Information Exchange Vol. 47 No. 23

Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
June 21, 2019

Last call! Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes Program Seeking Nominations

Alaska Communications is seeking nominations for their 9^th annual Summer of Heroes initiative, honoring Alaska’s youngest heroes: individuals ages 6–18 who are making a difference in their communities through acts of generosity, courage or achievement. Five winners will each be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Nomination period closes June 28.

NEW! Alaska Humanities Forum Seeking Librarians for July Workshop

The Alaska Humanities Forum is looking for librarians to join a multi-day facilitation workshop this July 19 - 21 in Yukon Island! Full scholarships to librarians (and library volunteers with a recommendation from their local library) located outside Anchorage are being offered. Food, lodging, and water taxi are all included - the participant need only find a way to get to Homer. Three spots are available – first come first serve.

Reminder: State Board Adopts Revised Science and Digital Literacy Standards, Adds Computer Science Standards

The State Board of Education and Early Development, meeting June 7 in Anchorage, adopted amendments to regulations that update the K-12 science standards, update the technology standards as digital literacy standards, and add computer science standards as a new content area.

Reminder: U.S. ED Invites LEA Applicants for School Climate Transformation Grant Program

The program “provides competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop, enhance, or expand systems of support for, and technical assistance to, schools implementing multi-tiered system of support, for improving school climate.” U.S. ED estimates that they will have $40 million available for these grants. There is no match or cost sharing requirement. Applications must be submitted to U.S. ED on or before July 22, 2019. If you have questions about this grant opportunity, please contact Carlette KyserPegram at 202-453-6732.

Reminder: U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools program seeking Teacher Ambassadors

Become an ambassador with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools (SIS) program, which uses Census Bureau statistics to educate pre-K through 12th grade students about the importance of a complete and accurate census count. SIS equips teachers with free and engaging activities to use in classrooms. For the 2019-2020 school year, new materials will be released that teach students about the importance of the 2020 Census count, and empowers them to share this knowledge with adults in their home. As an SIS ambassador, you will help your students, schools, and communities benefit from the 2020 Census. Email Census Bureau's Statistics to apply today. 

Reminder: UAA Early Career Teaching Seminar: Culturally Responsive Education

This fall, UAA will be offering an online graduate-level seminar for early career teachers in Alaska. The seminar--EDTL A692--applies a culturally responsive framework for exploring all aspects of teaching. EDTL A692 is approved by DEED for the Multicultural Education/Cross-Cultural Communication requirement for teacher certification. In addition, the three credits can be applied to the M.Ed. Teaching and Learning program, for those currently in the program or become M.Ed. T/L students in the future. See the attached flyer for further details.

Reminder: Tips to Make Summer Reading Fun

Back-to-back Homeroom blog posts offer tips to stem the “summer slide,” the decline in reading ability and other academic skills that can occur over the summer months when school is not in session.  “7 Tips to Help Parents Make Summer Reading Fun,” penned by a rural elementary school librarian, presents many recommendations for parents and caregivers to keep children engaged in reading over the summer. “Parent Like a Pro: Slowing the Summer Slide,” from School Ambassador Fellow Cynthia O’Brien, provides five suggestions to keep children learning and having fun throughout the summer months.

Special Feature: AASB Digital Books Now Accessible through Alaska Library Catalog

These 24 interactive digital books were created by students to record their local history and stories. The record for each book links to the Digital Book Showcase webpage. More than 92% of Alaskans use the Alaska Library Catalog, a shared catalog used by public and academic libraries across the state. A search on the words “book slam workshops” will bring up all 24 records. *If your school district has digital books created by your students, please send the webpage link to Patience Frederiksen. The State Library will review these books and consider cataloging the titles into the Alaska Library Catalog.

Resource for Optimizing Outcomes for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Optimizing Outcomes for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Educational Service Guidelines, 3rd edition is the recently updated set of guidelines available from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). These guidelines cover considerations for the educational needs of deaf and hard of hearing students, what schools and programs need to do in order to serve them well, and shares resources to support those efforts.

Upcoming CTE Professional Development Opportunities

Coding and Computer Science

• Coding Workshops, Code.org / ASDN, For more information contact Cheryl Bobo or Anchorage School District. Learn to nurture creativity and problem-solving through coding at no cost.
  • August 12, 2019, Delta Junction, Elementary, K-5
  • September 23, 2019, Ketchikan, Elementary, K-3 & 4-5
• Alaska Tech Learners (Computer Science), Prince William Sound College, Asynchronous during FY20, online. For more information contact Steve Johnson.  A curriculum that's a combined PD for certified teachers and dual enrollment for high school students in computer science.

General

• Math for Teachers, Prince William Sound College, August 7-9, 2019, Valdez. For more information contact Steve Johnson. A 1-credit PD that teaches teachers how to use ALEKS and incorporate place-based instruction in math.

Trades

• Small Engines Repair, Lower Kuskokwim SD, September 2019, Bethel. For more information contact Colin Stewart. Learn the basics of small engines instruction. Specifically designed for small, rural schools.  
• Multiple CTE PD Practicums, AVTEC, Ongoing, Seward. For more information contact Trish Hart. Participate in 1-week drop-in practicums in multiple content areas to improve content or pedagogical skills. 

Natural Resources

• Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, CASE Institute, July 21-30, 2019, Fairbanks / UAF. For more information contact Susan McCullough or visit AK Ag Teachers. Teachers who attend will be guided through a full year of curriculum and leave with the over 180 lessons in AFNR. This curriculum is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Save the Date: Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit Happening September 18-19, 2019

DEED will be hosting a comprehensive statewide School Safety & Well-Being Summit, September 18-19, 2019 at the Egan Center in Anchorage (pre and post conference days are being planned around different topics TBD). Each district will be provided travel funding to bring in a team that may include administrators, teachers, school counselors, parents, community members, and school board members. DEED has planned the Summit to accommodate teams of up to six from each district. More information to come. Contact: Sharon Fishel.

eLearning Continuing Education Units Now Available

DEED is pleased to announce we are now offering one CEU for the completion of eligible eLearning courses. All eLearners who hold a current five or ten-year Alaska teaching, administrative, or special services certificate can earn one CEU for 15 hours of completed coursework. The eligible coursework includes courses required for school district personnel and teaching certificates. Please visit our eLearning page for more information on the eligible courses, and how to submit your information for certification.

Coming this Fall: Google Student Contest to Develop Open Source Software

Google Code-in is a contest to introduce pre-university students (aged 13–17) to open source software development. In the fall, Google chooses more than a dozen open source organizations to participate. The organizations create an extensive list of three- to five-hour tasks for students to work on. The tasks are categorized as Code, Documentation/Training, Outreach/Research, Quality Assurance, and Design. Competition begins in the fall; check the website for details.

Alaska College of Education Offering Summer Courses for Teacher Certification

The Alaska College of Education will be offering two courses in July in Anchorage required for certification: Alaska Studies and Multicultural Education. Complete both courses in three weeks.

School and District Report Card Feedback

DEED released the 2017-2018 Report Cards to the Public for each school district and school in Alaska. This new user-friendly website aims to provide clear, common information about all public schools and districts in our state. DEED has created two separate surveys – a District/School Personnel Feedback Survey and a Parent Survey. These links have been added as a tab to the Report Card site. Thank you for your participation in this survey and sharing your thoughts and experience with us.

District/School Personnel Feedback Survey

Parent Feedback Survey

2017-18 Report Cards Now Available on DEED Website

The 2017-2018 report cards are now available online. The report cards provide parents and the public with important information on state, district, and school performance and progress. U.S. ED has issued a Parent Guide to State and Local Report Cards that may be a helpful resource.

AAEC Announces Summer Arts Institutes for 2019

Liitukut Allringumi: We are all learning together: Kodiak Multicultural Arts Institute, July 28-August 2, $249 member district teachers, $350 non-member district teachers. Email Barb Short with questions.

U.S. Census Bureau Offering 2020 Census Statistics in Schools Program

The Statistics in Schools (SIS) program aims to increase awareness of, and overall public response to, the decennial census by engaging administrators, teachers, students, and their parents/guardians in public conversations about the census. The program provides materials that use Census Bureau data for students in pre-school through 12^th grade such as lesson plans, data tools, fun facts, and more.

Info Exchange Housekeeping:
This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at Department of Education and Early Development Information Exchange. To submit news items, call 907-465-6535 or email Erin Hardin.