ACTION ITEMS
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to provide districts and charters with a new reporting process for the World’s Best Workforce (WBWF) Summary and the Achievement and Integration (A&I) Progress Report. The new process builds off last year’s combined reporting template and allows districts/charters to submit information online using a survey format. The intent of the combined report is to help districts and charter schools build connections at the local level, while the online survey submission will hopefully allow for increased efficiency.
The 2018-19 Combined WBWF Summary and Achievement and Integration Progress Report fulfills the two requirements:
- Under the WBWF legislation, districts and charter schools are to develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan aligned to the five goals of the WBWF. Each year, districts develop and post an annual report to district websites and submit a short summary of that report to MDE. This report serves as the WBWF summary submission to MDE.
- Districts that participate in the A&I program have established goals and strategies in their approved plans, and on an annual basis, report progress toward those goals. This report serves as the A&I progress report submission to MDE.
All districts and charter schools should use the 2018-19 Combined WBWF Summary and Achievement and Integration Progress Report. Only districts that participate in the A&I program are required to complete A&I portions of the report. This report should be submitted online by December 15, 2019. We encourage early submissions. The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. on December 15, 2019.
Districts/charters may find it helpful to use a Word version of the form to work collaboratively prior to entering information in the online survey. Please note the completed report must be submitted through the survey, not by using the Word document.
Please contact mde.worldsbestworkforce@state.mn.us with questions about the WBWF portion of the summary, and mde.integration@state.mn.us with questions about the A&I section.
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Approved vs. UFARS Expenditures Reconciliation Report and 2018-19 Aid Entitlement Report
Please Note: This is the second preliminary review of FY 2019 Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) Approved vs. Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) Expenditures Reconciliation. This process does not apply to charter schools.
Please review the FY 2019 LTFM Revenue Preliminary Review of Approved vs. UFARS Expenditures Reconciliation Memorandum, which includes a link to an Excel spreadsheet (FY 2019 LTFM Approved vs. UFARS Cost Reconciliation Report and 2018-19 Aid Entitlement Report). The memo provides an overview on preliminary review of the FY 2019 LTFM Approved vs. UFARS expenditures and describes, in detail, sections of the cost reconciliation spreadsheet. A link to the 2018-19 Aid Entitlement Report is also included for preliminary reference.
Topics addressed in the memo include the following:
- Introduction of Preliminary Review of FY 2019 LTFM Approved vs. UFARS Expenditure Reconciliation.
- LTFM Excel Spreadsheet.
- FY 2019 LTFM Approved vs. UFARS Cost Reconciliation Report.
- Spreadsheet Section Review.
- Variance Review.
- Health and Safety (H&S) website/UFARS Coding Adjustments.
- Appeal Considerations.
- LTFM 2018-19 Aid Entitlement Report – Minnesota Funding Reports (MFR). This spreadsheet uses the cost reconciliation spreadsheet results to determine the final FY 2019 aid entitlements and levy adjustments.
Note: The deadline for FY 2019 H&S website adjustments is December 16, 2019. Please review the FY 2019 LTFM Excel spreadsheets/reports and make any necessary H&S adjustments by this deadline. After this deadline, we will send the final FY 2019 LTFM Excel spreadsheets/reports for school districts' last review and appeal consideration (December 19, 2019). If you have questions regarding the FY 2019 LTFM preliminary review of Approved vs. UFARS Expenditures Reconciliation Memo, please contact Sarah Miller.
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
Minnesota is one of three states to participate in a unique five-year texting study, called Text4College, which will examine the effectiveness of text messaging students to increase college matriculation and improve college persistence. The Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State are excited to partner with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) on this study, which kicks off this school year, and is funded by the U.S Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences.
Participating high schools will work with AIR to administer a brief 15-minute survey to high school seniors graduating in the spring of 2020, and the spring of 2021. No other data collection or school-level involvement is expected beyond the survey administration. The benefits of participating include the potential to improve your high school’s college enrollment. Each participating high school will need to sign and complete a memorandum-of-understanding.
AIR will be reaching out directly to school districts with more information, but your district can get involved today. Learn more about Text4College and how your students can participate, or contact Billie Jo Day, 312-690-7367.
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Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.12 to 124D.127 authorizes districts to evaluate, plan and employ the use of flexible learning year programs, such as flexible all-year, extended learning year, four-quarters, or quinmester. The Minnesota Department of Education has extended the application deadlines for all Flexible Learning Year program reapplications and new applications to Friday, March 6, 2020. Currently approved Four-Day Week programs are extended one year without reapplication. No new four-day week applications are accepted at this time.
Please visit the Flexible Learning Year webpage for more information and to access the Flexible Learning Year Application. Please contact Cindy Jackson, 651-582-8572, or mde.flexiblearning@state.mn.us if you have additional questions.
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The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is dedicated to increasing learner access to high-quality Career and Technical programs of study. Minnesota State and Minnesota Department of Education invites school administrators, teachers, parents and the members of the community to participate in public comment process regarding recent changes to Minnesota’s four-year plan for Career and Technical Education.
Due to the recent changes to the Perkins V Secondary Accountability performance indicators, the public comment period has been extended until January 31, 2020.
Updates made to the secondary accountability on December 2, 2019, include:
- Removal of (1S2) 7-year Extended Graduation Rate.
- Removal of (5S2) Program Quality: Postsecondary-Credit.
- Addition of (5S3) Program Quality: Work-Based Learning.
To provide comments, visit the Strengthening Career and Technical Education website.
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Is your principal development and evaluation system in need of an update? Does your system feel more like box-checking and compliance rather than robust, professional learning? Or, do you want to take a step back and reassess your vision and purpose for principal development and evaluation? Whether you need a small tweak or a complete reboot, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is here to help!
We know that principals play a pivotal role in creating the conditions for the success of our teachers and students. In fact, research regularly demonstrates that school leaders are the second most important school-based factor on student outcomes of all kinds, just behind the effectiveness of teachers. Given this importance, how might districts and charter schools systematically support the professional learning of their school leaders through their principal development and evaluation systems?
MDE is conducting a survey of principals, principal supervisors and other school/district leaders about their experiences with principal development and evaluation systems. This brief, anonymous survey will inform the supports we provide throughout the state. The survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete and will close on February 7, 2020. Take the Principal School Leader Development and Evaluation Survey.
If you want to get started now, MDE can assist you to modify or reshape your current principal development and evaluation system.
We will help you:
- Create or revise a principal development and evaluation process that suits local needs and values.
- Select or develop a school leadership framework that drives conversations about instructional leadership practices.
- Solve implementation problems related to professional development.
- Review and contribute ideas to the professional learning opportunities in the district, including creating a learning network of leaders.
If you are looking for a thought-partner, enter your contact information in the PDE Conversation Request Form or contact Elizabeth Vaught, 651-582-8250.
Network for School Leaders Serving the Somali Community
Learn from school leaders throughout the Twin Cities metro region about how they are serving the Somali community. Each session will feature a panel of Twin Cities school leaders who will tell us about their journey toward racial equity. There will be opportunities to ask questions and better understand how you might refine your practices as a leader.
Conversations will occur in four sessions, 8 a.m.- noon. at MDE in 2020:
February 20 – Understanding the Somali Community – Register for the Network for School Leaders Serving the Somali Community Session
March 31 – Community-centric Practices
April 30 – Supporting Teachers in Their Journey
June 18 – Elevating Student Voice
Registration information is coming. Contact Elizabeth Vaught, 651-582-8250, with questions.
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