June 2016 H.E.L.P. Blog

What's NEW

Differentiated Accountability
Collaborative Inquiry questions that guide improvement efforts are grouped into essential conceptual areas (lovingly referred to as the 'atomic flower').  The current focus is on students in PreK through 6th Grade in two conceptual areas:

• Assessment and Data Based Decision Making- students participating in universal screening and progress monitoring (Healthy Indicators: percent of students participating in screening and monitoring)
• Universal Instruction- provision of of evidence-based instruction and intervention (Healthy Indicators: percent of student meeting benchmark and staying above benchmark)

In 2016-17, the conceptual area of Intervention System will be added to the PreK- 6th grade focus for Differentiated Accountability.

What's DUE

June 15- Online Nonpublic Transportation Reimbursement Claims due
June 15- Spring BEDS due
June 15- Spring SRI due
June 30- Last day to pay PSEO tuition due to eligible post-secondary institutions

May 2016 H.E.L.P.

What’s NEW?

Early Literacy Support Days are being planned for next year. GHAEA will be holding four regional workshops to assist schools in the engagement of data analysis, the Universal Instruction Facilitation Guide and the newly released Intervention System Guide.

In 2016-17 the Differentiated Accountability process will roll out statewide. The SSIT (Statewide School Improvement Team) will determine levels of support based on spring 2016 data and notify schools in early fall. On-site visits will occur during the second half of the 16-17 school year.

Stay tuned for on-going Legislative updates and final decisions about ELI summer school and retention requirement and the implementation of a new statewide accountability assessment.

What’s DUE?

• Check out the GHAEA TLC 2016-17 Opportunities for teacher leaders
• Register for: “You Are a Teacher Leader, Now What?” under Main Category of Workshop, Leadership

April 2016 HELP

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• snoitanimoN raeY eht fo rehcaeT awoI: 52 lirpA

JUST KIDDING!! 

What's NEW?

All GHAEA districts now have TLC Plans approved!

2016 - 2017 Journey to Excellence M/I Dates. 2016-17 Registration for the mentors and 1st and 2nd year beginning educators in your district will open in May 2016. An email will be sent to GHAEA M/I District Facilitators and Superintendents.

The next conceptual area being added to Differentiated Accountability will be Intervention (Targeted and Intensive Services); to be piloted in 2016-17.

C4K has developed an expansion plan for MTSS for 7-12 literacy, PK-12 math, and PK-12 behavior.

What's DUE?

April 7: Statewide Voluntary PK Applications
April 25: Iowa Teacher of the Year Nominations

May your Spring be off to a cheery start!

March 2016 H.E.L.P. Blog

What's NEW!

Not Sure What to Make of State Assessment Chatter?
Do these tests reflect strong content? Are they rigorous? What are their strengths and areas for improvement? Read the review of PARCC, Smarter Balanced, ACTaspire and MCAS.

New Teachers' Learning Curve
New and experienced teacher volunteers are being sought to participate in a pilot study examining practices that maximize professional learning in the first two years of teaching. The Department of Education has announced the launch of a new webpage explaining the opportunity and the Iowa Teacher Performance Assessment provides the structured process for examining practices.

Differentiated Accountability
East Union and Red Oak Districts have completed their Differentiated Accountability visits with positive reviews! Comment by one participant: "We AREN’T just swimming... swimming anymore---we are Olympic grade swimming! Thanks for all the tools/help!”

What's DUE!

Register now for Launching Teacher Leadership: Operationalizing the TLC Plan for Cohort 3 Schools. April 12, 2016 @ Iowa Events Center

Sign up today for the 3rd Annual SAI/ISEA Leveraging Teacher Leadership Institute featuring several experts in the field. July 13, 2016 @ Prairie Meadows

January 2016 H.E.L.P. Blog

What's NEW?

• Differentiated Accountability replaces the Site Visit for AEA and LEAs

• ESSA, Every Student Succeeds Act, replaces NCLB
  

• Determination of state-wide assessment (Iowa Assessment, Smarter Balanced) on temporary hold

• Launching TLC for Y3 districts: April 12, 2016 in DM

December H.E.L.P. Blog

Helping Educational Leaders Prepare

Amidst all the daily demands, 

we hope you find time to enjoy 

a very, happy

Teacher LeadersHip Legislation

              ProfessiOnal Learning

         Early Literacy

   EmaIls

                 DifferentiateD Accountability

IowA Core

Collaborative InquirY questions

SEASON!

Andrea Danker, Sherry Huffman, 

Connie Richardson, Tina Wahlert

and everyone at GHAEA

November H.E.L.P. Blog

Helping Educational Leaders Prepare

What's NEW?

Smarter Balanced Assessments

On November 18, 2015 the State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt administrative rules (IAC 281.12) that implement the Smarter Balanced Assessments as our state accountability assessments beginning in May of 2017. 

These rules are subject to review by the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee before they can take effect.  The Department of Education has been working on a professional development plan to prepare schools for a transition to Smarter Balanced and details will be coming soon. Until that time, two resources have been provided to answer preliminary questions: SBAC Talking Points and SBAC FAQ

SAVE THE DATE:  4/5/16 GHAEA MTSS Conference 

Dr. Kimberly St. Martin, Ph.D, assistant director for Michigan’s Integrated Behavior & Learning Support Initiative (MiBLSi),  provides leadership in the development of MiBLSi’s District Model for implementing an integrated academic and behavior Multi-Tier System of Support.

Cass County Community Center will be the originating site with Dr. St Martin. GHAEA Regional offices in Creston and Avoca will be host sites for those who wish to participate virtually
Fees: $25 per participant for LEAs in GHAEA; $50 per participant for those wishing to attend and are OUTSIDE of GHAEA. Lunch will be provided to all sites
A Registration link will be "live" in January, 2016. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jenny Barnett, Terri Bush or Patrick Rabbitt.

Members of new Iowa History Advisory Council  

Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise today announced the 24 Iowans who will serve on an advisory council to study and recommend improvements to Iowa history education in K-12 schools. The council will examine issues around history teaching and learning, including best practices. The group will consider instructional resources that are available to Iowa teachers and how other states and organizations approach state and local history education.

What's DUE?

Iowans sought for social studies standards writing team

Iowans are invited to apply to serve on a state team that will rewrite Iowa’s social studies standards for public review and possible adoption statewide. The team will draft new social studies standards during the 2015-16 school year. Application due Dec. 11. To apply, please visit this link.