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 2015-16 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: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday (Except State Holidays)
Administrators
Amy Williamson
Deputy Director and Division Administrator
Division of Learning and Results
Janell Brandhorst
Chief
Bureau of School Improvement
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
Contact for private instruction (i.e., home schooling)
Destiny Eldridge
515-822-2554
destiny.eldridge@iowa.gov
Monitors and provides technical assistance to Central Rivers AEA
Equity
Eric Heitz
Administrative Consultant
515-281-4726
eric.heitz@iowa.gov
Monitors and provides technical assistance for Heartland AEA
CASA assistance
Differentiated Accountability Equity
Sara Nickel
515-281-3778
sara.nickel@iowa.gov
Monitors and provides technical assistance for Great Prairie AEA
Open Enrollment
Equity
Pam Spangler
515-281-3427
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
Steve Crew
Administrative Consultant
515-326-1029
steve.crew@iowa.gov
Monitors and provides equity/MCGF technical assistance for all AEAs
Coordinates LEA focused equity site visits
Coordinates AEA focused equity visits
Assists with community college focused equity site visits
Section 504