PRESS RELEASE
Governor Walz announced seventeen partnerships will receive and split $1.5 million in Youth Skills Training grants to develop and implement paid-learning opportunities for students 16 years of age and older.
Read full press release.
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ACTION ITEMS
By March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to the district’s course registration date (whichever is earlier), a district must provide up-to-date information about the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program to all students in grades 8-11 (Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, subdivision 7). This requirement applies to both districts and charter schools.
This information must be published on the district or school website and in materials that are distributed to parents and students about the PSEO program. In addition, information about enrollment requirements and the opportunity to earn postsecondary credit should be included. In an effort to provide consistent and helpful guidance about PSEO, updated language is available on the department webpage that should be used to satisfy this statutory obligation. Access Suggested PSEO Language for Districts.
In addition, the PSEO reference guide is a resource for districts and families, and is available on the PSEO program webpage. For questions, contact Beth Barsness, 651-582-8336.
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On Tuesday, January 21, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released a new secure report called Alternate Assessment Participation Rate District Report, in Assessment Secure Reports; typically the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) is the district personnel with access to these reports. The Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) Participation Rate District Report provides each district with details about its MTAS participation rates. District leaders should use the data in the report to complete the Assurance, Rationale, and Context (ARC) response, which each district will submit to MDE.
Districts will use the ARC response survey to provide information, assurances, and where appropriate, narratives regarding alternate assessment participation rates. Special education directors, district assessment coordinators, special education case managers, and other key district staff should be included in conversations about the district reports and completion of the ARC response. The due date to submit the ARC response survey is March 18. MDE has announced the release of this report to DACs and special education directors, as well as superintendents and charter directors.
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Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed January 27 – 31, Paraprofessional Recognition Week. Paraprofessionals are individuals who work in a variety of positions in a school district. Their roles include, but are not limited to instructional assistants, Title I paraprofessionals, pupil support assistants, special education paraprofessionals, job coaches, lunch room and playground assistants, hall monitors, media center assistants, and health office assistants.
During Paraprofessional Recognition Week, it is appropriate to celebrate the contributions of paraprofessionals working in schools.
See more information on the Minnesota Department of Education Paraprofessional webpage.
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The Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Notice of Student Registration (NOSR) form 2020-21 is now available for students intending to apply for PSEO enrollment in school year 2020-21. The 2020-21 form has added language to reflect the May 30 deadline for public school students' notification of their serving school district. A new data item on the form is the date the student notified their high school of their desire to participate in PSEO for the following school year. The student provides this information and is warned that if this is after May 30, and the district did not waive the deadline, the family may be responsible for the postsecondary costs. In addition, electronic signatures will now be accepted on all sections of this form.
The new PSEO Registration Form 2020-21 will be sent to all Minnesota postsecondary institutions, posted to the school counselor’s listserv, included in the Charter Center Nonpublic Education Update, and posted to the Minnesota Department of Education website.
Information about the PSEO program including the PSEO reference guide, the NOSR form and application information is available on the PSEO Finance and PSEO Program websites. For assistance with questions about the form, contact MDE.PSEOfunding@state.mn.us.
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
In partnership with Minnesota Information Technology (MNIT) and an outside vendor, the Minnesota Department of Education is currently in the process of converting all school finance mainframe system applications and databases to a new, more modern language and platforms. This project includes many of the applications used by the School Finance Division to calculate and distribute aids and levies, and process student, transportation and financial data collected from school districts, charter schools and other local educational agencies (LEA). As most of these 28 systems are interconnected, the goal of this project is to convert them all as a group and retire the old mainframe systems at the end of a transition period. The new system is scheduled to launch in February 2020. For more information on what this will mean for LEAs, read the Mainframe Modernization Project Update, found on the School Finance webpage.
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To invite the commissioner to an event, program or meeting, please use the Appearance Request Form. This form is also available on the Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner webpage.
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