The AEA early childhood consultants provide professional development, coaching, technical assistance, and serve as a resource for general and/or special education to support the needs of Iowa’s youngest learners. They also provide leadership in collaboration and coordination within the statewide early childhood system.  

AEA professionals serving on the Early Childhood State Coordination Team and their agency colleagues provide support to grantees operating Shared Visions Programs in community-based preschools, school districts, Head Start programs, and/or other awarded agencies.  In addition, they also serve districts and community-based preschool partner locations offering Statewide Voluntary Preschool Programs for Four-Year-Old Children and providing early childhood special education services. This includes the implementation of locally determined program standards as well as the administration and reporting of the GOLD Online Assessment System as required by Iowa Code §·279.60. 

Guiding Practices

The Iowa Early Learning Standards provide guidance related to what children should know and be able to do. Program standards provide specific, objective criteria regarding the components of high quality early childhood programming. State Board of Education approved program standards include the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (IQPPS), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment items, and Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS).