Educator Edition: 1-4-23 (Correction)

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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment

Vol. 1, No. 5: Jan. 4, 2023

Updates From MDE

CORRECTION: The original version of this letter incorrectly listed the date for the next step in rulemaking process as Jan. 4. The correct date is Dec. 27.

Comments Requested on Proposed 2022 K–12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts (ELA)

Review and Revision Process for K–12 Academic Standards in ELA

Per Minnesota Statutes 2021, section 120B.021, subdivision 4, every 10 years Minnesota’s K–12 Academic Standards in each content area must be reviewed and revised. The review and revision process for the K–12 Academic Standards and supporting benchmarks in ELA began during the 2019–20 school year. Because of this statutory requirement, a standards review committee of volunteer Minnesotans is formed to review and revise the standards and supporting benchmarks each year in the specific content area up for review.

The statutory rulemaking process for ELA began on Feb. 16, 2021, and proceeded to the next step on Dec. 27. The statutory rulemaking process is an iterative one and begins once the initial review and revision work of the standards review committee is complete. This process is set out in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 14, and is a complex process with many steps.

Rulemaking Public Comment Period for Proposed K–12 Academic Standards in ELA

The public comment period for ELA’s Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR) in the statutory rulemaking process started on Wednesday, Dec. 28, and will run for 30 days, closing on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 4:30 p.m. To provide feedback on the standards as a part of the statutory rulemaking process during this period of Dual Notice, review the Request for Comments document posted on the MDE rulemaking webpage for the proposed Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts. Comments must be submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings’ e-comments system.

Next Steps in the Statutory Rulemaking Process

The next step of the statutory rulemaking process is that MDE will review the public comments submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) during the 30-day statutory public comment period. If there are 25 requests for a hearing to discuss the K–12 Academic Standards in ELA, a public hearing will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7.

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CORRECTION: The original version of this letter incorrectly listed the date for the beginning of the rulemaking process as Jan. 4. The correct date is Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Comments Requested on Proposed 2022 K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics

Review and Revision Process for K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics

Per Minnesota Statutes 2021, section 120B.021, subdivision 4, every 10 years Minnesota’s K–12 Academic Standards in each content area must be reviewed and revised. The review and revision process for the K–12 Academic Standards and supporting benchmarks in mathematics began during the 2021–22 school year. Because of this statutory requirement, a standards review committee of volunteer Minnesotans is formed to review and revise the standards and supporting benchmarks each year in the specific content area up for review.

The statutory rulemaking process began on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The statutory rulemaking process is an iterative one and begins once the initial review and revision work of the standards review committee is complete. This process is set out in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 14, and is a complex process with many steps. The proposed K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics represents the work of the mathematics standards review committee.

The first step of the statutory rulemaking process for the K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics is publishing the Request for Comments in the State Register. A 60-day public comment period on the proposed standards follows the publishing of this document. Per Minnesota Statutes 120B.023, subd. 1(d), the statutory rulemaking process does not apply to the supporting benchmarks and thus the 60-day public comment period is only open for the proposed standards language and does not give the public an opportunity to comment further on the supporting benchmarks. In the interest of being as transparent as possible, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is also holding a separate public comment period specifically for the benchmarks that support the K–12 academic standards.

As a reminder, an academic standard is a summary description of student learning in a content area. Academic standards encompass one or more supporting benchmarks. A benchmark supplements the standard and is the specific knowledge or skill that a student must master to complete part of an academic standard by the end of a grade level. Academic standards are not curricula. Curricula are the resources, assessments, learning experiences and plans that educators use at the local level to instruct students on the content of the academic standards. Under Minn. Stat. 120B.021, subd. 2(b), Minnesota academic standards do not require a specific curriculum.

Rulemaking Public Comment Period for Proposed K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics

The initial public comment period in the statutory rulemaking process began on Wednesday, Dec. 28, and will run for 60 days, closing on Monday, Feb. 27, at 4:30 p.m. To provide feedback on the standards as a part of the statutory rulemaking process review the Request for Comments document posted on the MDE rulemaking webpage for the proposed K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics. Comments must be submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings’ e-comments system.

Additional Public Comment Period for Mathematics Benchmarks

The public comment period on the supporting benchmarks will last 30 days and will close on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m. To provide feedback on the benchmarks as a part of MDE’s public comment process, complete this Public Comment Survey or email mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us. Comments sent via postal mail will also be accepted.

Next Steps in the Statutory Rulemaking Process

It is still early in the statutory rulemaking phase of the standards review and revision process. There are multiple opportunities throughout this phase for the public to make comments and provide feedback on the proposed standards language and for changes to be considered and made to the initial proposed standards draft. Learn more about the K–12 Academic Standards Development Process. 

The next step of the statutory rulemaking process is that MDE will review the public comments submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) during the 60-day statutory public comment period. Next, MDE will draft the Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR), which has traditionally taken 14-17 months. The full statutory rulemaking process can take up to 24 months.

The statutory rulemaking process for the Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics is not complete until the Notice of Adoption is published in the State Register. Each content areas includes an implementation date in the adopted rule language. If adopted, the proposed K–12 Academic Standards in Mathematics will be implemented in the 2027-28 school year.

Please share these opportunities for public comments with Minnesotans in your network and community.

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Upcoming Opportunities

Webinar: Creating a Culture of Mathematical Sense-Making in Standards-Based Classroom – Part 1

What are the actions mathematics educators can take to create a culture of sense making? On Jan. 11, from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m., MDE will start the discussion and investigation of student sense-making as it relates to standards, instruction and assessment in math classrooms around Minnesota. Additionally, MDE math content folks from Academic Standards, Assessment, and COMPASS will be available for questions after the session. This session will not be recorded. Please sign up for the Jan. 11 Math webinarPlease contact Angela Hochstetter (651-582-8851) if you have questions or would like assistance in completing this form.

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Alternate Assessment Coffee Break

Meet with Alternate Assessment Specialists to Give Feedback and Ask Questions

The Academic Standards, Instruction, and Assessment Division will host a series of coffee break sessions for MTAS test administrators and special education staff to ask any questions around alternate assessment, share your feedback, and connect with other special education staff from across the state. Join us on Jan. 10, 4–5 p.m. via Zoom: Alternate Assessment Coffee Break. Please register for the coffee break.

Bring your favorite beverage, along with your questions and any feedback you have, to share at this informal time focused around alternate assessment. This month we will be discussing assessment and IEPs, MTAS participation guidelines, and accommodations. Future Coffee Breaks will be held on Feb. 13 and March 14, 4–5 p.m. For more information, contact Alt.Assessment.MDE@state.mn.us.

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MTAS Administration Informational Meeting

The Academic Standards, Instruction, and Assessment Division will host informational meetings in January for MTAS Test Administrators and special education staff to share upcoming changes to the MTAS in the spring of 2023. While this information will also be included in the required training materials for MTAS administration, this event will highlight some MTAS test administration changes and show a sample of new reading and science field test tasks that are included in a portion of the assessment. Test Administrators and other district staff involved in administering the MTAS are encouraged to attend so they are prepared for the changes, are familiar with the new reading and science tasks, and can have their questions answered. Note: This meeting does not replace the required MTAS Test Administrator trainings that will be available on the Training Management System (TMS).

Register for one of the MTAS Administration 2023 Informational Meetings below. Both events cover the same information, so please select one date to attend.

Please note: MDE aims to deliver our presentations in a way that will be accessible for our participants. If you anticipate needing accommodations, contact mde.testing@state.mn.us. MDE requests a two-week advance notice to provide accommodations and 48-hour notice to cancel them. If the request comes within two weeks of the event, MDE will still make an effort to provide the accommodation.

A recording of the informational meeting will be available at a later date. Look for information in an upcoming Educator Edition.

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January Curriculum Director Meetings

All Curriculum Directors are invited to meet with the MDE Academic Standards team at either of two virtual sessions, both on Jan. 24. The Academic Standards Team will answer their top 10 questions from 2022 and introduce the newest members of the MDE team. Select one of the links below to join the meeting via Zoom:

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Apply for the Culturally Responsive Arts Education Cohort

Apply now to become a part of our community and journey to increase equity in arts education across Minnesota! The Culturally Responsive Arts Education Program is designed to support the development and implementation of culturally responsive and anti-racist arts curriculum, instruction, policies, and practices. The program’s Professional Learning and Action Cohort will engage in ongoing professional learning culminating in local Pilot Action Initiatives in K–12 classrooms, schools, and districts. 

Participation in the Culturally Responsive Arts Education Program’s Professional Learning and Action Cohort is a three-year commitment and will begin June 2023. Eligible applicants must work in a K–12 school or district in Minnesota, and may include but are not limited to arts educators, school and district leaders, and other school and district staff that support arts learning. Teams are encouraged to apply.  

Applications are due by midnight on Feb. 15. Visit the Culturally Responsive Arts Ed page of the MDE website for more information about the program, cohort participation requirements and benefits, eligibility, and application process.

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National Youth Science Camp Applications Open

Applications are now being accepted from high school juniors and seniors in the classes of 2023 and 2024 to represent Minnesota at the 2023 National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). Two students from each state, Washington, D.C., and select countries will attend the all-expenses-paid program, which will be held from June 19 through July 12, 2023, in Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. For more information about the program, please visit the National Youth Science Camp website. National Youth Science Camp applications must be submitted online by 11 p.m. on Feb. 28.

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Important Ideas and Research

Considering an Integrated STEM Curriculum

Integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) has been part of the education conversation in Minnesota for at least a decade. In that time, Minnesota school districts have developed a focus on STEM in elementary, middle, and high schools. Some districts and schools have adapted the STEM concept to integrate an arts focus (STEAM), an environmental focus (E-STEM), and many others. STEM education provides intentionally designed and linked learning experiences for students to develop and apply understandings of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts and processes. Integrated STEM education exemplifies standards-based, best-practice instruction from each field to explore relevant questions and problems based in the natural and designed world.

STEM programs take on many different forms that serves the needs of each school or program. Below are some variations of STEM integration from Rodger Bybee (2013).

  • Coordinate. Two subjects taught in separate courses are coordinated so content in one subject synchronizes with what is needed in another subject.
  • Complement. While teaching the main content of one subject, the content of another subject is introduced to complement the primary subject.
  • Correlate. Two subjects with similar themes, content, or processes are taught so students understand the similarities and differences.
  • Connections. Use one discipline to connect to other disciplines (such as using technology to connect science and math).
  • Combine. Combining two or more STEM disciplines using projects, themes, procedures, or other organizing foci.

With the inclusion of computer science in the 2019 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science and the soon-to-be-released Mathematics Academic Standards, this is a great time to revisit conversations about STEM integration. If you are a district or school leader interested in talking about STEM education with other Minnesota schools and districts, please complete this short STEM survey.

Reference: Bybee, R. (2013). The case for STEM education: Challenges and opportunities. NSTA Press.

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