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Iowa’s model of accreditation and school improvement utilizes state and federal law and rule to position the Iowa Department of Education (Department), area education agencies (AEAs), local education agencies (LEAs) and other agencies and programs to engage in continuous improvement. Differentiated Accountability is the process developed in 2015-2016 to move schools and districts further in improvement efforts. For more information, see the Differentiated Accountability (DA) System webpage.
Offer-and-Teach Guidance: High School Education Requirements
Annual Notices and Deadlines for Public and Nonpublic Schools
School Improvement Team
The School Improvement Team assists accredited districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and AEAs in continuous school improvement efforts and with accreditation standards. A school improvement consultant may assist with the following topics:
- Charter Schools
- Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP)
- Desk Audits
- Feasibility Studies
- Nonpublic School Accreditation
- Open Enrollment
- Private Instruction (Home Schooling)
- School District Waivers and Exemptions
- Senior Year Plus
- Specially Accredited Schools
The following contact information includes the monitoring assignments of each school improvement consultant. Schools, school districts, AEAs, and members of the public should contact the consultant assigned to their AEA for general school improvement related questions or contact the consultant assigned to specific topics.
Contact Information
Address:
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
General Number: 515-281-8402
Fax Number: 515-242-5988
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (Except State Holidays)
Administrators
Tina Wahlert
Chief, Bureau of School Improvement
515-326-0162
tina.wahlert@iowa.gov
Consultants
Holly Barnes
515-669-8157
holly.barnes@iowa.gov
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Mississippi Bend AEA 9
- Exempt schools assistance
- Independent Accreditation
- Nonpublic School Accreditation
- Specially Accredited Schools
- Superintendent Notes
- Equity
Janet Boyd
515-745-3385
janet.boyd@iowa.gov
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Green Hills AEA
- Charter School Consultant
- Online schools
Buffy Campbell
515-954-8651
buffy.campbell@iowa.gov
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Keystone AEA and Central Rivers AEA
- Contact for private instruction (i.e., home schooling)
Eric Heitz
Administrative Consultant
515-326-1018
eric.heitz@iowa.gov
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Heartland AEA
- CASA assistance
- Differentiated Accountability Equity
Sara Nickel
515-971-7558
sara.nickel@iowa.gov
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Great Prairie AEA
- Open Enrollment
- Equity
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Grant Wood AEA
- Equity
Pam Spangler
515-229-6425
pam.spangler@iowa.gov
- Monitors and provides technical assistance for Prairie Lakes AEA 8 and Northwest AEA
- Contact for whole grade sharing
- Coordinator for feasibility studies (school district reorganization and whole grade sharing)
- Equity