No ESSA Designation? Celebrate, but......

Last week I sent out the email below to the schools I serve as a reminder of what work they should be continuing to engage in around ESSA & Differentiated Accountability even though they had NO ESSA designation.  So...... fast forward a day when the following response came back to me from a good friend who serves as a building Principal in one of the districts.  Not only did this response make me smile and laugh, but reality also poked me in the stomach!  I can't even fathom what our students, staff, teachers, and administrators are going through right now! 
So today, like so many other days....I celebrate the Superheros in my life!  You're doing a darn good job!

And don’t forget…..

ISASP

DDSDP

Fast Math

PBIS

25 evaluations, 13 are new teachers

7 pregnant teachers

EMS

Kindergarten round up

the wonderful Iowa weather

And having to keep my superhero identity a secret!

Oh yes....here's the email the prompted the above response......

First, CELEBRATE!  Having no ESSA designation is truly something to reflect on and continue the great work you've started.  This is just a reminder of some of the things that your building should consider engaging in to help keep an ESSA designation at bay.  

1. Resource Review.  The Resource Review are  completed so districts can examine resource allocation that support MTSS implementation. The review should be completed by the Superintendent, the School Business Official and Building Principal and kept on file locally.

2.  Completion the Data Review. The Data Review module guides teams to best understand data collection, analysis and interpretation of The Iowa School Performance Profile.This online module can be accessed by teams and completed in 1-4 hours.  This data can be shared will all stakeholders and kept on file.  It is imperative that you log on and use the online module.  

3.  Engage in the Self-Assessment of MTSS Implementation (SAMI) The SAMI is a needs assessment tool that helps building leadership teams understand the status of MTSS implementation at the school level. The tool supports teams to engage in active discussions to identify strengths and challenges in current MTSS implementation. It is designed to help the local system identify current practices, areas of strength, and areas for growth and refinement, and enable faculty and staff to prioritize and focus resources on those areas in need of the most attention or support.

4. Revisit Action Planning documents or conversations that your team have begun regarding strengthening Universal Screening, Classwide Intervention, Universal Instruction, Intervention System and Progress Monitoring structures you have in place or need to consider. Consider using the statewide ESSA sight to guide your work.

5. Don't forget about the great online modules you could use (Introduction to MTSS, Assessment Basics, Introduction to Universal Instruction) in professional learning opportunities for teachers

6. Continue to engage in the work of ESSA/Differentiated Accountability on an ongoing basis.

7. Need ESSA Communication tools to share with all stakeholders? Check out some great resources on the Communications tab.

8. As always, we're here to help. Don't hesitate to let us know how we can assist you with this work.

4th Annual Emerging Educators Academy

The 4th Annual Emerging Educators Academy is a powerful educational opportunity available for your 1st to 3rd year beginning teachers, your mentor specialists/facilitators, mentors, instructional coaches and administrators. This event will take place February 1, 2019 at Simpson College and has a particular focus on the first few years of teaching. We are especially excited this year to be including two National Teachers of the Year, Iowa's own Sarah Brown Wessling (2010) and Mandy Manning (2018) as part of the program.
The intent of this conference is to provide support and encouragement to all educators. The flyer includes additional details, including how to register.
We would love to have a team of new and experienced educators from your district join us!

Shelly Vroegh, 2017 Iowa Teacher of the Year
Aileen Sullivan, 2018 Iowa Teacher of the Year

Regents drop class rank from admissions score

Information from the Iowa College Aid

Regents drop class rank from admissions score

The Iowa Board of Regents is dropping class rank from the Regent Admission Index (RAI) for all students. The change will begin affecting applications for the summer 2020 term. One reason for the change is that a growing number of high schools no longer assign a class rank.

The RAI determines whether an Iowa high school graduate will be automatically admitted to a Regent university. The current standard RAI formula uses ACT score, high school class rank, GPA and number of courses completed in core subject areas. (An alternative formula omits class rank for students whose schools do not assign them.)

Teachers with Initial Licenses

Did you know....

 

Initial License Expiration Dates

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners recently adopted a rule which allows us to change the expiration date of initial licenses to June 30 to better align with the academic year. We are allowed to retroactively apply this new rule in cases where the educator will benefit. 

If you hold an initial license, and your current expiration date month is prior to June, we have added more time to your license by moving the expiration date to June 30 of your current expiration year.

2018-2019 Keystone Teacher & Teacher Leaders Learning Opportunities

Keystone AEA is pleased to offer AWESOME learning opportunities for Teachers and Teacher Leaders related to the TLC Framework for the 2018-2019 school year!

We are super excited to announce that Keystone AEA will be hosting 2 of these events!  Register NOW for Teaching Transparently with Sarah Brown Wessling Course #168033 AND High Impact Instruction with Jim Knight Course #167968  

To view additional course offerings, click here.   For GREAT statewide Professional Learning opportunities focused on Teaching Transparently, Student Centered Coaching, Reflective Practices, and High Impact Instruction, click here.

Important Change in ESSA Timeline Memo

A Memo that was shared across the state last week for Director Ryan Wise


Important Change in ESSA Timeline


Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to make you aware of a change in the timeline of school
improvement activities associated with implementation of the Every
Student Succeeds Act. Specifically, the timing of notifications to
schools provided with targeted and comprehensive supports based on
their ESSA accountability index scores will move from October 15 to
the first or second week of December (December 3-14).

This change is necessary to more closely align the
targeted/comprehensive school notifications with the launch of the
online school report card required under ESSA. The report card’s
timeline has moved to December to ensure a smooth public launch.

The revised timeline for school notifications will, in turn, impact
the timeline of regional training and support for administrators of
schools that will be provided targeted and comprehensive assistance.
You will receive more information about the revised timeline within a
week.

We will continue to update you often about ESSA implementation. This
fall, we will also share communication and outreach plans regarding
public announcements of school notifications and the report card.
Thanks for all you do for Iowa’s schools and students.

Sincerely,

Ryan

--

Ryan Wise, Ed.L.D.

Director

Iowa Department of Education

ESSA Consolidated Application Time 2018-2019