Iowa schools can now sign up to join the next cohort of the HQIM Leadership Academy, an intensive, two-year learning experience that supports district and school leadership teams with implementing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) with integrity.
Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Education, the HQIM Leadership Academy offers a structured learning opportunity designed to increase district capacity for identifying HQIM, support implementation and build educator knowledge. Members of the leadership academy will receive practical tools and protocols for collaborative planning, classroom observation and continuous improvement as well as access to a statewide peer network of district leaders for shared learning. Through this opportunity, schools will also receive personalized support from the Department and other expert and national partners.
“High-quality instructional materials, better known as HQIM, provide a foundation for instruction in today’s classroom and can bolster learning and achievement for all students,” said Barbara Ohlund, executive officer at the Iowa Department of Education. “The HQIM Leadership Academy provides school leadership teams with access to information, resources and support that can assist them as they work to implement HQIM into their districts.”
Teams participating in the leadership academy often include superintendents, district leaders, chief academic officers, curriculum directors, instructional leaders, principals, principal supervisors, literacy and mathematics leaders and other staff supporting HQIM implementation.
Schools can choose to participate in the literacy pathway, mathematics pathway or both to best align with their priority content areas for HQIM implementation. Both pathways are designed to build district capacity for high-integrity implementation of HQIM and to strengthen classroom instruction.
To join the leadership academy, schools must commit to attending all required HQIM Leadership Academy sessions, including two in-person sessions and three webinars. They must also complete the annual statewide HQIM survey and participate in periodic HQIM learning walks.
Registrations for the next cohort of the HQIM Leadership Academy will be accepted through Aug. 31. All Iowa schools are welcome to apply. If registration meets capacity, priority consideration will be given to Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools. Space is limited to 40 teams for the literacy pathway and 40 teams for the mathematics pathway.
Additional information and testimonials from past participants can be found on the Department’s HQIM webpage. Specific questions regarding the HQIM Leadership Academy can be directed to Darcie Kress at [email protected] or Christi Donald at [email protected].