[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6174149,"mediaKeyId","5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd","parentId",5371654,"title","Department report: license‑plate winner, Google certificates and major early‑childhood and literacy grants","audioSeconds",244,"startMs",756000,"endMs",1000000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd&start=756&end=1000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd/thumbnail_756000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6174149/Iowa/Department-report-licenseplate-winner-Google-certificates-and-major-earlychildhood-and-literacy-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174149-d773514504a4bd59dee2512db29d9231/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022061&Signature=K-YHjTXdqxrA8YGT4qwtE9ig2ZqiEulipWKwtnDQ1e-1wHm3wA0QZq4afdNXflM5JnuCJ1htdL6oVSn35AJ2XcyKF4BnP1asK770ukB~J3zVUcao6np0oO-YHgYhgecYrFVvBZ9pPka8Zf8fA2JVrYH3hMsbgbCJJ3Iw~PBlDZ6U~ncYAwd9CyQ-y2rslcO~gNBPYyjlQ~ladE7EpCOCt0Q0FwteILx8ftvGhUTZmY52Ipx1lwe9xFCAvM~AmOxiLBz-V8vrHU2qD3tJ4dUFTOlY3Ni5tsoLr8f46IXdAPuwXnlpi99QOGS3muPBvZAN~nHU-SPpugRa1-513cy6Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-12T04:43:53.9Z","article","The department’s director used the June board meeting to brief the State Board on a range of program updates, grants and partnerships intended to expand educational opportunities across Iowa.

Highlights and why they matter

- Education license plate design: The department announced 16‑year‑old Erin Cho’s winning design for the Iowa education license plate. Proceeds from the plate will support districts with the highest per‑pupil transportation costs, a significant benefit for many rural districts.

- National Math Stars partnership: The department will partner with National Math Stars to provide individualized, long‑term support to mathematically exceptional students identified in third grade; the program provides mentoring, pathway counseling and other supports over multiple years.

- Google career certificates and AI essentials: The department is partnering with Google to offer free access for students, educators and community college faculty to Google career certificates (cybersecurity, data analytics, IT support, project management, digital marketing, e‑commerce and UX design) and Google’s AI essentials course; certificates can be completed in three to six months.

- Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant: The department closed applications for a CLSD subgrant competition totaling $24 million, including $4 million in planning subgrants and the possibility of up to $5 million annually in implementation grants over four years; the program supports evidence‑based reading instruction and statewide literacy initiatives.

- Continuum of Care grant: The department announced a first‑of‑its‑kind continuum of care application open through next Wednesday; the grant is funded with state‑directed federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds and is intended to expand full‑day preschool and child care partnerships for working families.

- Credentials to Careers grants and industry‑recognized credentials (IRCs): The department launched another round of Credentials to Careers grants to support student attainment of industry‑recognized credentials and noted last year the department prioritized more than $2.5 million in state‑directed funds to 36 districts.

Context and next steps

Most initiatives described are grant‑ or partnership‑based and require local application or implementation. The department said it will publish legislative summaries for districts later this summer and will continue briefing the board as programs move from planning to implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Recording for the 6-19-25 Iowa State Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Department Director’s report announced a range of initiatives: Erin Cho’s winning education license plate design, a Google career‑certificate partnership, a National Math Stars statewide program and several grant opportunities including the CLSD $24 million subgrant competition and a new continuum of care grant.","taxTitle","Education, Iowa Department of (IDOE), Executive, Iowa","taxId",27587,"location","Iowa","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6174154,"State board extends accreditation for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges after interim review",2113,6563000,8676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd&start=6563&end=8676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd/thumbnail_6563000.jpg","/articles/6174154/Iowa/State-board-extends-accreditation-for-Eastern-Iowa-Community-Colleges-after-interim-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174154-7038703af144921b643533e5fcd30e89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022061&Signature=fAQv8mRcGPDooKiCreyQYJna-SnJCVXTbTzXcYC8bZnOkxrfwk2WvGYenEhKY9vYuDIc064GgEtBow5yj9wL1kOtMrcGoQu7-5Mrn2KA8FUoTCNtLLAkjra5OudP~0Ycl2AJIt-4qbTelhLQS0naUP~aKc0L~fJvLkQHe~MQeXdT3gmCeCBPXK0xtF3~CgRIk7jwD78QDJaZoBL4on3m~QU9QOOuHRs~ZQjK7O5MdXIwtiW-I7CKnchmc7oThuRfvH58qVSJzbsvQxX3xYLt9crvWc38G2RAl5VUqzv0dFsLIFLeLdsCM4eVWbrYI2TzF7CVZ3NLfnGi6z4jsEcgog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Education voted June 17 to continue accreditation for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) following an interim review that highlighted the district’s workforce partnerships, program review practices and community engagement and also noted a federal noncompliance finding from the Higher Learning Commission related to contact hours.

Why this matters: Continued accreditation confirms EICC meets state standards required for community college operations and federal financial aid eligibility. The college serves roughly 23,000 students across Clinton, Muscatine and Scott community colleges and is a key regional workforce and transfer partner.

Key points

- Department review: The department conducted a desk review and on‑campus visits in February and April 2025. The report found strong community and industry partnerships, a four‑year program review cycle involving external reviewers, and promising practices in regional planning partnerships that align high school and college CTE programs.

- HLC finding: The Higher Learning Commission issued a federal noncompliance finding regarding assignment of credits, program length and tuition related to inconsistent contact hours between regular and shortened semesters. EICC told the department it identified the source of the discrepancy and is implementing corrective actions; the college must submit an interim report to HLC by December 2025.

- Strengths and recommendations: The department highlighted strengths—shared governance, fiscal management, student success initiatives, disability services and senior year plus programs—and recommended several improvements such as revising faculty master agreement language to allow individual overload consent and documenting faculty work experience for CTE qualifications.

Action taken

The board approved continued accreditation through the next comprehensive review cycle (scheduled for academic year 2029–30) and asked the college to provide the department with HLC’s December interim report when submitted. The department will monitor EICC’s corrective actions on contact hours and contract language changes related to faculty overload consent.

Quotes

“We do life better together,” EICC interim chancellor said while describing the college’s community focus and partnerships.

“The HLC team identified some examples of irregularity in the contact hours associated with the same courses offered at regular semesters and shortened semesters,” the department’s accreditation summary said; EICC reported corrective steps are underway.

Ending

The board’s approval affirms EICC’s continuing accreditation while the department will track the college’s HLC response and recommended improvements.","The State Board approved continued accreditation for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and noted strengths in workforce partnerships, program review and shared governance, while flagging an HLC federal noncompliance finding on contact hours that EICC is addressing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6174157,"State board grants full approval to Simpson College educator preparation program",1713,2109000,3822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd&start=2109&end=3822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd/thumbnail_2109000.jpg","/articles/6174157/Iowa/State-board-grants-full-approval-to-Simpson-College-educator-preparation-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174157-0d71f71e93dbd885a3f889150024ef7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022061&Signature=h1~tPy~8N-giXqM1EWgDCZPL5kEXBjzkK6XVSBHM-QMTsM2n7Wy5F8j7bACfU-UZOJUegOjEghUKl8WqyHmavz4LEpvrZldPBMT8c-kkuqwlGQmg3iLJmRHAkfyN13TIilO6yjCAAftvEWL-nVpCaKNv9PG078DHq6XXrxJkzn-lnw7ghisVWJY8xbHAt3z819GJi4B5cC3iA8NWLLQ-qX0IJvtSOvWukWUW6NzVga7CwBlBMhmvcMbViXVcekSkQ8APnNqwerGJVEi2G4XWHVQx9W9dxeo~q2MEdK9ZoO~b9gfalbwUxrvo0Pzp-PQOFRXehqgyOLq76i9M9uWr-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Education voted to grant full approval to Simpson College’s teacher preparation program on June 17 after a multiyear review process that included a desk review, site visit, surveys and interviews.

The department’s educator quality team recommended full approval while noting a set of improvements and follow‑up items. The college will submit a one‑year follow‑up report and must address outstanding recommendations in its annual reports.

Why this matters: State approval authorizes Simpson College to continue recommending candidates for Iowa teacher licenses and confirms the program meets state standards for governance, faculty qualifications, assessment, clinical practice and candidate support.

Key points

- The department’s review included more than 45 survey responses, review of 30+ course syllabi, 12+ interviews and five classroom interviews, plus review of candidate files. The report referenced work against chapter 79 and parts of chapter 13 of Iowa rules governing educator preparation.

- The review team highlighted strengths: stable full‑time faculty (nine full‑time faculty), cohesive department leadership, improved assessment systems, strong clinical placement processes and active advisory‑committee engagement.

- Recommendations and required follow‑up included: formalizing advisory‑committee use of assessment data, documenting adjunct communication and professional development pathways, ensuring faculty workloads and responsibilities are sustainable, clarifying integration of the program’s conceptual framework across coursework, and assuring consistent tracking of candidate experiences with diverse learner groups.

- The program has adopted new measures since the prior visit, including a required “reading in the content area” course for secondary candidates to improve literacy and dyslexia preparation, and a policy to ensure faculty complete required field engagement hours within five years.

Action taken

The board approved Simpson College’s educator preparation program for full approval through its next scheduled review in the 2031–32 academic year and required a one‑year follow‑up visit and report addressing the team’s unresolved concerns.

Quotes

“Mariam Rod Szabo, the department reviewer, recommended Simpson College for full approval after documenting strengths and targeted areas for continuous improvement,” the department said in its presentation.

“We really focus on updating and improving our conceptual framework, our K‑12 contact hour requirements, assessment plans, and providing explicit instruction for all students seeking any K‑12 licensure,” Kate Lerseth, department chair at Simpson College, told the board.

Ending

The board’s action preserves Simpson College’s role in preparing Iowa teachers while retaining supervisory follow‑up to ensure the program completes planned improvements and reports progress to the department.","After a multi‑year review and site visit, the State Board granted Simpson College full approval of its teacher preparation program and required a one‑year follow‑up and the next review in 2031–32.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6174163,"Iowa board approves revised Perkins state plan, vows further review of funding split",6318,132000,6450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd&start=132&end=6450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371654-5515989927a75af0bdcefaabafdcc0fd/thumbnail_132000.jpg","/articles/6174163/Iowa/Iowa-board-approves-revised-Perkins-state-plan-vows-further-review-of-funding-split","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174163-58a43457f6abc8d1f6f982e282644dd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771022061&Signature=geb9Vh4rkgpgOcHHPF9E2kgZIyNamBzLfSOKCLpFEXYl-wjZKc-DiNcNC1yJgil8tb6j4fLWQb1onNmwVQkqFZshM-JpeJmJroqvHDD6JlbrZPmDURs5raXao5ZBIoRell~8efx-sQ23N3a5J4NQczIs1YlL0fLCnujSG-J43Dr-wbAj-cghxNXQDkertLHhtkYx8BYFQfviAl3QVV-usrGegrqWK6l4-Jj6lYA3nTodY1gUjKYqKd3jXyBjvH1I-rJ8-XQ5~VCOmHOlPWJF-XVBoiBdpMtYOskZrRTzz2gh5VyleJjWHY8dsMELEp9wY6YV59U5Lp~U3fxUefWzcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Education on June 17 approved Iowa’s four‑year Perkins state plan, which moves the long‑term allocation of federal career and technical education (CTE) funding toward high schools, but the board directed the Department of Education to convene community college and K‑12 partners and return with additional analysis of the allocation by December 2025.

The action comes after public comment from community college leaders and a multiweek public comment process the department said produced “significant” feedback.

Board approval allows the department to submit the state plan to the U.S. Department of Education. The board’s motion included a specific direction that the department hold additional stakeholder meetings on the proposed secondary/postsecondary split and present findings to the board no later than the December 2025 meeting.

Why this matters: Perkins funds support CTE programs, work‑based learning, industry‑recognized credentials and related educator professional development. Community colleges and many rural high schools rely on the funds to run shared programs and purchase specialized equipment; shifting the long‑term split could change how those programs are staffed and delivered.

Key points

- Public commenters from two community colleges told the board the proposed allocation would reduce community college Perkins funding sharply and could force program cuts. Kyle Collins of Des Moines Area Community College told the board, “the redistribution of Perkins funding from Iowa's community colleges to our K‑12 partners is not an effective way to enhance CTE programming in the state of Iowa.” Anne Hauser Boyens, president of Iowa Valley Community College District, said, “It's estimated that this will be about a $2,000,000 cut to the 15 community colleges.”

- Department staff said Iowa will receive about $14.5 million in Perkins funds for fiscal year 2026. The department proposed year‑one distributions at 46.5% secondary and 53.5% postsecondary, shifting in years two through four to 60% secondary and 40% postsecondary; 7% of the total allocation would be reserved for statewide initiatives (college and career transition counselors, professional development, investments in industry‑recognized credentials and expansion of work‑based learning).

- Department presenters described a multistage stakeholder process: an October 2024 statewide stakeholder meeting, a 30‑day public comment period in March–April 2025, two public hearings and synthesis of comments into plan revisions. The department said it received an extension from the U.S. Department of Education to allow additional review of comments before submission.

- Board members pressed the department for more locally disaggregated analysis, asking staff to show how the proposed split would affect each community college and the high schools in its service area. Several board members said they wanted additional meetings with the community college presidents and with K‑12 districts before any long‑term allocation change takes effect.

- The board approved the state plan by roll call vote with one recorded “nay” and directed the department to present follow‑up findings and stakeholder feedback no later than the board’s December 2025 meeting. Board members noted the approved plan includes a transitional year before the larger shift in the formula would be implemented.

What was decided and what follows

Formal action: The board voted to approve the Perkins state plan as presented and asked the department to reconvene community college and K‑12 partners to review the allocation for years two through four, reporting back by December 2025. The vote was recorded by roll call; one board member voted against the motion while the rest approved. The plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education following board approval and the governor’s signature.

Staff direction: Department staff will schedule additional stakeholder meetings, provide county/district/community college‑level allocation modeling, and document responses to public comments for the board’s December review.

Quotes

“We have a k‑12 regional planning partnership … providing critical support in strengthening career pathways,” Kyle Collins said in public comment, arguing community colleges scale CTE cost‑effectively.

“Equipping all of the high schools with high‑cost equipment may not be the most effective way to use these funds,” Anne Hauser Boyens said.

“In Iowa, these funds are allocated to high schools, community colleges, and charter schools,” Heather Meissen, the department’s CTE administrative consultant, told the board during the plan presentation.

Ending note

The board’s approval preserves the state’s ability to submit its Perkins plan on the federal timeline, while the directed follow‑up aims to produce more detailed local impact information and a public conversation about the long‑term allocation that will take effect after the transition year.","The State Board of Education approved Iowa's four‑year Perkins state plan after debate over shifting more federal CTE funds to high schools; the board directed staff to convene community college and K‑12 partners and return with additional analysis by December 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Department report: license‑plate winner, Google certificates and major early‑childhood and literacy grants

State board extends accreditation for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges after interim review

State board grants full approval to Simpson College educator preparation program

Iowa board approves revised Perkins state plan, vows further review of funding split