News from Education & Early Development

NEW! Alaska’s Perkins V CTE State Plan Approved by the U.S. Department of Education

This plan facilitates more than $5 Million of federal funds provided annually to support Career and Technical programs in Alaska’s schools and post-secondary institutions. 

NEW! Extended Availability of District FY20 Perkins Funds due to COVID-19 Interruptions

Districts with unspent FY20 Perkins funds have an additional 3 months to expend awarded funds on Perkins/CTE activities.  These funds normally would have expired on July 1, 2020 but are now available through September 30, 2020. For questions or comments please contact Brad Billings.

NEW! Alaska State Libraries and Museums Awarded Federal CARES Act Funding

The Division of Libraries, Archives, and Museums, part of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, is pleased to award grants to three libraries and five museums so they can respond to the coronavirus pandemic by expanding digital access in their communities, improving virtual access to their collections, and purchasing internet accessible devices.

NEW! Alaska State Libraries, Archives, and Museums Reopening to Walk-In Visitors

The Alaska State Libraries and State Archives reopened to walk-in visitors on July 7. Visitors are still recommended to make reservations, but reservations are not required. The Alaska State Museum reopened to walk-in visitors on July 8. Timed entry will no longer be necessary.

NEW! Alaska State Museum Virtual First Friday: Women of Vision

The Alaska State Museum's online exhibit, Women of Vision, opens at 4:30pm on Friday, July 3 as part of the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council’s Virtual First Friday. In recognition of the 100-year anniversary of women's suffrage in the United States, the Alaska State Museum is displaying highlights from the collection by women artists. These works span over a century and include recent acquisitions made possible by the Rasmuson Foundation.

DEED Releases Restart and Reentry Framework Guidance for K-12 Schools

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, released the Alaska Smart Start 2020 framework guidance for the reentry and reopening of K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 on Life in Alaska

The Alaska State Libraries, Archives, and Museums Division is documenting the impact of COVID-19 on life in Alaska. You can help by sharing documents, images, journals, audio recordings, videos, and other digital or tangible items relating to COVID-19 in Alaska.

COVID-19 Resources Guide from the Alaska State Library

The Alaska State Library has published an Alaska-specific guide for Libraries and COVID-19. The COVID-19 website includes:

• Statement about the latest health mandates applicable to libraries, archives, museums and schools.
• Resources for remote working and professional development.
• Self-care resources to help you destress in this time of crisis.
• A working list of services currently offered by libraries in Alaska.

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?

• For students to access BrainPop: click the LOG IN tab (not ENTER CODE)
• For teachers to whose schools are set up to use BrainPop Educator: use the ENTER CODE

If you have the username and password for DEED’s statewide subscription, please only share it in a way that no one on the internet besides your patrons or students can access the username/password. (i.e. direct e-mail ok, posting to your social media/website/blog is NOT.) If you don’t have the current SLED database credentials, visit the SLED Password Request form and fill it out completely. Expect a response within one business day. The SLED usernames and passwords are good for nearly all the SLED Databases and resources. One request will empower you to help with just about anything SLED related. Contact Martha Ketsdever, BrainPOP Account Manager for Alaska State Libraries, for more information.

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.