News from The Alaska Department of Education

NEW! Alaska State Council on the Arts Adaptation and Innovation Grants

The Alaska State Council on the Arts has Adaptation and Innovation Grants available on a rolling deadline, 30 days prior to the planned activity. Eligible applicants include schools, school partners (such as PTA/PTO organizations), organizations and individuals. The Alaska State Council on the Arts in partnership with Rasmuson Foundation developed the Adaptation and Innovation Grant Program to support efforts to rebuild and advance our work together, to connect with community, and to positively impact Alaskan lives across the state in and through the arts and cultures of our state. For complete information, guidelines, and applications, visit the Alaska State Council on the Arts – Adaptation and Innovation Grants page at https://arts.alaska.gov/adaptation-and-innovation-grant-program.

NEW! Artists in School grants open for 2021-22 school year

The first Round of Artists in Schools grants for Individual Schools, Multi-site District Residency Programs, and Arts organizations partnering with schools and school districts is open for the 2021-22 School Year. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2021. The Artists in Schools grant program is supported by the State of Alaska and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional funding from the Rasmuson Foundation, and is intended to support residencies of two weeks or more in Alaska schools. Artists in Schools (AIS) residencies should provide arts experiences and training for students, teachers, and the greater community. Successful applicants will demonstrate how a residency will augment the arts curriculum and the Alaska State Arts Standards, connect to other core curricula, include a professional development opportunity for teachers in integrating the residency discipline into future teaching, and create engagement between the school and community. For complete information, including the Statewide Teaching Artist Roster,  guidelines, and applications, visit the Alaska State Council on the Arts – Arts Education Grants page at https://arts.alaska.gov/arts-education-grants.

NEW! BrainPOP webinar for Alaska educators next Thursday

BrainPOP, available on SLED, has offered Alaska a one-hour webinar next week. Please share this opportunity with any Alaska educators who may be interested:

• Date: Thursday, March 11th from 3:00-4:00pm (AST)
• Title: Build a Better Lesson with BrainPOP at Alaska Library Network
• Description: In this interactive webinar, learn how BrainPOP is designed universally to meet the needs of learners at all tiers of instruction. You will build a better lesson that incorporates BrainPOP resources to build background knowledge and practice thinking skills that yield evidence of learning for assessment.
• Zoom Registration Link: https://brainpop.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L-e7nUWLTXOnFWbWvOiGOw
• Post Webinar Recording: a recording of this session will be sent to anyone who registers for the webinar
• New to BrainPOP?: Watch our short overview videoto get yourself started

NEW! Virtual Tiny Books with Evon Zerbetz for ages 7-12

Learn basic bookmaking skills and the language of bookmaking with this no-sew book made with one sheet of paper and hard covers on Saturday, March 20. Make a blank book for your personal story and notes, or make yours with Evon's designs inside. Evon Zerbetz is one of the featured illustrators in the exhibit, Illustrating Alaska, on display through April 3 at the Alaska State Museum. This workshop is open to Juneau residents only. Participants will need to be able to access a Zoom meeting and a webcam. Materials will be provided to confirmed participants prior to the workshop. Space is limited - request a spot by filling out the participation request form. The morning and afternoon sessions will be the same - please sign up for one or the other.

LAST CALL! Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Application - Due March 12, 2021

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and provides another round of funding for States to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in K-12 schools. The CRRSA Act provides $5.4 billion for the Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) program, which is part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER II) Fund. Under the EANS program, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) was awarded funds to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address the impact that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on non-public school students and teachers in the State.

This EANS Application is posted to the DEED Forms page. To receive services or assistance under the EANS program, an eligible non-public school must submit an application to DEED. DEED must prioritize services or assistance to non-public schools that enroll low-income students and are most impacted by COVID-19. Applications are due to DEED no later than March 12, 2021 at 5:00pm Alaska Standard Time. Submission must be sent to DEED.CARES@alaska.gov.

LAST CALL! DEED Recruiting for Alaska Social Studies Content Standards Committee Members

DEED is beginning the process of reviewing and recommending state social studies content standards.  Applications to be part of the standards committee has been extended  through Friday, March 12th, 2021.  Please view the information sheet for details and complete the online application form and attach the confidentiality agreement if you are interested!

Nominations for Alaska Teacher of the Year open through March 15

Nominations are now open for the 2021-2022 Alaska Teacher of the Year. Candidates must have at least five years of education experience and are an expert in their field who guides students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence. Click here to nominate a teacher before March 15. Contact DEED.SRS@Alaska.gov with any questions.

Sheldon Jackson Museum Tradition Innovation Exhibition Now Online

An exhibition of garments, artwork, objects, and film that highlights the lifestyle and creation of Alaska Native and environmental-based art by Peter Williams may now be viewed on the Sheldon Jackson Museum’s website.

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 (DEED/CNP) 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. For more information, please read the full blog post on this opportunity on DEED’s Info Exchange blog!  Completed applications are due by April 15.

Alaska Statewide Virtual System Discussion Board

AKSVS teachers, are you looking for a place of discussion and support? Interested in meeting and sharing with other Alaskan teachers using AKSVS? Check out the Teacher Channel Discussion Board through the Alaska Professional Learning Network.

Trauma Engaged Toolkit Professional Development Opportunities

This fall AASB & DEED will be hosting a series of webinars featuring the Transforming Schools Framework and Toolkit. The first session will take place on September 15^th and will focus on Self Care. Please continue to check back as more sessions are added.

New DEED Science Education Listserv

DEED launched a new Science Education Listserv! The listserv will be a space for science teachers in Alaska to share information on teaching practices, instructional resources, community partnerships, lesson plan and unit ideas, professional development opportunities, and to discuss topical concerns in science instruction. DEED will also use it to push out notifications regarding opportunities in science education.  All science teachers in Alaska (pre-K, K-12, and collegiate) are encouraged to join.

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.