Registration is now open for the summer session of Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses, which starts Monday, June 3, and continues through Friday, July 28.
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.
The four courses offered this summer aim to help schools and districts develop practices that lead to postsecondary success, ensuring all students—especially those from low-income backgrounds and first-generation students—have access to postsecondary opportunities. Participants learn to effectively prepare students for education beyond high school through on-the-job training, registered apprenticeships, trade schools, two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
One of the courses offered this summer and any time during the year, 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 students who are 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.
Summer 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.
Register 101: Foundations of College and Career Readiness in Iowa
501: An Introduction to Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities (3 credits)
Offers an introductory overview of the college application and financial aid processes in order to better prepare school counselors and other college access professionals in supporting students and families as they navigate the complexities of applying to postsecondary institutions and financing various options.
Register for 501: An Introduction to Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities
602: Supporting College & Career Readiness for Systems-Involved Youth (2 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.
Register for 602: Supporting College & Career Readiness for Systems-Involved Youth
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