In Today's Newsletter
1. IES Math Summit
2. Assessment for Alaska Native Students
3. Coding in Minecraft
4. Cybersecurity Grant Program
5. Professional Teaching Practices Commission
6. Alaska Music Census Survey
7. SAT Bootcamp
8. District-Wide Early Education Programs
9. We are Hiring!
10. Educators Needed: Assessment Reviews
11. Holiday Cards for the Troops
12. Academic Decathlon
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In October 2022, the Nation’s Report Card revealed that fourth- and eighth-grade students assessed in the 2021-22 school year experienced the largest declines in mathematics performance in the program’s history. These national declines in achievement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlight the unprecedented learning crisis that has followed the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, gaps in the mathematics achievement of students with the highest and lowest performance were already widening.
This September, national, state, and local leaders—along with educators, researchers, policymakers, and instructional experts—will convene to explore efforts to address this crisis. During the three-day summit, participants will discuss the latest scholarship on strategies for mathematics instruction and academic interventions; highlight solutions rooted in research and successful classroom practices; and explore emerging resources.
The Summit will address six themes across Pre-K–3, 4–8, and 9–12 grade-level spans:
- Increasing Opportunities to Learn and Raising Expectations for All
- Strategies for Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners
- High-Dosage Tutoring and Other Academic Recovery Strategies
- Learning Progressions and High School Pathways
- Language and Mathematics
- Leveraging STEAM Applications for In-Demand Careers
The Summit is free to attend and will take place at 8:00am - 1:30pm AKST on September 12, 19, and 26. You can read the agenda here.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has partnered with Denali Daniels + Associates to host a series of discussions and information gathering activities to better understand the assessment needs of entities serving Alaska Native students. We are seeking input from parents, educators, and community members interested in contributing to perspectives about assessments for Alaska Native students.
If you would like to get more information about the DEED Assessment Outreach Project, please click the links below.
Please visit our LANDING PAGE which includes an ISSUE PAPER with more information about what we covered in this survey, and a link to sign up to receive future information about the Assessment Outreach Project.
This survey will be open until the end of summer 2023! Please share with others you think would be interested.
Department of Education and Early Development is excited to announce that the availability of 'Coding in Minecraft' at NO COST to all public schools in Alaska has been extended through the 2023 - 2024 school year!
Coding in Minecraft uses Minecraft: Education Edition to teach block-based coding at levels suitable for students in upper elementary, middle, and high school. The program is designed so that teachers with little or no experience coding can incorporate it in their classrooms.
Many professional learning workshops for Coding in Minecraft are available at no cost to Alaska teachers year-round. The workshops take place over three two-hour sessions, going over the basics of Minecraft, exploring Coding in Minecraft from the perspective of the students, diving into the Coding in Minecraft portal in detail, and presenting best practices on using the immersive program with the students. Teachers can also earn CEU credit by participating in the workshops and post-workshop activities.
Teachers who want to use the program in their classroom can sign up for workshops at https://codingcredentials.com/ak/.
For more information, please contact Faye Tanner (faye.tanner@alaska.gov)
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Dates/Times
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Registration Link
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September Professional
Development Option 1
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Tuesday, September 5th
Tuesday, September 12th
Tuesday, September 19th
4 – 6 PM
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Register Here
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September Professional
Development Option 2
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Wednesday, September 20th
Monday, September 25th
Wednesday, September 27th
4 - 6 PM
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Register Here
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‘Back to School’ Info Session Option 1
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Wednesday, September 6th
5:00 PM
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Register Here
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‘Back to School’ Info Session Option 2
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Wednesday, September 13th
1:00 PM
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Register Here
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DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2023
Our nation faces unprecedented cybersecurity risks, including increasingly sophisticated adversaries, widespread vulnerabilities in commonly used hardware and software, and broad dependencies on network technologies for the day-to-day operation of critical infrastructure. Cyber risk management is further complicated by the ability of malicious actors to operate remotely, linkages between cyber and physical systems, and the difficulty of reducing vulnerabilities. Strengthening cybersecurity practices and the resilience of state and local governments is a vital homeland security mission and the primary focus of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP).
The SCLGP is a reimbursable, federally funded pass-through grant program to assist local and tribal with managing and reducing systematic cyber risk. Must ensure at least 80% is passed through to local governments As part of the local government pass through requirement, 25% must be pass through to rural areas. Per the Homeland Security Act of 2002, a rural area is defined in 49 U.S.C. § 5302 as an area encompassing a population of less than 50,000 people that has not been designated in the most recent decennial census as an “urbanized area” by the Secretary of Commerce.
2022 SLCGP Application Cover Sheet
2022 SLCGP Project Application
2022 SLCGP State Overview and Guidelines
Signatory Authority Form
PTPC reminds administrators that the following regulation requires the PTPC Handbook for Educators be displayed:
20 AAC 10.310. DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBOOK.
Copies of the Alaska State Professional Teaching Practices Commission’s Handbook for Alaska Educators shall be conspicuously displayed, and available, at every education institution in the state whose employees are members of the teaching profession under AS 14.20.370.
The Handbook can be found here: Alaska State Professional Teaching Practices Commission Handbook for Alaska Educators
Additionally, the staff of the PTPC urges administrators to distribute the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession to all certificated educators and to include the Code of Ethics in professional development annually.
The Code of Ethics can be found here: Code of Ethics Trifold (alaska.gov)
The staff of PTPC is available to present information about the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards at your school district professional development. Contact Executive Director Melody Mann at 907-269-6579 or melody.mann@alaska.gov.
Fill out the Alaska Music Census by September 2nd
The first Alaska Music Census is underway until Sept 2nd at AlaskaMusicCensus.com! If you make music in ANY way, Alaska Independent Musicians Initiative (AKIMI) invites you to learn more and take the Alaska Music Census survey: banjos, bagpipes, beatboxing, traditional drums and songs, church choir, heavy metal, hip hop, piano lessons at home...
If you do it for work or for fun, every day or once a year, they want to hear from you. That includes techies, instrument makers, and music teachers, too!
The survey is simple and takes 5-10 minutes, it's totally anonymous, and most questions are optional.
Questions? AKIMI has lots of FAQ's, or you can email for assistance at alaskamusiccensus@akimimusic.org and they will help you out, even with little fiddly details. Is internet a hurdle? AKIMI can arrange a phone call for you or a music maker you know.
The Alaska Music Census is a project by AKIMI, the Alaska Independent Musicians Initiative. It's supported by the Alaska State Council for the Arts, the Atwood Foundation, the Municipality of Anchorage, and the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, with help developing the survey from the University of Alaska's Institute for Social and Economic Research and the Oregon Music Census.
Schoolhouse is offering a free four-week online bootcamp to help students prepare for the October 6th SAT. The course runs from September 7th - October 5th. Learn more about the course and register here: SAT Bootcamp | Schoolhouse
DEED has updated guidance for districts interested in having an approved district-wide early education program (DWEEP).
This approved program leads to 0.5 ADM formula funding for four and five-year-old students enrolled in an approved DWEEP. Please click the button below or visit https://education.alaska.gov/akreads/early-education-programs2.There is an informational document once you click on District-Wide Early Education Program ADM Approval Requirements.
For more information, explore the abovementioned AK Reads website or email earlylearning@alaska.gov.
DEED is seeking experienced, committed education professionals to provide direct reading instruction, response to intervention, and tutoring services to at-risk students. In addition to working with students, teachers may be called upon to provide adult learning opportunities including lesson demonstrations, coaching, and professional development, depending on their skill sets in those areas.
These positions are on call non-permanent. Pay will be an hourly rate of $39.93. Work will be available at least four days per week for one to two hours per day, with options to work any or all of the available days/hours. The work hours will occur in the later afternoon and evening. The positions will be remote to begin with and will report directly to the Division Director. Positions will be open until filled.
DEED is recruiting for two virtual events that Alaska educators can be involved in the assessment item development process for the Alaska Science Assessment. If you have a strong understanding of Alaska's current academic standards, we'd love to have you participate:
Alaska Science Assessment Data Review
Alaska educators will review and provide feedback on test item data from the spring 2023 administration. This review will assist DEED and DRC in building operational assessments for future administrations. The data review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $100 stipend for full participation.
Tuesday, October 3 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Alaska Science Assessment Item Review
Alaska educators will provide feedback on newly developed test items to be field tested in spring 2024. Selected panelists will review for content, alignment to the K-12 Science Standards for Alaska, and bias and sensitivity. The review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $250 stipend for full participation.
Friday, October 6 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 7 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Students across the U.S. are encouraged to spread some holiday cheer by joining the Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge! This is a simple way to make a profound impact.
The guidelines are easy – please address the card to “Dear Warrior,” and write a holiday greeting or personal note while signing your first name and hometown. Sign the cards mutually as a group, or individually. You may write as many as you want – the sky is the limit! Cards should be no larger than an 8x11-size paper folded in half. Envelopes are not required, however, if you have one, please do not seal it or address it.
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The deadline to send cards is Nov. 15.
They should be addressed to:
Laura Landerman-Garber
Holiday Card Challenge
PO Box 103
Hollis, NH 03049.
If using FedEx or UPS, please address to:
Holiday Card Challenge
5 Hutchings Drive
Suite 100 Unit 103
Hollis, NH 03049
Please visit Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge for more information, or email holidaycardsnh@gmail.com. Thank you for taking the time to bring smiles to our soldiers this holiday season.
SERRC's Alaska Academic Decathlon (high school) and Pentathlon (middle school) are rigorous scholastic programs that challenge students to learn about ten subjects based on a yearly theme. 2023-2024 Theme: Technology & Humanity.
The curriculum is aligned with National Standards and Alaska's Educational Challenge and is FREE to new teams, students compete individually and as an integral part of a team, each team includes students of varying abilities, the high school competition takes place at UAA and involves UA staff and faculty from all three campuses along with providing $49,000 in annual scholarships thanks to our partners with Alaska 529 and the University of Alaska.
The middle and high school programs improve student achievement, provide small group engagement and increase confidence, self-esteem and communication skills among participants.
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