ICAN FAFSA Courses!

ICAN Offering FAFSA Assistance Certification Program as Professional Development

The ICAN Financial Aid Certification Program is a new ICAN initiative that aims to increase the availability of professionals able to assist students through the financial aid process, including the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.)

The FAFSA Ready Iowa initiative was launched in the fall 2016 to increase FAFSA completion rates in Iowa to 70% by 2025. In just one year Iowa has increased the rate 8.5%. Through this certification program, ICAN aims to increase FAFSA knowledge among those who are in positions to help students navigate the financial aid process, and building our capacity to serve Iowa students through a network of trained professionals.

The ICAN program offers comprehensive professional development opportunities for counselors, higher education professionals, mentors, and community partners through an annual certification series of training modules. The FAFSA Completion workshop provides professionals with a detailed understanding of the financial aid process and its programs through the use of case study scenarios and real-life examples.

Participants who successfully pass the knowledge assessment receive an official certificate of completion and have the option to be listed as a certified FAFSA assistance provider.

To learn more about the program visit www.ICANsucceed.org/fafsatraining.

Register today for an upcoming training session:

• August 15, 2017 - Ottumwa
• August 30, 2017 - Mason City
• September 12, 2017 - Hiawatha
• September 14, 2017 - Ankeny
• September 19, 2017 - Council Bluffs
• November 5, 2017 – Altoona (ISCA Conference – Pre-Conference Session) – register through the ISCA website at www.iowaschoolcounselors.org/conference.

National School Climate Updates - Resources

Social Emotional Learning: A Process, Not A Product The field of social and emotional learning has become highly recognized in academic research over the past decade. School leaders, looking for ways to support whole school improvement, find the pro-social data around social and emotional learning (SEL) to be valuable in creating positive school environments. However, even with the effectiveness of SEL approaches, it is still often seen as a stand-alone aspect of education. This article explores how we can gather and use SEL data as well as how we might be able to integrate SEL as content rather than as an add-on topic. APA's Psych Learning Curve

New Report Shows Trends in Bullying Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics published a report in May on school crime and safety. The study found that in 2015, 20.8 percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported being bullied at school. The study found that for LGBT students, the threat of bullying is even more prevalent. Thirty-four percent of self-identified gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students reported being bullied on school property in the previous 12 months, versus 19 percent of heterosexual students. National Center for Education Statistics

Raising Upstanders for Change In the past school year, incidents related to bias-based bullying have come to the forefront of school improvement issues. As school communities, we have the opportunity to proactively address this concern as part of our core supports, and teach students and adults productive ways to prevent and stop these harmful incidents.  This piece by ASCD reflects on why it is important now more than ever to teach our kids to stand up for their peers and not succumb to the bystander effect. Tools and resources for Upstander Resources and Lesson Plans are also provided. Education Update

The Case for a Student-Driven Approach for Improving School Climate High school junior Zachariah Sippy of Lexington, Kentucky makes the case for why students are essential partners in creating positive school environments.   The article, appearing in the Targeting Bullying Blindspots Issue of ASCD Express, delves into why students can become disenfranchised when it comes to bullying interventions. Sippy says that while students' perspective "can help build a more complete picture of our education system", adults tend to implement improvement efforts "around students" instead of with them. Sippy makes recommendations for data-driven surveys and an ongoing student and adult dialogue. ASCD Express

2017 Kids Count Data Book

The 2017 Kids Count Data Book tracks trends in child well-being using an index of key indicators.The report includes easy-to-read charts and maps that show the status of child well-being at the state and national levels. The Data Book captures trends on children's: (1) Economic Well-Being, (2) Education, (3) Health and (4) Family and Community.  The Data Book shows that the child poverty rate continued to drop in 2015 to 22 percent. It also shows that more high school students are graduating on time and there is a significant increase in the number of kids with health insurance. However, the data indicates that there are still unacceptable levels of young children not in school as well as a troubling number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Annie E. Casey Foundation

Resources for You   How to Apply the Brain Science of Resilience to the Classroom (NPR) Avoiding Summer Melt (Parent Toolkit) How Making Kindness a Priority Benefits Students (Mind Shift) 4 Tools for Kids to Help Develop Compassion and Social Change (Harvard Graduate School of Education)

NCHE Homeless Webinars

The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) has opened the registration for free webinars for homeless education liaisons. 

Be sure to note that these are listed in Eastern Time zone.  Most of them begin at 1:00 Central Time. 

NCHE Coffee Break: Understanding Doubled-Up 
Thursday, July 27, 2017 | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone) 
Register: https://uncg.webex.com/uncg/onstage/g.php?MTID=e62ce1a2a794e17d9f2a9593795182f57 

Determining McKinney-Vento Eligibility: Changes under ESSA 
Tuesday, August 15, 2017 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone) 
Register: https://uncg.webex.com/uncg/onstage/g.php?MTID=e892630f8382cfbc40efc17cd22985311 

McKinney-Vento School Selection Rights: Changes Under ESSA 
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone) 
Register: https://uncg.webex.com/uncg/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1041a4aee83c0793c6beb838954cc169 

Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Homeless Students under ESSA 
Monday, August 28 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone) 
Register: https://uncg.webex.com/uncg/onstage/g.php?MTID=e3f378af331e3dcaff07cc98ab5f1bb51 

Visit http://nche.ed.gov/web/group.php for full webinar descriptions or to register for any of the above sessions. Feel free to share this information with interested colleagues.