Updates from MDE: 01-28-2021

department of education

January 28, 2021

Updates in this email:

Reminder: Distance Learning Option for Families

Pursuant to Executive Order 20-82, paragraph 4, all school districts and charter schools must offer a distance learning model that meets the educational needs of all students of families who choose not to receive in-person instruction. This executive order remains in effect and public schools are still subject to the requirements of the Safe Learning Plan.

Students or families choosing to move from in-person or hybrid instruction to distance learning due to a health issue must be allowed to move to distance learning at any time. A student who enrolls in a district or charter school during the school year must be given the opportunity to enroll in the district or charter school’s distance learning model.

A school district or charter school may limit movement to distance learning for families requesting to move to distance learning from in-person or hybrid for reasons other than a health issue. A school district or charter school that chooses to limit movement to distance learning must provide periodic opportunities for all students and families to choose to move to distance learning for any reason. For example, a district or charter school could limit non-health related movement to distance learning to a window at the end of a quarter or trimester.

A school district may limit movement from distance learning to in-person or hybrid instruction. School districts and charter schools providing in-person instruction or services should prioritize in-person services for students with disabilities, English learners, student experiencing homelessness, and students in foster care.

COVID-19 Saliva Testing Updates

Reminder: Collection Reports

As noted in the COVID-19 Saliva Testing for School Staff: Program Guide for Schools, each testing site must complete a collection report following testing. The collection report has been created and is now available for sites to complete following their staff testing events. Below is information from the program guide, which has been updated to include the link to the testing collection report:

Collection. After testing, complete the testing collection report to provide information about kits used, kits remaining, if more kits are needed for the next round of testing (every other week) and feedback on the testing experience. Please complete the testing collection report after every testing event, regardless of whether or not you need more kits for the next round of testing.

  • Note about unused test kits: The number of test kits you need is bound to fluctuate between tests dates. Before ordering your next batch of testing kits, please assess how many unused kits you have on site. Account for the unused tests kits you have on hand when placing your next order for tests. For example, if you have 10 unused test kits and you know you need 50 test kits for your next round of testing, please only order 40 new kits.

To help ensure tests are available by your designated testing date, collection reports must be completed within 24 hours of completing testing. Schools should identify a need for additional inventory at least two weeks before that inventory will be used. 

Training Opportunities, Important Dates and Announcements

Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 Pathway II Early Learning Scholarship Application

The application period for Pathway II Early Learning Scholarships funding for fiscal years (FY) 2022 and 2023 will open on February 1, 2021 and is due on February 26, 2021. Programs must have a Four-Star Parent Aware rating to be eligible to apply. All Four-Star rated programs will receive an email on February 1, 2021 with a link to the online application. Currently funded school districts and charter schools will also receive notice of their available FY22-23 funding allocation. Information about the application process is available on the Pathway II resources webpage of the MDE website. If you have any questions, please contact MDE.PathwayII@state.mn.us.

Trauma Resources for Educators

The Governor’s Children’s Cabinet worked with the Minnesota Department of Education, Health and Human Services to compile resources for educators and school staff as they support students coping with trauma. The Trauma Resources for Educators Reference Guide focuses on five categories related to trauma-informed care and well-being promotion. These resources can be included in the curriculum of in-person, distance and hybrid learning models.

Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services (ADSIS): Fiscal Year 2022

The documentation for the Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services (ADSIS) for Fiscal Years 2022-2023 Grant Opportunity including the instructions, application, and budget documentation are now available on MDE’s grant opportunity site.

The Minnesota Department of Education makes this funding available to Minnesota public school districts and charter schools for the purpose of providing direct instruction and services to K-12 students and preschool students who are part of district programs that generate general education revenue and who may need additional academic and behavioral supports to succeed in the general education environment and who may eventually qualify for special education if the prevention services were not available. Please see the grant instructions for the specific, allowable outcomes for this funding program.

This year there will be two deadlines in an attempt to expedite funding decisions. Completed applications received by February 19, 2021 at 3:30 pm Central Time will be reviewed early. The final applications must be received by March 5, 2021 at 3:30 pm Central Time to be considered.  Late applications will not be accepted.

An informational session webinar will be available for interested parties to join on February 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM Central Time. The purpose of this webinar will be for new or returning applicants to hear an overview of the funding opportunity as well as details of the statute, application and process.

Please contact Rebecca Nies, Program Coordinator at Rebecca.Nies@state.mn.us or 651-582-8648 for further information.

Approaches to Grow Your Own Educator Programs in Minnesota: Pathways for Paraprofessionals

Minnesota is home to an increasingly racially and linguistically diverse student population, yet the state’s educator workforce has failed to keep pace with these demographic changes. While 34 percent of students in the state are students of color, only 5 percent of teachers are teachers of color or American Indian teachers.  In response to these gaps, the state has adopted legislation to remove some testing barriers, made changes to teacher licensure, established various grant programs, and invested in the development of Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher preparation programs. Please join New America, The Coalition to Increase Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Education, and local GYO program leaders and participants for a conversation about how Grow Your Own programs in Minnesota are being used to increase teacher diversity and to remove barriers to entering the teaching profession, and about proposals to expand GYO program types across the state. The event will be focused on pathways for adults via teacher residency and other models of teacher preparation.

Audience: School, district and charter leaders, community organizations and advocates, professional organizations, and others interested in strategies to ensure students have equitable access to a diverse and effective educator workforce.

Event Information: Wednesday, February 10, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Registration: Visit the event page at New America to RSVP.

Assessing Impact through Q Comp Program Review/Evaluation

Q Comp coordinators, oversight teams, and other program managers are invited to a 90-minute webinar on Q Comp program review. This session will provide background to help teams understand what Q Comp program review is and why it is important to program success. Teams will also explore how the design and goals of their programs relate to the review process, and how to measure the impact that learning models (distance, hybrid, and in-person) have had on their programs during the school year. The session will be offered at 9:00-10:30am and repeated at 2:30-4:00 on March 10, 2021.

Register for one of the March 10, 2021 sessions.

If you have questions, need assistance with registering, or prefer to register by phone, please call or email Kristie Anderson, Teacher Effectiveness Specialist, 651-582-8860, kristie.anderson@state.mn.us.

Please contact Kristie Anderson (651-582-8860 or kristie.anderson@state.mn.us) at least two weeks prior to the event to request reasonable accommodations.

Online Telecommunications/Internet Access Aid Cost Reporting: Fiscal Year 2020 Actual Costs

The annual reporting of E-Rate cost data for the purpose of calculating the FY21 Minnesota Telecom Access Equity Aid begins February 1, 2021, and continues until February 28. Details on data submission and telecom cluster addresses are included in the memorandum from Lonn Moe. Further information is available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) Facilities and Technology webpage. If you have any questions, contact Lonn Moe (lonn.moe@state.mn.us), Division of School Finance.

Nonpublic Pupil Aids; Promulgation of Fiscal Year 2022 Program Rates of Entitlement and Pupil Reporting Procedure

Please read the Nonpublic Pupil Aids memorandum from Greg Sogaard, Division of School Finance. Public school districts are reimbursed for expenditures incurred in providing pupils the instructional materials and pupil support services required when pupils are attending a nonpublic school (includes home schools), which are established and operating within the district’s boundaries. Please forward this information to your district administrator for nonpublic pupil aids. If you have any questions, please contact Greg Sogaard.