Helping Educational Leaders Prepare

September 2014                       There's lots more on the GHAEA H.E.L.P. Site 

What's NEW?

New Iowa Core Website

The Iowa Department of Education will launch a new Iowa Core website this fall to help Iowans better access and use our state’s academic standards, as well as supporting resources educators may use to implement the Iowa Core. The website is part of a larger Iowa Core Resources project, which is designed to bridge the gap between the work to set rigorous standards at the state level and the work to put those standards into practice in classrooms. The new Iowa Core website will have three sections: searchable standards, resources for educators, and resources for parents and the community. Watch the Iowa Department of Education’s website for updates.

Meeting ELI Requirements

The majority of schools in GHAEA are meeting ELI requirements using the free FAST tool provided by the Department of Education and the associated IowaTIER data system. The focus of the work at this time is getting schools into IowaTIER to complete the Universal Screener for students K-3. Further support in the form of training will follow later this year in regards to Progress Monitoring and Interventions. Each Friday, there are Q&A webinars designed to support those involved in the FAST/ Iowa TIER work. Click here to locate transcripts from previous sessions and to find details about upcoming webinars and scroll down to Technical Assistance Sessions. To sign up for training on IGDIs (Universal Screening measures for Preschool, NOT a required component of ELI legislation), follow this link. Deadline is October 10.

What's DUE?

• September 30, 2014 Marks the end of access to the Smarter Balance Digital Library for Iowa Educators. Download any resource you wish to keep. NOW.
• October 10, 2014 Last date to register for IGDIs training.
• October 31, 2014 TLC Applications due.

You've made it through September! Congratulations for completing all the reports to the DE!