Registration is now open for the spring session of Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses, which starts Monday, March 11, and continues through May 5.
The College & Career Readiness Academy, a program of the Iowa Department of Education's Bureau of Iowa College Aid, offers online courses designed for school counselors, teachers, administrators and others helping students attain postsecondary education in Iowa.
Courses available through the academy are tailored to Iowa college access professionals to improve effectiveness in preparing all students for education and training beyond high school. Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses are open to anyone working in the college access field.
“One of the benefits of taking Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses include getting to learn more about some of the initiatives, programs, strategies and data that impact college and career readiness support in our state,” said Mark Shea, a College and Career Readiness Academy facilitator. “Participants leave the courses with an action plan of how to implement new strategies and a resource bank of new colleagues to support that work.”
The four courses offered this spring aim to help schools and districts develop practices that lead to postsecondary success, ensuring all students—especially low-income and first-generation—have access to postsecondary opportunities. Participants learn to effectively prepare students for education beyond high school through on-the-job training or at a trade school, college, or university.
“The Academy increased my understanding of resources and programs available to help our kids be more successful in their planning and futures,” said Julie Chapuis, a school counselor in the Van Buren County School District who has become a College Access Specialist through the Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy. “I had the opportunity to learn important content and network with many professionals in my field.”
One of the courses offered this spring is the Iowa College and Career Readiness Academy’s newest course, Supporting Graduation, College & Careers for English Learners.
This self-paced course identifies challenges and potential barriers unique to families new to the United States or with students developing their academic English language proficiency. It targets actions that schools can take to better support English Learners as they work toward graduation and prepare for their transition to college or career training programs.
To register for any Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses, individuals must log into the AEA Iowa Professional Learning website using their current AEA Learning System username and password. If a new account is created, courses will not be accessible until the following business day. Individuals can register as participants at no cost or select to earn license renewal or graduate credit through Drake University, Grand View University or Morningside College.
More information about the academy and additional course offerings are available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
Spring course offerings include:
101: Foundations of College and Career Readiness in Iowa (2 credits)
Provides an overview of the current state of college and career readiness in Iowa for all participants; prerequisite for all other College and Career Readiness Academy courses.
Registerfor 101: Foundations of College and Career Readiness in Iowa
201: Creating Iowa's College & Career Readiness Culture (3 credits)
Focuses on the distinct yet interrelated roles of teachers, school counselors and administrators in creating the systems that support a college and career readiness culture; includes emphases on equity and utilizing district plans.
Registerfor 201: Creating Iowa's College & Career Readiness Culture
603: Supporting Graduation, College & Careers for English Learners
This course identifies challenges and potential barriers unique to families new to the U.S. or have students developing their academic English language proficiency and targets actions that schools can take to support English Learners better as they work toward graduation and prepare for their transition to college or career training programs. Registration: Sign up for one of the options for 603 below.
For no credit (free)
For license renewal credit
For graduate credit from Drake
701: College & Career Readiness for K-5 School Counselors & Educators (3 credits)
Participants explore their role and engage in strategies related to building a strong college and career readiness foundation for students in the early grade levels. While the class was developed with a focus on the role of school counselors, other elementary professionals may benefit from the course content as well. (3 credits)
Registerfor 701: College & Career Readiness for K-5 School Counselors & Educators