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August 12, 2022
Updates in this email:
Due to the unanticipated reduction in testing spending caused by COVID-19, MDE is working to manage these remaining funds so that they will be available to cover upcoming development and standard-setting expenses associated with implementing assessments aligned to revised standards. MDE is requesting tydings for federal testing grant awards S369A200024 from the U.S. Department of Education. Under the federal Tydings Amendment, Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act, any funds that are not obligated at the end of the federal funding period shall remain available for obligation for an additional period of 12 months.
As stated in ESEA statute, section 8401, the “State educational agency shall provide the public and any interested local educational agency in the State with notice and a reasonable opportunity to comment and provide input on the request, to the extent that the request impacts the local educational agency.” As such, the public is invited to comment on the Tydings request for federal grant awards now through August 31 by emailing mde.testing@state.mn.us.
Lights On Afterschool is Thursday, October 20, 2022. Lights On Afterschool is a part of a national afterschool movement and celebrates afterschool programs and their role in the lives of young people. As you prepare for your afterschool programming in the 2022-23 school year, please consider hosting an event in October to showcase your program to the community. For ideas on how your program could bring awareness and celebrate keeping the lights on, check out the Lights On Afterschool toolkit!
Reminder: Screen Use Legislation Guidance Available
During the 2021 Legislative Session, legislation was passed on the use of individual-use screens in public prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. The legislation went into effect on July 1, 2022. The Division of Early Learning Services has created a document that provides guidance on applying the legislation to classrooms and instruction. You can find it on the High-Quality Early Learning webpage or access it using this link: Guidance: Screen Use Limits for Children in Publicly Funded Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Programs.
Reminder: Equity Leads Survey
School Districts and Charter Schools! The MDE Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center is looking to get connected with the Equity Leads at your respective institutions to share updates, meeting opportunities, resources and tools, and general information to support their work. Please complete the brief Equity Leads of Minnesota Survey to submit the contact details for your Equity Leads. This information will allow the EDI Center to work with and hear from you!
Reminder: Online and Blended Learning Options for the 2022-23 School Year
All school districts and charter schools must notify the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) of their intent to provide blended learning or online learning options using this form prior to the first day of instruction. See the Online and Blended Learning Options overview for more information.
Blended learning is when students learn primarily in the building but receive instruction online for up to 50% of their weekly schedule. Districts and charter schools will notify MDE they are providing blended options and sign quality assurance statements.
Online learning is when students learn for more than 50% of their scheduled class time online away from a school building for one or more courses. For online learning, districts and charter schools must have completed an approved application to be an online provider.
It is important to note that the provisional approval process for online learning was for the 21-22 school year only and is no longer in effect. Email mde.onlinelearning@state.mn.us with questions.
Reminder: Required Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan
As a reminder, one condition for receiving ESSER III awards (FIN 160 and FIN 161) was the development, with community input, of a Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan. Throughout the full period of the ESSER III award, school districts and charter schools must review at least every six months and, as appropriate, revise its plan for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services. Districts and charter schools must retain and post documentation of the plan development and plan review.
The requirements for the ESSER III Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan can be found in the Interim Final Rule. These requirements are not new and have not changed. This is a reminder that these Safe Return to In-Person Learning plans need to be reviewed on a six-month cycle and updated, as needed. Email mde.federalCOVIDfunds@state.mn.us with questions.
Reminder: What Parents Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine for Their Children
Children age 6 months to 5 years can now get their COVID-19 shots! Talk to your child’s health care provider and make a plan to get them vaccinated. Families can also search for vaccine locations on our Find Vaccine Locations map: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp. The map will be updated as more appointments become available. Demand is expected to be high, so please be patient if an appointment is not immediately available. There will be plenty of vaccine to protect our littlest children from COVID-19.
Additional information for parents, including in Hmong, Somali and Spanish can be found by visiting the Minnesota COVID-19 Response website.
Reminder: Annual Verification of District and School Site Information for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23
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, including 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 2022-23 school year. To ensure data collections, payments, and reports are correct, organization and school site information and contacts for the 2022-23 school year must be reviewed and certified by August 31, 2022. Please read the Annual Verification of District and School Site Information for SFY 2022-23 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 Michelle Carey.
Reminder: TDE/Q Comp Professional Development Opportunities Announced
Teacher Development and Evaluation (TDE) and Q Comp are programs intended to develop and support teachers so that they are their best selves for each and every learner. To that end, MDE recently announced several professional development opportunities for school and teacher leaders on topics including:
- Peer coaching and observation
- Student learning goals
- Professional learning communities (PLCs)
- Teacher leadership
Visit the TDE/Q Comp professional development opportunities webpage for more information about the offerings and to register.
Reminder: School Indoor Air Quality Plan Training
Public schools must have health and safety programs that comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations and best practices, including indoor air quality (IAQ) management. The Minnesota Department of Health is offering school IAQ plan trainings in fall 2022. Trainings will be offered in-person statewide and via webinar. This training will discuss the state’s best practices for school IAQ management plans. School staff, service providers, and others are welcome to attend. The training is free. Registration is required. See MDH School IAQ Plan Training for details and registration.
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