Future Ready (Postsecondary Readiness)

"AEA PREP'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS ARE READY AND PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN A VARIETY OF POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH DISTRICTS AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT HEALTHY SYSTEMS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF EQUITY AND SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY.AEA PREP’s mission will be achieved through:

1. Providing actionable postsecondary readiness and success data to all Iowa PK-12 school districts.

   • AEA PREP dashboard in EdInsight

   • Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) initiative

2. ​Developing​ ​a ​statewide ​network ​of ​Postsecondary ​Readiness ​Leads and teams who will provide leadership & support to districts and AEAs in using this data.

   • Bev Berns, Keystone AEA's Postsecondary Readiness Lead

3. Creating a ​resource ​center ​with updated research, ​postsecondary readiness data dashboards, ​presentations, ​webinars, ​and ​other information to support postsecondary readiness programs and initiatives

   • Visit www.aeaprep.org

4. District Policies and Practice Reviews

   • Do district goals align to Postsecondary Readiness metrics?

   • Are Equity policies/practices examined?

     • Superintendent Evaluation (Policy Series 300)

     • Career Education (Policy Series 600)

     • Graduation Requirements (Policy Series 500)

"The intermediary networks work to prepare students for the workforce by connecting business and the education system by offering work-based learning activities to students and teachers." 
Northeast Iowa Community College's Career Learning Link has a consistent list of offerings for students to engage with careers in the area. 

Click here to view CLL's 2020-2021 Student Events

For more information visit https://www.nicc.edu/careerlearninglink/

Statewide organizations

• Iowa's Intermediary Network
• IDOE Intermediary Network website

"The purpose of the center is to develop Iowa's capacity to leverage learner-centered, personalized, and competency-Based ecosystems as pathways to future readiness."

We work with schools and community partners to create:

• engaged learners
• innovative environments
• future-ready community members
• resilient, self-directed young people

Learn more about The Center at https://sites.google.com/view/thecenter-iowa/home

Keystone AEA Contacts for The Center:

• Brea Baxter
• Bev Berns

Lead consultant: Andrea Stewart

"The goal of Future Ready Iowa is for 70 percent of Iowa’s workforce to have education or training beyond high school by 2025."ABOUT FUTURE READY IOWA

Future Ready Iowa is an initiative to build Iowa’s talent pipeline. Current postsecondary data shows that education or training beyond high school is the new minimum to earn a living wage. Academic mindsets are surpassing the need for specific knowledge. Careers today and in the future require advanced knowledge and/or technical skills. Today's students are encouraged to demonstrate thinking competencies in creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

Learn more about Future Ready Iowa at https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov/

the goal of increasing stem interest and achievement is critical to regaining iowa's historic legacy as a leader in education and workforce development. in fact, stem is a vital economic development advantage for quality job growth in our state, as stem graduates are in great demand to meet current and future workforce needs." The Governor's STEM Hub offers many opportunities for schools and teachers to bring STEM education into the classroom. From their Scale-Up grants, local STEM festivals, and teacher Externships they support connections to local and national community-based learning experiences for schools. 

Learn more at https://iowastem.gov/about

"Through iJAG programs, middle school through college age students discover their individual talents, develop skills, and seize opportunities to achieve their personal potential. Each iJAG program is operated as a "for-credit" elective course during the regular school day."

iJAG uses project-based learning as a basis for experiential learning. For more information about iJAG visit https://www.ijag.org/

"Iowa college aid's mission is to help make college for all Iowans possible by working to remove barriers and provide tools to help plan, prepare, and complete education after high school."

Iowa College Aid, in partnership with AEA PREP, provides FAFSA completion information to schools to ensure all students who choose to complete the FAFSA do so successfully. 

Fact sheet: FAFSA Initiative

For more information visit https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/

Learn more about the Iowa Intermediary Network and their opportunities for students at https://www.iowain.org/. 

Learn more about Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services through their website https://ivrs.iowa.gov/.

"Work-based learning helps students develop new skills
and connections through projects, internships and even
apprenticeships that are embedded into classwork.
This sets the stage for great job opportunities for young
people and builds a pipeline of skilled workers for
employers.

• What is the Work-based Learning Clearinghouse?
• Work-Based Learning Clearinghouse website:  http://clearinghouse.futurereadyiowa.org.
• Project board goes live July 1:  http://wbl.futurereadyiowa.org
• Pilot project board is available. Check out the preview!:  http://clearinghousetest.aealearningonline.org
• Toolkits
  • Business Partnerships
  • Authentic Learning Blueprint Facilitator's Guide