- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
News from The Alaska Department of Education
NEW! Women of Alaska Display Featured on Official Election Pamphlet
Women of Alaska is an exhibit on virtual display through the Alaska State Library and Archives. Women have played a significant role in shaping Alaska into the state it is today. Women of Alaska recognizes and celebrates their achievements and contributions to the economic, academic, social, cultural, and political fields within our communities.
DEED Issues Broadband Assistance Grants to Improve School Bandwidth
This summer the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) awarded over $6 million in Broadband Assistance Grant (BAG) funds to 139 K-12 schools in 27 districts to help schools increase their broadband internet capacity. The program is targeted toward rural school districts that experience extremely high costs for internet.
DEED Awarded $9.1M Grant to Promote Student Mental Health
DEED has been awarded a five-year $9.1 million Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant will assist the state in improving mental health by growing mental health literacy, reducing mental health stigma, strengthening early identification and intervention for student mental health conditions, as well as providing more robust services for students who are experiencing severe mental health issues.
Science Standards for Alaska Professional Development Recruitment
DEED is planning a series of webinars for Alaskan teachers around the Science Standards for Alaska (SSAs) and needs your help. DEED is still looking for current Alaskan science teachers to assist with developing high-level introductory webinars that introduce teachers to key elements and changes in the Science Standards for Alaska, and recording YouTube video(s) that assist teachers in aligning lesson plans and units with the SSAs. DEED is offering a stipend of $500 for participation in this project. Interested educators should apply by October 21.
Simply Big 1970-2020: Large Artworks from the Alaska State Museum Collection
The Alaska State Museum is participating in Virtual First Friday, organized by the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council. “Simply Big” is an exhibit of large format artworks from the Alaska State Museum collection made between 1970 and 2020 by renowned artists from around the state. The exhibit will be available online on the Alaska State Museum’s website beginning at 4:30p.m. on October 2.
State Board Adopts Regulations to Allow Credits for Military Training
The State Board of Education and Early Development, meeting virtually September 16-17, adopted regulation changes to allow military training with the Alaska Army National Guard to count for high school credit and be available to all eligible high school students in Alaska.
Two Alaska Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon School Honors
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today recognized two Alaska schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Eagle Academy Charter School in the Anchorage School District and Mitkof Middle School in the Petersburg School District were chosen as recipients of the prestigious award.
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 15th and will focus on Self Care. Please continue to check back as more sessions are added.
Scavenger Hunt Phone App Technology Guides Place-based Education
A mission, a map containing cryptic codes that unlock clues, and an Xtra Tuff boots-wearing secret agent named Northern Flying Squirrel. These are all part of an updated scavenger hunt phone app – launching on September 4th. This mission was made possible thanks to a continuing partnership between the Alaska State Museum and the U.S. Forest Service.
New DEED Science Education Listserv
DEED launched a new Science Education! 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.
Alaska museums and cultural centers offer a rich diversity of online learning opportunities, activities, and experiences that you can explore right from your home!
Needs Assessment of Alaska’s Mixed-Delivery System of Early Childhood Care and Education
This needs assessment is funded by a Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) awarded to DEED by the Administration for Children and Families, and jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education. For Alaska, the core grant focus on children birth through age 5 years is expanded to include children prenatal through 8 years of age where data and information allow.
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.
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.