The primary mission of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education (IAAE) is to increase awareness, recognition and support of policies, practices and partnerships that ensure and advance quality arts education for all Iowans. The Iowa Alliance for Arts Education's "Model of Excellence Mentoring Program" is an integral part of the programming to help fulfill the mission to support quality arts education in the state. The Iowa Alliance for Arts Education has been operating a mentoring program for beginning fine arts teachers since 2005. They are currently celebrating their 20th year of operation in the state of Iowa. During that time the program has grown from a simple block grant program to three fine arts professional organizations to a comprehensive mentoring program that is currently collaborating with seven fine arts educational organizations, the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa legislature.