Report to the Governor and General Assembly on the Status of Out-of School Arts Programming for Youth, December 2006

In the 2006 Iowa General Assembly, House File 2797 called for a study on the status of afterschool arts programs and appropriated $5,000 for the study. In accordance with the legislation, the Iowa Arts Council, who received the charge, contracted with the Iowa Afterschool Alliance to form a Resource Group of out-of-school arts providers and experts to develop and oversee the study, review its results, and make recommendations for the expansion of arts programs that operate outside the normal school day. As a part of its charge in HF 2797, the Iowa Arts Council also documented a sampling of out-of-school arts programs statewide. Five are featured in this report.

Sign of the Times, March 2011

Newsletter produced by Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

Sign of the Times, April 2011

Newsletter produced by Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

School Leader Update, April 2011

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Education

School Leader Update, March 2011

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Education

School Leader Update, May 2011

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Education

Sign of the Times, May 2011

Newsletter produced by Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

Sign of the Times, June 2011

Newsletter produced by Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

School Leader Update, June 2011

Monthly newsletter produced by Iowa Department of Education

Audit report on Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium, Carlisle, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2010

Audit report on Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium, Carlisle, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2010

Report on a special investigation of the Lake Mills Community School District for the period July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2010

Report on a special investigation of the Lake Mills Community School District for the period July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2010

Sign of the Times, July 2011

Newsletter produced by Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

Report on the Iowa School for the Deaf, Council Bluffs, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2010

Report on the Iowa School for the Deaf, Council Bluffs, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2010

Sign of the Times, August 2011

Newsletter produced by Deaf Services Commission of Iowa

Evaluation of Electronic Speed Limit Signs on US 30, September, 2011

This study documents the speed reduction impacts of two dynamic, electronic school zone speed limit signs at United Community Schools between Ames and Boone, Iowa. The school facility is situated along US Highway 30, a rural four-lane divided expressway. Due to concerns about high speeds in the area, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) decided to replace the original static school zone speed limit signs, which had flashing beacons during school start and dismissal times (Figure 1), with electronic speed signs that only display the reduced school speed limit of 55 mph during school arrival and dismissal times (Figure 2). The Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) at Iowa State University (ISU) conducted a speed evaluation study one week before and 1 month, 7 months, and 14 or 15 months after the new signs were installed. Overall, the new dynamic school zone speed limit signs were more effective in reducing speeds than the original static signs with flashing beacons in the 1 month after period. During the 7 and 14 month after period, speeds increased slightly for the eastbound direction of traffic. However, the increases were consistent with overall speed increases that occurred independent of the signs. The dynamic, electronic signs were effective for the westbound direction of traffic for all time periods and for both start and dismissal times. Even though only modest changes in mean and 85th percentile speeds occurred, with the speed decreases, the number of vehicles exceeding the school speed limit decreased significantly, indicating the signs had a significant impact on high-end speeders.