April 9 issue of Learning Matters

Minnesota Department of Education

LEARNING MATTERS

April 9, 2015

Agency News

New Federal Report on Increased Need for Access to High-Quality Preschool 

Bright and Cheery Head Start Classroom with Engaged Young Learners

 

The U.S. Department of Education recently released a report showing a growing need for high-quality public preschool options across the nation.

The report, A Matter of Equity: Preschool in America, shows that of the four million 4-year-olds in the United States, about 60 percent – or nearly 2.5 million – are not enrolled in publicly funded preschool programs, including state preschool programs, Head Start and programs serving children with disabilities.

Minnesota numbers in the report are some of the lowest in the country, with 61,430 kids – or 81 percent – not enrolled in a publicly funded program.

Read the full text of commissioner's statement.
 
Read the report available on U.S. DOE website.


Four Reasons to Apply for the 2015 President’s Education Awards Program

Principals! It’s time, once again, to nominate extraordinary, outstanding, hardworking, persistant and deserving students at your school for the President’s Education Awards Program! Founded in 1983, the President's Education Awards Program (PEAP) honors graduating elementary, middle and high school students for their achievement and hard work. Read Four Excellent Reasons Why You Should Nominate Students from the U.S. Department of Education.


Fourth Annual Nationwide Healthy Recipe Challenge

The First Lady is again challenging the most creative junior chefs to put their talents to good use and whip up delicious lunchtime recipes.  The “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge and Kids’ State Dinner” invites children ages 8-12, with the help of an adult, to create and submit an original lunch recipe that is healthy, affordable, and tasty.  Fifty-six children and their parent or guardian -- one pair from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories -- will be flown to Washington, D.C., to attend a special Kids’ State Dinner at the White House, where a selection of winning recipes will be served. Read White House news release. Watch the video and submit recipes online. Deadline April 30, 2015.


Considering a Job Change?

Attention Educators and Administrators: The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has an online resource designed to help. Visit MASA Jobsite Online and start searching current Minnesota school district job vacancies by type, category, region and location.

Did You Know?

April 12-18 is Week of the Young Child

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our Youngest Learners.” For more information, visit the National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc) website.

Education in the News

Can Volunteers Help Kids Read More Proficiently? New Research Says Yes.

Public schools have long relied on volunteers to manage bake sales and to chaperone field trips. But what if schools could harness and organize volunteers... Read full story in the Washington Post.


Minnesota State Leaders Propose Free, Full-Day Preschool

Greenhaven Elementary preschoolers in Hibbing, Minnesota are in class for 7 1/2 hours a week, but a proposal making its way through the capital could change that. Read more on Fox 21KQDS.


St. Michael-Albertville High School Graduation Rate Continues to Soar

The class of 2014 was one of St. Michael-Albertville High School’s last to be under the 400 student mark, but will go down as one of the highest in the school’s history when it comes to percentage of students graduated. Read full story at North Wright County Today.


Businesses and Schools Form Partnerships

In John Spanos’ classroom, there are no standard desks and chairs. In the shops where he teaches, students learn in other ways — through hands-on projects. Read Hutchinson Leader for full story.


Recent BloggED Posts

Best Practice Resources Available to Minnesota Schools

Face to Face Academy Student Hiking Expedition

 

Three high-quality charter schools who were awarded best practice awards last fall have developed resources to make their best practices available to all Minnesota public schools!
Face to Face Academy’s Wilderness and Outdoor Program -- Increasing nature exposure to a population suffering a nature deficit.
Paideia Academy’s Daily 5 -- Supporting students’ literacy independence: 1. Read to Self; 2. Read to Someone; 3. Listen to Reading; 4. Word Work; 5. Work on Writing.
Twin Cities Academy High School’s (TCAHS) Extension -- Courses for 9-10th grade students needing remediation in reading and  9-11th grade students in mathematics. Read the April 1, bloggED for more.

Upcoming Events

STEM Forum and Expo, May 20-23!

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is hosting their national STEM forum in Minnesota in May. This unique, STEM-focused event is where educators gather to share tools and resources that contribute to the successful implementation of STEM education into schools and communities. What makes this event so different? The people presenting! One of whom is our own Doug Paulson, agency STEM specialist. Visit NSTA site to learn more. Register online.