|
August 5, 2021
Updates in this email:
The Levy Information System opened on July 22 for Payable 2022 data entry. The password was sent to districts through the a Business Managers Listserv communication. The Levy Information System Instructions can be found on the Levy Certification Process webpage. Building/Land Lease and Debt Service data is required by August 16. All other data entry is due by August 27. Intermediate districts and cooperatives should use this system to request lease authority for their member districts.
If you have any questions, contact Jason Reil (Jason.Reil@state.mn.us) and School Finance Levy staff (mde.levy@state.mn.us).
The following documents related to the levy limitations and certification process for 2021 Payable 2022 are now available on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Levy Certification Process webpage:
- Levy Information System Instructions
- 2021 Payable 2022 Levy Forms and Instructions
- Levy Limitation and Certification Calendar
- 2020 Revised Adjusted Net Tax Capacity Memo
- School Finance Contact List
- Estimate of Referendum Cap Inflation Adjustment Memo on Referendum webpage.
Each year, information regarding schools and districts/charters is updated in the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) master database for organizations (MDE Organization Reference Glossary (MDE-ORG)). MDE-ORG validates sites for all major MDE reporting systems, such as the Minnesota Automated Reporting Student System (MARSS), Staff Automated Reporting (STAR), Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS), Assessments, etc. It is important that a point person is identified as the Site Verification Coordinator for your district. This person has access to request and certify school configuration changes and update other essential contact and address information for all sites within the district.
We ask that you review your organization and school sites, including contacts and addresses, and make changes for the 2021-22 school year. To ensure data collections, payments, and reports are correct, organization and school site information and contacts for the 2021-22 school year must be reviewed and certified by August 31, 2021. Please read the Annual Verification of District and School Site Information for SFY 2021-22 memorandum found on the District and School Site Verification page. This memorandum outlines the timeline and steps to maintaining accurate district and school site directory information which is critical in correctly processing records for your district including students, staff, payments, and federal programs. If you have any questions, please email mde.school-verify@state.mn.us.
Downer:
Right now, only one-third of Minnesotans 12-15 years old and less than half of Minnesotans 16-17 years old are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Upper:
To drive up vaccinations rates, the State launched ‘Vax to School’ — a statewide campaign encouraging students and families to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the beginning of the school year. It was launched 5 weeks out from the first day of school — the length of time it takes for a student to go from their first dose of Pfizer vaccine to fully vaccinated.
We’re asking for you to help spread the word on this campaign because we all want a school year that’s as close to normal as possible.
How youth and families can get their free shot:
Vaccine Incentives:
Minnesotans can now submit their requests for the $100 vaccination rewards program today at mn.gov/covid19/100. Minnesotans 12 years of age and older who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since July 30 can submit a request for a $100 Visa gift card. The form will remain open for submissions for Minnesotans who get their first dose until August 15.
How you can help us spread the word:
-
Post to your district and/or school's social media(s). We invite you to share this news on social media. More information can be found at this link:
Social Media content / COVID-19 Updates and Information - State of Minnesota (mn.gov.
-
Host an onsite vaccination event for your students community. If a school in your district is interested in hosting an on-site vaccination clinic, please fill out the following interest survey: Community Vaccination Event Request Form.
-
Host a COVID-19 Vaccine Community conversation. If you want to know more about this partnership opportunity and/or believe you could host a COVID-19 Vaccine Community Conversation, please reach out directly to Lydia Detweiler (MDH) (lydia.r.detweiler@state.mn.us). We are ready to help you make it happen!
Thank you for your help in this initiative!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 12 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccination. Because children and youth with specialized health needs and disabilities may be at higher risk for more severe illness from COVID-19, families and caregivers are asked to strongly consider vaccinating children with any underlying health condition or disability.
Please consider sharing this document with professionals who work with youth with disabilities/special health needs.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) team held a webinar this week focused on COVID-19 prevention in schools. If you missed it, please review the Overview of Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools for the 2021-2022 presentation slides as well as the Best Practices in COVID-19 Prevention Webinar Notes.
The second draft of the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards is available for public comment beginning today, Friday, July 30, 2021. A questions and answers document is also available, which provides information about the standards review and revision process, and updates in the second draft.
Minnesotans can use the public comment survey to provide feedback on the second draft. The survey allows you to provide comments on individual standards and benchmarks, and/or on the draft as a whole. If you are unable to use the survey, you can send your comments via email or postal mail.
Minnesota Student Survey 2022
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in partnership with the Departments of Corrections, Health, Human Services and Public Safety will be administering the Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) this upcoming school year. The survey will be conducted between January and May 2022. Participation is optional, but encouraged. School districts and charter schools that participate will receive their own results in order to better understand students’ perceptions and experiences. View the MSS FAQ document for more information on the survey.
Participating schools are obligated to notify families of the upcoming survey administration under the Protection of Pupils Rights Amendment (PPRA). There are two steps you must follow:
- Notification of your district’s planned participation in the 2022 MSS must be included in your district’s annual PPRA notification.
- Prior to administration of the MSS, you must distribute a more comprehensive notification letter to parents and guardians. Sample letters will be provided in November.
More information will about registering and administering the survey will be available this fall. If you have immediate questions, please contact MDE.StudentSurvey@state.mn.us.
State Personal Development Grant
The application deadline to submit an application for the SPDG Opportunity has been extended to August 20, 2021. Please see the grant opportunity webpage for the full instructions, application, and budget documentation.
This grant opportunity is for funding to conduct professional development, improve district capacity for implementation of evidence-based practices, and implement evidence-based practices with fidelity and scale that increase rates of graduation for American Indian and Alaska Native students with disabilities in Minnesota. Contact Tom Delaney at thomas.delaney@state.mn.us for further information.
|
