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May 10, 2021
Updates in this email:
Governor Walz announced last week that Minnesota is beginning a three-step process that will lead to an end of all COVID-19 restrictions by May 28, and an end to the masking requirement by July 1. Read the news release for more details about the announcement and read a message from Commissioner Mueller about what it means for schools.
We expect the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine to be authorized for 12- to 15-year-olds next week. While we wait for the official announcement and additional guidance, there are a few steps you can take to help families get ready to get students vaccinated.
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Get families educated! It is critical that we do our part to help explain to families what the vaccine is and what it is not. Families that have a clear understanding of how the vaccine will help their child are the ones who will make sure their kids get vaccinated.
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Get ready to make an appointment! Prior to the Pfizer vaccine being authorized for children age 12-15, we can begin to share information about how to get an appointment once the vaccine is available to this age group. Feel free to share these links with families ahead of time so that they are ready to act when the vaccine is authorized.
- Encourage parents to use the Vaccines.gov to find a local vaccine. Under “vaccine” make sure they check the box for Pfizer.
- Schedule an appointment through Minnesota’s Community Vaccination Program. If all appointments are booked, parents can sign their child up for the Vaccine Connector. The Vaccine Connector will tell them when appointments become available.
- Encourage parents to reach out to their child’s health care provider to inquire about how to make an appointment for vaccination.
- If your school is interested in hosting an on-site vaccination clinic, please fill out the interest form that was shared with school leaders.
Additional resources and translated materials about COVID-19
We will share additional guidance as soon as we have it so please be on the lookout for more information!
Thank you for your work to support the student COVID-19 testing program in middle and high school buildings. Below are some answers to common questions we have received about the Zoom-enabled test kits.
- Is there interpreter or bilingual support available with the Zoom-enabled tests?
- Yes, Vault also has instructions in languages here.
- How do multilingual families access Zoom-enabled testing at home?
- Zoom handles these by appointment:
- If a family requires a video appointment conducted in a language other than English for their supervised COVID-19 test with Vault, please reach out to Vault’s Patient Experience team by email at covid@vaulthealth.com.
- Vault has translation services available for 200 languages (including American Sign Language) and can connect with the family to meet their translation needs for their testing appointment.
- What hours are available to complete the Zoom-enabled test?
- Sunday through Thursday: 7a.m. - 7 p.m. Central Time
- Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central Time
2020-21 Assessment Results Release Timeline
Preliminary results for MCA and MTAS are available within an hour of the assessment being completed. All assessment results are under embargo until public release. The public release of assessment results will be the week of August 30. The exact date and timeline, including media release, will be shared with schools closer to the release date.
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Date
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Description of Resource or Event
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Wednesday, July 14
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District and School Student Results (DSR and SSR) files available for district download. These files provide embargoed final individual student results.
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Friday, Aug. 6
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Test Results Summary provides embargoed summary results.
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Thursday, Aug. 26
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Individual Student Reports (ISRs) arrive in districts
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Week of Aug. 30
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Media receives access to embargoed accountability downloadable data file including state, all districts, and all school-level data
Public release of assessment and accountability results, including school recognition, in Data Center
Assessment results available in PearsonAccess Next (MCA/MTAS) and WIDA AMS (ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS)
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Embargoed Student Results in Secure Reports
Final assessment results will be available in the District and School Student Results (DSR and SSR) files on July 14; these results will be under embargo until the public release of assessment results the week of August 30. The exact date will be shared with schools closer to the release date. During the embargo, districts can use final assessment results to prepare for questions from the media and local stakeholders. It is up to the district to determine whether or not to share embargoed assessment data with students, families, and staff for instructional purposes; however, preliminary or embargoed results cannot be discussed in public forums, reflected in public meeting minutes (e.g., school board meetings), or shared with the general public or media until the final assessment results have been released publicly.
Embargoed Test Results Summary
On Friday, August 6, embargoed assessment results will be available in Test Results Summary on the Secure Reports page (MDE website > Data Center > Secure Reports). All assessment results are under embargo until the week of August 30. The exact date will be shared with schools closer to the release date. During the embargo, districts can use the final assessment results to prepare for questions from the media and local stakeholders. They may share the results with district teachers and staff for planning or instructional purposes, but they may not share the results publicly.
The Test Results Summary reports include final summary data for MCA, MTAS, ACCESS, and Alternate ACCESS.
Final Student Reports Delivery
Individual Student Reports (ISRs) for both MCA/MTAS and ACCESS/Alternate ACCESS for ELLs are scheduled to arrive in districts Thursday, August 26. Districts may prepare the ISRs for mailing but the ISRs cannot be mailed prior to the public release date.
Final 2020-21 Public Assessment Results Release
Assessment results will be released to the public of the week of August 30—the exact date will be shared with schools closer to the release date—in the Minnesota Report Card (MDE website > Data Center > Minnesota Report Card).
Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Education Symposium: June 15-17, 2021
Each year we identify timely topics and feature the best presenters available. This year is no exception. Our 2021 symposium will be virtual, live and interactive. The General Symposium includes 3 keynotes and 40 daily sessions, each with a focus on equity, inclusion and diversity. A Leadership Academy will be held on June 15 and Parent Day on June 16. All are welcome to register at www.gtsymposium.org.
EDIAM Access
MDE’s EDIAM Security System requires each organization to designate an Identified Official with Authority (IOwA), who is the head of the organization and is responsible for granting/revoking/reauthorizing user access for their staff to MDE secured applications and secure reports. The IOwA role must be renewed every 365 days by submitting the EDIAM Board Resolution Form. Once the form is received, the IOwA is granted access for 365 days. The IOwA will then grant/revoke/reauthorize user access for their staff to MDE secured applications and secure reports. The IOwA may choose to grant access to an IOwA Proxy (usually their assistant or business manager) to assist in this process. Both the IOwA and IOwA Proxy may grant/revoke/reauthorize user access for their staff.
Current IOwA’s will receive email notification 14 days prior to expiration indicating that access is about to expire. However, it is not necessary to wait for this to renew access. Earlier renewal is recommended to ensure continued access to MDE secured applications and secure reports.
To renew access:
- Complete all six lines of the EDIAM Board Resolution Form (Identify one IOwA who may appoint an IOwA Proxy. The IOwA Proxy does not need to be identified in the board resolution.)
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Scan the completed form and email to Melody at the EDIAM Helpdesk: useraccess.mde@state.mn.us.
If you have already worked with Melody and have been renewed as the IOwA for 365 days this year, there is no need to send in the board resolution again.
Please contact Melody at the EDIAM Helpdesk useraccess.mde@state.mn.us or 651-582-8500, if you have any questions regarding the IOwA process.
Restorative Practices Online June Trainings: Repairing Relationships in Schools, June 14-16 and June 22-24
Registration is open for the Minnesota Department of Education School Climate Center Restorative Practices (RP) in Schools and Communities Online Sessions and Trainings June 14-25, 2021. This year, the Center is offering trainings on five different repairing relationships frameworks: Restorative Chats, Circle to Repair Harm, Conferencing to Repair Harm, Circle with Students with Special Needs, and Family Group Conferencing. The three-day, five hours per day trainings (fifteen hours total) are available both weeks, with offerings for both those new to the basics of the restorative questions and repairing harm, and for those who wish to deepen their skills.
Registration fee: $215.00.
Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) and Administrative CEU’s are offered.
The RP Online Training Descriptions and Frequently Asked Questions about RP Online can be found on the Restorative Practices website.
For further information, contact Nancy Riestenberg, Restorative Practices Specialist, at 651-582-8433.
Health and Safety – Radon in Schools: 2021 Licensing Updates
This announcement about radon in schools is intended for school officials, service providers and other stakeholders.
School staff must have a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued radon license to conduct testing or mitigation (except if they own or lease the property and are not compensated for the radon work). This change is a result of the enactment of the MN Radon Licensing Act (MRLA) and changes to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) radon testing in schools standard. The EPA no longer maintains its own standard and references radon standards published by the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST). EPA’s position and the AARST standards are available on the AARST Standards website.
According to Minnesota Statute 123B.571, school districts that receive health and safety revenue to conduct radon testing must conduct the testing according to the state’s ‘Radon Testing Plan'. We have updated the school radon testing plan to be consistent with the MRLA and the AARST standards for schools. The most significant change is the requirement that school staff must be licensed to test or mitigate radon. There are other changes to the testing plan. The school radon guidance and reporting form have also been updated. The updated information is available on the MDH Radon in Schools website.
School districts are expected to follow the updated (2021) testing plan and use the updated reporting form starting September 1, 2021. Before September 1, 2021, the prior versions or the updated versions may be used.
MDH is hosting a webinar about radon in schools on May 18, 1 – 2 pm. The agenda includes radon basics, test results reported to MDH, and updates to the testing plan and reporting form. You will need to register for the webinar.
Please contact the MDH Indoor Air Unit with any questions at health.indoorair@state.mn.us; www.health.state.mn.us or 651-201-4601. Questions may also be direct to Sarah C. Miller at Sarah.C.Miller@state.mn.us or 651-582-8370.
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