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August 20, 2021
Updates in this email:
As previously communicated, MDE strongly encourages districts and charter schools to apply to become online providers for all grades served. As a provisionally-approved online provider, districts/charters can determine the local options they will provide to families. Districts/charters that are fully-approved or provisionally-approved online providers will have the greatest flexibility at the local level to adapt throughout the school year to COVID-19 cases and close contacts as needed. The deadline to apply for provisional approval is August 27, 2021.
The Online and Blending Learning Options for the 2021-22 School Year document has been updated to clarify who may participate in online/blended learning offered by a school that is a provisionally-approved online provider. Enrolled students, including students who enrolled through open enrollment or charter enrollment processes, can participate in online or blended learning options. Online or blended options can be offered as part of the learning plans being developed by districts and charter schools to prepare for the 21-22 school year, however these are choice programs that students cannot be required to participate in. Additionally, districts and charter schools who are granted provisional approval to offer online or blended learning can determine local options they will provide to families.
MDE is partnering with our colleagues at the Minnesota Department of Health to offer Minnesota's first-in-the-nation statewide education COVID-19 testing program. Schools will now have a variety of testing options available as you work to develop local COVID testing programs to keep kids and staff healthy, safe and in their classrooms. MDE will also provide grants to support testing efforts in schools.
This school year, schools will have access to individual PCR tests, pooled PCR tests and rapid tests—both antigen and molecular. Districts, charter schools, tribal schools, and nonpublic schools will be able to assess which tests work best for their school community and have autonomy in developing their individual testing program.
More information about the resources available for schools, including details information about each individual test option, can be found on the COVID-19 testing for schools page of the MDH website.
We are asking our schools to help make testing more accessible by promoting existing COVID testing opportunities in their communities and offering testing opportunities for students and staff on-site in school.
September 1 Webinar: School Health, COVID-19 and CLIA Waivers
To provide COVID-19 testing at your school, you may need a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) waiver. MDH School Health Services is hosting a webinar about CLIA on Wednesday, September 1, from 4-5 p.m.
The webinar will cover:
- Why CLIA?
- What is a CLIA Waiver?
- Do I need a CLIA certificate to provide onsite testing at my school?
- How do I apply for a CLIA certificate?
Superintendents, charter leaders, and COVID-19 coordinators: You are invited to join the webinar via YouTube Live Stream. To access the live stream, visit the link provided a few minutes before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1. You may need to check with your IT department to ensure there is not a firewall in place that would prevent you from accessing YouTube.
A recording will NOT be available for later viewing.
Districts and charter schools around the state are collecting information regarding student access to Internet and technology devices using the Digital Equity data elements. The deadline for this data to be entered into the district or charter school’s student information system is October 1, 2021 when MDE will use Ed-Fi technology to transfer the data. Charter schools and districts are strongly encouraged to collect this information for every student.
MDE will assist and provide technical assistance to ensure that we have as complete and accurate data collection as possible. The next Digital Equity training session is scheduled for next month. Register for the 9 a.m. training on September 23.
The IRS Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant can help families who don't normally file decide whether they should register for monthly payments or file a regular tax return using IRS Free File. Families can get started in English or Spanish at https://go.usa.gov/x6yjs.
Order hard copy posters
These two publications/color posters can be ordered in English or Spanish. Member districts/charters/homeschoolers who are interested in these may contact me directly - I will order them to be shipped directly to them. I also have many more e-posters and flyers that can be printed in house, as well as more pre-packaged social media posts. Individual members can reach out to me if they want more information sent to them directly.
Publication 5534:
Publication 5534-A:
Grow Your Own (GYO) Grant Information Session
The Minnesota Department of Education is hosting a virtual information session on August 24, 2021 from 9-9:45 a.m. for all districts and charter schools and organizations interested in learning about changes to the Grow Your Own (GYO) Grant Program and the grant application process that will be announced soon. The session will review the changes to the programs guiding legislation and the grant application and process, as well as provide time for attendees to ask questions. Registration for the session is requested.
Host An Onsite Vaccination Event in Your Students' Community
To increase vaccination 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.
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.
ParaEducator Online Training and Assessment
The Student Access and Opportunity Division and the Minnesota Service Cooperatives are pleased to announce the availability of the ParaEducator Online Training and Assessment. This online package, available through the regional service cooperatives (https://www.mnservcoop.org/para), provides access to training modules, practice assessments and assessments to meet Title I requirements. A one-year license for an individual is available at a cost that is less than the fee for each ParaPro test.
Passing a state-approved assessment, now either the ParaEducator Online Assessment from The Master Teacher, Inc. or the ParaPro from the Education Testing Service (ETS), is one of three ways to qualify as an instructional paraprofessional in a Title I program, the others being a two-year degree or two years of college credits.
MDE’s Paraprofessional webpage will be updated soon to reflect this change. Interested districts, charter schools, and individuals should contact their regional service cooperative. Questions can also be directed to Wayne Kuklinski, ESEA Monitoring and Compliance Specialist (651-582-8385).
Kognito School Mental Health Trainings for Staff and Students: Free, Virtual, and Unlimited Access
The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Education are pleased to announce the continuation of the Minnesota Kognito School Mental Health Training Initiative. Schools and districts across the state have access to a suite of online mental health trainings for staff and students, including free unlimited access to trainings such as At Risk and Friend 2 Friend. Kognito trainings are research-proven online simulations providing hands-on interactive and personalized learning through the use of role-play conversations with virtual students. Trainings meet the educator suicide prevention training requirement per MN Statute 122A.187 as determined by local districts and charter schools. Free unlimited access to the Kognito suite includes implementation tools, discussion guides, and technical support to roll out in your district or school.
We invite you to join our community of leaders to support the mental and emotional well-being of all Minnesota students. Learn more about how to implement the training program by attending an informational webinar on September 16. Register for the September 16 webinar.
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