ACTION ITEMS
Under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.11, school districts are to develop a WBWF annual report and report summary for each school year. The district annual report and summary include the WBWF student achievement goals that were established last year, the strategies and initiatives that the district engaged in to meet the goals, and the subsequent progress made on those goals by the end of the school year. Districts post their annual reports on the district website, and submit the summary report to the Minnesota Department of Education each year.
A template format for districts to use to create their 2016-17 WBWF summary has been posted to the WBWF website. Summaries using this template should be submitted by December 15, 2017, to mde.worldsbestworkforce@state.mn.us.
The WBWF website also has a rubric that the department will use to review the summaries and provide feedback to districts. Districts should use this rubric as a guide when completing the summaries.
Please contact mde.worldsbestworkforce@state.mn.us with any questions.
Back to top
Two changes are being made to how schools and districts are identified to participate in the Achievement and Integration program (A&I). The purpose of the A&I program is to pursue racial and economic integration and reduce achievement disparities.
Districts are eligible or required to participate in A&I based on their enrollment of protected class students relative to the enrollment of protected class students in adjoining districts or between schools within the same district. This is based on Minnesota’s School Desegregation/Integration Rule 3535.0110 Subp. 1 and Subp. 6.
The first change the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will begin using the federal racial/ethnic categories to determine district and school eligibility for A&I. Minnesota Rule 3535.0110 defines protected students as African/Black Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, and multi-racial students. The federal racial/ethnic categories better align with the rules, and this will also ensure consistency with the racial/ethnic groups used for most other programs.
Second, MDE will use a more accurate interpretation of the rules which will enable districts and schools with American Indian student populations to participate in A&I should they choose to do so. This change is based on Minnesota Rule 3535.0160, Subpart 1 B and Minnesota Rule 3535.0170, Subpart 1 B, which allow schools and districts that are only racially isolated due to their American Indian population to opt out of the program.
In mid-January, MDE will use final FY 2018 enrollment data to identify eligible A&I districts. MDE will contact new districts and schools at that time.
If you have any questions please reach out to Anne Parks, Supervisor of Achievement and Integration, at 651-582-8337.
Back to top
The Minnesota Department of Education was awarded federal funding in the amount of $21,150,093 under the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program, CFDA 84.371C. The funding will be used to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading and writing for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners and children with disabilities. $20 million of the award will be sub-granted for this purpose. Reviewers will be needed to read and score applications received from eligible Minnesota public school district applicants, including charter schools and nonprofit early childhood education providers. If your district or nonprofit early childhood provider intends to apply for a grant, you may still submit an Interested Reviewer Form.
We need experienced professionals with expertise in literacy development and education for children and students in the following age ranges:
- Birth-age 3
- Prekindergarten
- Kindergarten through grade five
- Middle school
- High school
Visit the 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. A response is appreciated by January 3, 2018.
Contact Pamela Jones at 651-582-8651 if you have questions.
Back to top
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Minnesota students in grades K-12 are invited to submit entries to the annual Kids Safe Online Poster Contest! This contest is part of a larger national effort to encourage youth to use the internet safely and securely. Winners of the Minnesota contest will be entered in the national contest. The deadline for submissions is January 5, 2018. For more information, visit the MN.IT Kids Safe Online webpage.
Back to top
Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn at school (Leithwood, Seashore Louis, Anderson and Wahlstrom, 2004).
The Minnesota Department of Education and Regional Centers for Excellence are creating a variety of direct supports for Minnesota principals. Our principal leadership team seeks to build principals’ confidence and capacity in selected, research-based school leadership practices. Support will include, but not be limited to the following:
- Coaching for effective instructional leadership to build capacity in teacher effectiveness.
- Regional professional learning opportunities for groups of school leaders.
- Fostering formal and informal networks and school partnerships among school leaders.
- Mentoring new principals or principals new to a “turnaround” setting.
In order to inform and focus our work, we are asking Minnesota principals, principal supervisors, and charter school leaders to complete a brief survey about priorities. Opportunities to participate in the above strategies will be announced in a variety of places, including Minnesota’s superintendent mailing. In the meantime, for assistance with questions, please contact Ann Mitchell at 651-582-8290.
Back to top
Superintendents and charter school leaders are invited to participate in this monthly audio conference call hosted by Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. The next call is scheduled for Thursday, December 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m. A notice providing dial-in instructions will be sent prior to the call. Comments to offer and/or questions you would like to ask are encouraged.
Conference call schedule: January 17, February 21, March 21, April 18 and May 16. All calls are from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Back to top
The Minnesota Board of Teaching has taken the following licensure action:
-
Kroll, Melissa (FF #449035) Ms. Kroll’s license was reinstated on December 6, 2017.
Important note: The 2017 Legislature created a new state agency called the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), consolidating the duties and responsibilities of the Minnesota Board of Teaching and MDE’s Educator Licensing Division. Beginning January 1, 2018, PELSB will oversee teacher licensing, teacher preparation, and teacher ethics in Minnesota. At that time, notices of licensure actions will no longer be included in this mailing and will instead come directly from PELSB.
Back to top
|
