Information Exchange: Vol. 45 No. 50

Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
December 29, 2017

NEW! Bureau of Indian Education Seeking Potential Candidates for Advisory Board for Exceptional Children

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) requests nominations of individuals to serve on the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children. There will be eight positions available. Pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 1411(h)(6), the Advisory Board is composed of individuals involved in or concerned with the education and provision of services to Indian infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Nominations due January 29. See attached federal register notice for more information.

NEW! Nominate a Student for the 2018 Billy Michael Student Leadership Award

Nominees should have a strong record of volunteerism, school and/or community activism, or implementing creative solutions to recognized problems. Selected awardees will be flown (along with a chaperone) to New Orleans to participate in the Museum's American Spirit Awards celebration, June 7 –June 8, 2018. Nominations must be received by March 2, 2018.

NEW! Spring 2018 CASE Scholarship Application Window Now Open

The Alaska Council of Administrators of Special Education is pleased to offer a $1000 scholarship to provide support for students currently enrolled in UAA, UASE, UAF, or an online program and pursuing a career in special education. January 24 application deadline. See attached flyer for details.

Reminder: U.S. ED Seeking School Ambassador Fellows for 2018

The agency designed the program to enable outstanding teachers, principals, counselors, librarians, and other school-based professionals that interact with students on a daily basis to bring their expertise to the Department and expand their knowledge of the national dialogue about education. The application closes January 31, 2018, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Reminder: Secretary DeVos Seeking Public Comment on Rural School & District Needs

In accordance with Section 5005 of the ESSA, Secretary DeVos is seeking information from the public regarding how the Department can improve upon its consideration of the unique needs of rural schools and districts as it develops and implements policies, programs, and procedures (see preliminary report and blog post). The Secretary intends to use this information in issuing a final report, as required under ESSA, describing the steps the Department will take to increase the participation of rural schools and districts in the development and execution of its initiatives. Comments must be received no later than February 20.

Reminder: PLAAY Day 2018 is February 22

PLAAY stands for Positive Leadership For Active Alaska Youth and is an initiative of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. The inspiration behind PLAAY Day is to galvanize communities and our state as a whole around the importance of living a physically active lifestyle. See attached info flyer for details.

Reminder: Two Alaska Schools Named Title I Distinguished Schools

Hermon Hutchens Elementary School in the Valdez City School District and Larson Elementary School in the Matanuska-Susitna School District have been named National Title I Distinguished Schools by the Department of Education & Early Development.

Reminder: New Test Item on PEAKS: Text Dependent Analysis

In the spring 2018 administration of PEAKS, the English language arts (ELA) section for grades 4-9 will include a writing item called a Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA). Students will write an essay based on evidence from a reading passage. With the inclusion of TDA, PEAKS addresses all of Alaska’s reading and writing standards.

Resources for Parents and Communities

Fact Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources for Educators

Power Point Presentation explaining the question type and resources to help prepare students

Educator Resources to accompany the Power Point Presentation

PEAKS Writer’s Checklist

National K-12 Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest Seeking Student Artwork

Public, private, and home school students in grades K-12 are invited to participate for a chance to have their artwork displayed on the 2019 MS-ISAC Posters and Calendar! Due date is January 26, 2018.

2018 Justice for All Art Contest Now Open

Alaskan students are invited to interpret the importance of three concepts (fairness, diversity, equality) of our justice system in two-dimensional art forms and submit them by March 15, 2018. Winning entries and selected submissions will be displayed at courthouses statewide. See attached flyer for details.

Alaska Arts Education Consortium Seeking Teacher-Leaders for Summer 2018

AAEC is planning to hold three Arts Institutes during the summer of 2018. Themes and locations vary. They are seeking specialist educators that are interested in applying to be a teacher-leader. Perhaps you are interested or know someone that would be?

USDA Food and Nutrition Services Publishes RFI for Food Crediting in Child Nutrition

The purpose of this Request for Information is to help FNS gather feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders on how FNS’ crediting system can best address today’s evolving food and nutrition environment, as well as to offer first-rate customer service to those operating and benefitting from the Child Nutrition Programs.

USDA Accepting Comments on School Nutrition New Rule

The new rule offers the same flexibilities that Perdue provided to schools in a memo this summer, including allowing schools to serve one percent flavored milk instead of only nonfat, extending State agencies’ option to allow individual school food authorities to include grains that are not whole grain-rich in the weekly menu offered under the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, and retaining Sodium Target 1 through the 2018-2019 school year.

Registration Now Open for the Alaska School Nutrition Association Annual Conference

The AKSNA 50th Annual Conference is scheduled for February 13-15, 2018 at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage. Download a registration form and agenda summary. Pre-conference sessions on Nutrition 101 & Food Safety Certification will be held on February 12th. Additional registration fees are required for these sessions.

2018 Chinese Guest Teachers Program Seeking Hosts

Develop your Chinese program and bring a global perspective to your school. Since 2007, the Chinese Guest Teacher Program has placed more than 1,400 visiting teachers in hundreds of schools nationwide. All guest teachers are qualified, experienced teachers from China. After a rigorous selection and training process, they serve as full-time Chinese language instructors in U.S. schools. Informational webinar, Friday, January 12, 3 p.m. EST Register now.

Steven R. Nelson Native Educator Scholarship Program Seeking Applicants

This 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 education policy, leadership, technical assistance, research, or a closely related field. Application window is open and closes March 31, 2018.

Better Business Bureau Seeking Student Applicants for Integrity Scholarship

BBB Foundation is offering a $10,000 scholarship to a student who personifies and communicates ethics in the real world, as demonstrated through community service, personal integrity, and academic accomplishments. The scholarship money can be used toward any university, community college or trade school of the student’s choice. February 13, 2018 application deadline.

AAEC Seeking Nominations for Statewide Champions of Arts Education

If you know of someone in your region doing an outstanding job increasing the arts, please nominate him/her for this award. Nominations due Feb.14, 2018, winners announced March 2018.

Speak Up Survey on Leveraging Technology open through January 19, 2018

Since 2003, Speak Up has helped education leaders include the voices of stakeholders in annual and long-term planning. More than five million participants have made Speak Up the largest collection of authentic, unfiltered input one education, technology, schools of the future, math and science instruction, career exploration, and professional development. There is no charge for schools and districts to participate. Participants will receive local data results with state and national comparisons.

National World War II Museum 2018 Summer Teaching Institute

A free professional development program for social studies teachers. Both high school and middle school teachers are eligible to apply. Program participants receive six hours of graduate credit upon successful completion, not to mention free travel to the Museum in New Orleans AND Pearl Harbor, Hawaii! February 1 application deadline.

Registration Now Open for the 2018 Alaska Statewide Special Education Conference

The pre-conference begins February 3, 2018. Visit the Alaska Statewide Special Educatoin Conference website for more information on the conference.

Attention Graduating Seniors - 2018 Spike Jorgensen Scholarship Seeking Applications

The Coalition for Education Equity of Alaska (CEE) will award two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to two deserving graduating seniors that reflect the need for financial assistance to further their academic goals. March 28, 2018 deadline for new scholarship applications. See attached flyer for details.

2018 Alaska RTI/MTSS Effective Instruction Conference Registration is Now Open

Maximize your impact on student learning – with a focus on personalized learning, effective instruction, and evidence-based practices. The conference will be held at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage January 26-28. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from nationally recognized experts without the expense of out-of-state travel. Sign up now for the best choice of sessions.

Enhanced Learning Maps Conference Happening January 29-30 in Anchorage

The target audience is teachers of grades 2-8 in Focus and Priority Schools. This conference will take place on Monday and Tuesday following the RTI/Effective Instruction conference. Nationally-known educators Margaret Heritage and Karen Karp are on the Advisory Board for this project and will be presenting. There are travel stipends for this conference and opportunities for free credit as well.

PAEMST Award Nomination Period Now Open

Nominations for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are open for teachers of grades K-6 through April 1, 2018. Contacts: Sandy Schoff, state coordinator for mathematics or Joey Jogliotti, state coordinator for science.

Calling High School Seniors for the 2018 National Youth Science Camp

The NYSCamp is an honors program for two high-achieving high school students from each state in the United States and others from around the world. This residential summer experience is held in a rustic setting in West Virginia’s eastern mountains. Nov. 1, 2017 – Feb. 28, 2018 application window.

Info Exchange Housekeeping:

This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form. To submit news items, call Erin Hardin at 907-465-6535 or email erin.hardin@alaska.gov.