New:

FCC Affordable Connectivity Program for Households

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Reminder:

Applications Open for Elementary Online Reading Academy

In partnership with NWEA® and Consortium on Reaching Excellence in Education® (CORE), DEED will offer a joint learning, collaboration, and coaching opportunity that will empower 100 Alaska educators to translate learning into practice within their systems.

The program will support educators with in-depth learning and application of the science of reading instructional practices. Professional learning consists of the CORE Online Elementary Reading Academy and opportunities for participants to engage in collaboration and individualized coaching.

DEED will provide a $500 stipend to every educator who completes the course. Continuing education credits are also available. Find more information and register here.

U.S.E.D. Notice Inviting Applications for Alaska Native Education Program

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a notice inviting applications for the Alaska Native Education Program. The program will award up to $36 million in new awards that will support innovative projects which recognize and address the unique educational needs of Alaska Natives.

The deadline for submitting an ANEP application for 2022 is March 14, 2022.

 Click here to learn more and view the full application package.

Healthy Futures Elementary Challenge now open for Spring 2022

Alaska elementary schools can sign up online for the Spring 2022 Healthy Futures Challenge at https://database.healthyfuturesak.org/. This fall, 92 schools participated. Our goal is to exceed 100 schools this spring. Participation remains free for your school and students. The spring challenge will run February through April, and organizers will award prizes to K-6th grade students who record their physical activity each month. Signing up for the challenge takes just a minute. Healthy Futures will give a hooded sweatshirt to 5 teachers whose names are randomly picked from a list of the first 50 registered schools. Schools that haven’t participated before can definitely sign up this year. More information is available at https://healthyfuturesak.org/the-challenge/elementary-schools/. The state’s Play Every Day campaign partners with Healthy Futures to support the challenge. If you have questions, please contact Kayla Williamson with Healthy Futures at kayla@healthyfuturesak.org or Ann Potempa with Play Every Day at ann.potempa@alaska.gov. Thank you for helping to keep Alaska kids active!

39^th Annual Statewide Creative Writing Contest Offering Over $800 in Cash Prizes

The submission period for entries for the 39^th Annual Statewide Creative Writing Contest is open now through February 15, 2022. More than 400 entries were submitted for the 2020-2021 contest from writers aged 6 to 83 from classrooms and communities across Alaska. All entries must be submitted electronically. Teachers can assist students with posting submissions if needed, though permissions and student contact information must be provided. Published authors, librarians, creative writing instructors serve as volunteer judges for the contest. Find the rules and more info here.

Fairbanks Arts Association Accepting Entries for 27^th Statewide Poetry Contest

Fairbanks Arts is excited to announce the 27th Statewide Poetry Contest and invites participation from writers of all ages--elementary school and up. As a celebration of literary artistry, this contest aims to encourage, publicize, and reward the writing of high-quality poetry in Alaska. Fairbanks Arts will accept entries through the end of Friday, February 11, 2021. Winners of the contest will receive an invitation to share their poetry in a reading in April, which is National Poetry Month. For more information and to view eligibility requirements, please visit fairbanksarts.org.

Nominations Open for LifeChanger of the Year – Prize up to $10,000

LifeChanger of the Year is a national recognition program by National Life Group and the National Life Group Foundation that honors and recognizes K-12 educators and employees. Nominations for the 2021-2022 LifeChanger of the Year are now open. Anyone can nominate eligible teachers or employees. National Life Group will donate $25 to one of five education nonprofits in the name of each nominee, and the nominee will be eligible to win one of 18 awards and cash prizes up to $10,000. Learn more and nominate here.

UAF School of Education Hiring Special Education and Elementary Assistant Professor

The University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Education is hiring an Special Education and Elementary Assistant Professor. This position will teach both face-to-face and distance delivery special education courses serving both the special education and elementary licensure programs. The position is open until filled. Learn more and apply here.

International Dyslexia Association - Alaska Branch - Continuing Education Scholarships
Scholarships are available through the International Dyslexia Association, Alaska Branch (IDA Alaska) for professional development opportunities – good for classroom educators, advocates, or parents. Also, check out the new FREE one-year membership for teachers!

IDA branches across the nation, as well as other organizations aligned with the Science of Reading, are successfully presenting high-quality virtual conferences, webinars, certification programs, and continuing education programs. IDA Alaska compiled a list of recommended opportunities and hopes to support educators on their continuing education journey. Continuing education opportunities not on this list, if aligned with the Science of Reading, can be eligible upon approval. For more information on IDA Alaska scholarship awards (up to $500 per participant) visit: www.ak.dyslexiaida.org, or go to IDA Alaska’s 2021 Q2 Newsletter

Anonymous Reporting Systems and Wellness Programs available to districts AT NO COST

SERRC is partnering with STOPit Solutions, one of the nation’s leading experts in school safety, to bring its Anonymous Reporting System (ARS) and SEL & Compliance Training Center (SCTC) to 65,000 students across Alaska for three years at no cost. STOPit delivers their programs to over 6,000 districts nationwide and serves millions of students and staff. Their programs have helped save and change the lives of thousands. Their CEO and school teams are from Sandy Hook Promise – so they understand the needs of schools and constraints they face.

The combined programs teach and empower students, staff, and administrators to recognize and anonymously report safety, misconduct, and compliance concerns BEFORE they escalate into a crisis while also providing curriculum to educate and help prevent such concerns from ever occurring. Funding is being provided through the Stop School Violence Act – a Department of Justice grant awarded to SERRC.

If this is something your district is interested in, contact Ryan Stanley at ryans@serrc.org or (907) 433-7444.

Enhanced Learning Maps Project helps students personalize path the student success

Enhanced Learning Maps provide standards-focused materials that foster the conditions for improving student achievement, including online tools deliberately designed to support and inform personalized learning.

These tools encourage interactions that elicit evidence of student thinking, leading to conversations that engage students and teachers in formative assessment processes.

Resource Manual for Transitioning from Secondary to Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities

Lee Waters, Ed.D. with the Anchorage School District in collaboration with the UAA Center for Human Development LEND Without Walls has created a manual to assist all those involved with the education of students with disabilities.  This manual is designed to be a helpful resource for anyone involved with the transitional needs of students with disabilities from secondary to postsecondary education.  The manual is available through ASD’s website: https://www.asdk12.org/PostsecondaryTransitionManual.

The Parent’s Guide to Filling out the FAFSA Form

While the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is the student’s application, we know that parents often play a large role in the process. With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Education wanted to provide instructions for parents who are starting the FAFSA form on behalf of their child.

U.S. Department of Education Releases Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide

The U.S. Department of Education released a new Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide, a resource to help parents and guardians understand how digital tools can provide tailored learning opportunities, engage students with course materials, encourage creative expression, and enrich the educational experience.

UA Dual Enrollment Resources

Are you interested in dual enrollment opportunities at the University of Alaska? Members of the University of Alaska Transition Coalition (UATC) are available to assist with curriculum alignment, dual enrollment, and other opportunities that support the transition of secondary students to continue their training and education at the postsecondary level.

Girls Who Code at Home Activities

Girls Who Code releases free computer science activities for students, educators, and parents on Mondays. Some online, some offline, of varying levels of difficulty. Each activity features a woman in tech who pioneered innovative technology.

Awareness Materials on Family and Youth Homelessness

As a result of the pandemic, and without the usual methods of outreach and identification, many families and youth experiencing homelessness may be even more disconnected from school and early childhood programs. The SchoolHouse Connection created PSAs and a social media toolkit to help raise awareness and provide information around educational rights. 

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.