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Feb. 18, 2022

Celebrate #DLDay by Tapping Into Personalized Learning Resources

The 11^th annual Digital Learning Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. This year’s theme is “Celebrate the Personal in Personalized Learning.”

The DLDay network by All4Ed provides an opportunity for educators to join a network of innovative educators and share favorite digital learning resources and browse a digital learning sharing library for lessons, activities, events and resources.

Join the DLDay network and share your resources!

DEED Seeks Feedback on Temporary Changes to Accountability System

DEED is seeking feedback on temporary changes to Alaska’s accountability system for the 2022-2023 school year.

The pandemic has disrupted several components of Alaska’s accountability system. That includes missing data in 2020 and low participation in 2021. Additionally, Alaska is also implementing a new assessment in 2022.

Alaska is required to annually measure six indicators per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). One of those indicators is growth.

Because of the pandemic-related factors and the change to a new assessment, the method typically used cannot be used to calculate the growth indicator in 2022.

The U.S. Department of Education is permitting states to make changes to their state plan for accountability for Fall of 2022.

You can learn about DEED’s proposed changes to the state plan for accountability in a webinar recording. The webinar includes an overview of the legacy accountability system, challenges, and a discussion about the decisions that need to be made to provide meaningful differentiation and school designations for the 2022-2023 school year.

The webinar recording can be accessed by clicking on this link Passcode: Bq9LV=Xf

A response survey can be accessed by clicking on this link. Please respond by Monday, February , 2022 with your feedback, comments, and suggestions.

You can learn more about Alaska’s System for School Success here.

Alaska's Reading Playbook Introductory Session Next Wednesday

Next Wednesday will be the second of three offerings of an introductory session to Alaska’s Reading Playbook. The Reading Playbook combines decades of nationwide research with examples and resources developed by educators in Alaska. Readers will find an introduction to phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The Reading Playbook also contains links to valuable resources where readers can continue to deepen their knowledge. The Alaska Reading Playbook was put together for educators in Alaska with input from Alaskan teachers. The purpose of the Alaska Reading Playbook is to provide clear, step-by-step examples of evidence-based instructional practices. The third introductory sessions will be held on and March 3.

DEED Launching Alaska Certified Facilitator Program to Build Assessment Literacy

DEED is launching a certified facilitator program for schools and districts: the Alaska Certified Facilitator Program (CFP). The Alaska Professional Learning Initiative will build assessment literacy capacity throughout Alaska schools. District staff will build a deeper understanding of how assessment drives instruction and learning, and participants will become stewards of assessment literacy in their communities. Through partnership between DEED and NWEA, the Alaska Professional Learning Initiative is comprised of professional learning opportunities and a certified facilitator program. The primary purpose of the CF program in Alaska is to drive toward an excellent education for every student every day by supporting statewide assessment literacy and formative assessment practices that result in improved teaching and learning. The certified facilitator role is an internal position within a district to support the state assessment literacy initiative. Certified facilitators will provide professional learning directly to schools and districts to ensure educators and stakeholders across the state have a very clear sense of what assessment is, its value, and how to use assessment data to empower students, teachers, and communities to thrive. DEED is holding information sessions on February 23 at 11 a.m. and February 24 at 4 p.m. Click here for more information or email Kelly.manning@alaska.gov.

AKRISE Convening February 25 and 26

AKRISE — Alaska’s Rural Teacher Network —is having a virtual convening for rural teachers on February 25th and 26th, and registration is now open. AKRISE formally launched in January 2020 to bring together educators from small, rural schools across Alaska to collaborate and connect to improve teaching and learning.  The network brings educators together to share strategies for tackling contextual challenges, and to share or codesign impactful instructional practices. Attendees can expect: to learn from teachers in different districts about their experience with current educational challenges, priorities, and practices to be offered the space to discuss specific challenges or interests with colleagues  to consider planning projects with other teachers around your shared interests For more information, please contact Karen Martin at karenmartin@dbsd.org.

Yukon-Koyukuk School District Educator Named 2022 Distinguished Special Education Administrator of the Year 

Cristina Welker, Director of Special Education and Student Support Services for the Yukon-Koyukuk School District, was awarded the 2022 Alaska Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) Distinguished Special Education Administrator of the Year Award during the Alaska State Special Education Conference held in Anchorage this month.

Congratulations Ms. Welker, and thank you for all that you do for Alaska's students!

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