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February 3, 2023
Updates in this email:
MDE’s Project AWARE and COMPASS teams are partnering to host several free, virtual School Mental Health Best Practices trainings this spring. The intended audience is anyone interested in enhancing their systems of support 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.
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Foundations of Comprehensive School Mental Health: Feb. 14, 9–10:30 a.m. CST; Registration Link. In this training, participants will develop an understanding of the definition, core features and value of comprehensive school mental health systems. By the end of this module, participants will be able to define comprehensive school mental health systems, describe the six core features of comprehensive school mental health systems, and describe three reasons why comprehensive school mental health is important.
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Teaming: Feb. 27, 9–10:30 a.m. CST; Registration Link. This session will focus on teaming. By the end of this module, participants will be able to define a school mental health team and at least three functions of school mental health teams, describe at least three reasons why school mental health teams are valuable, and describe best practices for teaming. We highly encourage participants to attend the Foundations of Comprehensive School Mental Health training as a prerequisite, though it’s not required.
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Needs Assessment & Resource Mapping: March 22, 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 define needs assessment and resource mapping, describe at least three reasons why needs assessments and resource mapping are valuable for schools, and describe best practices for needs assessment and resource mapping. We highly encourage participants to attend the Foundations of Comprehensive School Mental Health training as a prerequisite, though it’s not required.
There is still time to register for the Circle to Repair Relationships Skills Session. This three-day, 15-hour restorative skills session will take place virtually on Feb. 11, 18 and 25 from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The sessions will be led by Kurt RuKim and Victoria Martinson. The fee for attending is $225.
This circle process supports the community’s work to be in “right relationship” with each other and can be used to repair relationships and address hiccups, disruption and harm. It will discuss the obligations of both participants and the school when harm happens and identify systemic barriers to the process, centering race in all steps and stages. Basic circle training and experience in keeping circle are required.
For more information about the Circle to Repair Relationships Skills Session, go to Online Restorative Skills Sessions and Circle Trainings – January and February 2023 or contact Nancy Riestenberg, 651-582-8433, Grace Yang, 651-582-8777, or Gregg Campbell, 651-582-8796.
Documentation for the Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services (ADSIS) for fiscal years 2024-2025 grant opportunity, including the instructions, application and budget documentation, is now available on Competitive Grant Opportunities.
The Minnesota Department of Education makes this funding available to Minnesota public school districts and charter schools for the purpose of providing direct instruction and services to K-12 students and preschool students who are part of district programs that generate general education revenue and who may need additional academic and behavioral supports to succeed in the general education environment and who may eventually qualify for special education if the prevention services were not available. Please see the grant instructions for the specific allowable outcomes for this funding program.
This year there will be two deadlines in an attempt to expedite funding decisions. Completed applications received by Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. Central Time will be reviewed early. The final applications must be received by March 3 at 5 p.m. Central Time to be considered. Late applications will not be accepted.
An informational session will be available for interested parties: join on Zoom on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. Central Time. The purpose of this webinar is for new or returning applicants to hear an overview of the funding opportunity as well as details of the statute, application and process. Meeting ID: 161 506 1786. Event passcode: ADSIS.
Please contact Dan Torrez, Program Coordinator at mde.adsisreview@state.mn.us or 651-582-8713 for further information.
Minnesota families who rely on MinnesotaCare or Medicaid for their health care coverage will receive paperwork to renew coverage from the Department of Human Services in the next 16 months. Renewals were paused during the pandemic. The most important thing families need to do right now to avoid a gap in coverage is to ensure the Department of Human Services (DHS) can reach them through the mail.
Please help us ensure every family has the information to renew their health care coverage. Families can find information about what to do at DHS's Don’t Risk a Gap in Your Health Insurance. There are also multiple resources available in DHS's communications toolkits at Planning for the End of Federal Continuous Coverage Requirements: Preparing for Renewals. Partners like you can use these tools to help get the message out via social media, print materials, newsletters, websites and more. Thank you for helping keep kids covered!
The 2022 MSS statewide results were released to the public on Dec. 23, 2022 (read the MSS 2022 press release). 2022 MSS data are available at the district, county and state levels on the MDE interactive web report and PDF summary tables websites. Additional statewide PDF summary reports by race/ethnicity and other demographics can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health website.
The MSS Data Request Form has been updated to include data from 2022. You may request summary PDF tables, similar to what is publicly available on our website, or you may request an Excel or other statistical file for your own research purposes.
In order to receive updates on the MSS, please subscribe to the MSS bulletin. You may email mde.studentsurvey@state.mn.us with any questions.
By March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to the district’s course registration date (whichever is earlier), a district must provide up-to-date information about the PSEO program to all students in grades 8-11 (Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.09, subdivision 7). This requirement applies to both districts and charter schools.
Information about the PSEO program, including enrollment requirements and the opportunity to earn postsecondary credit, must be published on the district or school website and in materials that are distributed to parents and students. To provide consistent and helpful guidance about PSEO, updated language is available on the MDE Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage. This language can be used on district and school websites to satisfy this statutory obligation.
For questions, contact Beth Barsness at 651-582-8336.
To support local high schools with their financial aid efforts, the Ready, Set, FAFSA! series will again be offered to students and families. Between Feb. 7–28, five virtual sessions will cover the financial aid process, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students, understanding offer letters and how to search for scholarships. 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 or watch a session recording will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship. Registration is open now for families on the Ready, Set, FAFSA! website.
Schools can access Promotional Materials with ready-made graphics and content to promote the series to students and families. Please contact Beth Barsness for further information.
The Ready, Set, FAFSA! series is a collaboration between MDE, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, ECMC The College Place and Minnesota Goes to College.
Apply now to become a part of a community of educators working to increase equity in visual and performing 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 in Minnesota schools. The program’s Professional Learning and Action Cohort will engage in three years of ongoing professional learning beginning in June 2023.
The cohort will be comprised of teams and individuals selected from applications open now. Each team will receive technical and financial support toward local Pilot Action Initiatives in K-12 classrooms, schools and districts. Cohort applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15. Access the application at Culturally Responsive Arts Ed and find more information on the program, eligibility and the application process.
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