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November 6, 2020
Updates in this email:
Governor Walz has signed Executive Order 20-94, which offers clarifications and a few technical fixes based on feedback to our Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year and 2020-21 Planning Guidance for Minnesota Public Schools in the following areas:
- Who qualifies for no-cost school-age care for children of critical workers.
- Access to mental health and telehealth resources and services.
- Prioritizing in-person services for students whose IEP calls for intensive services that cannot be provided in a distance learning setting.
- Encouraging districts and charter schools to exhaust all efforts to reach and engage truant students and their families before referring them for legal action by county support systems during this school year.
- Teaching and learning expectations for students who are learning in-person and those who are learning via distance learning.
- Mask requirements in school buildings and how to work with students who are able to wear a face covering but refuse to do so.
- Building additional teacher preparation time into the school day for distance and hybrid learning. (note: this was further clarified in Executive Order 20-95)
- Special education transportation – expanding existing flexibilities that allow school districts and charter schools to expand transportation capacity to meet public health and safety requirements.
- Allowing students who age out of developmental delay services during the peacetime emergency to continue to receive them during the peacetime emergency.
- When districts and charters can count planning days as instructional days.
Review the executive order and updated guidance documents for more information.
Per Executive Order 20-94, school districts and charter schools operating in a distance or hybrid learning model that are providing in-person services in accordance with public health guidelines must prioritize providing in-person instruction and services to students with disabilities whose individualized education program calls for intensive services that cannot be provided in a distance learning model. Whether it is appropriate to provide in-person services to a student with a disability and the location where services will be delivered should be an individualized, IEP team decision, and included in the IEP. MDE has developed a Q and A outlining considerations for school districts and charter schools to determine how to provide in-person support for students, which may include in-home support. MDH has developed health guidelines for school staff providing in-home support for students.
Given the current landscape of virtual, in-person, and hybrid approaches that districts and schools are implementing, there is a need for assessment solutions that reliably and equitably support statewide assessment delivery in a variety learning scenarios.
We are conducting a feasibility study on different approaches for remote test administration, including a pilot of remote proctoring software to learn more about the student experience during a remotely proctored assessment. The study is scheduled to occur in November and December.
The study will combine TestNav test delivery (which students currently use) along with remote proctoring software utilizing a Chrome extension (which is not available on iPads). The software will use audio and video monitoring during the student’s test. All recorded audio and video will be treated as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and stored securely, using zero-knowledge encryption. No student data leave devices until they are encrypted. Only authorized school, state or research personnel will have access to student data.
If your school or district has interest in participating and getting further details please contact Jennifer Dugan at jennifer.dugan@state.mn.us by November 13, 2020.
Strengthening Student and Family Engagement Webinar Series
At MDE, we believe strong collaboration between schools, families, and communities is an essential component for student academic success. As districts engage students in remote and hybrid models of learning, intentional engagement is necessary in understanding the unique needs of families and students, identifying barriers to attending school virtually or in person, and collaboratively problem solving so that all students not only attend school, but deeply engage in instruction this school year.
In partnership with TNTP, we’re proud to offer a training series designed to support all Minnesota districts in strengthening their community and family engagement approaches. This training series will support districts in creating and maintaining momentum around academic learning through authentic engagement that leads to positive student experiences, increased student attendance, and ultimately, stronger academic outcomes this school year and beyond. Individual session in the series will focus on
- Building a Shared Vision for Diverse Stakeholder Engagement and Tier One Supports
- Tiered Systematic Engagement
- Comprehensive Engagement and Removing Barriers
- Increasing Agency of Stakeholders and Integrating with the Academic Vision
- Improving Communication Structures
- Intentional Culture and Diversity—Whose Voices are We Missing?
- Authentic Collaboration
- Leveraging and Supporting Staff
- Long Term and Sustained Authentic Engagement—Planning Ahead
Please forward this opportunity to other district and school leaders.
View the session flyer to find out more about the series, see webinar dates, and review individual session outcomes.
Register for this training opportunity.
For additional questions, please contact Jacqueline Blagsvedt at jacqueline.blagsvedt@state.mn.us.
If you need reasonable accommodations to register or participate in this opportunity, please contact liz.vanleer@tntp.org.
Teacher Development and Evaluation/Q Comp Network
In December, MDE will host additional networking sessions supporting the implementation of Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) and Q Comp. These optional sessions are intended to provide spaces for local coordinators or members of local leadership teams to trouble-shoot and collaborate as we navigate different school scenarios.
Come join other coordinators to discuss TDE/Q Comp implementation topics, including, but not limited to, professional learning communities, summative or high cycle evaluations, or observation practices, and how these TDE/Q Comp activities are being modified to suit distance learning or hybrid scenarios. Please bring questions, ideas, and any resources to share as this will be a format in which we can all problem solve and learn from each other.
Intended Audience – Local coordinators and leaders of Q Comp or teacher development and evaluation (TDE). Space is limited to 100 participants, and facilitators will create smaller groups for discussion.
December Session Registrations – Use the links below to register.
Tuesday, December 1, 9 – 10:15 a.m.
Wednesday, December 2, 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Agenda – This is a participant-driven agenda, so no session will be entirely alike. The only limit on the conversation is a focus on local coordinators' work to support the educator workforce through the implementation of TDE/Q Comp.
Please note: The networking sessions will not be recorded. However, we will publish key messages and resources following the sessions.
If you have any questions or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at mde.q-comp@state.mn.us.
Reminder: U.S. Senate Youth Program Applications Now Open
The 59th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) will be held in an online format for 2021. Washington Week Online will take place March 14–18, 2021, and will be a fully immersive learning experience incorporating the key elements of the program week in an exciting, interactive format. Attendance at Washington Week Online is a requirement of the program.
- Completed application packets may be mailed to the Minnesota Department of Education or emailed as attachments. See full mailing address on the application or submit application documents via email to: mde.USSYP@state.mn.us
- Applications must be postmarked or emailed by Friday, December 4, 2020.
High school principals, counselors and social studies teachers can help us promote this program to students. Please share this information with these staff. The program brochure and application form are available on our program website and may be shared with your students, other educators or anyone who is associated with students who may be interested in the program. Each secondary school may nominate one student for the program. For more information, contact: U.S. Senate Youth Program Coordinator for Minnesota Email: mde.USSYP@state.mn.us
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