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September 30, 2022
Updates in this email:
Districts must submit to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) an elementary and secondary athletic program report containing information about both intramural and interscholastic athletics provided (Minnesota Rules 3535.3300 and 3535.3600). This report is due to MDE annually, on or before October 15, to report on data from the previous school year and must be completed online. Districts must report student counts and expenditures for all intramural and interscholastic athletic activities, at any level, including middle school and elementary school, if those opportunities are provided. Additional information about what must be reported is available on MDE’s Athletic Data Reporting webpage.
This year’s annual report is due by Friday, October 14, 2022. Questions can be directed to Ellen Seibert (651-582-8620).
All curriculum directors are invited to meet with the MDE Academic Standards team at one of two virtual meetings on October 11, 2022. This will be a time to connect to each content specialist at MDE, to discuss standards implementation, and to submit any questions.
Join for either meeting on Zoom:
The Language Access Network (LAN) is a statewide community of practice centered on ensuring that families who speak languages other than English have access to information and services from public schools. LAN consists of school and school district personnel with responsibility for the interpreting, translation and language access needs of Minnesota’s multilingual children and families.
At this time, we have the following dates set for the Language Access Network (you will receive calendar invitations upon registration):
- Thursday, September 29, 2022; 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
- Thursday, November 10, 2022; 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
- Thursday, January 26, 2023; 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
- Thursday, March 16, 2023; 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
Register for the Language Access Network.
We invite you to join us as we work toward making education a more supportive and inclusive place for Minnesota’s multilingual families.
If there are questions, contact Sourcewell at: Amy.TervolaHultberg@sourcewell-mn.gov.
English Learner (EL) Coordinators and leaders are invited to attend monthly webinars on relevant topics regarding multilingual learners. Register using the Minnesota Department of Education calendar.
Please contact Michelle Niska if there are questions.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) created the Scholars of Distinction program to recognize academic and intellectual accomplishments by talented Minnesota students that happen both in school and out of school. This program celebrates the collaboration among students and educators, as well as family and community members, that promote ongoing inquiry and the quest for new learning and new understanding of the world around us. Through a Scholars of Distinction project, students exercise their creativity, stretch what they have learned, and challenge themselves. Most importantly, their projects represent an area of focus that they are passionate about.
To earn this recognition, students must complete required work in the Minnesota Academic Standards, demonstrate mastery of complex subject matter and apply their knowledge to challenging projects. Students eligible for award consideration in mathematics, science, social studies, or STEM may be enrolled in grades 11-12 at a public or private school; homeschooled in grades 11-12, or enrolled in a Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program.
Students interested in the award must complete the Intent to Apply form by November 1.
For further information, visit the Scholars of Distinction webpage.
Two student leaders from each state will participate in a remote learning experience about the work of their national government. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, and they will hear from the president of the United States and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
Find more information on our USSYP website, including the program brochure and the application form.
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 the Online and Blended Learning Options and Assurances form prior to the first day of instruction. See the Online and Blended Learning Options overview for more information. 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.
Also as a reminder to all districts and charter schools, enrolled public school students have the option to choose any state-approved online provider to take supplemental courses from or enroll with. As stated in the online learning options act (Minn. Stat. 124D.095, subd. 3): “No school district or charter school may prohibit a student from applying to enroll in online learning.” And, “a student may enroll in a supplemental online learning course up to the midpoint of the enrolling district's term.” Please ensure that your local policies, procedures, and communication are consistent with these opportunities provided in the law.
If there are any questions, email mde.onlinelearning@state.mn.us.
All school districts are eligible to apply for Farm to School grants from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Funds support purchases of local food and kitchen equipment. MDA has more than $4 million to award to schools this year. Schools may apply for one of the following grants:
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First Bite Grants (up to $10,000, no match required) are intended for school districts that are new to local purchasing and want to start small.
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Full Tray Grants (up to $100,000, no match required) are intended for school districts who have some Farm to School experience or who are ready to start a larger program.
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Equipment Funds (up to $35,000, 1:1 match required) are available to help schools purchase kitchen equipment that will support Farm to School initiatives.
Grant applications are due no later than 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Learn more on the MDA Farm to School Grants website, or by contacting the Grants Team at 651-201-6500 or MDA.AGRIgrants@state.mn.us.
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To support local high schools with their financial aid efforts, the Ready, Set, FAFSA series will again be offered to students and families this fall. Running September 27 to October 25, five virtual sessions will cover the college application process, general financial aid information, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students, and other ways to pay for college. All sessions will have simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. Financial aid experts from local colleges will be available during the events to answer questions in the chat. Students who attend will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship. Registration is open now for families.
The series, called “Ready, Set, FAFSA” is a collaboration between MDE, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, ECMC The College Place, and Minnesota Goes to College.
A promotional toolkit is available to schools upon request. Please contact Beth Barsness for further information.
MDE has hard many concerns and a number of requests for clarification from students, families and community partners regarding PSEO. It is important that every school fully understand the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, Section 124D.09 in order to provide equitable access to this opportunity. Some of the issues that MDE frequently clarifies are:
- Dissemination of PSEO program information to students and families
- Access to building space and technology for PSEO students
- Availability of transportation reimbursement for eligible PSEO students
- Student eligibility outlined in statute vs. college admissions criteria
In an effort to provide consistent and helpful guidance, MDE is offering Dual Credit Topic Sessions on Thursdays at 2 p.m. These short, informal sessions are designed to support high school counselors and administrators around common PSEO and Concurrent Enrollment topics. Please pass this announcement on to anyone in your school/district who might be interested in these sessions.
Register for one or more Dual Credit Topic sessions. For more information about the PSEO program, visit MDE’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options page. For assistance with questions, contact Beth Barsness.
As schools enter this year facing workforce shortage challenges, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), in partnership with the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) and the Office of Higher Education (OHE) developed an Education Staff Toolkit. This toolkit provides important information on ways to reduce barriers and increase access into the teaching profession and answers to commonly asked questions on licensure and financial assistance programs.
Access the Education Staff Toolkit.
All public school districts must submit to MDE, assurance of compliance with state and federal law prohibiting discrimination based on age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or disability with regard to public assistance provided by MDE.
In addition, districts are also required to verify mandated reporter training data via the Assurance of Compliance and Mandated Reporting page. MDE also collects data on the number of staff within the district trained and whether they are licensed or non-licensed. Districts will need to verify that all district staff have been notified of their requirements as mandated reporters and that retaliation against an employee who reports alleged maltreatment is prohibited, as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 260E.30, subdivision 2(b). This verification should be completed annually and can be found at the bottom of the Assurance of Compliance data submission page. By submitting the Assurance of Compliance, the district recognizes and agrees that such federal and state financial assistance will be extended in reliance on the representations, supporting information required by Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.42, subdivision 3, and agreements made in this assurance.
Please note that the data submission and verification process is entirely online and requires a valid EDIAM User account before you can log in. The Assurance of Compliance is due November 15, 2022.
For assistance with questions about access, reporting this information or mandated reporting, please contact Virginia Davis (651-582-8338).
The Departments of Education, Health & Human Services are thrilled to announce the 2022 School Behavioral Health Conference will be back in person at Cragun’s Conference Center in Brainerd from November 2 through November 4. This year’s theme is Reshaping through Resiliency: School-Based Behavioral Health in Minnesota. This conference seeks to offer attendees purposeful tools and techniques to implement and produce a positive impact on behavioral health and mental wellness. Attendees include schools, community behavioral health providers, advocates, parents, consumers, policy makers, Tribal Nation representatives and state government employees. To register, please go to Minnesota Department of Education, Health & Human Services School Behavioral Health Conference November 2-4, 2022 - Formstack
Please make sure the school nurse for your institution receives the message below.
This is an annual communication about vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The School Health Personnel Immunization and Disease Reporting website is organized to provide you with the information you need to implement the Minnesota school immunization law, report diseases, and provide information to students and families. Also included is a link to directions for completing the Annual Immunization Status Report (AISR).
We need you to:
Complete the AISR by December 1, 2022.
The 2022 AISR application is being updated. Make sure to subscribe to the School Health Personnel Immunization and Disease Reporting website and we’ll send you an email when it is ready.
Report diseases to MDH.
We recommend you:
Additional materials commonly used by school health personnel
Thank you for collaborating with MDH to both ensure compliance with our school immunization law and to further stop the spread of communicable diseases such as influenza, pertussis, varicella, and norovirus. All your work helps to keep Minnesota children healthy.
Questions?
On August 11, 2022, the CDC updated their COVID-19 guidance to help people better understand their risk, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what actions to take if they are sick or test positive for the virus. As part of this update, CDC also revised their operational guidance for K-12 schools and child care programs. Changes to the guidance included:
- Removal of the recommendation to cohort
- Focused recommendations for conducting screening testing on high-risk activities during high COVID-19 community levels or in response to an outbreak
- Removal of the recommendation to quarantine, except in high-risk congregate settings
- Removed information about Test to Stay
- Added detailed information on when to wear a mask, managing cases and exposures, and responding to outbreaks
While the CDC no longer recommends quarantine (staying home) after an exposure to someone with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people take precautions, including getting tested and wearing a mask, regardless of vaccination status or if they had a previous infection.
MDH has updated the MDH Schools and Child Care: COVID-19 webpage to reflect these changes. The CDC guidance can also be accessed directly using the links below:
Questions about the CDC’s guidance can be directed to the MDH COVID-19 Schools and Child Care Team at health.schools.covid19@state.mn.us.
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!
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.
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 if you have questions.
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