- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
News from Education & Early Development
DEED releases 21st Century Community Learning Centers FY21 Request for Applications
DEED is seeking applicants for competitive 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funding that would begin providing programming in the fall of the 20-21 school year. The goal of the 21st CCLC program is to raise student academic achievement by providing students engaging out-of-school-time academic assistance and educational enrichment opportunities. Applications are due April 17. For questions, please contact Jessica Paris at jessica.paris@alaska.gov or 907-465-8716.
Alaska’s Heart through Student Art
Call for student art! Showcase your student art at the 5th Annual Alaska’s Heart through Student Art show. Art will be on display at the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff Library, Archives and Museum building in March.
USDA Food and Nutrition Services Seeking Public Comment on Proposed Regulations
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is seeking public comment on two proposed regulations related to the Summer Food Service Program, and the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The comment period ends March 23.
Summer Food Service Program Looking for Local Sites
Too many children who rely on school meals do not have access to meals in the summer. Are there children in your community who will go hungry this summer? DEED’s Child Nutrition Programs is looking for school districts, parks and recreation departments, non-profit organizations, and churches to operate Summer Food Service Program feeding sites for children and youth in low-income areas in Alaska. All sponsors receive training and technical assistance from DEED/CNP prior to starting their Summer Food Service Program, and throughout the program’s duration. Applications are due April 15. For questions or to register contact Jennifer Cherian at jennifer.cherian@alaska.gov or (907) 465-4969. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
- Distance Delivery for All Sponsors – Training Delivered via WebEx
March 18, 2020 - 9:00 AM to 3:30PM - All SFSP Administrators
- Distance Delivery for School Food Authorities - Training Delivered via WebEx
March 19, 2020 - 1:00PM to 4:30 PM - School District SFSP Administrators ONLY
Seeking Public Review and Comment on State Content Standards
DEED is seeking review and comment on state content standards. We encourage parents, educators, and communities to take a few minutes to provide input on Alaska's current English Language Arts and Mathematics standards adopted in 2012.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
The Alaska Training Cooperative is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training. This 8-hour public education program is intended for adults, and introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. One professional development credit is available through UAA PACE with additional study and papers. The training will take place in Juneau on April 3. Contact Wendi Shackelford at (907) 264-6224 or wendis@alaskachd.org for more information.
SchoolSafety.gov Provides Resources to Create a Safer School
The SchoolSafety.gov website was created by the federal government to provide schools and districts with a one-stop shop of resources to address various threats related to safety, security, and support in schools.
2020 Justice for All Art Contest
Students are invited to interpret the importance of Fairness, Diversity, and Equality to our justice system in two-dimensional art forms (drawings, paintings, original prints, photographs, etc.) and then submit them to the 10th Annual Justice for All Art Contest. Deadline is March 16.
Upcoming Workshop for teachers presented by Alaska Staff Development Network and Code.org
Elementary school educators are invited to join in a one-day Computer Science Fundamentals workshop. No computer science background is needed! Scroll down to the “Upcoming K-6 Workshops” section on their webpage for more information. The next session is CS Deep Dive on April 10 in Wrangell.
President’s FY2021 Federal Budget Proposal
President Trump’s FY2021 Federal Budget Proposal is now available. You can also read the Congressional Budget Justification from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). USDOE also issued a press release outlining the impacts on education.
Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program
The Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program strives to increase Native representation in the field of education by providing financial support, mentoring, and internships for Native students in the Northwest who are pursuing a master’s degree in educational policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field. Awardees can receive up to $5,000 per year. Application deadline is March 31.
Senator Murkowski’s 2020 High School Intern Program
Senator Murkowski is seeking high school seniors for her 2020 High School Intern Program. Twenty students will be selected from across Alaska to participate. Independent, inquisitive, and mature young Alaskans should apply. The first session will occur June 1-26. The second session will occur July 6-31. Senator Murkowski is also seeking Summer Intern Coordinators who will supervise the High School Interns in their daily activities. Coordinator applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Applications for both programs are due March 16.
NCCER for Teachers Professional Development
Prince William Sound College was recently awarded a DEED grant to support teachers and paraprofessionals with a direct role in teaching CTE to become National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certified instructors. Scholarships will provide tuition, NCCER certification, lodging, travel expenses, and stipends. Contact Woody Woodgate at wawoodgate@alaska.edu for more information. Training will occur May 24-30.
Interior Agricultural Institute Professional Development Opportunity
Alaska Gateway School District invites you to apply to attend a week-long training workshop. Participants will gain working knowledge of greenhouse and hydroponic operation and utilize a culinary art curriculum with students. The workshop will take place May 26-30 in Tok. Contact Jane Teague at jteague@agsd.us or (907) 940-5031 for more information.
2020 AIA Frank Maier High School Design Competition
The American Institute of Architecture (AIA), Alaska, is seeking entries for its 2020 AIA Frank Maier High School Design Competition. This year’s competition is titled “Equality Exchange” and challenges students to think about the rights of Alaska’s citizens. Submissions are due April 18. Please see the attached flyer for more information, or contact Richard Rearick at Richard.rearick@uiccs.com or (907) 273-1824.
2020 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest: The Right to Vote
The Ninth Circuit is hosting its 2020 Civics Contest, and the theme is Right to Vote. The essay and video contest is for high school students in the western United States and Pacific Islands. Alaska high school students won first place in 2017 and 2019! Entries are accepted from February 15 through March 25.
New Application Process for Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program
The U.S. Department of Education closely evaluated the SRSA application process and determined that the applicant burden could be significantly reduced while maintaining appropriate accountability in our grantmaking procedures. The Department will conduct webinars for school district staff on March 19 and April 2 to demonstrate the new process for submitting the SRSA application. More information is detailed in the attached letter from the Department.
Creative Coding is now included in BrainPOP Subscription
Many of you know that Alaska has a statewide license to BrainPOP, but did you know that your teachers can unlock additional features through individual accounts that can only be set up at the school level? At no additional charge to you? And now, BrainPOP is offering Creative Coding to teach coding and computer science to students and educators. Contact Martha Ketsdever, BrainPOP Account Manager for Alaska State Libraries, for more information at marthak@brainpop.com.
Spring 2020 AK-CASE Scholarship
Alaska Council of Administrators of Special Education (AK-CASE) is offering a $1,000 scholarship to provide support for students currently enrolled in UAA, UAS, UAF, or an online program and pursuing a career in special education or related service field. For more information please see the attached letter. Applications are due March 17.
Education Programs Affected by the 2020 Census
Census responses drive decisions on the allocation of more than $675 billion in federal funds to states and communities. The data from the census could impact funding formulas used by these programs as soon as the 2021-22 school year, and will continue to impact school funding for the next decade. In March 2020 households will receive a notice in the mail to complete the 2020 Census. The public can begin responding to the census online at 2020census.gov, or by mail or phone. Learn more about how the 2020 Census can affect schools by visiting www.census.gov/schools or by reviewing the attached flyer.
Presidential Primary Sources Project
Register for PPSP to learn about presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Washington directly from National Park Service rangers and presidential historians. This free, live, interactive web series for grades 4-12 runs January through March.
Registration is now open! The IECMHI+CAFBHC Conference will be held March 30-April 3 in Anchorage at the Dena’ina Convention Center.
Alaska’s Stone Soup Group Offers Trainings relating to Special Needs Children
Stone Soup Group provides information, support, training, and resources to assist families caring for children with special needs. Transition Series: Supported Decision-Making Agreements and Alternatives to Guardianship includes a series of lectures on what you need to know as you and your student with disabilities prepare for adulthood. Also available via webinar. Every third Thursday at 5:30-7:00 pm, through March 19.
Career Connections Registration is now open
Career Connections, a program of SERRC - Alaska's Educational Resource Center, has opened registration for 2020 dates. The sessions will take place Mar. 29-Apr. 3, 2020, and Apr. 19-24, 2020, in Juneau. Career Connections is a week-long, hands-on career exploration program held in Juneau, open to all 9-12th graders. Students who attend will:
- Visit exciting job sites in diverse career fields
- Visit and explore a university campus and post-secondary training sites
- Use AKCIS to explore future careers
- Develop a realistic, workable plan to obtain a job they are passionate about
- Practice employability skills
Alaska State Council on the Arts Grant Opportunities
The Alaska State Council on the Arts has multiple grant categories open for application, including: organizations, individuals, and art education. Cultural Collaboration Excursion grant applications are available on a rolling deadline, with applications due 30 days prior to the planned arts excursion. Information on all available grants can be found on the website.
Join the Alaska Education Network – Project ECHO
Project ECHO is a statewide initiative focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building a support network. They offer 75-minute sessions via Zoom every other week with three themes to choose from: Educational Leadership, Instructional Development, and Positive Behavior, Safety, & Well-Being. All educators at any level are encouraged to join! There is no cost to participate! Sessions run through April 29. 500 level credit offered through UAA Pace.