PRESS RELEASE
8/30/2018 - The Minnesota Department of Education recognized 526 public schools across the state as top performers in multiple areas of progress in school performance. The recognition is a key part of the state’s new North Star accountability system that aims to create more equitable and well-rounded learning opportunities for all students across the state. Data released also guided the state in prioritizing 485 schools that will receive varying levels of support over the next three years.
Read full press release.
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ACTION ITEMS
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program (USPSP) was established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and since that time the program has honored more than 7,500 outstanding high school seniors. The mission of the program is to recognize and honor outstanding high school seniors and encourage high attainment among all students. Students are selected on the basis of outstanding scholarship.
Chief state school officers are invited this year to nominate up to 20 candidates from their state for the general component of the program and an additional five students for the career and technical education component. Please consider nominating students in your district who are outstanding high school seniors. Read memorandum from Commissioner Brenda Cassellius for nomination details.
If you have questions, please contact Terry Alvarado.
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The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) website has been updated with new information about the 2019 MSS, including key changes, timeline with important dates and frequently asked questions.
The next step for schools and districts who plan to participate is to notify families of the upcoming survey administration under the Protection of Pupils Rights Amendment (PPRA). There are two steps to follow:
- Notification of your district’s planned participation in the 2019 MSS must be included in your district’s annual PPRA notification. View the Model Notice and Consent/Opt-Out notice.
- Two to four weeks prior to administration of the MSS, you must distribute a more comprehensive notification letter to parents and guardians. Sample letters will be provided no later than October 15, 2018.
Additional information on PPRA notification requirements is available on the MSS website. If you have immediate questions, please contact Raihana Zeerak at 651-582-8587.
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WEBINARS AND TRAININGS
Minnesota is partnering with World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) to make new on-demand, self-paced e-learning workshops, supporting English learner success, available to K-12 education staff in Minnesota. Each superintendent should designate a district coordinator (district learning coordinator) for WIDA e-learning via the WIDA e-learning account survey by September 14, 2018. This district coordinator will assign and manage the new WIDA e-learning accounts for the district or charter. The role should be assigned to individuals who can compile and submit a list of the email addresses of all district staff who will have access to this content. This person will also manage individual staff requests for access to the WIDA e-learning center.
For more information about WIDA e-learning workshops and the role of the district coordinator for WIDA e-learning accounts, visit the professional learning section of the Minnesota’s WIDA webpage.
For more information about assigning a district coordinator for WIDA e-learning accounts, please contact mde.EL@state.mn.us or help@wida.us.
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School health personnel are invited to participate in the 2018 School Immunization Reporting Webinar on Wednesday, September 12, from 10-11 a.m. Join us to learn about 2018 updates to the Annual Immunization Status Report (AISR) application, how to use the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) to get information for the AISR, and answers to complex questions that come up during reporting.
Register now through Monday, September 10 at the School Health Personnel Immunization and Disease Reporting webpage. Nurses who participate in this webinar can receive one hour of continuing education units. The session will also be recorded. Please contact health.aisr@state.mn.us with any questions.
Objectives
By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the school immunization reporting requirements and how they differ from immunization recommendations.
- Use the MIIC to get information for the AISR.
- Complete the 2018 AISR.
- Find useful resources for school immunization reporting.
- Identify whom to contact for help with school immunization reporting.
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Public schools must have health and safety programs that comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations and best practices, including indoor air quality (IAQ) management. The following training sessions are being offered through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Sessions will discuss the state’s best practices for school IAQ management.
Locations, Dates and Times:
St. Cloud (MDH): September 20, 2018, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Duluth (MDH): September 21, 2018, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Marshall (MDH): October 2, 2018, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Roseville (Minnesota Department of Education): October 10, 2018, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Webinar: October 30, 2018, 1-4 p.m.
For more information and to register please visit the MDH training webpage.
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