|
May 5, 2023
Updates in this email:
MDE is excited to announce some important leadership transitions. These strategic changes will position our agency to carry out our collective work to serve students, families and school communities across the state.
Stephanie Graff will assume the role of Deputy Commissioner, supporting Commissioner Jett in carrying out our agency's vision aligned with the vision of the Governor and Lt. Governor. In her role, Stephanie will directly oversee Government Relations, Communications, the Office of Student Support Services, the Office of Educational Opportunity, the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Office of the Chief Operating Officer.
Dr. Macarre Traynham will be appointed as the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Equity and Engagement, reporting directly to Commissioner Jett. This office will be home to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center and the Public Engagement Division and is clearly aligned with MDE’s mission and values to be an equity-focused organization that lifts up the voices of students and communities.
A newly-created Chief Operating Officer (COO) position is currently posted for hire. The COO will oversee Human Resources, School Finance, Agency Finance and Agency Services and indirectly oversee our IT team (MN.IT@MDE). As Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Denise Anderson begins a phased transition to retirement, this new COO will overlap with the CFO for the summer. The COO will then replace the CFO with an expanded scope of operational oversight.
We are pleased that Assistant Commissioners Daron Korte, Bobbie Burnham and Angela Mansfield will continue their roles on the MDE Cabinet team. Director of the Office of American Indian Education Dr. Jane Harstad, Tribal Liaison Melanie Franks and General Counsel Eric Taubel will also continue reporting directly to Commissioner Jett.
Additionally, Clair Gades, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, has announced she will be retiring in early June. Marquetta Stokes will be joining MDE to take on that position later this month.
This May 10 MDE organizational chart shows the structure that will go into effect on May 10 until the COO is in place. This future MDE organizational chart outlines the structure that will begin when the COO is hired.
We are confident these changes will positively position us to support a world-class education for every student.
MDE is ready to celebrate Minnesota teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 8–12. Look out for a video message to teachers from Commissioner Jett next week on MDE's social media pages and in this newsletter.
Please read the Summary of Audit Requirements FY2023 Audits on the Division of School Finance's Financial Management webpage. Minnesota Statutes require reporting of audited financial data to be completed by statutory deadline. This memorandum explains the process of these audit requirements. Please share with anyone who deals with audits.
If you have questions, contact Pam Sanders.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the final timeline for restarting annual renewals in public health care programs. With Medicaid eligibility newly becoming a part of direct certification, which is currently tied to the compensatory revenue formula, schools could be affected by this change.
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare renewals were paused during the pandemic. Renewals are now restarting. The more than 1.5 million Minnesotans on Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare will need their program eligibility reviewed through a renewal process by May 2024.
Please visit DHS's Renew My Coverage communications toolkit for resources in multiple languages. Please share the messages in this toolkit with your district and school communities.
On April 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program. This is the first grant funding opportunity through the multi-year funding program and follows the 2022 CSB Rebate Program, which was the first round of funding. Under the 2023 Grant Program, EPA anticipates awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding to eligible applicants for purchasing zero-emission (ZE) school buses, clean school buses and ZE charging infrastructure.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes two sub-programs, one for school district and Tribal applicants (School District Sub-program) and one for third-party applicants (Third-Party Sub-program). EPA is providing two separate competitions under this single NOFO to address the needs and concerns of diverse recipients and encourage participation in the CSB grants program.
EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, rural areas, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and public school districts receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas. In addition, EPA is committed to ensuring the CSB Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative that at least 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities.
The NOFO will be open for 120 days. Applicants must submit all grant application materials to Grants.gov by Tuesday, August 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
EPA will host a series of public webinars regarding this NOFO from May through August to provide potential applicants with an overview of the NOFO and how to apply. Webinar registration links will be posted to the Clean School Bus Webinars webpage.
If anyone has a question about the 2023 BIL CSB NOFO, submit the question to cleanschoolbus@epa.gov. Please include “Clean School Bus NOFO Question” in the subject line of your email. The deadline for submitting questions via email is Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The Minnesota Department of Education will collect recently arrived English Learner (RAEL), Active Duty Parent (ADP), students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), and Immigrant data elements via the Student Support Data Collection (SSDC) Systems. All information must be entered by June 1 for use in reporting, funding and accountability calculations. Students appear in the SSDC system with a recent error-free MARSS submission. Only approved SSDC Coordinators are able to access the secure SSDC system to identify students.
All LEAs must submit data in the SSDC for school year 2022-23. For school year 2022-23, RAEL, ADP, SLIFE, and Immigrant data elements will be pulled from the SSDC submission system. Moving into school year 2023-24, all LEAs who are Ed-Fi certified for MARSS will be expected to report these data elements through Ed-Fi. This means the SSDC data must be input in your district or charter’s student information software where it will live and thus be submitted to MDE via the Ed-Fi Application Programming Interface (API). In school year 2023-24, any LEA not yet certified for MARSS will be expected to report in the SSDC. Stay tuned throughout next school year for reminders and tips on SSDC data being submitted in Ed-Fi.
Questions regarding identification or programmatic issues can be directed to mde.el@state.mn.us. Technical questions regarding Ed-Fi issues can be directed to ed-fi.mde@state.mn.us.
Read the April 27 memorandum regarding Career and Technical Education (CTE) Levy Reporting from Assistant Commissioner Angela Mansfield, Office of Educational Opportunity, and Sally Reynolds, Director of the Career and College Success Division. The CTE Levy reporting system will open May 2 for entering the anticipated FY24 (2023-2024 school year) budgets. Budgets must be entered for approved CTE programs by June 6.
Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.4531, directs the Minnesota Department of Education to annually recalculate the authority of a school district to levy for costs associated with its CTE programs. Districts must submit annual budgets for their CTE programs to qualify for this permissive levy.
For assistance with detailed questions about the CTE Levy Program System, contact Shelli Sowles, 651-582-8403.
The MDE Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center is offering new restorative practices trainings this June. Trainings including Compassionate Witnessing in Bemidji, Restorative Conversations with Adults in Cloquet, Circle Keepers and the Equity Journey online, and Addressing Racial Harm: Exploring Our Stories in Crystal. Consider registering for these new offerings.
Training registration fees range from $135 to $300. Go to the Implementing Restorative Practices webpage for descriptions of the trainings in Greater Minnesota, Online, and in the Metro-Crystal and for answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Restorative Practices Trainings.
If you have any questions about the trainings, contact Nancy Riestenberg, 651-582-8433; Grace Yang, 651-582-8777; or Gregg Campbell, 651-582-8796.
The School Nurses Organization of Minnesota (SNOM) would like your help celebrating National School Nurses day on May 10. Please consider sending an appreciation email to your school nurse. The celebration recognizes the contributions school nurses make every day to improve the safety, health, and academic success of all students.
Examples of messaging to send to your school nurse:
- You don’t get nearly as much gratitude sent your way as you deserve. Today, we celebrate you, your service, and your labor of love. You are a phenomenal nurse who deserves honor today and always. Happy Nurses Day!
- You give so much of yourself to give comfort and healing to someone else. You deserve to be honored today. Happy Nurses Day!
The 2023 Read Well by Third Grade (RWBTG) online submission platform is now open. This data is required of all Minnesota districts and charter schools that enroll students in grades K–2 and is due to MDE annually by July 1. Please see the RWBTG Launch Memo for further information.
A one-time donation will fund 20 registration scholarships for the 2023 Hormel Gifted Education Symposium. A maximum of two individuals per school may be awarded free registration to the symposium. Applicants must be a licensed Minnesota public school teacher, gifted education coordinator/specialist, school counselor/psychologist/social worker or specialist currently working in a Minnesota public school. Awardees must:
- Agree to attend the entire symposium, June 13-15 (Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – Thursday 4 p.m.)
- Agree to report on their experience at a fall building-level staff meeting
Scholarships will be allocated on a first come, first served basis until all funds have been dedicated. Applicants must send a statement of their interest and include the name of their school and district. Applications will only be accepted by email with the subject line "Hormel Scholarship" sent to Wendy Behrens, Gifted Education Specialist. This offer is available until May 10 (updated) or when all funds have been allocated.
Back to Top
|
