Mission
The mission of the Iowa Community Education Association is to develop healthy Iowa communities through active engagement of schools and
communities working together to improve the quality of life for Iowa’s children, youth, adults, and families.
Mission Strategies
Provide regional and statewide training and resource materials to Iowa communities to…
•identify community assets/strengths/resources.
•maximize community assets through establishing community partnerships.
•identify and prioritize community needs.
•mobilize community assets to address identified needs.
PREAMBLE TO THE ASSOCIATION BY LAWS (Copy of ByLaws)
The Iowa Community Education Association was established in order to maximize the development of community education concepts in the communities of Iowa, thereby utilizing the resources (human, physical and financial) for the development of each person’s potential in the community – to promote more efficient delivery of services to people.
About ICEA
The Iowa Community Education Association (ICEA) is a statewide organization
of those interested in community education. The association promotes the community
education concept in Iowa and provides a networking opportunity for those involved
in community education. Members include both professional staff members and
non-professionals. Many of our members are on the advisory councils in the various
communities represented by community education models.
The purpose of our association is the promotion, understanding, improvement
and expansion of the community education concept within Iowa. The association
holds an annual conference in October. This conference showcases the achievements
of community education models in the state and provides seminars and workshops
on programming areas in community education. Networking opportunities are available
during the conference. The association also publishes the CATALYST, designed
to keep everyone informed about current events in community education in the
state. The association also works with the Iowa Department of Education and
the Iowa Legislature to promote legislation favorable to community education
.
The ICEA Board of Directors provides direction for the association. The board
meets monthly, annually sets goals and provides leadership to the association.
Board members serve two-year terms and are eligible for re-election.
Membership is available to any individual and to groups, i.e. and advisory council.
This allows each member of the group membership benefits, with a limit of ten
votes per group.
What is Community Education?
Community Education is a simple idea, bringing to mind the days when the little
red schoolhouse functioned, not just as a place to teach children, but as a
center for community activities. Community Education takes a similar approach
to education and community improvement in that it seeks to coordinate education,
recreation, and social service providers in the community in order to better
serve community residents and improve the quality of life for all.
Community Education extends the concept of public education beyond the traditional
K-12 program known as “schooling.” Community Education is an important
support program for the regular instruction program and recent school improvement
reform strategies designed to increase meaningful parent and community involvement
in the classroom and learning support systems for children.
Although communities vary greatly, every community has resources that can be
used to meet community needs and improve the quality of life. In a community
climate of communication, openness, and cooperation, traditional schools are
transformed into community schools. Members of the community have the opportunity
to be both teachers and learners. And many of today’s school buildings
do not become isolated, underused little islands within their communities. The
benefits of Community Education include increased community involvement, opportunities
for lifelong learning and the efficient use of resources on a year round basis
in a community.