Registration is now open for the next session of Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses, which starts Monday, Feb. 3.
The Iowa 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 next course session, which runs from Feb. 3 to March. 30, includes four facilitated courses and a self-guided asynchronous course that participants can complete at their own pace with assistance from a facilitator.
All courses 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, participation in Registered Apprenticeships, attainment of industry-recognized credentials and degree attainment from two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
One of the courses offered this fall 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.
More information about the academy and additional course offerings are available on the Department’s Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy webpage.
Fall 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 Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy courses.
Register for 101: Foundations of College and Career Readiness in Iowa
301: Systems & Optimization (3 credits)
Explores the necessary systems and structures for student college and career readiness, including Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Individual Career and Academic Planning (ICAP) requirements, advisories, financial aid, college admissions, equity and transition.
Register for 301: Systems & Optimization
601: Advanced Equity Issues in Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities (3 credits)
Engages participants in an in-depth exploration of unique equity issues related to postsecondary access, college applications, and financial aid processes and advances college access professionals’ knowledge of issues that arise in supporting traditionally underrepresented students.
Register for 601: Advanced Equity Issues in Planning, Accessing & Financing Postsecondary Opportunities
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.
Register for 701: College & Career Readiness for K-5 School Counselors & Educators
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. It also targets actions that schools can take to support English Learners 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.
Register for licensure renewal
Register for graduate credit
Register as a participant only