Course to College!

Course to College registration for 2018-19 is now open! Course to College includes five initiatives; College Application Campaign, FAFSA Completion, Early Awareness, College Decision Day, and Summer Transition. Schools that register are able to choose their level of involvement with each of these initiatives by becoming a Partner or Participant Site. Partner Sites receive more incentives, eligibility for mini grants, and access to shared resources in exchange for a commitment to submit a data report around each initiative. This data is used to provide specific data reports back to schools and to further develop our programming. All registered schools will receive materials and resources to implement these initiatives in their building for free!  

Jamie Covell, MSW

Community Engagement Consultant

Course to College Programming 

Local College Access Networks 

Iowa College Aid

jamie.covell@iowa.gov

475 SW Fifth St., Suite D | Des Moines, IA 50309-4608

P: 515.725.3422  | F: 515.725.3401

Follow us on social media

504 Training at Heartland

 Level I Section 504 Training for Public School Staff Offered in September

Heartland AEA will offer Level I Section 504 trainings to districts this fall. Trainings are open to all schools within the Heartland AEA service area but the primary standard taught will be free and appropriate public education. Districts are encouraged to send new staff and to bring their district 504 manual (plan). The courses are offered at no charge to districts residing within the Heartland AEA service area.

Topics to be covered include:

• Changes to the interpretation of Section 504 since the ADAA 2008
• How to review and update your district-wide Section 504 Plan
• The interaction of a Section 504 plan and an Individual Health Plan
• Review of obligations under the Child Find and grievance procedures
• Evaluation requirements
• Eligibility determination and eligible but not in need of a plan
• Section 504 vs. IDEA 2004, understanding the distinction
• Resources available to assist districts including, access to a Section 504 Google Site not accessible from Heartland AEA’s website

Level I Training Options

Level 1: Section 504 Training for Public School Staff
Sept. 4, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Register at this link

Or

Level 1: Section 504 Training for Public School Staff
Sept. 25, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Register at this link

The instructor for the course is MaryAnn Strawhacker, MPH, RN, Section 504 Consultant and Special Education Nurse Consultant for Heartland AEA.

Level II Training Option
This year in addition to Level I training, Heartland AEA will also host a Level II Section 504 Training for those who write 504 plans. A prerequisite for this class is attendance at a Level I training in the Heartland AEA service area within the last five years. This is a practical application class. No walk-ins will be accepted due to the limited class size so please register early.

Topics to be covered include:

• Processing 504 evaluation data
• How to consider and include outside expert reports
• Determining whether or not a plan is needed
• Eligible but not in need of a plan, how to manage?
• Linking physical and mental health disabilities to the right accommodations
• Resources available to assist districts to spark accommodation planning
• How to construct an inclusive 504 plan
• Implementing a 504 plan with integrity
• Determining whether or not a 504 plan is effective
• Annual reviews and 3 year reevaluations

Level 2 Section 504 Training for Staff Who Write Accommodation Plans
Level 2: Section 504 Training for Public School Staff
Oct. 8, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Register at this link

The instructor for the course is MaryAnn Strawhacker, MPH, RN, Section 504 Consultant and Special Education Nurse Consultant for Heartland AEA.

The classes are free to school districts within the Heartland AEA service area. Class size is limited so register early! 

ISCA Conference!!!

Registration is now open for the 2018 ISCA Conference!
This year our theme is Go the Distance: Stepping into the Future and we are looking at what the future holds for both the profession of school counseling and for the students we dedicate our time and energy to building up. 
Register today to join us on this journey.  
Spend November 4-6 with Iowa school counselors for three days of inspiring keynotes, exciting sessions on the most relevant and influential topics facing school counselors, and professional networking to recharge your mind, body, and spirit.

Register Today!

ISCA Pre-Conference Sessions Announced!

The 2018 ISCA Conference – Go the Distance: Stepping into the Future – will feature four pre-conference sessions held Sunday, November 4. Visitwww.iowaschoolcounselors.org/conference for all the details on this year’s conference.

Sexual Exploitation & Human Trafficking in Iowa YouthPresenters: Amber Lawrence & Yolanda Harden - Teens Against Human Trafficking

Teens Against Human Trafficking has worked in over 100 schools across Iowa the past two years. Yolanda and Amber will discuss sexual exploitation and trafficking across the state in big cities and small towns.  We will unpack how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) increase vulnerability and what indicators to look for to identify students in schools experiencing exploitation (including sextortion), trafficking or other adverse experiences. Many students who are being trafficked continue to attend school while the exploitation is happening. We will also discuss the impact of pornography/sexting and social media, creating a world where students are often desensitized to the potential risk and recruiting methods.  Learn the tools and resources to know the best next steps when indicators are present and how to help students be aware of what this looks like in Iowa. 

Who Do We Expect Our Students to Be?: Going to the Next Level in School Mental HealthPresenter: Jennifer Ulie-Wells, Ph.D., Executive Director - Please Pass the Love

School mental health is nothing new for Iowa counselors.  Counselors are, typically, in the front line of prevention and interventions for a school's mental health plan, if there is a plan.  Participants in this session will explore a variety of areas including using multi-tiered systems of support to create a robust school mental health system, interventions at each tier, mental health characteristics in school, trauma-sensitive schools, marginalized trauma, and educator self-care.  This session will be packed with research and evidence-based information as well as resources designed for practitioners.

Crossing the Finish Line to Post-Secondary EducationPresenter: Sheryl Cline, 9-10 School Counselor - Linn-Mar High School

Research suggests that school counselors are unprepared to assist with the college preparation and application process for high school students.  However, counselors can make a significant impact on students’ college-going rates.  This session will provide an overview of the best practices for college preparation and admissions counseling, including multicultural considerations.  Additionally, college admission counselors will provide information on transferring college and AP credits.  Finally, a panel of college admission counselors from a variety of institutions will answer your questions about the college admissions process.

Go the Distance! Ideas, Encouragement, and Resources for New Professional School Counselors andGraduate Students
Presenter: Sue Schirmer, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Heartland AEA

School counselors can’t do it alone. Come to learn about resources and supports for you as a new counselor! What do you need to know about the role of the school counselor TODAY in Iowa so that you can Step into the Future of school counseling! This session is especially for new counselors (1-5 years) and graduate students. It will offer resources, materials, and personal support!

Requirements for changes to online education and high school credit

Counselors - the following letter was sent this week to school superintendents - this is something you NEED to be familiar with!!!

Dear Administrators:

Attached please find guidance about changes made to online education and high school credit in Iowa during the 2018 legislative session.  Please direct any questions you may have about the online guidance to Janet Boyd and high school credit guidance to Cindy Butler of my staff.

Best,

Dave

  

-- 

David Tilly

Iowa CCR Academy

---

Registration open for college & career readiness training

Registration is open for Iowa’s first and only college and career readiness training program. Iowa College Aid offers the Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy in partnership with AEA Iowa, the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa School Counselor Association. This suite of facilitated online courses is perfect for administrators, school counselors and college access professionals. Participants can earn professional certification as well as license renewal or graduate credit.

The first course, Foundations of College and Career Readiness in Iowa, will begin October 1 and run through November 30. Register today!

Find information about upcoming courses.

Counselor Academy

Are your school counselors signed up for Counselor Academy? This four-day academy is designed for teams of new and veteran counselors to come together to review and revise the K-12 school counseling program at their district. The format of the academy follows the requirements from Iowa Code regarding school counseling programs as well as the American School Counselor Association's national model. Teams of counselors are encouraged to attend with at least one administrator. For more information, please go to activity number CN010092111901 or contact Sue Schirmer at sschirmer@heartlandaea.org