This course satisfies the Civil & Social Engagement requirement for the School Culture Advocate Certification. Learn more at www.safeschoolsacademy.org/csca.

Course Description: This course is designed for educators and professionals working with elementary youth, and looks at the increasing diversity in the makeup of families, such as same-gender parents, adoption, interracial and multi-ethnic family members, separation and divorce, and transitions in terms of occupations and locations. These circumstances have created challenges of inclusivity when choosing curriculum materials that reflect the diversity of the classroom.

After exploring these issues, participants in this course will be introduced to resources that can be implemented into elementary curriculum, as well as strategies for talking about these challenges with parents, administration, and students.

Activities in this online course will include discussions on family diversity and how it affects students in the elementary classroom, an exploration of elementary literature and media that can be used in the curriculum to establish a fully inclusive environment for children from all families, and sharing effective methods for understanding and discussing these issues with students, families, and administration. Participants who complete this course will gain a deeper understanding of contemporary issues faced by students and families, use various media that includes all varieties of families in their subject matter, and be able to communicate more effectively with students and families from diverse backgrounds or circumstances.

Click here to view the entire course syllabus.

This is a one credit course.*

*Participants taking Drake graduate credit can enroll in a maximum of 12 graduate hours per academic semester.  If you take more than 12 credit hours, not all of your credits will be issued nor will your money be refunded. 

Upcoming sections:
July 6, 2025 - July 26, 2025
July 27, 2025 - August 16, 2025 (LICENSE RENEWAL ONLY)
September 7, 2025 - September 27, 2025 (LICENSE RENEWAL ONLY)
October 12, 2025 - November 1, 2025 (LICENSE RENEWAL ONLY)

Course Fees (🌊🦈😎 Pool Shark Pricedown: 50% OFF License Renewal Credit and $30 OFF Grad Credit now through 6/18/25! Prices automatically applied—NO CODE REQUIRED! 🌊🦈😎):

License Renewal - $95 $47.50
Para credit - $95 $47.50
Graduate Credit - $175 $145
Audit - $35

If you have questions, check out our FAQ page! You can also email academy@iowasafeschools.org or call 515.381.0588 if you’d prefer to pay by check.

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Please review our Terms & Conditions for more information on our refund and transfer policy.

Minimum Registration Limit
Beginning 8/1/2021, the minimum registration limit for a class will be three (3) registrants. If your registered class does not meet the minimum registration limit one week prior to your course start date, our Registrar will contact you about future transfer options.

Transcripts
Please allow up to two weeks for transcripts to be processed following a course end date. Request your transcripts by going to http://www.safeschoolsacademy.org/transcripts.