July 6 issue of Learning Matters

Minnesota Department of Education

LEARNING MATTERS

July 6, 2016

Agency News

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Meeting – July 20, 2016

Happy elementary-aged student in classroom


Join Commissioner Brenda Cassellius for a meeting on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Wednesday, July 20, 2016,  9-11 a.m., at the Minnesota Department of Education, Conference Center B, Rooms 15 and 16, Roseville. Together, we'll begin to develop a vision and priorities to ensure all students, regardless of background, get the best possible education. Learn about opportunities in the new ESSA law, connections to recent state legislation and the process and timelines for our state ESSA plan development.

Download the flier. Visit the ESSA web page.


$78 Million in Education Investments

New education funding passed by the 2016 Legislature and signed by Governor Mark Dayton means that Minnesota will invest an additional $78 million in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education this school year. This new funding includes the establishment of Minnesota’s first voluntary pre-kindergarten program, critical investments that address statewide teacher shortages, and funding to expand implementation of schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports.

Read news release.


Minnesota's New Bilingual, Multilingual Language Achievement Seals

all four language achievement seals, l to r: Gold, bilingual, platinum bilingual, gold multilingual, platinum multilingual


Hundreds of students from Minnesota’s graduating class of 2015/16 were the first to be awarded a diploma with a new and very special level of recognition—for their bilingual or multilingual achievement. Students who have earned bilingual and multilingual seals are the only students in the nation to earn college semester credit at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) for their achievement in a language other than English. Thanks to the 2015 legislation that enacted bilingual and multilingual seals, students earning the previously existing world language proficiency certificates can also now request college semester credit.

Read BloggED July 1 post.


Digital Health Care Careers

If you’re in career decision-making mode, education and health services would be a fine place to start. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that growth in this sector will be much quicker than the average for all jobs by 2024. Read more of this informational blog post from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

By the Numbers

We're Number One! (again!)

Minnesota is ranked first overall on the Child Well-Being Rankings. View state rankings.

Visit the Annie E. Casey Foundation website for the complete 2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book.


Three Minnesota colleges...

...have been chosen to participate in an experimental program to help prisoners get an education. The Obama Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Education has selected 67 colleges and universities throughout the country to be part of the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program. Visit Bring Me The News.

Education in the News

Schools Explore Alternatives to Student Suspensions

A group of educators from across Minnesota gathered at Cooper High School Monday to look at alternatives for disciplining students. They say there's more to discipline than just suspensions and expulsions. Visit Northwest Community Television for more.


Twin Cities Schools Target 9th Grade to Boost Graduation Rates

In ninth grade, students may be more focused on fitting into their new high schools than graduating on time. But experts say success in ninth grade can be critical to whether a student finishes high school on time. A new effort in Minneapolis and St. Paul schools aims to keep a closer eye on students during that pivotal year. Read more at MPR.


Children's Nutrition Goes Beyond the School Year

The Winona Area Public School District has transformed a bus into a mobile dining car as part of a larger effort throughout Minnesota to bring nutrition to kids during the summer months. Learn more in the Post Bulletin.


Teachers Saved My Life

U.S. Education Secretary John King spoke at an annual national conference sponsored by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. King described charters as “an important and permanent part of public education.” But his praise for the impact educators can have went well beyond chartered schools. Read full story, ECM Publishers.

Recent BloggED posts

Agency-Wide Commitment to Summer Learning

Summer kayacking lesson in Minnesota


Beloved and long-awaited—particularly in Minnesota—summer means longer days, glorious sunny weather and no school. But wait, have you heard about summer learning loss—also known as summer slide??? Many students lose ground during the summer months, unless summer learning is intentionally incorporated into summer activities. So what will you do and LEARN this summer? MDE’s Deputy Commissioner Steve Dibb issued a challenge to department employees to share their best ideas for keeping their brains activated all summer long. Learn more about the challenge in June 27 BloggED.

Upcoming Events

2016 Back to School Conference: August 9-10, 2016

Make plans to join us for the 2016 Back to School Conference! Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, the conference will be held August 9-10 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest. Day one Keynote speaker Joanne Quinn, day two speaker Ted Christ, valuable breakout sessions and closing session Q&A with Commissioner Cassellius. Registration now open!


School Nutrition Essentials Training Series – August 2016

The School Nutrition Essentials training series will be offered twice in August 2016. This training series is designed specifically for charter schools, private schools, new schools just joining the National School Lunch Program or new employees of School Nutrition Programs. The series consist of five two-and-a-half hour sessions specific to typical job functions in School Nutrition Programs. To request a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Liane Jensen at 651-582-8526, or liane.jensen@state.mn.us. Register for the School Nutrition Essentials Training series.