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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 Calendar
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
| Name | Phone | AEA Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Janet Boyd | 515-745-3385 | Green Hills AEA and Davenport CSD |
| Buffy Campbell | 515-954-8651 | Keystone AEA |
| Eric Heitz | 515-326-1018 | Heartland AEA |
| Dennis McClain | 515-822-2554 | Central Rivers AEA |
| Sara Nickel | 515-971-7558 | Great Prairie AEA |
| Marietta Rives | 515-360-5131 | Grant Wood AEA and Mississippi Bend AEA (except Davenport CSD) |
| Pam Spangler | 515-229-6425 | Northwest AEA and Prairie Lakes AEA |
Specific Topic Assignments
| Topic | Name(s) and Title(s) | Phone(s) |
|---|---|---|
| AEA Accreditation | Eric Heitz Stacie Stokes | 515-326-1018 515-210-5288 |
| AEA Desk Audit | All | |
| Annual Notices and Deadlines Calendar | Pam Spangler | 515-229-6425 |
| Charter Schools | Stacie Stokes Dennis McClain | 515-210-5288 515-822-2554 |
| Equity Education and Section 504 Equity Reviews | SueAnn Johnson Eric Heitz | 515-336-3942 515-326-1018 |
| Exempt Schools | Buffy Campbell | 515-954-8651 |
| Home Schooling (Private Instruction) | Buffy Campbell Dennis McClain | 515-954-8651 515-822-2554 |
| Nonpublic School Accreditation/Independent Accreditation | Eric Heitz Dennis McClain | 515-326-1018 515-822-2554 |
| Online Schools and Flexible Student and School Support Program (FS3) Waivers | Stacie Stokes Dennis McClain | 515-210-5288 515-822-2554 |
| Open Enrollment | Stacie Stokes | 515-210-5288 |
| Specially Accredited Schools | Dennis McClain | 515-822-2554 |
| Superintendent Notes | Stacie Stokes | 515-210-5288 |
| Title 1, Section 1003 - School Improvement (ESSA) | Stacie Stokes Sara Nickel | 515-210-5288 515-971-7558 |
| Whole Grade Sharing/Reorganization | Pam Spangler | 515-229-6425 |
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