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October 19, 2022
Updates in this email:
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. Applications must be postmarked or emailed by Oct. 28, 2022.
Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesotans can schedule appointments for children ages 5-11 to receive an updated bivalent booster at state-run vaccination sites. The announcement follows updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 through 11 years to protect them against newer Omicron variants.
Minnesota health care providers are ready to administer new COVID-19 booster shots for ages 5 and older that have been formulated to be more effective against the Omicron variants. Attached you will find high-level talking points on the Bivalent vaccine.
The Pfizer bivalent booster is now available for people 5 and older and the Moderna bivalent vaccine is now available for people 6 and older.Both products can be given as soon as two months after a primary vaccine series or booster vaccination. Children 5-11 receive a smaller dose than people age 12 and older. The bivalent vaccines are only recommended for use as a booster.
The updated COVID-19 boosters can both help restore protection that has decreased since previous vaccination and provide broader protection against newer variants. The COVID-19 vaccines and the updated booster are safe and help protect people from getting very sick with COVID-19. Even if you’ve already had COVID-19, you should get vaccinated.
State-Run Vaccination Sites
Vaccination will start this week at the state-run vaccination sites at Mall of America, Duluth, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Paul. Parents can start making appointments now.
All state-run vaccination sites will offer the Pfizer bivalent boosters. Appointments are recommended but walk ins will be accepted.
Where to get a bivalent booster
- There are several options for where to get a bivalent booster.
- Check with your regular health care provider or local pharmacy to see if appointments are available.
- Minnesotans can make appointments at the state-run vaccination sites now: State Run Sites
- Use the state’s Find Vaccine Locations map to find vaccine providers near you—providers will update their information as appointments are available.
- Check for vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, where you can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
- Watch for vaccination clinics being offered at other community locations around Minnesota.
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.
MCCC data for the 2021-22 school year must be reported by Friday December 9, 2022. Data is collected for course subject areas by grade levels:
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Early Education includes School Readiness (SR), Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE).
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K-8 includes English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, World Languages, Physical Education and Health.
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9-12 includes all courses.
When assigning staff to complete MCCC reporting, consider the following:
- MCCC reporting does not have to be completed by a single person.
- The staff assigned should have a strong understanding of course content and how courses are taught.
- Staff should have access to course scheduling and student grading in the student information system.
The document Minnesota Common Course Catalogue (MCCC) Program Guide provides an overview of MCCC data reporting. If you have questions, contact Karen Millette.
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.
In order to better serve Minnesota's principals and school leaders, the Principal Leadership Support (PLS) team issues an email newsletter every other month. The goal of the newsletter is to provide support to leaders in the form of announcements, professional learning opportunities, and other information specific to principals and school leaders.
Please forward this opportunity to the principals and school leaders in your district or charter, who are encouraged to sign up to receive the newsletter. For any questions regarding the upcoming newsletter, please contact Elizabeth Vaught at 651-582-8250.
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.
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.
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
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?
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!
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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