Register today for a special workshop just for you - Advocating on the Hill with Your Stories! The first 50 registrants for this professional opportunity on February 12 will learn how to leverage change with legislators. ASCD Director/Iowa ASCD Director Dr. Pam Vogel and ASCD Legislative Committee Member/Iowa ASCD Director Dr. Susan Pecinovsky will lead this authentic learning opportunity.

Registration is $50 for members of Iowa ASCD and $90 for non-members. Upon registration you will receive access to tools for advocacy and influence, including talking points for major issues (e.g., competency-based instruction, teacher leadership, readers by third grade, kindergarten readiness, instructional time, teacher and principal evaluation, professional learning), sample letter and telephone script for contacting your legislators, and a rubric to evaluate your skills in advocacy. Iowa ASCD will also provide you with contact information about your legislators so that you may schedule visits "on the hill" as part of this opportunity.

A block of rooms has been reserved for February 11^th at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel (515.244.2151).  Be sure to ask for the Iowa ASCD block of rooms.

Agenda:

                                                                                                          

February 12, 2014, 8:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.          

Location: Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, 401 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA

• Continental breakfast and working lunch provided
• Legislative Update - Dr. Brad Buck
• Professional Learning with Drs. Pecinovsky and Vogel 

February 12, 2014, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.             

Visits "on the hill" (Capitol - East 12

^th and Grand)  

• Meet with Democratic Caucus of the House Education Committee
• Meet with Republican Caucus of the House Education Committee
• Meet with YOUR Legislator(s)
• Informal (and optional) meeting at the Capitol to debrief visits with legislators and share possible next steps for Iowa ASCD members around advocacy and influence 

Register NOW! - Contact Bridget Arrasmith with name(s) of registrant(s), district and mailing address, e-mail address(es), phone number as well as check or purchase order. She can be reached at the following address: 

• Iowa ASCD, Drake University, School of Education, Room 123, 3206 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA  50311  
• Phone: 515.271.1872
• FAX: 515.271.2233
• E-mail: Bridget.Arrasmith@drake.edu

 

You may register online as well with a credit card at the following URL on the Iowa ASCD website: 

https://iowaascd.org/index.php/events/event-registration/ 

 

 

Register Now! Limited Space!

 

The registrants will receive $50 coupon toward attendance at an upcoming conference in 2014-2015!

• The ELL population has more than doubled in the past ten years, with 11,248 students in 2000-2001 and 23,820 (4.76% of students) in 2012-2013.  About 16,000 of those students speak Spanish with nearly 8,000 speaking other languages and dialects.
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• The ELL sub-group performance "on AYP for reading and math as compared to the All Student group is dismal and is worsening over time."
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• 346 districts have ELL students and reported 648 different programs being used across the state, with 466 certified ELL staff members providing services in these programs.  The task force recognized that the 1:50 ratio is "prohibitive to delivering the quality individualized linguistic programming and instruction required to meet ELL students' social, emotional, and academic needs inherent in the process of acculturation."
• The task force recommends that the LEP (Limited English Proficiency) weighted funding increase from .22 to .39 through a phase-in formula over a three-year period.  This would make Iowa closer to the national average.
• The task force recommends a cross-bureau ELL Committee (e.g., Title III, Title I, Special Education, ELP, Iowa Common Core, Assessment) to assure equal access of English Language Learners to instruction and assessment in all initiatives.
• The task force recommends that the programs for ELL students in districts be research-based, that they assure certified ESL (English as Second Language) teachers with ratio of students similar to special education ratio, that they provide differentiated materials that support the Iowa Core, and that they work with the community to offer additional supports (e.g., ESL classes, mentoring).  
• The task force recommends that all AEAs, the Iowa Department of Education, and the districts address ELL needs in their programs and initiatives (e.g., CRK, RtI/MTSS, Iowa Core, Iowa Reading Research Center).
• The task force recommends that all teachers receive professional learning addressing the needs and characteristics of ELL learners, characteristics of second-language acquisition, and research-based strategies and interventions that have high impact on English Language Learners.
• The task force recommends a "jump start" program for the PK ELL students. 

A few questions we all need to consider: 

• Have we incorporated ELL research and perspective into each of our programs and work?
• Are interventions that work especially well with ELL students included in learning opportunities?  Are they tailored to individual and linguistic needs of our English language learners?
• Does our ELL program address early childhood students?  Would a "jump start" program help us meet the learning needs of our students?
• How might we work with our community to increase support for our English Language Learners?

Contact your legislators to assure you are meeting the needs of your ELL students and those that serve them. 

Iowa ASCD is seeking a director to serve as treasurer.  This is an appointed position that is renewed annually and requires about ten hours of work each month.

Duties include the following:

• Receive and disburse all monies at the direction of the Board of Directors
• Prepare periodic, year-to-date revenues and expenditure reports as they are necessary and requested by the Board of Directors
• Work with CPA to file taxes by May 15 of each year
• Work with the Executive Director and President to develop and present a budget to the Board
• Provide financial advice and information to the Board of Directors
• Take an active role in the achievement of the Iowa ASCD Strategic Plan
• Promote the Association to other educators in the state, especially those in own geographic area
• Participate as needed or requested on various committees 

Data: Professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students uses a variety of sources and types of student, educator, and system data to plan, assess, and evaluate professional learning.

Data and data analysis are critical to the success of students. Dr. Cooksley has found in her district that just collecting data will not lead to higher student achievement. The Standards of Professional Learning reinforces this idea. Teachers and administrators need to know how to make decisions to impact student learning and transform classroom practices.

What.... So What.... Now What....

"Probing questions guide data analysis to understand where students are in relationship to the expected curriculum and to identify the focus for educator professional learning." What data should be collected (What)? Triangulation of data is key to making decisions. We should include formative and summative kinds of data. We should include qualitative and quantitative types of data. We should use standardized assessments along with more informal assessments. We should use student work and other assessments given to students. Patterns and understandings can be gleaned; educational practices and classroom instruction can be critiqued and adjusted to meet the needs of the learners.

Data are collected and used at many levels in a school system. The best and most effective way to collect, use, and interpret the data is through a collaborative process. Leadership Teams, Teacher Leaders, Administrators, and/or PLC's should be engaged in this practice and will provide a "more holistic view of the complexity of school improvement. It will foster collective responsibility and accountability for student results."

Learning Forward has many tools to help building leaders navigate the complex work. The Learning Forward Standards have the potential to assist your district in understanding the connection between the use of data and increased student performance. Check out the standard for Data at http://learningforward.org/standards/data#.UufSovbnaWg

Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267) is partnering with Solution Tree, a nationally recognized provider of professional learning opportunities, to offer face-to-face meetings and webinars in 2014-15. The series, entitled "RTI at Work Coaching Academy," will feature Mike Mattos, a leader in the professional learning community model. Mattos will guide participants through the process of leading and managing change.

The coaching academy is designed to help districts form leadership teams to act as informed agents of change throughout the system. This is the next step in supporting the school districts AEA 267 serves as they work through the school improvement process."

• Keynote Speaker:  Tim Lautzenheiser
• Young Conductors:  Dr. Marcellus Brown of Boise State University  
• Presenters: Dr. Joe Missal from Oklahoma State and Andy Trachsel from Ohio University
• Performers:  Mike Golemo and the Iowa State Wind Ensemble, Chris Merz and the UNI Jazz I
• Elementary and Middle School Music Reviews:  Mitch Lutch and the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble
• 8th Grade Honor Band:  Director Rob Grice
• All-State Jazz Bands:  Conductors Rich Hirsch from State College, PA; Jerry Tolson from the  University of Louisville; and Dick Redman from Pella 

"It is well worth the time and money to attend!  The educational value is tremendous.  An added bonus is the camaraderie," shares President Brad Lampe.  Lampe also reminds bandmasters to contact him regarding access to visiting bandmasters at your school.