WHAT

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy is a suite of Iowa-specific online courses for college access and success professionals. The courses enable educators, school counselors and administrators to provide equitable postsecondary opportunities for all students.

WHY

School counselors and other educators are crucial to Iowa students’ postsecondary access and success!

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy graduates help their schools and districts develop practices that lead to postsecondary success, ensuring that all students—especially low-income and first-generation—have access to postsecondary opportunities. Participants learn to effectively prepare students for education beyond high school, whether through on-the-job training or at a trade school, college or university.

These are Iowa’s only online interactive college and career courses, developed by our state’s professionals and based on current data. Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy is open to anyone working in the college access field. Participants earn a certificate and can also earn license renewal or graduate credit.

WHEN

View the full 2023-2024 course schedule. 

HOW TO REGISTER

• Log into the AEA's website. You will then be able to select and register for the session you want.
  • Your login information is the same email/password used when logging into the AEA Learning System (Mandatory Reporter, self-paced classes, etc.)
• Participants creating a new account will not be able to view courses until the next business day
• If you experience issues with the log-in process, please contact support@aealearningonline.org or 515-270-0405 Ext 14702.

COURSES

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 101: FOUNDATIONS OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN IOWA
Description: Provides an overview of the current state of college and career readiness in Iowa for all participants; prerequisite for all other College & Career Readiness Academy courses. (2 credits)
Registration: Sign up for 101 here. 

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 201: CREATING IOWA’S COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CULTURE
Description: Focuses on the distinct yet interrelated roles of teachers, school counselors and administrators in creating the systems that support a college and career readiness culture; includes emphases on equity and utilizing district plans. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101
Registration: Sign up 201 here.

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 301: SYSTEMS AND OPTIMIZATION
Description: 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. (3 credits)
Prerequisites: 101 & 201
Registration: Sign up for 301 here.

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 401: PLANNING AND THE DISTRICT’S ROLE IN CREATING A STUDENT-CENTERED CAREER AND ACADEMIC PLAN
Description: Targets the roles of district staff and administration in ICAP processes, including counseling, career planning, transitions, postsecondary opportunities, and issues of equity relative to special populations. (2 credits)
Prerequisite: 101
Registration: Sign up for 401 here.

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 501: INTRODUCTION TO PLANNING, ACCESSING AND FINANCING POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES
Description: Offers an introductory overview of the college application and financial aid processes in order to better prepare school counselors and other college access professionals in supporting students and families as they navigate the complexities
of applying to postsecondary institutions and financing various options. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101
Registration: Sign up for 501 here.

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 601: ADVANCED EQUITY ISSUES IN PLANNING, ACCESSING AND FINANCING POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES
Description: 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. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: 101 & 501 (501 may be waived for participants with comparable knowledge and work experience)   
Registration: Sign up for 601 here.

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 602: SUPPORTING COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS FOR SYSTEMS-INVOLVED STUDENTS
Description: Provides professional development for individuals who work on issues at the intersection of systems-involved youth and education. The course explores challenges and opportunities that face systems-involved students as they transition through care, high school, and onto a postsecondary path. Additionally, participants engage with resources and strategies that can support students who plan to pursue ongoing education, and for those who plan to enter the workforce. (2 credits)
Prerequisite: N/A
Registration: Sign up for 602 here.

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 603: SUPPORTING GRADUATION, COLLEGE, & CAREERS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS
Description: This course identifies challenges and potential barriers unique to families new to the U.S. or have students developing their academic English language proficiency and targets actions that schools can take to support English Learners better as they work toward graduation and prepare for their transition to college or career training programs.
Prerequisite: N/A
Registration: Sign up for one of the options for 603 below.
For no credit (free)
For license renewal credit
For graduate credit from Drake

Iowa College & Career Readiness Academy 701: COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR K-5 SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND EDUCATORS
Description: 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. (3 credits)
Registration: Sign up for 701 here.

Participants who complete 101-301 will earn the College Access Professional Certificate.
Participants who complete 101–501 will earn the College Access Specialist Certificate.
Participants who complete 101–601 will earn the Specialist Certificate and an Equity Badge.