here or contact Pat Lohmann, IOWA River of Words Coordinator, at (319) 335-1593 or Pat.Lohmann@dnr.iowa.gov.
The deadline for entries is February 15, 2009.
Iowa entries not chosen as finalists or grand prize winners in the international contest are returned to IOWATER, where they are judged in a statewide IOWA River of Words® Environmental Poetry and Art competition. The IOWATER Volunteer Water Monitoring Program of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources coordinates the IOWA River of Words® Environmental Poetry and Art competition.
Over 350 students from Iowa entered the 2008 contest either through their schools, community art centers, local libraries or on their own. Because of the large number of quality Iowa entries, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art generously offered to host a juried River of Words® IOWA Environmental Poetry and Art Exhibit. Fifty-one works of poetry and art were selected to be included in the exhibit, held August 30 through September 21, 2008.
If your students would be interested in entering the contest for 2009, entries must be sent to:
River of Words, PO Box 4000-J
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA
Phone: 510-548-POEM (7636)
Fax: 510-548-2095
ROW returns Iowa's entries to IOWATER in April for state competition and Iowa’s state winners are chosen in May.
For more information and entry forms click here or contact Pat Lohmann, IOWA River of Words Coordinator, at (319) 335-1593 or Pat.Lohmann@dnr.iowa.gov.
The deadline for entries is February 15, 2009.
Disney's ePals 2008 Election Central
At Disney's ePals 2008 Election Central site, students can enter a competition to tell President-elect Barack Obama about the issues that are important to them. For additional contest details, click here. Entries must be submitted by Jan. 10, 2009. Winners will be posted on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009. This is an exciting opportunity for students to get their voices heard so please share this information with teachers and parents.
Educator Opportunity -- Online Entrepreneurship Curriculum
Up to 100 Iowa secondary educators (Grades 9-12) are invited to pilot the YouthBizCentral online entrepreneurship curriculum, which was developed through support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust of Muscatine, IA.
Secondary educators participating in the pilot MUST be willing to implement the 8-unit curriculum and provide feedback regarding the curriculum. Each participating educator will receive a $250 stipend upon completion of the pilot project.
Curriculum features:
• Online/Easily Accessible
• 8 Fully Customizable Core Units
• Lesson Plans
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Activities & Web Resources
• Entrepreneurial Profiles
• Student Business Planning Template
• Equips Youth with the Skills to Succeed in Business and Entrepreneurship!
Apply Online at http://www.jacobsoninstitute.org/youthbiz_app.cfm
Teachers will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Secondary educators participating in the pilot MUST be willing to implement the 8-unit curriculum and provide feedback regarding the curriculum. Each participating educator will receive a $250 stipend upon completion of the pilot project.
Curriculum features:
• Online/Easily Accessible
• 8 Fully Customizable Core Units
• Lesson Plans
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Activities & Web Resources
• Entrepreneurial Profiles
• Student Business Planning Template
• Equips Youth with the Skills to Succeed in Business and Entrepreneurship!
Apply Online at http://www.jacobsoninstitute.org/youthbiz_app.cfm
Teachers will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
ASCD Podcast -- The Whole Child
Click here to view ASCD's latest podcast series, The Whole Child. The podcast features educators and policymakers from around the globe who share their insights about sound education policies and practices that ensure that all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged.
Iowa Culture and Language Conference
Heartland AEA would like to invite you and your staff to attend the Iowa Culture and Language Conference on February 10 and 11, 2009. The ICLC planning committee is excited and proud to bring to Iowa many renowned experts in the ESL field as conference presenters. Click here for information explaining the reimbursement process for participation, registration and substitute pay.
First Heartland-sponsored Immigration Forum
Heartland Area Education Agency is pleased to invite you to an Immigration Forum and Reception on February 11, 2009, at the Polk County Convention Complex from 2:00-5:00 p.m. The Immigration Forum, held on the final day of the Iowa Culture and Language Conference, will include a panel of national and local experts who will share facts about refugees and immigrants in Iowa and implications for educators. This rare opportunity to meet representatives knowledgeable on laws and issues related to immigration offers an excellent networking and learning experience for educators and partners in education.
To register, please go to www.nwaea.k2.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/ and complete the online registration.
We look forward to meeting you at the first Heartland-sponsored Immigration Forum, with reception afterward. Consider bringing a team from your area and complete a registration for each participant.
For more information contact:
Stephaney Jones-Vo, (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680
Gilmara Mitchell, (515) 270-0405 ext. 14679
To register, please go to www.nwaea.k2.ia.us/en/upcoming_events/ and complete the online registration.
We look forward to meeting you at the first Heartland-sponsored Immigration Forum, with reception afterward. Consider bringing a team from your area and complete a registration for each participant.
For more information contact:
Stephaney Jones-Vo, (515) 270-0405 ext. 14680
Gilmara Mitchell, (515) 270-0405 ext. 14679
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Iowa Culture and Language Conference
Heartland AEA would like to invite you and your staff to attend the Iowa Culture and Language Conference on February 10 and 11, 2009. The ICLC planning committee is excited and proud to bring to Iowa many renowned experts in the ESL field as conference presenters. Click here for information explaining the reimbursement process for participation, registration and substitute pay.
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