Early literacy and RtI

Some 600 educators representing a partnership of the Iowa Department of Education, Area Education Agencies and school districts across the state have kicked off a statewide effort to implement Response to Intervention and help students read proficiently by the end of third grade.

Teacher Leadership & Compensation System

The Legislature has appropriated $3.5 million for planning grants that each school district can use to support efforts to develop a local teacher leadership and compensation plan. These grants are now available. The application deadline is October 31.

Conflict resolution

It was about the last thing Linda Biermann wanted to do: raise conflict. Sometimes it is easier to live by the adage: “Go along to get along.”

But Linda, who lives amid the rolling hills near northeast Iowa’s Tripoli (pronounced Trip-Oh-La), knew her problem wasn’t going to go away unless she intervened. Her son Michael, who has Down syndrome, was entering middle school. And she wasn’t seeing eye to eye about her son’s future with school employees. Educators believed that Michael would best be served in a primarily special education environment.

Branstad names Dr. Brad Buck as new Iowa Department of Education director

Gov. Terry E. Branstad named Dr. Brad Buck, 44, to be the next Iowa Department of Education director, calling him a visionary leader with the right skills to implement the landmark education reform package passed by the 2013 Legislature.

Gov. Branstad unveils online jobs board for education

Gov. Terry Branstad and Iowa Department of Education Interim Director D.T. Magee ushered in a new era for the education job market by unveiling TeachIowa.gov, a new statewide education job posting system.

Common Core in Iowa: What you need to know

The Iowa Core is the name of our statewide academic standards that describe what students should know and be able to do in math, science, English language arts and social studies. The Iowa Core also addresses 21st century skills in areas such as financial and technology literacy. Our goal is giving Iowa students a world-class education so they are well-informed citizens and well prepared to pursue careers in a global, knowledge-based economy.