ACTION ITEMS
MARSS numbers are used by the Minnesota Department of Education and by every school a student attends to share personal identifiable information about students. Each student’s MARSS number is classified as private data under state and federal law. The MARSS number should be protected from access by those who do not have a work need to access the student’s educational record. MARSS numbers must not be designated as directory information under a school or district directory information policy. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) definition of directory information specifies that directory information does not include a student’s social security number or student identification number.
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If your district has not submitted fall 2017, 0-4 census counts, the data is due to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) by December 1, 2017. The fall 2017, 0-4 census online data submission system is scheduled to be shut down on the December due date.
To access the 0-4 census online system, go to the MDE website. To submit data click on districts, schools and educators, business and finance, data submission, and 0-4 census data reporting.
For questions regarding the submission of 0-4 census data, contact Greg Sogaard at 651-582-8858.
Please note that this memo does not apply to charter schools.
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Gifted and Talented Advisory Council is seeking a teacher, a psychologist or counselor, and an individual who works with groups of gifted and/or highly able learner students beyond the regular school day to fill three two-year terms beginning January of 2018.
Visit the website for application requirements.
Council members are expected to attend up to four scheduled meetings each year and MDE will reimburse the school district for mileage and a substitute teacher.
Teachers are encouraged to discuss the opportunity with a building administrator and receive permission to attend meetings prior to completing the application online by December 4.
Psychologists or counselors who work in schools are encouraged to discuss the opportunity with a building administrator and receive permission to attend meetings prior to completing the online application by December 4.
Out of school providers may complete the application by December 4.
Applicants will be notified of the status of their application on or before January 1, 2018. The first meeting for all new representatives will take place on January 8, at MDE, 9 - 11:30 a.m. Contact Wendy Behrens with questions.
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Throughout the school year, the Minnesota K-12 Connect Forward Initiative will once again be supporting school districts in upgrading their internet access for digital learning. The initiative is a coordinated effort between the Office of the Governor, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the Regional Technology Consortia and the national non-profit EducationSuperHighway.
All the support and tools offered to school districts through the initiative are free of charge. You are encouraged to schedule a call with EducationSuperHighway’s network experts to discuss your upgrade plans for this E-rate cycle. Please email Christine Bediones to get started.
Additionally, EducationSuperHighway invites all K-12 school leaders to sign up for free E-rate webinars. As part of E-rate modernization, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made $150 per student of funding for internal connection (category 2) upgrades available for a limited time. These webinars are designed to help you understand your available E-rate category 2 budget, make best use of these funds and run a successful procurement. We encourage you to attend.
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Staff development can be found under two statutes in Minnesota. Minnesota Statutes 122A.60 address staff development programs and Minnesota Statutes 122A.61 address reserved revenue for staff development.
Some of the requirements include:
- A district is required to reserve an amount equal to at least 2 percent of the basic revenue under section 126C.10, subdivision 2.
- A school board must use the revenue authorized in section 122A.61 for:
- Teacher development and evaluation plans.
- Principal development and evaluation.
- In-service education programs.
- Other staff development needs.
- The board must establish an advisory staff development committee to develop the plan, assist site professional development teams in developing a site plan consistent with the goals of the plan, and evaluate staff development efforts at the site level.
- A majority of the advisory committee and the site professional development team must be teachers representing various grade levels, subject areas, and special education. The advisory committee must also include nonteaching staff, parents, and administration.
- The district and site staff development committees shall write a report of staff development activities and expenditures for the previous year. The report must include assessment and evaluation data indicating progress toward district and site staff development goals based on teaching and learning outcomes, including the percentage of teachers and other staff involved in instruction who participate in effective staff development activities. This information must be included in the World’s Best Workforce report. For additional information on staff development reporting in World’s Best Workforce, visit our website.
- Expenditures are reported using the Uniform Financial and Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS).
Frequently Asked Questions
A frequently asked questions (FAQ) document has been developed to address some of the commonly asked questions found in Minnesota Statutes, sections 122A.60 and 122A.61. Access the FAQ and scroll to the bottom of the webpage.
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The Minnesota Department of Education was awarded federal funding in the amount of $21,150,093 under the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 84.371C. The funding will be used to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading and writing for children birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English language learners and children with disabilities. $20 million of the award will be sub-granted for this purpose. Reviewers will read and score applications received from eligible public school district applicants, including charter schools and nonprofit early childhood education providers.
Experienced professionals with expertise in literacy development and education for children and students in the following age ranges are needed:
- Birth to age 3
- Pre-kindergarten
- Kindergarten through grade 5
- Middle school
- High school
Visit grant page.
Please read the Cover Letter for Interested Reviewers and then complete and submit the Interested Reviewer Form into the designated email site, if you would like to participate, by December 18, 2017.
Contact Pamela Jones at 651-582-8651 if you have questions.
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The Minnesota Board of Teaching has taken the following licensure actions:
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Shephard, Norene (FF #159602) Ms. Shephard’s license was suspended on November 9, 2017, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 270C.72, until she meets requirements of the Board of Teaching.
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Amundson, Kara (FF #363040) Ms. Amundson’s license was reinstated on November 15, 2017.
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Effective asthma management at school can help students with asthma stay healthy, learn better, and participate fully during their school day. Asthma Friendly Schools Mini Grants are now being offered by the Minnesota Department of Health's asthma program and the American Lung Association in Minnesota to support schools in becoming more asthma friendly.
Grants up to $1,500 are available in the following project areas:
- Health Office Asthma Data
- Environmental PolicyPartnerships and Building Awareness
- Asthma Self-Management Education
- Linking Schools and Health Care Providers
- Health Office Staff and School Personnel Training
- Build Your Own Asthma Project
Learn more by visiting the Asthma Friendly Schools Mini Grant Program.
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You're invited: join us for round two of ESSA stakeholder engagement!
Minnesota's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state plan is still under federal review, and we should be receiving feedback in the coming weeks. There is plenty of information available on the ESSA state plan page of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website, including an executive summary of the plan.
Work will soon be underway in a few important areas: dashboard and data reporting; the school quality and student success indicator; and school recognition. As part of that process, MDE is putting together a stakeholder committee with three subcommittees to focus on these topics. Focus groups will also be held beginning early 2018.
You are invited to participate in this process either on a committee or at a focus group, or both! If you are interested, see the registration website for more information. Please sign up by November 20.
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TRAINING
Registration is now open for the annual McKinney-Vento School Homeless Liaison Training. This training provides information and resources to school district and charter school homeless liaisons regarding homelessness in Minnesota and McKinney-Vento requirements. The training satisfies annual homeless liaison training requirements. This year’s agenda features national speakers Roy Juarez, Jr. and Barbara Duffield, as well as other local experts. No fee for registration. Lunch is not provided.
When: December 8, 2017
Registration: 8:30 a.m.
Program: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Where: Anoka Hennepin District Office, 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303
Register.
Register soon. Space is limited.
Contact Roberto Reyes at 651-582-8302 with questions.
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