Last Call - New - Reminder

Last Call:

Last Call! Alaska Humanities Forum Seeking Northwest Arctic Region C3 Education Program Coordinator
The Alaska Humanities Forum is recruiting for a Northwest Arctic Region C3 Education Program Coordinator. This position will be part of the team to implement the educator portion of the Anuqsru∤iq (Resilience) Project C3 project in the Maniilaq Region of northwest Alaska. Applications accepted through June 15, 2020. More information can be found at akhf.org/employment.

Last Call! Ed SnaX: Bite-sized Virtual PD Experiences for Educators.
Join Brightways Learning for a virtual Ed SnaX - highly engaging, bite-sized PD Experiences for PK-12 educators! “A Toe-dip into the Educators’ Confluence” will take place June 17.

Last Call! Indian Education Formula Grant Deadline Extension

The Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Formula Grants) program provides grants to support local educational agencies (LEAs), Indian Tribes and organizations, and other eligible entities in developing and implementing elementary and secondary school programs that serve Indian students. The U.S. Department of Education extended the application deadline to June 19.

New:

NEW! U.S. Census 2020

Have you completed the 2020 Census yet? If not, it has never been easier to fill out the Census without leaving your house! Only 41.3% of Alaskans have completed their Census information so far. Make it 100% by going online at my2020census.gov, or calling 1-844-330-2020.

NEW! Charter School Program Development Grants

The U.S. Department of Education is inviting grant applications to Charter School Developers for the opening of new charter schools and for the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools. The application deadline is June 19.

NEW! Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Education announced four new grants, totaling $5.1 million, through its Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program. Under TQP, grantees will create model teacher preparation programs to grow the pool of quality new teachers. Applicants must submit an Intent to Apply by June 17. Application deadline is July 2.

NEW! State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Grants to Tribal Educational Agencies

The purposes of STEP are to promote Tribal self-determination in education, improve the academic achievement of Indian children and youth, and promote the coordination and collaboration of Tribal educational agencies (TEAs) with State educational agencies (SEAs) and LEAs to meet the unique education and culturally related academic needs of Indian students. Applications are due July 31.

NEW! STEP Pre-Application Webinar Training

The Office of Indian Education will be hosting a Pre-Application Training Webinar for the State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Grants to Tribal Educational Agencies Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The webinar will take place on June 17 and highlight the relationship between selection criteria, program requirements, and application requirements.

NEW! KidLit TV Launches KidLit at Home

In response to widespread school and library closures, KidLit TV today announced KidLit At Home, a free online learning resource created to support parents and educators. KidLit At Home is styled as a "Netflix for Kid Lit." It offers access to a myriad of online storytime, drawing and writing tutorials, STEM and STEAM video content being offered across the web by the biggest names in children's literature, all curated in one easy to use, convenient online location

NEW! Advance CTE Offering Summer Learning Series

Advance CTE is offering a series of supports to help Career Technical Education (CTE) leaders navigate the challenges related to offering CTE during COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The Summer Learning Webinar Series open to all and there are a host of blogs on key topics including distance learning, work-based learning, credentialing and equity.

• Career Technical Education & Talent Pipeline Management: Strategies for Connecting Classrooms to Careers – June 18
• CTE Forward: How to Attract and Recruit Diverse Students at the Postsecondary Level: Lessons from Aspen Institute – July 9
• 2020 Elections Landscape: Implications for Career Technical Education – July 30

NEW! Alaska Seeds of Change

Alaska Seeds of Change is an Anchorage-based vocational program that works to support transition-aged youth (16-24) personally and professionally at its 8,000 square foot hydroponic greenhouse. In addition to providing job skills, Alaska Seeds of Change provides opportunities for youth both in its vocational program and the community to learn how to grow produce outside in Alaskan climates. Watch some of their tutorials here!

NEW! USDA Ensures All Kids Can Get Free Meals This Summer

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture announced a nationwide extension of another key flexibility for USDA’s child nutrition programs. This waiver allows local partners, who have been working overtime serving meals to kids during the health crisis, the ability to continue serving free meals to all children – regardless of where they live – for the remainder of the summer.

NEW! The Alaska Council of School Administrators Announces the 2020 Principal of the Year

The ACSA named Robyn Taylor the 2020 Principal of the Year. Taylor works at Hutchinson High School in the Fairbanks North Star Borough District.

Reminder:

USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Alaska

Alaska will be able to operate Pandemic EBT, a supplemental food purchasing benefit to current SNAP participants and as a new EBT benefit to other eligible households to offset the cost of meals that would have otherwise been consumed at school.

AASL Partners with StoryCorps to Launch StoryCorps Connect

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is partnering with StoryCorps to launch StoryCorps Connect. The new free platform allows Americans to conduct and record StoryCorps interviews remotely. AASL encourages school librarians to utilize the technology to support learners in connecting with others amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and, in the process, to contribute to the creation of a unique first-person historical record of this unprecedented crisis.

Alaska School Counselor Association Announces 2020 Scholarship Recipients

The Alaska School Counselor Association (ACSA) provides full and partial tuition waivers to graduates enrolled in Alaskan postsecondary institutions. Students are nominated by their school counselors. Congratulations to the ASCA 2020 scholarship recipients!

• Ashlee Schaeffer, UAF (counselor Gianna McCune)
• Meghyn Parker, UAS (counselor Rachel Etcher)
• Zachary Trail, AVTEC Welding (counselor Natali Jones)
• Tristin Trozelle, AVTEC IT Security (counselor Melissa Peavey)
• Zephrie Whitehorn, AVTEC Diesel (counselor Jenna Turner)

Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life)

The Department of Health and Human Services announces that it will be soliciting applications for the competitive award of grants that support “healthy marriage promotion” activities, including relationship education, parenting, and job and career advancement activities. grants will be targeted exclusively to youth. Applications are due July 1.

FAFSA Wednesdays

One of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education’s outreach initiatives – FAFSA Time Alaska – is adding a new component to its portfolio: FAFSA Wednesdays! FAFSA Wednesdays offers fully virtual, weekly assistance by ACPE’s FAFSA experts to assist Alaska students successfully complete the FAFSA while they are preparing for postsecondary education and career training. Join via WebEx beginning June 10 between 3-6 pm. For more information, please connect with Dominika Szpotanska.

How Do We Read? Let’s Count the Ways

This report analyzes data from the 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), which the National Endowment for the Arts conducted in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau. It gives a statistical overview of how the nation’s adults engage with leisure reading and other literary activities, such as author readings, book clubs, and creative writing.

Alaska Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Scholarship Applications Available

AIANTA is proud to offer the Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship, which provides American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students with financial assistance towards a degree or certificate in hospitality, tourism, recreation, culinary arts or related fields. Applications are due July 3.

Alaska State Museum Presents Online Exhibit on Women’s Suffrage

The Alaska State Museum’s online exhibit Alaska’s Suffrage Star opens at 4:30 PM on Friday, June 5 as part of the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council’s Virtual First Friday. The exhibit shares the history of women’s suffrage in Alaska, explaining how local and national activism helped Alaska women citizens achieve the vote in 1913.

Ilisagvik College Type M CTE Teacher Prep Program

The CTE Teacher Preparation Pilot Program at Ilisagvik Colllege will help Type M teachers build upon career knowledge and combine educational practices and theories to support confident, effective classroom leaders. Ilisagvik College just released its fall course offerings. Contact Arth Brown for more information.

• ED 194 80B – CTE: Introduction to Classroom Instructional Strategies
• ED 194 81B – CTE: Safety & Technology in the CTE Classroom
• ED 194 82B – CTE: School Law, Regulations, & Compliance
• ED 199 80B – CTE Practicum

Computer Science Workshops Now Offered through Zoom This Summer

Due to current health mandates and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis. Alaska Staff Development Network created blended online professional development opportunities for learning to teach computer science in the fall. Provide opportunities for Alaska students to master the AK computer Science Standards and be career ready for jobs that require computational thinking, critical thinking, logic, and collaboration. For additional information please contact Cheryl Bobo.

• CS Fundamentals – 2 online offerings, 1 credit. Designed for K-5 elementary educators new to teaching computer science. July 21-23, and Aug 4-6.
• CS Discoveries – 2 online offerings, 2 credits. Designed to support middle and high school teachers before and during their first year teaching the Code.org professional learning program. Scholarships are available. July 27-31, and Aug 3-7.  
• CS Principles- 1 online offering, 2 credits. Designed to support middle and high school teachers before and during their first year teaching the Code.org professional learning program. Aug 3-7  

Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants

The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications for the Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants. This program provides competitive grants to LEAs to demonstrate model programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the development and implementation of student-centered funding systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations.  Applications are due July 10.

Computer Science Teachers Association 2020 Virtual Conference

CSTA's Annual Conference is a chance for computer science teachers to come together for learning, networking, and fun. The two-day virtual conference has over 100 sessions of education to broaden the knowledge of computer science education, inspirational keynotes and sessions to reinvigorate a passion for teaching, and countless moments of fun and connection along the way. July 13-14.

Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program

This two-week virtual program teaches 10-12^th grade girls the computer science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. Participants will get exposure to tech jobs and join a supportive sisterhood of women in tech.

Kindergarten Readiness Opportunity for Your Students

The state of Alaska is the beneficiary of a grant received by the Waterford UPSTART program. This program provides a unique opportunity for families to participate in the Waterford UPSTART program to support home-based kindergarten readiness delivered via technology. When parents are given the tools and knowledge to support their children, everyone wins. Every parent is empowered as their child’s first teacher right in the home.

The R.E.S.C.U.E. Project – Preventing the “COVID slide”

Millions of early readers are missing school. This may have serious negative effects on their reading development. The NSF-funded RESCUE Project hopes to prevent this COVID Slide. Educational organizations have teamed up to help Kindergarteners and First Graders learn to read at home using a researcher-developed, evidence-based computer-based game called GraphoLearn. Participation is voluntary for the free 12-week reading program and progress monitoring reports. Space is limited and filling up quickly. More information including how to sign up and media attention in NPR and the World Economic Forum can be found on the website. 

Decision Day Alaska

ACPE is looking to celebrate the 2020 graduating class by offering a virtual Decision Day Alaska event. The goal of Decision Day Alaska is to recognize all high school seniors and celebrate all of their postsecondary plans, whether it be college or university, vocational/trade school, career training center, registered apprenticeship program, or the military. This year, ACPE would like to recognize graduating seniors by sharing the videos of their postsecondary plans and decisions and invite others to join the celebration. You can register your school for a virtual Decision Day Alaska here. For more information, please contact Dominika Szpotanska at dominika.szpotanska@alaska.gov.

Online Story Circles for Educators and Community Members

Educator Story Circles are opportunities for small groups of people (educators and engaged community members) to gather together to listen and share thoughts and stories related to a common theme. No preparation is necessary, and each participant has the option to share or simply listen to others. Story Circles aren’t about performing. Rather, the purpose is to listen and connect. Participants who want to lead Story Circles with their own students or community members will have access to a free toolkit and will be eligible for a $200 stipend from the Alaska Humanities Forum.

Update to the 2020 Arts & Culture Institutes

Due to the pandemic, no Arts & Culture Institutes will be held in person this summer. The status of each of the planned events is listed below. For more information contact Barbara Short, AAEC Executive Director.

• The Anchorage Science and Arts for the Elementary Classroom (May 26-29) is cancelled.  The Anchorage Academy will be open this year only for on-line classes. 
• The Fairbanks Multicultural Arts Institute (June 15-19) is also cancelled for this year. 
• The Kenai Social Emotional Learning and the Arts Institute (June 1-5) is postponed until next year, however the teacher-leader staff will be actively planning this fall to make the 2021 SEL and the Arts Institute better than ever!
• The Juneau Culture and the Arts Institute (July 20-31) is presently being redesigned to see if it can be presented on-line in a shortened format. More information will be available on the website by June 1.

Early Career Explorers – FREE Downloadable Classroom Resources (PK-4)

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education’s Early Career Explorers classroom resources incorporate career exploration alongside traditional subjects to be used in the classroom or at home. Students build a strong foundation to better understand the importance of academics, extracurricular activities, and healthy study habits as it relates to future career goals. Contact Shelly.Morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 for additional details.

I Know I Can - 2nd grade FREE Early College & Career Exploration e-Book and Activities

Provided by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education and Alaska 529 College Savings Plan, the I Know I Can e-Book is available for FREE download for teachers or families to read with students as a distant learning activity. Additional parent tips and activities are available in the book. Students are encouraged to draw pictures of their career dreams and complete other activities in the eBook. Contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov or 907-269-7972 for additional details.

Kids2College – 5^th/6th grade FREE Early College & Career Exploration Digital Resources

Provided by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education and Alaska 529 College Savings Plan, the 5^th/6^th grade Kids2College program is available for distance delivery. Six lessons, video college & career panels, virtual campus tours, digital student workbook & teacher guide. Students begin to identify their career interests and build personal learning and career plans; learn how to best prepare for college and career training; and learn about college entrance exams, admissions, and financial aid. Please contact shelly.morgan@alaska.gov for additional details.

ACPE Virtual Success Center – Postsecondary Planning Assistance

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) Success Center staff are available to answer questions about FAFSA, scholarships, postsecondary programs, and more! If you or your students have questions about navigating the postsecondary landscape in these uncertain times, please contact ACPE’s Success Center team at 800-441-2962, Option 4.

Ready to Read Alaska

Ready to Read Alaska is a statewide initiative for families and caregivers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in Alaska. The program’s mission is to promote early literacy development in Alaska’s young children to create the foundations needed for when a child begins to learn to read. Ready to Read is posting training videos on YouTube, and literacy tips, book recommendations, crafts, and activities on Instagram.

Short-term Job Opportunity – Assessment Administrators

Westat will be seeking applicants to staff the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Work with a team to proctor digitally based assessments on tablets. Applicants must be available for online and in-person training during January 2021 and able to proctor January 25 through March 12, 2021, when work is available. NAEP offers paid training, hourly wages paid weekly, and mileage reimbursement. This is a part-time, temporary position. For more information email NAEPRecruit@westat.com or call 1-888-237-8036.

The Alaska School Leadership Academy (ASLA) Launches Recruitment for 2020-21 Cohort

ASLA is a professional development and mentoring support program for early career Alaska principals designed to provide mentoring, networking, skill building and mutual support across the state.  Applications are now open until September 1^st for first- or second-year lead principals and assistant principals working in an Alaskan school and require superintendent support.  Contact Sam Jordan at ASDN with any questions.    

USDA Announces Second Application Window for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program Funding

USDA is opening a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. Electronic applications for window two may be submitted through grants.gov beginning April 14, 2020, and are due no later than July 13, 2020. Paper applications will not be accepted under the second window. Additional information on how to apply is available on grants.gov.

ASDN Offers Sessions and Courses for Alaskan Educators During COVID-19

The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is offering many sessions and courses for Alaskan educators during COVID-19. Please see the resources page for professional development opportunities, partner resource sites, and many resources for distance learning. 

AKCIS.org – Alaska Career Information System

Continue using www.AKCIS.org over the Summer!  AKCIS is offered to everyone in Alaska for FREE by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE). Find out how interests and values help students and educators focus on career clusters, occupations, programs of study, schools, and scholarships. Create ready to share resumes by warehousing achievements, activities, and skills, as well as education, paid work, and community services experiences! Create an online Personal Learning & Career Plan (PLCP) implementation plan for your classroom, school, or district!  Contact the ACPE team for more information and planning assistance.

National History Academy Seeking Applications

National History Academy is seeking applications from Alaska high school students for this summer. Based in Middleburg, Virginia, the Academy inspires students to learn about the foundations of our country, visiting more than 35 defining historic sites such as Monticello, Gettysburg and Washington, DC, and learning from 30 national leaders. Plus, all 2020 students will also have the special opportunity to see Hamilton: The Musical at the Kennedy Center. The Academy has scholarship funding specifically set aside for Alaska students, so please encourage students to apply.

To submit news items, please contact Rochelle Lindley at (907) 465-6535 or rochelle.lindley@alaska.gov. This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at https://education.alaska.gov/news/infoexch.