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School Improvement

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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.

Chapter 12 Matrix

Offer-and-Teach Guidance: High School Education Requirements

Annual Notices and Deadlines Calendar

Equity Education

2021 Legislative Session: School Improvement and Accreditation Changes Guidance - Summarizes new accreditation and school improvement requirements or changes to existing requirements made in Iowa Code during the 2021 session of the 89th General Assembly for Iowa districts and accredited nonpublic schools.

School Improvement Team

The School Improvement Team assists accredited districts, accredited nonpublic schools and AEAs with school improvement efforts and accreditation standards.

The following tables show the team member's monitoring assignments for schools and districts within an AEA and for specific topics. Contact the team member assigned to the AEA or specific topic with questions.

AEA Assignments

NamePhoneAEA Assignment
Janet Boyd515-745-3385Green Hills AEA and Davenport CSD
Buffy Campbell515-954-8651Keystone AEA
Eric Heitz515-326-1018Heartland AEA
Dennis McClain515-822-2554Central Rivers AEA
Sara Nickel515-971-7558Great Prairie AEA
Marietta Rives515-360-5131Grant Wood AEA and Mississippi Bend AEA (except Davenport CSD)
Pam Spangler515-229-6425Northwest AEA and Prairie Lakes AEA

Specific Topic Assignments

TopicName(s) and Title(s)Phone(s)
AEA AccreditationEric Heitz
Stacie Stokes
515-326-1018
515-210-5288
AEA Desk AuditAll 
Annual Notices and Deadlines CalendarPam Spangler515-229-6425
Charter SchoolsStacie Stokes
Dennis McClain
515-210-5288
515-822-2554
Equity Education and Section 504 Equity ReviewsSueAnn Johnson
Eric Heitz
515-336-3942
515-326-1018
Exempt SchoolsBuffy Campbell515-954-8651
Home Schooling (Private Instruction)Buffy Campbell
Dennis McClain
515-954-8651
515-822-2554
Nonpublic School Accreditation/Independent AccreditationEric Heitz
Dennis McClain
515-326-1018
515-822-2554
Online Schools and Flexible Student and School Support Program (FS3) WaiversStacie Stokes
Dennis McClain
515-210-5288
515-822-2554
Open EnrollmentStacie Stokes515-210-5288
Specially Accredited SchoolsDennis McClain515-822-2554
Superintendent NotesStacie Stokes515-210-5288
Title 1, Section 1003 - School Improvement (ESSA)Stacie Stokes
Sara Nickel
515-210-5288
515-971-7558
Whole Grade Sharing/ReorganizationPam Spangler515-229-6425

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)

Administrator:
Tina Wahlert
Chief, Bureau of School Improvement
515-326-0162
tina.wahlert@iowa.gov