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Iowa’s model of accreditation and school improvement utilizes state and federal law and rule to position the Iowa Department of Education (Department), area education agencies (AEAs), local education agencies (LEAs) and other agencies and programs to engage in continuous improvement. Differentiated Accountability is the process developed in 2015-2016 to move schools and districts further in improvement efforts. For more information, see the  Differentiated Accountability System webpage.

Iowa Code section 256.11 (10)(a)(3) directs the Iowa Department of Education (Department) to provide a public report annually of findings of noncompliance and required corrective actions for each accredited school and school district. Below is a summary and listing by district or school of the noncompliance items.

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School Improvement Team

The School Improvement Team assists accredited districts, accredited nonpublic schools and AEAs with school improvement efforts and accreditation standards.

The following tables show the team member's monitoring assignments for schools and districts within an AEA and for specific topics. Contact the team member assigned to the AEA or specific topic with questions.

AEA Assignments

AEA AssignmentName & Phone
Central Rivers and KeystoneDennis McClain
515-822-2554
Grant Wood and Mississippi BendTom Bredfield
515-360-5131
Great Prairie Sara Nickel
515-971-7558
Green Hills Andrea Danker
515-669-8157
Heartland Eric Heitz
515-326-1018
Northwest and Prairie Lakes

Andrea Danker
515-669-8157

Eric Heitz
515-326-1018


Specific Topic Assignments

TopicName & Phone
Annual Notices and Deadlines CalendarSara Nickel
515-971-7558
Charter Schools

Barbara Ohlund
515-681-2310

Kyle Morin
515-238-6082

Tom Bredfield
515-360-5131

charters@iowa.gov

Desk AuditsAll
Civil Rights, Section 504, and Title IX Compliance

SueAnn Johnson
515-336-3942

Eric Heitz
515-326-1018

Exempt Schools

Andrea Danker

515-669-8157

Home Schooling (Private Education)

Andrea Danker

515-669-8157

Nonpublic School Accreditation/Independent Accreditation

Andrea Danker
515-669-8157

Eric Heitz
515-326-1018

Online Schools

Stephanie Langstraat
515-402-8700

Gwen Nagel
515-419-3275

Eric Heitz
515-326-1018

Open EnrollmentSara Nickel
515-971-7558
Specially Accredited Schools

Andrea Danker
515-669-8157

Dennis McClain
515-822-2554

Title 1, Section 1003 - School Improvement (ESSA)

Heidi Anthony
515-326-1029

Sarah Seney
515-494-9534

Stacie Stokes
515-210-5288

WaiversEric Heitz
515-326-1018
Whole Grade SharingEric Heitz
515-326-1018
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