Headlines

The Iowa Department of Education is filing a request to the U.S. Department of Education for a waiver of the limitation in section 1127(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) that prohibits a State educational agency (SEA) from granting to a local educational agency (LEA) a waiver of the carryo…

Editor's note: Though life as we know it has been rather upended, we will eventually get back to normal. In that spirit, we bring you this story based on a visit to Indianola about a month ago. Students were engaged in their learning throughout Career Day. Change can be hard, scary even. But change al…

The Iowa Department of Education has awarded schools statewide for their work on implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a multi-tiered system of support for behavior and provides the framework for teachers to implement and monitor prevention and intervention practices. The school…

DES MOINES– Today Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that Dr. Ann Lebo will lead the Iowa Department of Education, effective Friday, March 13, 2020. “Having served as an instructor, school administrator, Iowa Board of Educational Examiners executive director  and on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, among ot…

Tests are necessary to allow teachers, parents and students themselves to monitor student progress, understand strengths and weaknesses, and set learning goals. But each test given takes time and resources that could be used for other valuable activities during the school day. So, it is important that the assessments g…

Iowa schools have the opportunity to receive a new water bottle filling station through the Rethink Your Drink program, funded by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation. Selected schools will have an old drinking fountain replaced with a new Elkay water fountain/bottle filling station, receive water bottles, toothbrush…

Spread the word within your networks about this funding opportunity to support programs that help adults gain the skills and training needed to further their education and secure living-wage jobs. The Iowa Department of Education will award approximately $3 million in federal funding available through the Adult Educati…

DES MOINES – The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Iowa Department of Education a $460,000 grant to help public schools and child-care centers test drinking water for lead and learn more about reducing lead exposure. The EPA’s grant program, which is voluntary for schools and child-care providers, …

The headlines in the media on the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, have certainly gotten everyone’s attention. Though there are no known cases in Iowa at this juncture, it’s important to be prepared – much like schools prepare for any respiratory illness such as the flu. In fact, the Center for Disease Con…

DES MOINES – Iowa’s high school graduation rate climbed to a record high of 91.6 percent in 2019, continuing a trend of long-term growth across nearly all groups of students, including those from diverse backgrounds, according to new data from the Iowa Department of Education. “More Iowans are graduating high …