- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Information Exchange: Vol. 46 No. 19
Newsletter of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
June 1, 2018
Last call! AVTEC Offering Summer Training for CTE Educators
Full tuition, room and board waivers available. Professional development credits available.
USCG APPROVED BASIC TRAINING (BT), June 4-8, 2018
Practical Applications of Construction Trades Mathematics, 2 or 3 days, June 11-12 or June 11-13
BASIC CULINARY TRAINING FOR RURAL EDUCATORS - June 11-15, 2018
3-Day Introduction to Renewable Energy 3 days, June 13-15
For more information contact Deb Burdick-Hinton at debra.burdick@avtec.edu or at (907) 224-6140.
Last call! Professional Learning Opportunity - Resilient Educators: Growing Your Best Self
Brightways Learning is offering workshops June 11 and 12 at Alyeska Resort focused on nurturing skills to see beneath the surface and move to the core of what students need to thrive, while helping raise professional satisfaction for teachers and other school staff. One Continuing Education Credit (via UAA) per workshop is available.
Last call! Public Comment Sought on new Professional Services for School Capital Projects Guideline
DEED has drafted a new publication, Professional Services for School Capital Projects, Guidelines for School Districts. The publication will provide guidance for procuring and managing the professional services of planning and design professionals (construction manager, architect, engineer) according to Alaska statute and regulations for school construction and major maintenance projects. Comments due June 11.
Last call! U.S. Department of Education Offering New Technical Assistance Accessibility Initiative
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced last week it is launching a new technical assistance initiative to assist schools, districts, state education agencies, libraries, colleges and universities in making their websites and online programs accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Through webinars, OCR will provide information technology professionals with vital information on website accessibility, including tips for making their online programs accessible. OCR will offer webinars on the following dates:
* Webinar II: June 5, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Webinar III: June 12, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EDT
NEW! Alaska Staff Development Network is the New Regional Partner for Code.org
The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is now part of Code.org’s nationwide network of Regional Partners to advance computer science education in K-12 schools across Alaska. ASDN will provide quality professional learning to educators throughout Alaska through district partnerships and by building a positive statewide computer science educator community.
Reminder: U.S. Department of Education Announces Student-Centered Pilot Program
The purpose of this pilot is to provide local education agencies (LEAs) with the flexibility to combine state, local, and eligible federal funds that it will allocate to schools using a formula that provides additional funding for students from low-income families, English learners, and other disadvantaged students. In exchange for meeting the requirements of the pilot and using a student-centered funding formula, the LEA receives freedom from many of the federal requirements for the funds included in the system. Applications are due July 15 for the 2019-2020 school year. To support LEAs interested in applying this summer, the Department is hosting webinars on June 20 and 21.
Reminder: College Board Hosting Counselor Workshop at UAS Sept. 7, 9 am to noon
Open to all counselors and educators, this free workshops provides updates on College Board programs, as well as tools, tips, and resources designed to make it easier for you to clear a path to college and career success for your students. Take advantage of this FREE opportunity to network with colleagues and share best practices. Complimentary continental breakfast. Registration for the Juneau workshop will open soon.
Special Feature: Birch Boyer Selected as 2018 BP Commissioner’s Scholarship Recipient
Birch is a 2018 graduate of Polaris School in the Anchorage School District. The BP Commissioner’s Scholarship recognizes academic excellence in graduating high school seniors and will provide Birch with $10,000.00 towards his college education. Dr. Michael Johnson, Alaska Education Commissioner, selected Birch from graduating Alaskan high school seniors who were all 2018 BP Alaska Principal Scholarship recipients.
Commissioner Johnson said of Birch “I am proud to select Birch Boyer as the 2018 Commissioner’s Scholarship recipient. Birch’s tenacity and self-reflection will serve him well as he undertakes college studies. I am confident that Birch will make Polaris School and the State of Alaska proud!”
Save the Date: Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit Happening September 18-19, 2018
DEED will be hosting a comprehensive statewide School Safety & Well-Being Summit, September 18-19, 2018 at the Egan Center in Anchorage. Each district will be provided funding up to $4300 to bring in a team that may include administrators, teachers, school counselors, parents, students, community members, and school board members. DEED has planned the Summit to accommodate teams of up to six from each district. More information to come. DEED Contact: Sharon Fishel, sharon.fishel@alaska.gov.
Alaska’s Every Student Succeeds Act Plan Approved by the U.S. Department of Education
Alaska’s plan to implement the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was approved May 16 by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Approval of the state plan is required for Alaska to continue to receive approximately $80 million annually in funding from the federal government to support the state’s public schools.
Alaskan Families Can Continue Learning All Summer With BrainPOP and Sesame Street eBooks
DEED and the Alaska State Library have provided all Alaskan families with unlimited access to BrainPOP and Sesame Street eBooks through the SLED database. Please share the attached flyer with specific directions on BrainPOP with students and families.
DEED Announces Updated eLearning Course: Equity Training for Educators
DEED partnered with the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center, the Association of Alaska School Boards, and the Juneau School District to update the existing eLearning course, Gender and Race Equity. In the revised course, now titled Equity Training for Educators, participants will learn about the extent of inequities in Alaska and the United States, become familiar with federal and state equity and civil rights laws, and learn how to identify inequities in schools. Resources and recommended strategies are available to help schools evaluate their school equity and remedy inequities that may be present. This course satisfies the required training elements under AS 14.18.060(b).
National Geographic Offering Grant Opportunity for Educators
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow Paul Salopek is retracing the first humans’ migration on foot out of Africa and across the globe. Part of his journey will take him through Alaska in the coming years. The goal of this RFP is to expand the impact of Out of Eden Walk for children and youth by supporting a global network of educators who can use the initiative as a catalyst for teaching about the topics addressed by Paul Salopek’s journey.
2018 Professional Teaching Practices Commission Annual Newsletter Now Available
The PTPC Annual Newsletter for 2018 is now available. Included is the Code of Ethics Quiz as well as a listing of all educators who were sanctioned by the Commission in 2017. The PTPC is required to publicize sanctions on a regular basis [20 AAC 10.300(d)].
Alaska Communications Seeking Nominations for Youth Summer of Heroes Scholarship
The 2018 Summer of Heroes scholarship program honors Alaska’s youngest heroes, individuals ages 6-18, who are making a difference in their communities through acts of generosity, courage, or achievement. Five winners will be selected and awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Nominations due July 20 by 5pm.
Ordering Window for Fall 2018 SAT and PSAT/NMSQT Materials Now Open
Order your PSAT and SAT® School Day materials by June 29 and be ready for testing in the fall. After this date, requests for additional low-income benefits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For assistance contact Nancy Potter at npotter@collegeboard.org.
Sister School Exchange Program Accepting Applications for Cross-Cultural Exchange in Alaska
The Sister School Exchange Program (formerly Rose Urban Rural Exchange) is currently accepting applications for secondary educators who want to lead students on a cross cultural exchange in Alaska next school year. The program operates throughout the school year, matching a teacher and five students from a rural system community with a teacher and five students from urban Alaska. These teams work through a 6-8 week curriculum on cross-cultural understanding, and then take turns visiting and hosting each other. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Alaska Native Education Program, the Sister School Exchange has engaged in cross-cultural exchanges in Alaska for the last seventeen years.
Special Milk Program Looking for Sponsors
DEED’s Child Nutrition Programs unit is looking for school districts, private schools, residential child care institutions, youth shelters, and non-profit camps to participate in the Special Milk Program. Sponsors are reimbursed with federal funds for each ½ pint of milk served to eligible students (age 0-18) that do not have access to any other federally funded meal program (National School Lunch/Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Food Program or the Summer Food Program). For more information please contact Debbie Soto at debbie.soto@alaska.gov or (907) 465-8712.
Registration Now Open for the 2018 School Library Leadership Academy
The School Library Leadership Academy is a week-long, for-credit intensive workshop for school librarians who are established education leaders in their school or district. It is open to currently employed (SY17-18) Alaska Certified School Librarians, with at least .25 FTE in a school librarian/media role. The Academy will take place July 23rd – 27th in Juneau. The 2018 theme is “Picking up STEAM” and will focus on STEAM collaboration and integration within the context of American Association of School Librarians’ new National School Library Standards.
Info Exchange Housekeeping:
This newsletter is available weekly and online in archived form on the DEED Information Exchange page. To submit news items, call Erin Hardin at 907-465-6535 or email erin.hardin@alaska.gov.