This document provides guidelines for developing competency-based pathways in Iowa districts and schools and outlines waiver requirements and procedures. Competency-based pathways provide ways to validate learning of standards that occurs outside the structure of the traditional school and offer flexibility for schools to engage students in…

Over the past decade, online courses and entire online degree programs have been made available, serving millions of students in higher education. These online courses largely have been designed and taught using the theoretical concepts and practical strategies of Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN). During 2003-04, approximately two million…

This report focuses on the seven original Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) projects selected for funding in 2003. Three of the original seven projects were selected for a national random assignment evaluation in 2005; however, this report only focuses on program operations prior to joining the random assignment evaluation for the three…

This paper describes the process of principal licensure reform in Iowa. Upon adoption of the ISLLC standards, the state department of education required revision of all principal preparation programs to conform to state code and guidelines developed by an external review panel. This paper analyzes the review process and compares five programs that…

This handbook of information and suggestions for improving art education in the elementary and secondary schools of Iowa provides broad guidelines for the purpose and goals of a quality art education program. The guidelines may be used to inform school administrators and board members of the general characteristics of an educationally valid…

This handbook is designed to give school boards, school administrators, teachers, and community leaders in Iowa a step by step approach to designing a quality, multicultural, nonsexist education program in their local school districts. The role of each one of these groups in developing a multicultural nonsexist education program is described. In…

The primary purpose of this document is to help Iowa's parents of young children with special needs find financial resources and services. It is expected that the document will also serve as a resource guide for professionals who provide services to children with special needs and their families. Contents are organized in four sections concerning,…

This report examines the types of professional development necessary to implement successful online learning initiatives. The potential for schools utilizing online learning is tremendous: schools can develop new distribution methods to enable equity and access for all students, they can provide high quality content for all students and they can…

Intended as a sourcebook for administrators of rural Iowa schools, this report outlines the development and implementation of a school-to-work transition program for rural youth. Part 1 discusses the need and rationale for a program to facilitate the school-to-work transition. Included among the topics addressed in this discussion are an overview…