Post-Secondary Workshop: The Postsecondary Strategy Group hosts an annual workshop at Muscatine Community College focused on improving postsecondary outcomes. These workshops bring together school district staff, EICC representatives, high school students, college students, and local community organizations to review local data and gather student input. Together, the group identifies successful programs that can be expanded, shares best practices to strengthen education systems, and explores strategies to boost engagement with students and families.

This year’s action teams included career academy enrollment, support for first-generation college students, workforce partnerships, and improving high school graduation rates.

West Liberty Youth Board: The West Liberty Youth Board was created to elevate youth voices on local community boards and to help students develop leadership and professional skills.

This year, 7 students participated in the program. After being interviewed, each student was selected by one of the participating community organizations based on their interests. Many of the students were particularly drawn to community organizations, such as LULAC and Dream Catchers.

The program featured after-school sessions held on Fridays, focused on building skills and preparing students to actively participate on their assigned boards. These meetings equipped students with essential tools for success in leadership roles, covering topics such as Robert’s Rules of Order, effective communication, team-building activities, and resume development.

West Liberty Enrichment Program–Children are naturally curious and love to learn, especially when they can apply what they’ve learned in meaningful, hands-on ways. Each school year, we collaborate with West Liberty Elementary to support enrichment activities for kindergarten and 3rd-grade classes. This year, we expanded our efforts by also working with 2nd-grade students, connecting them to Stanley Center for Peace and Security Culture Kits to enhance their unit on China.

One 2nd-grade teacher shared: “We showed the items to students and they really enjoyed being able to have a hands-on experience. They loved seeing the money and the different pieces of art. The kit definitely helped their learning of Chinese culture!”

This initiative provided students with immersive learning experiences that deepened their engagement with classroom content. For example, students explored STEM concepts through basic coding activities using Hexbugs, provided by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Kim Wiele, a retired teacher from West Liberty Elementary, led the popular 3rd-grade STEM Hexbug and Kindergarten roller coaster activity. Students were excited to reconnect with a beloved former teacher and appreciated the chance to learn from her through hands-on exploration.

Students also learned about migration history and cultural artifacts through the Diversity Services Center of Iowa, and observed tadpole metamorphosis from Muscatine County Conservation.

Course to College: Each year, AIM partners with local high schools to apply for Impact Grants through the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. These grants support Course to College initiatives such as Career Exploration classes, College Application Day, Senior Days, and other college and career readiness activities.

Prepare – Throughout the school year, the goal is to ensure students are prepared for their future. This is accomplished through career-focused experiences, including job shadowing and guest speakers in the Career Exploration class, which currently has 106 students enrolled. The Strategies for Academic Success class supports this goal with 90 students participating. Additional preparation efforts include student enrollment in concurrent courses and Career Academy programs.

Apply – Once students feel ready for their next step, they begin the college application process. Schools support this through events like College Application Day at Muscatine High School and Senior Day at West Liberty High School. This year, 114 students participated in Muscatine’s event, while 82 students took part in West Liberty’s, submitting applications to more than 13 colleges and universities.

Finance – During the school year, FAFSA-related workshops helped students create accounts, followed by several FAFSA Completion Events in February. Ongoing support was provided throughout the semester. Local Scholarship Packet workshops were also held for both Muscatine and West Liberty High Schools, resulting in 222 applications—representing 48% of seniors.

Decide – Senior Decision Day took place at Muscatine High School on April 25, 2025, with 64 students from the Class of 2025 in attendance. West Liberty High School celebrated its Senior Decision Day on April 30 with a whole-school assembly to acknowledge the senior plans of the Class of 2025.

Go – Students complete the senior exit survey and receive assistance from the Summer Melt program to transition to college (May–August).

Summer Melt – Each year, from May through August, the Summer Melt program supports high school graduates by helping them feel confident and prepared to begin college. It addresses common gaps during the transition, such as completing the FAFSA, registering for orientation, and navigating enrollment. To make the process more accessible, Summer Melt provides near-peer mentors—current or recent college students who guide grads through each step. Many mentors are bilingual in English and Spanish, and meetings are scheduled at convenient public locations.

In 2025, Summer Melt helped 20 students from 2 institutions. Most were recent high school graduates, while others were already enrolled in college and needed FAFSA assistance.

For this year’s program, we are hosting events for families to better understand FAFSA and get questions answered. We are also offering drop-in sessions at the Coffee Belt in Muscatine and in West Liberty to reach more students in surrounding communities.

We aim to collaborate with additional community partners to expand our reach and continue supporting students on their path to higher education.