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October 14, 2022
Updates in this email:
MDE is excited to announce the launch of the first strand of the COMPASS Data and Assessment Literacy (MnDAL) modules. The MnDAL series of online learning modules is aimed at supporting educators and leaders to use assessment and data as tools to transform teaching and learning. Each module includes slides, articles, videos, activities, and tools that can be applied within classroom instruction.
The learning series is differentiated through two paths: one for teachers and one for leaders. Each module requires about 60-90 minutes to complete and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded for module completion. Educators and leaders are encouraged to use the downloadable reflection questions, facilitation guides, and activities with a group of teachers or as a curriculum for professional learning.
Individuals can currently access the content of Modules 1–4 for teachers in the MDE Canvas learning management system; the leader set will be released at the end of October.
Module 1: The Role of Assessment in a Balanced, Comprehensive and Equitable Learning System
Module 2: Balanced, Comprehensive and Equitable Assessment Systems
Module 3: The Role of State Summative Assessments in a Balanced, Comprehensive and Equitable Assessment System
Module 4: Balanced Classroom Assessment Systems
All future modules and facilitator guides will be posted on the On-Demand Learning page of the Testing 1, 2, 3 website as they are published throughout the 2022–23 school year. For more information or questions, please contact MDE COMPASS.
Accessing MnDAL Modules
Links to each module's content and facilitator guide are posted on the On-Demand Learning page of the Testing 1, 2, 3 website. The module links will direct you to MDE’s Canvas page. You will then need to click the “Join this course” button in the upper right corner.
If you do not have an MDE Canvas account, select the “I am a new user” radio button, enter your email in the Username field, enter your first and last name in the Full Name field, and agree to the Acceptable use policy. Select “Enroll in Course” and then select “Go to the Course” to access the modules in Canvas. Note: You will receive an email asking you to finish setting up your account by creating your password for future logins.
Project AWARE & COMPASS will be partnering to host several virtual School Mental Health Best Practices trainings this fall. The intended audience is anyone interested in enhancing their system of supports for student mental health and wellbeing. Trainings will be facilitated by Emily Denight Kelly, MPH, CHES, Project AWARE’s Lead Trainer and Laura Lyman, MSW, LICSW, COMPASS School Climate & Mental Health Specialist. Participants will be asked to complete a short amount of pre-work sent two weeks prior to the training date(s) as well as the 1.5 hours of live, virtual training(s). Session offerings include:
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Teaming: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 3: – 4:30 p.m. CST; Registration Link. This session will focus on teaming. By the end of this module, participants will be able to: 1) define a school mental health team and at least three functions of school mental health teams; 2) describe at least three reasons why school mental health teams are valuable; and 3) describe best practices for teaming. We highly encourage participants attend of the Foundations of Comprehensive School Mental Health trainings in October as a pre-requisite.
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Needs Assessment and Resource Mapping: Monday, Dec. 5, 9 – 10:30 a.m. CST; Registration Link. This session will focus on Needs Assessment and Resource Mapping. By the end of this module, participants will be able to: 1) define needs assessment and resource mapping; 2) describe at least three reasons why needs assessments and resource mapping are valuable for schools; and 3) describe best practices for needs assessment and resource mapping. We highly encourage participants attend of the Foundations of Comprehensive School Mental Health trainings in October as a pre-requisite.
As school MEA break and the holiday season approaches, it is important to consider how to protect your staff and students from COVID-19. The CDC has Strategies for a Healthy and Safe Holiday Season to reduce the spread of the virus and protect your community and yourself. For the 2022-23 school year, State of Minnesota school districts and schools will continue to be able to access rapid COVID-19 tests for students and staff to take at-home, including BinaxNOW OTC or OraSure InteliSwab as well as the Midwest Coordination Center, a pooled federal screening testing program.
We encourage schools to order these tests and have them readily available to distribute tests to their staff and students. Take at-home tests may be ordered throughout the school year at this link Abbott BinaxNOW OTC Test Kit Request Form (state.mn.us). You can find more information on school COVID guidance and testing on the MDH website: COVID-19 Testing in K-12 Schools and Child Care - Minnesota Dept. of Health (state.mn.us).
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, Nov. 10, 2022; 2-3:30 p.m. (virtual connection with MDE)
- Thursday, Jan. 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.
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 Nov. 1.
For further information, visit the Scholars of Distinction webpage.
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, Nov. 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 Sept. 27 to Oct. 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 heard 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.
The Departments of Education, Health and 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 Nov. 2 through Nov. 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 Nov. 2-4, 2022 - Formstack
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.
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