New online curriculum launched for Iowa's schools

All Iowa schools will have access to a college, career and citizenship readiness curriculum through an online learning system provided as part of a public and private partnership, Gov. Terry Branstad announced Monday.

The AEA Student System for Personalized Learning is the first of its kind in the nation, said Branstad, who was joined by the project's leaders at a Statehouse news conference. It will be provided free to schools. The initiative has been developed through a collaboration between AEA PD Online, Character Counts in Iowa, and the Institute for Excellence & Ethics.

Officials said the program would give students a way to learn at their own pace, both in class and on their own. It will also provide ties to local businesses, civic groups and community organizations.

One of the first features will be a curriculum called "Excellence, Integrity & Professionalism — Online Iowa," which is intended to ensure college, career and citizenship readiness, officials said. It will focus on work ethic, critical thinking and goal achievement; communication, collaboration and teamwork; integrity, responsibility and leadership; and priority management, stress reduction and well-being.

Scott Raecker, director of Character Counts, said his organization is leveraging philanthropic support to provide the curriculum to Iowa's schools. He said this is a direct result of the lasting legacy of the Iowa Sesquicentennial in 1996 and his organization's commitment to improve all Iowans' lives.

In addition, Brent Siegrist, executive director of the Iowa Area Education Agencies, said recently passed education reform in Iowa allows AEA PD Online to offer the curriculum to other national and international education providers on a fee-for-service basis.

For more information: http://learning.aeak12online.org/