What an exciting time of year! Many Iowa high school and community college students will be graduating this month with hard-earned diplomas and degrees. Congratulations to all of the amazing graduates across the state! We are proud of your accomplishments and are excited for your

As Gov. Kim Reynolds Kim Reynolds signed into law two significant work-based learning bills, she was joined by Dir. McKenzie Snow and Department leaders, Iowa Workforce Dir. Beth Townsend, Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen, Rep. Megan Jones and leaders from the DSMpartnership, IA Work-Based Learn

It’s go time! It’s time to file your FAFSA. This is the No. 1 way to get free money for college and you need to submit it every year that you're in college. Some financial aid is first come, first served, so file ASAP at FAFSA.gov.

The Department has extended its Credentials to Careers grant to support 17 more Iowa high schools with industry-recognized credential opportunities for students. #ChooseYourPathwayIA bit.ly/44ItqZy

Students at Ottumwa Schools Gateway High School took Director McKenzie Snow on a tour to share how the competency-based instruction and an engaging, supportive school environment is propelling them to and through graduation. Director Snow also met some of Gateway’s dedicated

The Iowa Department of Education and University of Iowa’s College of Education have announced Shawn Datchuk as the next director of the Iowa Reading Research Center. bit.ly/3ywH2La College of Education Iowa Reading Research Center

May is School Board Recognition Month! Thank you to all of the school board members in districts across the state who are helping shape education in Iowa.

ICYMI: See how Des Moines Public Schools River Woods Elementary and St. Paul the Apostle in Dubuque are using LETRS trainings to learn more about the Science of Reading. tinyurl.com/bdfvp88w #LiteracyChangesLivesIA

The Department-sponsored LETRS training is receiving positive feedback from Iowa teachers. See the results and learn how your school can sign up for the next training cohort. tinyurl.com/4enyk6pu #LiteracyChangesLivesIA

Director McKenzie Snow along with Department team members Amy Gieseke and Heather Meissen joined Iowa Valley President Howsare Boyens and the Ellsworth community in celebrating commencement last week. Future elementary educator Reagan Goodell delivered the commencement, and

Don’t miss this learning opportunity! Registration for the 2024 Iowa Science of Reading Summit closes on May 29. This two-day summit will feature seven workshop tracks featuring the latest on literacy instruction. tinyurl.com/4z8kz8cf #LiteracyChangesLivesIA

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If a student or loved one needs support, contact Your Life Iowa, a 24/7 anonymous lifeline for Iowans who are struggling with mental health, suicide or addiction. Call 855-581-8111 or visit yourlifeiowa.org.

Happy Mother’s Day from the Iowa Department of Education!

With Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Director Snow joined NIACC President Schultz and incoming President Pederson to celebrate the ribbon cutting for a new regional center in Charles City. The center was supported by a $1M grant through the Department’s Career Academy Incentive Fund to serve

We’re closing out our Teacher Appreciation Week highlights with a feature on Jacquie Drey, a 26-year STEM and computer science teacher at Storm Lake CSD Early Elementary School. She believes that teaching STEM and computer science to young students is incredibly valuable. It

For Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s meet Anne Crowley, health science teacher at Murray Community Schools. She believes in the power of education to transform lives and empower individuals to reach their full potential and finds joy in building relationships, helping students

Did you know? In 2022-23, over 2,400 licenses were issued to teachers who completed a teacher preparation program in Iowa. #CelebrateTeachersIA #TeacherAppreciation

It may be the last day of Teacher Appreciation Week, but we’re keeping the celebration going with a feature on Brenda Kaufmann, a veteran second grade teacher at North Tama School. Learn why she thinks being a lifelong learner is important for teachers and how she has inspired student

Please join Director Snow and the Department of Education team in celebrating the amazing teachers in your life! #TeacherAppreciationWeek #CelebrateTeachersIA

TODAY: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law to update the Iowa code that determines the distribution of state aid for community colleges between Iowa’s 15 institutions. Instead of the previous fixed formula, community college presidents and CEOs will draft the formula each year.