December 12 issue of Learning Matters

Minnesota Department of Education

LEARNING MATTERS

December 12, 2014

Agency News

School Safety Technical Assistance Center Launches Website 

Student with backpack walking to school


The Minnesota Department of Education is excited to announce the launch of the School Safety Technical Assistance Center website. School board members, superintendents, principals, teachers, school support staff, students, parents, families and community members will find information about bullying prevention and intervention best practices, including the State Model Student Bullying Prohibition Policy and documents that provide guidance on the new law. Visit the site.

Questions? Contact the School Safety Technical Assistance Center at MDE.SSTAC@state.mn.us or 651-582-8364.


Minnesota Department of Education Announces New Hires

Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius announced the following changes to the agency’s executive leadership team: Hue Nguyen will join the department as an assistant commissioner, Daron Korte is moving from government relations director to an assistant commissioner, and Adosh Unni will be the new government relations director. Please welcome these very accomplished professionals.

Read news release.


Financial Management Advisory Committee Seeking Members

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is seeking volunteers for the Advisory Committee on Financial Management, Accounting and Reporting. The committee reorganizes each year, generally replacing four to five of its 15 members. This committee advises the department on matters of school accounting, reporting, budgeting and financial management. The open positions are: Business Manager/Accountant/Superintendent, Regional Accounting Coordinator, and CPA/Audit Society. Interested candidates can find additional information on the MDE website.

By the Numbers

Children's Literacy

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a divison of the U.S. Department of Education, children who are read to at home enjoy a substantial advantage over children who are not.

26% of children who were read to three or four times in the last week by a family member recognized all letters of the alphabet.

In addition, of children who were read to frequently:

  • 60% count to 20 or higher (vs. 44%)
  • 54% write their own names (vs. 40%)
  • 77% read or pretend to read (vs. 57%)

Visit the National Education Association website.

Education in the News

Northside Achievement Zone Report Finds Longer Enrollment Boosts Academic Success

An ambitious effort to improve the academic performance of children in north Minneapolis is helping some students in the younger grades make gains... Read more at MPR news.


Forest Lake Teachers Honored for Embracing Technology

Two Forest Lake Area teachers, Brittany Cullen and Paul Iwaszko, were recognized as Technology and Information Educational Services Exceptional Teachers award recipients. Read more at Forest Lake Times.


Minnesota Department of Education and Student Data Sharing

While education initiatives are much discussed, the data that underlie them are often not easy to access. Recently, Public Record Media set out to begin to address that situation. Read full story at TC Daily Planet.


An Auspicious Year for Children's Rights

Today, across the Atlantic Ocean, Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi are accepting their Nobel Peace Prizes in Oslo. Read Star Tribune story.

Recent BloggED posts

What's YOUR Superpower?

Commissioner Announces $10K Hour of Code Grant Award at Roseville's Edgerton Elementary Assembly


At Edgerton Elementary, students became coders—and superheroes—as they participated in the Hour of Code during Computer Science week, December 8-14. "Coders are today’s superheroes," explained Principal Melissa Sonnek.

Read BloggED for full story.


New Report Shows Success for Minnesota’s Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Grant

High quality. Greater accountablity. Increased access. Improved outcomes. Founding principles for initial grant application in 2012. A new report from the U.S. Department of Education indicates that Minnesota is making progress...

Read BloggED for full story

Upcoming Events

STEM and Afterschool Conference - April 14 and 15, 2015

This two-day conference brings together the Minnesota STEM Network and Ignite Afterschool network to ensure every Minnesota young person has access to high-quality STEM education and opportunities to build 21st century skills in afterschool settings. Attendees will share high-quality practices, build partnerships, and advance policy to increase student engagement during and outside of the school day. Proposals sought for sessions and workshops. Submit by February 14.
Exhibitors and sponsors may contact Matthew.Ramirez@state.mn.us for information.

Conference registration open now. Register online.