- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange: Vol. 46 No. 8
Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
March 2, 2018
Last call! Building a Safer Alaska Student Poster Contest Closes March 10
All Alaskan youth from kindergarten through high school are eligible to participate. Home schools, alternative, and traditional schools are all welcome.
Last call! Third-Party Comment Period Closes March 12 for the UAF School of Education Initial Licensure Programs
UAF's educator preparation programs in the School of Education have been nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 2011. NCATE has merged with another accrediting agency, and now those two organizations make up CAEP: the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As part of UAF’s re-accreditation process, the School of Education is required to solicit third-party comment on the quality of its programs. All interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the visiting CAEP team. Comment deadline is March 12, 2018.
NEW! DEED Submits Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan Revisions to U.S. Department of Education
DEED submitted revisions on February 28 to the U.S. Department of Education to Alaska’s plan for implementing the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. A copy of Alaska’s revised plan is available on DEED’s website. DEED will be shifting efforts to preparing communication materials and toolkits for the public and educators.
NEW! DEED Recruiting for Computer Science Content Standards Committee Members
DEED is beginning the process of reviewing and recommending state computer science content standards. Applications to be part of the standards committee will be accepted through March 16, 2018. Please view the attached information sheet for details and online application links for more info.
NEW! DEED Accepting Non-Profit Profiles for Inclusion in Alaska 21st CCLC External Organization Partner Pool
In order to increase the capacity of Alaska’s communities to offer high-quality 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) afterschool programs, DEED is assembling a list of Alaska non-profit organizations with relevant afterschool expertise that 21st CCLC grantees may be interested in partnering with when building their out-of-school-time applications and programs. Please note: DEED plans to release a 21st CCLC Request for Applications very soon, but an organization is not required to be included in the Alaska 21st CCLC External Organization Partner Pool in order to be eligible to apply for an Alaska 21st grant as a main applicant or to serve as a formal or informal partner on a grant application.
NEW! SERRC Offering Scholarships for High School Career Connections: Health Care Jobs
SERRC and the Southeast Alaska AHEC (Area Health Education Center) have limited scholarships for students and teachers to participate in a week-long exploration of health care careers. The program takes place, April 8-13, in Juneau and is open to 10-12th grade students. The course includes instruction, site visits to health care workers in action (Bartlett Regional Hospital, Fire Department, Airlift Services, Cancer Center, etc.), UAS tour, and CPR training. Students must be accompanied by a school employee (science teachers and guidance counselors preferred). Scholarships include tuition and travel. Deadline to apply March 16. Non-scholarship cost: $850 per student, $650 per adult not including travel to Juneau. For details, please contact Joan Pardes at joanp@serrc.org.
Reminder: DEED Publishes Annual October 1 Enrollment Reports
The 2017-2018 enrollment reports are now available! These annual reports include the count of students enrolled on October 1 by district, school, grade level, and race/ethnicity. The reports are located on the Data Center page under Statistics & Reports.
Reminder: AdvancED Improvement Network Offering Free Membership for Spring 2018
If your school district or one of the schools within is considering joining AdvancED, now is the time to act. AdvancED wants to help those looking to join AdvancED next school year by granting full access to all the AdvancED services at no cost for the remainder of this school year (see attached flyer). Give Tim Cline a call at 888-413-3669, ext. 5775 or email him at tcline@advanc-ed.org with your questions.
Reminder: Summer Food Service Program Looking for Local Sites
DEED’s Child Nutrition Programs unit 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. Sponsors are reimbursed with federal funds for each eligible meal served at approved feeding sites. All sponsors receive training and technical assistance from DEED’s Child Nutrition Programs unit prior to starting their Summer Food Service Program, and throughout the program’s duration. Download a copy of the training registration soon, applications are due May 15, 2018.
Deadline Extended! Request for K-12 Talent Pool Nominations
DEED is looking for educators, relatively new to the profession, who demonstrate outstanding instructional and leadership abilities that impact students, colleagues, and the community. Do you know an educator relatively new to the field that exemplifies Alaska’s best? One who goes above and beyond? This is your opportunity to give something back to the educators who are of great value to your district, community and state. Nominate someone you know – today! Completed forms (see attached) must be submitted by April 15, 2018. For questions, please contact Cecilia Miller at cecilia.miller@alaska.gov 907-465-8703.
Deadline Extended! Space Available in 2018 Career Connections Session April 22-27
High school age students get the opportunity to visit Juneau and explore career opportunities through hands-on experience. Students learn valuable job skills and have fun in the process. Career Connections alumni who are in 11th or 12th grade may be eligible to job shadow in a field of their choice. Letters of intent for the April 22-27 session are due March 16.
Governor Walker announces 20 scholarships for Alaskan students to study in China
20 scholarships have been made available for Alaskans to study abroad in China through the Chinese Consulate. Recipients will explore higher education through a variety of academic programs in science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, law, economics, management, education, liberal arts, philosophy, history, and fine arts. Scholarships from the Chinese Consulate include tuition, accommodation, stipend and medical insurance. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2018.
DEED Seeks Extended Availability of 2013 SIG Funds
DEED is planning to request a waiver to extend the availability of federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds awarded to the state in 2013. These funds are currently being used by DEED to fund grants to six schools in the state that have applied for, and have been awarded, funding to implement multi-year SIG interventions through June of 2021. The sought after waiver, if approved, could extend the availability of these FY13 funds to September 30, 2018. The public is invited to submit comments to DEED by March 19, 2018.
Registration Open for UAF's Middle and High School Academy
The Alaska Summer Research Academy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is accepting applications through April 15 for its middle and high school programs. The academy will be held each day from July 23-Aug. 3, 2018. Students accepted into the summer program will spend two weeks with a small group and two instructors exploring a topic in science, engineering, math or technology. The middle school program is for students who will be in grades six to eight in fall 2018. The high school program is for students who will be in grades nine to 12 in fall 2018. Financial aid may be available for qualified students.
CACREP Grants Accreditation to Two UAF School of Education Programs
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the following programs in the UAF School of Education: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.Ed. degree) and School Counseling (M.Ed. degree). For further information contact Jane Monahan at (907) 474-5362.
Calling all High School Students Interested in a Maritime Career
Interested in fast tracking yourself into a lucrative and exciting maritime career? Funding available for eligible high school students and high school CTE instructors! Registration open now! See attached flyer for more info.
Senator Murkowski Seeking High School Interns
Senator Murkowski hosts an internship program for just-graduated high school seniors each summer. A total of 20 students are selected to participate in one of two, 4-week sessions in the Senator’s Washington, D.C. office. Interns have the opportunity to shadow the Senator for a day, attend briefings and committee hearings, perform special projects for staff, and generally learn how the Senate works and participate in a professional work environment. A stipend is paid to the interns, which helps defray the cost of transportation and housing. Deadline to apply is March 15.
ALASBO is Offering Two $1,000 Scholarships to Graduating Seniors
The Alaska Association of School Business Officials (ALASBO) is offering two $1,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors. The scholarship program is named for former school business official McClain J. "Mack" Easton. The application deadline is March 31.
RurAL CAP Offering Experiential-Based Learning and Cultural Activities Opportunity to Schools
RurAL CAP is offering an opportunity for all rural schools in Alaska to apply for an AmeriCorps member who will work with students by replicating the evidence-based, data-informed Project Venture model, which will engage primarily Alaska Native youth using experiential-based learning and cultural activities in 15 predominantly remote, rural communities across Alaska. Interested schools can contact Leilani Luhrs at (907) 529-0606 or lluhrs@ruralcap.com.
2019 Alaska Teacher of the Year Nomination Period Open
Alaska has many outstanding teachers that are worthy of this award. Any interested Alaska citizen may make nominations for the Alaska Teacher of the Year (TOY). The Alaska TOY Program is an excellent way to acknowledge the expertise, skills, accomplishments, and professionalism of teachers within your school. Nominations are due by Monday, April 2, 2018. Contact Cecilia Miller at AlaskaTOY@alaska.gov or 465-8703 for more info.
Pathfinders Summer Institute 2018 Seeking Teachers
Infosys Foundation USA will host the Pathfinders Summer Institute 2018, an intensive week of in-person professional development in Computer Science and Making, at Indiana University Bloomington from July 15-20, 2018. Over 800 US K-12 US public school teachers will convene at #InfyPathfinders for high-quality hands-on training.
Subscribe to DEED Early Learning Updates Newsletter
The DEED Early Learning Team puts out a bi-weekly newsletter featuring stories about early learning in and outside of Alaska. This issue features upcoming events such as: CLASS Reliability Training, TSG WebEx on Kindergarten Readiness, upcoming SE-AEYC Conference, and Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy with artwork by Alaskan Artist Miachela Goade wins Best Picture Book of the Year!
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.
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.
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.
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 Jigliotti, state coordinator for science.
Info Exchange Housekeeping:
This newsletter is available weekly and online in archived form. To submit news items, call Erin Hardin at 907-465-6535 or email erin.hardin@alaska.gov.
Contact Us
- Erin Hardin: (907) 465-6535