School Climate Improvement News
Learn How to Use Restorative Practices in Schools—Training Sessions Available in Cloquet, Bemidji, or the Twin Cities
The Minnesota Department of Education School Safety Technical Assistance Center is offering two weeks of Restorative Practices training in Crystal, Cloquet and Bemidji this June. Restorative practices is an approach based in indigenous knowledge that schools can use to improve school climate and reduce discipline disparities. It focuses on building relationships, and creating community in school to prevent harm, to repair relationships and to address the needs of everyone impacted by the harm. Sessions offered range from introductory level to advanced. Schools are encouraged to send a team to the trainings, but individuals are welcome.
Learn more about the trainings and how to register.
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Tune Into School Climate Improvement Webinars
If you’re looking for ways to improve the climate in your school, tune into our School Climate Improvement series. These webinars are designed for school district staff, school staff, district leaders and school leaders. School climate improvement is an evidence-based practice that fosters student engagement and school connectedness. It is also the most effective way to support student learning by preventing disruptive behaviors such as bullying and harassment.
Upcoming Webinars
School Climate Practices Webinar: The BARR Center, Wednesday, March 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In this webinar, presenters will discuss Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR). BARR is a strengths-based model that provides schools with a comprehensive approach to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students. BARR uses eight interlocking strategies that facilitate real, meaningful relationships between adults and students. The BARR model allows teachers to focus on building relationships with students to access their strengths and identify areas for growth.
Creating Supportive Climates for LGBTQ Students, Wednesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Clark Hoelscher, a program specialist for Out for Equity in Saint Paul Public Schools, will discuss LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and how it contributes to creating school climates that affirm students' identities. The webinar will also explore school policies, student groups, supportive educators, and working with the families of LGBTQ+ students.
View Previous Webinars
Missed previous webinars? No problem. We recorded them. Find videos of past school climate improvement webinars.
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Learn How to Investigate Bullying and Harassment in Trainings this Spring—From Intake to Investigation
The School Safety Technical Assistance Center is offering three Bullying and Harassment Investigation Trainings: From Complaint Intake to Investigation this spring. In the training, participants will learn how to conduct formal investigations with multiple witnesses and disputed facts. Participants will walk through all the steps of intake, inquiry and investigation of bullying and harassment reports. They will also receive training on conducting interviews with students and school staff. This training is recommended for school building principals or their designee and other staff responsible for handling bullying complaints and investigations.
Upcoming Bullying and Harassment Investigation Trainings
- Tuesday, April 10, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Minnesota Department of Education, Conference Center A, Room 13, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville. Register for the April 10 training.
- Thursday, May 9, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Minnesota Department of Education, Conference Center A, Room 13, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville. Register for the May 9 training.
- Tuesday, May 14, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Resource Training & Solutions Center, 137 23rd St. S., Suite 201, Sartell. Register for the Tuesday, May 14 training in Sartell.
Teachers and Districts Invited to Apply for Grants to Support Use of Social Emotional Learning in Schools—Deadline is March 22
Do you have an inspiring, effective and innovative idea to support the use of social and emotional learning (SEL) practices in your school or district? NoVo Foundation, in partnership with Education First and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, aims to seed projects that foster social and emotional competencies in students in grades PreK through grade 12. Whether you have an idea for a new initiative or want to expand or continue an existing project, you’re invited to apply for a grant for the 2019-20 school year. Novo invites applications from two applicant pools including:
- Individual teachers or teams of teachers seeking to implement SEL initiatives in your classroom or school in the 2019-20 school year. Grants for teacher-led projects will be a maximum of $5,000 each.
- District-level applicants seeking to implement SEL initiatives district-wide and/or across multiple schools within one district (including a charter network). District-level grants will be a maximum of $25,000 each.
All proposals are welcome, grantors are also seeking proposals that specifically support one or more of the following student populations:
- Students from indigenous communities
- New arrivals (such as refugees) or immigrants
- English learners
- LGBTQIA+ students
- Girls and young women of color
- Students disproportionately affected by suspensions or the juvenile justice system
- Students with learning disabilities
Learn more about the grants and how to apply on the NoVo Foundation website. The deadline to apply for the grant is 11:59 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, March 22, 2019.
Apply for a United to End Bullying Grant
Is your school or nonprofit involved in a bullying prevention effort or a social emotional learning, or kindness initiative? If so, you're invited to apply for Safe Fleet's United to End Bullying Grant (UEB). The annual grant program is offering $50,000 to help fund bullying prevention programs, kindness initiatives, and social emotional learning initiatives that will empower students, create safe environments, and help to end bullying.
Student leadership teams who are working with a teacher or a counselor to create a kindness culture in their school are encouraged to apply. Student-led initiatives on bullying issues often have the greatest impact. The grant application deadline is Sunday, March 31. For grant details, rules and to apply for the grant, visit the 2019 United to End Bullying (UEB) Grant Program website.
Other Upcoming Events and Training
- March 20: School Safety Technical Assistance Council meeting, 3-5 p.m., Minnesota Department of Education, Conference Center A, Room 13.
- March 21: Youth Summit 2019, St. Paul College, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Youth Summit is an annual event for 9th-12th graders organized by OutFront Minnesota’s Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network—a network providing LGBTQ+ youth and allies with support, education, and leadership development.
- April 9: April 9 marks the fifth-anniversary of former Governor Mark Dayton's signing of the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act, increasing protections for students from bullying and replacing what was one of the weakest state anti-bullying laws in the nation.
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