ACHIEVE System update 

The planned November launch of ACHIEVE, Iowa’s new data system for special education has been postponed. Please read the following message from Deputy Director Amy J. Williamson from the Iowa Department of Education regarding the delay.

Dear Colleagues: 

All of us at the Iowa Department of Education are excited about the upcoming launch of ACHIEVE, Iowa’s new data system for special education, and we also recognize that the 2021-2022 school year will be full of new challenges in education.  We are committed to launching ACHIEVE in the most efficient and beneficial way possible for Iowa’s educators, students, and families.  

In order to provide educators with the most time possible this fall to focus on recovery services and accelerating learning for students with disabilities, the Department, in collaboration with our ACHIEVE vendor, AnLar, has made the decision to delay the November launch of ACHIEVE. This postponement will also provide our Department, Area Education Agency (AEA), and AnLar team members with more time to implement changes to ACHIEVE based on feedback from testing groups and align professional learning with those changes.

The ACHIEVE Governance Council (AGC), which includes representation of Department staff, AEA special education directors, and LEA special education directors, will determine a new, specific launch date, professional learning schedule, and structured communication plan, all of which will be shared with you in the coming months.  The Department will continue to engage stakeholders from across the state to ensure that we release the ACHIEVE system at an appropriate time and with sufficient support to meet the needs of Iowa’s schools and families. 

 Thank you for your partnership and support.

Sincerely,

Amy

Amy J. Williamson
Deputy Director
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Mobile: 515.339.4122
Email: amy.williamson@iowa.gov
www.educateiowa.gov