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Accreditation & Program Approval

Accreditation and program approval focus on an ongoing improvement process for schools, school districts, and practitioner preparation programs. General accreditation standards (Chapter 12) are the minimum requirements that must be met by an Iowa public school district to be accredited. A nonpublic school must meet the general accreditation standards if it wishes to be designated as accredited for operation in Iowa. All Iowa colleges and universities or organizations engaged in the preparation of practitioners or administrators and seeking State Board approval of their program shall meet the standards contained in Chapter 79 of the Code of Iowa.

Advanced Learning Opportunities

Students in public schools have several opportunities for advanced learning:
  • Talented and Gifted programs, which all districts are required to provide and may include coursework as well as special programs during school breaks or before and after school.
  • Advanced Placement courses, which are college-level courses with an optional final exam. Students who score well on the exam may earn college credit (depending on the college's admissions policy).
  • College courses, taken either as a PSEO course, a dual credit course, or as a career academy course (each explained in further detail in this section of the DE website).

Diverse Learners

The wide range of diversities in the United States is one of our national treasures, and Iowa's schools reflect that rich diversity. Information about diverse learners is used by teachers to create a democratic and humane environment where all students are seen as individuals, who are respected and valued for their diversity. Information is included here for: English Language Learners, Homeless, At-Risk, Drop-out Prevention, Alternative Education, Gifted and Talented,and Special Education.

Early Childhood

Early Childhood Education expands early care and education needs of children from birth to third grade. The Department of Education early childhood information has been further organized to include programs and resources for three age groups of children: birth to three years old, three to five years old, and Kindergarten to 3rd grade.

Educator Quality

Iowa's Teacher Quality initiatives are reshaping how teachers are compensated and supported. This effort responds to our goal of improving student learning, as well as the critical issues of looming teacher shortages in rural and urban Iowa and a declining comparability of Iowa teachers' salaries with those in other states.

K-12 Education

Iowa's school districts provide a quality comprehensive education for the children and youth of their communities. The comprehensive education includes all curricular areas and various programs and services. The content areas of the curriculum include literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, career and technical education, the arts, foreign language, and health and physical education. Programs and services include distance learning, service learning, before-after school programs, guidance and counseling, and instructional media and school technology. Information about students with unique learning needs and programs and services to address their needs, such as special education, alternative education, dropout prevention, gifted education and talent development, and education of the homeless, is presented under Diverse Learners.

Learning Supports

Not every student comes to school motivationally ready and able to learn. On any given day, some students experience barriers that interfere with their ability to learn. Programs, services, practices, and strategies that help students overcome these barriers are called 'Learning Supports'. Learning Supports can include a host of classroom approaches, school-wide programs, parent involvement, community partnerships, and youth engagement efforts.

No Child Left Behind

President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 into law on January 8, 2002. The Act represents President Bush's education reform plan and contains the most sweeping changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) since it was enacted in 1965. NCLB Changes the federal government's role in K-12 education by focusing on school success as measured by student achievement. The Act also contains the President's four basic education reform principles. The following Title Programs are included as part of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB): Title I , Title II , Title III , Title IV , Title V , Title VI , TitleX .

Nutrition Programs

The Nutrition Programs reside within the Bureau of Nutrition Programs and School Transportation. Nutrition Programs contribute to the overall mission of the Department of Education by: facilitating and promoting quality USDA Child Nutrition Programs that will benefit the education, health, and well being of the citizens of Iowa.

Options for Educational Choice

Options for Educational Choice provides parents with alternate educational opportunities for their student. Options for Educational Choice include Competent Private Instruction (CPI - the formal instruction to children of compulsory attendance age outside the traditional school setting), Post Secondary Education Options (PSEO) providing limited opportunities for high school students to pursue coursework not available in their high school of attendance), and Charter Schools (a school established by creating a new school within an existing public school or converting an existing public school to charter status for the purpose of pursuing innovation in education).

School Transportation

The School Transportation Unit resides within the Bureau of Nutrition Programs and School Transportation. The unit's mission contributes to the overall mission of the Department of Education by: Serving in a leadership role to assist and motivate Iowa's public and nonpublic schools to provide high quality, safe and efficient school transportation services for students.

Special Education

Standards & Benchmarks

Teacher Awards & Exchange Programs

Title Programs

The "Title Programs" described below are part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 that embodies four principles:

  • stronger accountability for results
  • expanded flexibility and local control
  • expanded options for parents
  • emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven effective.

The programs provide federal support to local school districts and states for specific program ares and student populations. Information about the programs and their allocations, and application and reporting procedures are presented.

 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 November 2007 )