H.E.L.P. Blog for May 2014: "SPRING FEVER Edition" 

*WHAT'S NEW*

Standards for Professional Learning - Change in Iowa

On March 31,  2014 the Iowa State Board of Education approved revising the standards for professional learning (Iowa Code 281—83.6) which address the shifting landscape of adult learning for teachers, districts and AEAs.  These will go into effect June 4, 2014. The Professional Learning Standards outline the characteristics that lead to effective teaching practices, supportive leadership, collaboration and results.  Briefly they include: Learning Communities, Leadership, Resources, Data,  Learning Designs, Implementation and Outcomes. To read more follow this link.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Update

As a current member of the SBA consortium, Iowa educators will soon have access to the Digital Library: an online, user friendly, searchable information center that contains only high quality, vetted formative assessment resources.  This interactive library allows educators from member states to use and rate resources and to collaborate.  Iowa’s State Network of Educator members and State Lead Team members may offer a “preview” of the library to others.  Iowa educators will have full access when the Digital Library goes live on June 3, 2014.  For more information, contact Sherry Huffman, member of the State Lead Team: shuffman@ghaea.org

Best Practices in Social Studies Institute 

This training opportunity will be held June 24-25 at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 
600 E. Locust Street, in Des Moines.   Click here for more information and Registration.  Contact Stefanie Wager with questions: stefanie.wager@iowa.gov

Improved Graduation Rate
You may have heard buzz about the Iowa graduation rate increasing for the third year in a row. Green Hills AEA has also seen a similar trend.

Graduation Rate	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
GHAEA IEP	63.17	70.09	74.77	82.00
GHAEA F/RL	77.73	80.92	83.79	85.15
GHAEA	87.23 %	87.99 %	89.77 %	91.32 %
State of Iowa	88.8	88.32	89.26	89.68

*WHAT'S DUE*

Schools wishing to participate in the Early Literacy Implementation (ELI) Training must register by May 2, 2014. Follow this link to sign up for a location near you.

Upcoming Report Deadlines:

• May 5: Spring BEDS report opens
• May 14: AYP site opens
• June 13: Spring BEDS certification deadline
• June 18: Spring Student Reporting in Iowa certification deadline
• June 19: AYP initial certification deadline

Have a marvelous May!