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April 15, 2025

Secure Your Spot for the FY26 Summit!

Registration is now open for the FY26 Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit, happening September 10–11, 2025, at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage!

This year’s “All Hands on Deck” theme calls on educational leaders, key staff, and strategic partners from every district across Alaska to come together in support of safe, supportive school environments. We’ll collaborate on strategies to promote healthy development through trauma-engaged and restorative practices, improve school climate, and strengthen our readiness for potential school crises.

Secure your spot today—we look forward to seeing you there!

Call for Speakers is Open!

We’re seeking dynamic speakers to share insights on promoting healthy development, trauma-engaged and restorative practices, school climate improvement, and crisis preparedness. Join educational leaders and key stakeholders from across Alaska to help shape safer, healthier schools.

Support the Summit!

Support safer, healthier schools by becoming a sponsor of the Summit. This premier event brings together educational leaders, key staff, and stakeholders from across Alaska to collaborate on critical issues like school climate, trauma-engaged practices, and crisis preparedness.

As a sponsor, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your organization, connect with decision-makers, and demonstrate your commitment to student well-being and school safety. Gain visibility through exhibit space, branding opportunities, and direct engagement with attendees. Join us in making a lasting impact!

We want to hear from you!

The Alaska Department of Health (DOH) is working to improve how schools access Medicaid reimbursement for student health services. As part of this effort, DOH has contracted with ForHealth Consulting to gather feedback from schools and inform program improvements.

 We want to hear from you — whether or not your school currently bills Medicaid.

 Some Alaska school districts bill Medicaid (with parental consent) for services like speech, occupational and physical therapy, and nursing, but many do not. DOH wants to better understand:

• What’s working for districts that do bill Medicaid?
• What challenges do billing districts face?
• What is keeping other districts from billing Medicaid?
• What support, resources, or changes would help?

What we’re asking:

Please take a short (10–20 minute) online survey to share your experience.

• Take the survey here: https://survey.umassmed.edu/AlaskaSchoolDistrictSurvey

The survey will remain open until April 23, 2025.

• Any relevant staff, including those involved with student health services, support services, or Medicaid billing are encouraged to take the survey.
• More than one person from each district can respond.
• Constructive input is encouraged and welcome.
• Responses are anonymous unless you opt to share your contact information to stay involved in future feedback sessions.

Professional Boundaries and the PTPC

As educators transition from spring to summer and perhaps begin looking elsewhere to teach, please be aware of the Contractual Obligations that PTPC has the authority to uphold. Maintain professional communication with your current contracted employer and give them adequate time to find a qualified replacement should you decide to seek employment elsewhere. Leaving without adequate notice, or mutual assent is considered unilateral termination of a contract and may result in a one-year suspension of your teaching certificate.

Administrators, now is the time to book presentations for your fall professional development with melody.mann@alaska.gov to discuss the Code of Ethics for Educators, professional expectations on boundaries, communication and political activity, as well as contractual obligations. Let me know if you would like a virtual or in person presentation to kick off your 2025-26 school year.

Ts’ił Nich’dalggezh

“We Are Gathering Together”

2025 Alaska Native Language Summit

May 1, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Tubughnenq Room 3, 4, & 5
Dena’ina Civic Center, Anchorage, Alaska

Walk in the Footsteps of History
to Celebrate America’s 250th

A Call for Applications from the National History Academy 

In collaboration with America250-Alaska, DEED shares the The National History Academy’s call for applications from students and teachers: 

The National History Academy is a four-week residential summer program based at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA, for 90 highly achieving 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. The program begins Sunday, July 6, 2025 and ends Friday, August 1, 2025.

At the National History Academy, students will walk in the footsteps of leaders who helped define and shape the American story and focus on critical events in our history – the fight for civil rights and voting rights, and women’s struggle for equal rights in America – while relating our country’s history to the serious challenges we face as a country today. Students will experience a college prep curriculum that includes historic site visits, Case Method Institute Cases, Braver Angels Parliamentary Debates, guest speakers, all while immersed in a college-like Residential Life Program

More than half of students receive full or partial scholarships, which are available on a need basis. Students may apply for a scholarship as part of the entrance application.Apply now at www.nationalhistoryacademy.org. For more information, contact the National History Academy at info@nationalhistoryacadmy.org or 540-882-4929

Register for ACPE’s Master the FAFSA Training!

ACPE’s Master the FAFSA Training provides a line-by-line overview and detailed explanation of the 2025-26 FAFSA process. Education and Workforce Development Professionals gain better understanding and navigation of the FAFSA form to ensure they can support Alaska’s students/families and adult learners with successful FAFSA completion.

ACPE’s Master the FAFSA Training sessions are delivered weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a series of training sessions. Weekly ACPE’s Master the FAFSA Training sessions are separate sessions that cover exactly the same material. Individuals only need to register and attend one session; however, multiple sessions are available to accommodate a variety of schedules.

Please reach out to Dominika Szpotanska, ACAC Coordinator, for more details.

Preparing for Life After High School

The Virtual Learning Consortium (VLC) Student Resources section offers mini-courses and virtual learning tools for districts to use with students. The new Preparing for Life After High School series includes nine free asynchronous mini-courses that students can complete independently or that teachers can integrate into in-person instruction with virtual elements.

Courses in the series:

AK101: Understand Hard and Soft Skills
AK102: Research Job Opportunities
AK109: Prepare for Life After High School
AK110: Practice New Hire Paperwork
AK111: Read Your Paycheck
AK113: Understand How to Budget
AK118: Explore and Select Post-Secondary Schools
AK119: Complete the FAFSA
AK123: Having Crucial Conversations in the Workplace

Districts can find information on requesting this series on the Virtual Learning Consortium Student Resource  website.

Physical Activity – Resources for Boosting Student Success

All students benefit from physical activity. Therefore, it is important to cultivate an environment that creates opportunities for all students to participate in physical activity. The benefits of physical activity include:

• Improved concentration, memory, and classroom behavior
• Improved standardized test scores
• Lower levels of stress and anxiety, better sleep outcomes
• Stronger sense of social connectedness
• Motor skill development
• Reduced risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes

Look at this information sheet for a snapshot of Alaskan students activity levels and how schools can enhance success through increasing physical activity.

Vision and Hearing Screenings Available

Two new e-learnings courses on Hearing and Vision Screening are available in the Health and Safety in Schools Catalog of DEED’s e-Learning system. Vision Screening in Alaskan Schools This course provides a brief overview on school health screening related to the vision screening guidelines for pre-school/school population. This course provides an introduction to the knowledge, skills and resources needed to implement a school-based vision screening program. The intended audience is school nurses, health assistants, special education staff and other school district personnel or community partners who will be involved in student health screening. Hearing Screening in Alaskan Schools This course provides a brief overview on school health screening related to the hearing screening guidelines for the pre-school/school population. Providing an introduction to the knowledge, skills and resources needed to implement a school-based hearing screening program. The intended audience is school nurses, health assistants, special education staff and other school district personnel or community partners who will be involved in student health screening. If you have questions about vision and hearing screenings please contact Wendy Williams, State School Nurse Consultant at wendy.williams2@alaska.gov.

DEED releases 21st Century Community Learning Centers FY26 Request for Applications

DEED is seeking applicants for competitive 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funding that would begin providing programming in the fall of the 25-26 school year. The goal of the 21st CCLC program is to raise student academic achievement by providing students engaging out-of-school-time academic assistance and educational enrichment opportunities. Awards are made for up to five years, and applicants can request up to $900,000 per year. DEED expects to award $3,700,000 this spring. Any Alaska school district, community-based organization, tribal organization, faith-based organization, or other public or private entity located in Alaska and working in partnership with their school and community is eligible to apply. Applications are due April 16, 2025. Please see DEED’s 21st CCLC webpage for more information, including connection information for Technical Assistance Webinars that will be held the week of March 10th. For questions, please contact Jessica Paris at jessica.paris@alaska.gov or 907-465-8716.

DEED accepting Nonprofit profiles for inclusion in Alaska 21st CCLC External Organization Partner Pool

In order to increase the capacity of Alaska’s communities to offer high‐quality 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) Out-of-School Time (OST) programs, DEED is assembling a list of Alaska non‐profit organizations with relevant afterschool and summer expertise that 21st CCLC grantees may be interested in partnering with when building their out‐of‐school‐time applications and programs. Community partnerships within 21st CCLC programs are strongly encouraged as they have the potential to increase program quality, variety, and sustainability. The term “partnerships” in this instance is used loosely and may involve for-pay contracted services, or in-kind services.

If you are an Alaska nonprofit in good standing with 3 years of success in running or working with OST programs and activities, you can request to be included in the “Alaska 21st CCLC External Organization Partner Pool” by completing and submitting the “Alaska Nonprofit Organization Profile Form.” Experience in any of the following areas would likely be relevant to 21st CCLC OST programming: Educational enrichment in areas such as STEM, drama, music, art, writing, math, physical activities; Career Competencies and Readiness; Positive Youth Development; Behavior Management; Social/Emotional Learning; Health and Wellness; Cultural Competency; Family Engagement; Evaluation; and Sustainability.

Please note: DEED has also issued a 21st CCLC Request for Applications in the past few weeks, but an organization is not required to be included in the Alaska 21st CCLC External Organization Partner Pool in order to be eligible to apply for an Alaska 21st grant as a main applicant nor to serve as a formal or informal partner on a grant application.

For more information, please see the 21st CCLC webpage or contact jessica.paris@alaska.gov

Registration is Open for the FREE Spring Healthy Futures Challenge

The Healthy Futures Elementary Spring Challenge starts on the first of February across the state. If you are looking for an opportunity to champion physical activity and preventative health measures for students, this program is for you!

How does the Challenge work? It’s simple! 

Students who are active for at least 60 minutes a day, 15 days a month, and record their activity on the Healthy Futures Activity Log are awarded fun incentives when their school representative submits the information to Healthy Futures via the online app. 

The Healthy Futures Challenge is for ALL Alaska elementary school kids, whether they are learning in-school or at-home. The spring challenge will run from February through April. Let’s keep moving together through the New Year!  

Check out HFC Registered Schools to find out which elementary schools have already signed up for the spring challenge. Registration is quick and easy online HERE.

Questions? Contact Kayla Williamson, Healthy Futures Coordinator 907-299-7248 kayla@healthyfuturesak.org

ACPE is Hiring:

College Intern

Are you a college student looking for full-time or part-time work?

ACPE is recruiting for a Juneau-based College Intern to perform administrative support and clerical accounting duties. For more information about this exciting job opportunity and to submit an application, please see the posting on Workplace Alaska.

AI Ready Skills – Available now at NO COST for Alaska Public Schools

AI Ready Skills is a credential program which develops and proves students’ skills in the evolving world of Artificial Intelligence. The program engages young learners through game-based learning in a highly engaging curriculum and rewards their learning with credentials. The program is easy-to-teach and uses Minecraft Education to immerse students in a fun and engaging learning environment.

Providing foundational knowledge in the subject of Artificial Intelligence, the credential program is comprised of 4 units – Introduction to AI, Exploring Data and AI, Coding and AI and Practicing Responsible AI. Students learn in a series of Minecraft Education worlds and prove their skills by undertaking both formative and summative assessments including a capstone credential exam. AI Ready Skills provides students with skills for in-demand job roles, building the workforce of tomorrow, and creating economic opportunity.

Find out more and request your free teacher account at https://aireadyskills.com.

Request for Postsecondary Grant Proposals

Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century

GRANT PURPOSE
The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals for Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century (referred to as Perkins V) Postsecondary Grants targeting one of nine priority workforce areas (shown above) identified by the Alaska Workforce Investment Board as important to the current and future state economy.

These grants will deliver high-quality CTE programs targeting:
1. Postsecondary students studying in a CTE field;
2. Professional development of CTE instructors; or
3. CTE instruction of secondary students at the postsecondary level (dual credit/dual
enrollment).

Grants are expected to facilitate smooth transitions from secondary education, through
postsecondary training, and into the workforce. They will prioritize offering multiple entry and
exit points, including stackable courses and/or credentials for maximum participation and
effect.

DEED/CTE expects to make up to six (6) awards of $50,000 to $150,000 per year for three (3) years. Total grants shall not exceed $753,000 per year. Exceptional proposals may be granted a larger annual budget, or longer grant term, upon request. Grants will be awarded to eligible organizations seeking funding to operate Perkins Postsecondary CTE program in Alaska only.

Learn More

eLearning Keys to Beginning Reading,

Keys to Literacy

Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) is excited to offer a K-3 Alaska Reads Act course. eLearning Keys to Beginning Reading, Keys to Literacy asynchronous course is now live and available on Alaska DEED’s e-learning platform. This course is approved by the DEED to meet the regulatory statute requirements outlined in the Alaska Reads Act. Upon successful completion of this course, educators must submit their course certificate to AK Teacher Certification to add the K-3 AK Reads Act Reading Endorsement to their Teacher Certificate. This certificate can also be used for 3 CEUs when renewing teacher or administrative certification. eLearning Keys to Beginning Reading, Keys to Literacy is a 45-hour course designed by Keys to Literacy founder Joan Sedita, and tailored specifically for Alaska educators. It is a practical course that provides the background knowledge needed to teach all the components of beginning reading instruction. The instructional practices are designed to easily transfer to classroom lessons and can be integrated with any reading curriculum or published reading program.

Keys to Literacy Professional Development

Keys to Literacy has announced dates for upcoming Spring 2025 cohorts. Registration will open soon. Now is a great time to check the dates for the cohort that may work best for your schedule! https://keystoliteracy.com/alaska-reads-professional-development/

Got news?

This newsletter contains hyperlinks to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the reader’s convenience. DEED does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.