ITEMS OF INTEREST
In early March we informed you that 2018 graduation rates would be released later than is typical, as we put in place additional data privacy rules to protect personally identifiable information in reported data. Ensuring both transparent reporting and data privacy is important to us. While we work to finalize the new additional data privacy rules, we have decided to move forward with releasing 2018 graduation data using privacy rules we have used in the past. We will publicly release graduation data at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23. We will not be providing the data early to news media; however, we will provide superintendents and charter directors with a link to download an embargoed data file on Thursday, April 18, so that you can prepare for the release.
While the numbers and graphs get outsized attention, we will focus this year on your growing success by not giving up on students. We will feature the diverse programs across Minnesota that provide students with rich experiences and second changes, programs like alternative learning centers, education programs in our correctional facilities, academy models, recognizing the growing number of Seals of Biliteracy, experiential learning, and more. We will highlight stories of graduates and their hard work, and the dedication of their families, teachers and administrators who supported them to the accomplishment of receiving a diploma. We would like you to help by sharing with us photos of graduates and a brief story about their accomplishment.
Examples might include:
- A graduate who participated in a CTE program and completed high school with skills that have already helped them move onto a career path.
- A graduate who graduated already having attained college credits through an AP class, an IB program, PSEO or other college in the schools opportunity.
- A graduate who participated in a program or support that helped them stay on track to graduate.
- A graduate with a teacher/administrator/paraprofessional who made a difference in their high school experience, or who was instrumental in their journey.
We would like you to send us brief stories along with good photographs so that we can share them on social media throughout the day. Even more importantly, we want you to share your own images and stories on social media that shows the diversity of our students, educators and programs that we are so proud of in Minnesota. We will use the hashtag #MNGraduates as both a noun and a verb, to showcase our graduates and the work you all do to help graduate these young people on to career and college.
Please send photos and stories to mde.communications@state.mn.us to help us celebrate the accomplishments of our 2018 graduates!
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Tomorrow, Tom Melcher will be sending guidance to business managers, special education directors and MARSS coordinators about the recently passed snow day relief bill. A link to download the guidance is below, along with contact information for relevant MDE staff, depending on the specific topic area.
Canceled School Days Guidance for the 2018-19 School Year
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We are excited to introduce a new immunization form to help parents document their child’s immunization history or medical/non-medical exemption. The new form will also assist schools in collecting the immunization information they need to comply with the school immunization law and complete the Annual Immunization Status Report (AISR). There have been no changes to the law or requirements, only improvements to the form.
The new form can be found on Vaccines for Infants, Children, and Adolescents. The new form is meant to be distributed with our Are Your Kids Ready? And When to Get Vaccines, Birth to 16 Years document that is also available on that webpage.
Improvements to the immunization form include:
- Consolidation to a single form for school, child care, and early childhood education.
- Clearer instructions for parents.
- Formatting changes to make the form more readable.
- Creation of a table for exemptions so parents can select the specific vaccine for which they are requesting an exemption.
- Removed certain signature requirements. Signatures and notarization are still required for non-medical exemptions, and a health care practitioner signature is still required for disease history and medical exemptions.
Transitioning steps:
- In the 2019-2020 school year.
- The new Immunization Form is available to all schools wanting to use it.
- Schools can still use the previous Student Immunization Form, so if you already sent it out, no need to send the new form.
- Reporting the meningococcal booster dose for 12th grade students will be optional.
- In the 2020-2021 school year.
- All schools should use the new form.
- Every school will be required to report the meningococcal booster dose on all 12th grade students.
In the works:
Please be sure to update your school website and resources with this new form if you choose to use it this year. The Minnesota Department of Health website was recently updated, so it would be a good idea to check and make sure all your links are going to the correct pages. Please contact us if you have any questions at 651-201-5503 or 800-657-3970.
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Spring is a busy time of year for youth-set fires. Here is an easy fire science assignment for 4th and 5th grades geared towards reducing the number of youth–set fires. In fact, this age group starts more fires in Minnesota than any other age group. They could really use the education.
The student and their family simply log into the site, create an account and take a pre-test. Then they view the five part video series: Fire Is Black, Fire Is Hot, Fire Is Fast, Fire Is Smoke and Gas, and Fire Is An Emergency. Once completed, they take the posttest and receive a downloadable certificate of accomplishment.
Consider adding this to your spring curriculum, or offering it as extra credit.
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WEBINARS
Creating safe and supportive school environments for LGBTQ students is not only critical to their health and well-being, but essential for them to learn, succeed academically and to thrive. Learn how to improve school climate for LGBTQ students by logging on to the webinar Creating Supportive Climates for LGBTQ Students webinar, Wednesday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The School Safety Technical Assistance Center invites school staff and district staff to participate in this webinar.
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.
There is no need to pre-register for the webinar and no fee. Please simply log in shortly before the webinar.
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Mark your calendar for the webinar Authentic Student Engagement: One Key to Positive School Climate, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 24. Engaging students in the daily workings of the school is an important component of a positive school climate. The Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program (CAAEP) uses restorative practices as a way of authentically engaging students, staff and community. In this webinar, you will hear from CCAEP student ambassadors who are at the center of leading the restorative practices efforts. The School Safety Technical Assistance Center invites school staff and district staff to participate in this webinar.
There is no need to pre-register for the webinar and no fee. Please simply log in shortly before the webinar.
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