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July 14, 2023
Updates in this email:
This year the Minnesota Legislature passed a law to end the use of Native mascots in Minnesota public schools. MDE has reached out directly to some districts and charters, but it is also important that all districts and charters consider their own mascots and potential connection to this legislation.
“American Indian mascot” means a name, symbol or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian Tribe (or any connection to); an individual, custom or tradition that is used by a public school as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead or team name of the district or school within the district. This includes symbols such as feathers, spears, tomahawks and Indigenous clothing. Schools and districts within a tribal reservation in Minnesota that have 95% American Indian students will be exempt from this legislation.
If your district or school would like to apply for an exemption, visit our Tribal Relations webpage to find the documentation needed. The exemption form must be submitted to all 11 Federally recognized tribes in Minnesota and the Tribal Nations Education Committee (TNEC) before September 1, 2023.
Once this documentation is received, Tribal Nations and the TNEC will review your exemption application and reply to you directly. Tribal Nations and the TNEC have until December 15, 2023, to respond to your application for exemption. The exemption is denied if any of the 11 Tribal Nations or the TNEC opposes the exemption. If districts or charters do not receive an exemption, a transition to a new mascot will need to occur by September 1, 2025. Please contact us with any questions.
The MDE divisions of School Finance and State Libraries & Expanded Learning have collaborated to create a Frequently Asked Questions document related to the new School Library Aid funding approved in the 2023 legislative session. School districts and charter schools are eligible for funding, and new UFARS codes have been created to record and validate revenue and expenditures. View the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – School Library Aid document.
MDE will continue to provide updates and will revise the FAQ as more questions are submitted related to school library aid.
Registration is open for the August Restorative Practices trainings offered by MDE's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center. Circle 1 – Building Community and Restorative Chats sessions will be offered online and in-person in St. Paul. To register, visit Restorative Circle and Chats Trainings. Registration closes on July 31.
If you have any questions about the trainings, contact Nancy Riestenberg, 651-582-8433.
Governor Tim Walz signed legislation passed in the 2023 session requiring that each school district and charter school maintain a minimum of two doses of nasal naloxone in each school building, effective on July 1. MDE will be setting up a webinar for school leaders to provide information and guidance closer to the start of the school year. Additional guidance about ordering will be forthcoming. Here is a list of current resources for your review:
Model Policy for Naloxone Administration: The Minnesota School Board Association worked with MDE and MDH to finalize a Model Policy for Naloxone Administration. You can access this information on their website https://mnmsba.org under the Resource Library tab/Policies.
To find training resources for your schools, please follow the link below:
Resources for Education and Staff Training – MDH
Developing a School Emergency Response Procedure:
Developing a School Emergency Response Procedure – MDH
More resources for where to obtain naloxone can be found at:
Naloxone Medication – MDH
If you need further assistance, please email our MDE State School Nurse Consultant Tara Swaby.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering school IAQ plan trainings starting in September, both in-person and online. Public schools must have health and safety programs that comply with health, safety and environmental regulations and best practices, including indoor air quality (IAQ) management. One best practice is that public schools have an IAQ Coordinator. This training will discuss the state’s best practices for school IAQ management plans. School staff, service providers, health officials and others are welcome to attend. The training is free, but registration is required. View the MDH School IAQ Plan Training webpage for details and registration. Additional questions can be sent to health.indoorair@state.mn.us.
On June 26, the 2020 Minnesota K-12 English Language Arts Standards (ELA) were published in the state register. They are effective five days after that publication date and are to be fully implemented in the 2025-26 school year. Supports for implementation are on the English Language Arts Standards Implementation website.
MDE ELA Specialist, Victoria Mucha (mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us), will answer questions and provide assistance as districts work toward implementation.
The Career and College Success Division (CCSD) posted the following competitive grant programs:
Concurrent Enrollment Introduction to Teaching Grant – Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025
State funds are available to eligible applicants to develop or expand Concurrent Enrollment “Introduction to Teaching” or “Introduction to Education” courses consistent with Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.09, subdivision 10 to encourage secondary school students, especially American Indian students and students of color, to pursue teaching.
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) STEM Grant – Fiscal Years 2024, 2025 and 2026
State funds are available to charter schools and school districts to raise K–12 academic achievement through increased student participation in Pre-AP, AP, and/or IB science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, particularly for historically underserved student groups.
Applications for both grants are due July 21, with an anticipated grant start date of October 1. Visit the Competitive Grant Opportunities from the Minnesota Department of Education webpage for more information and application materials.
Reimagining Arts Education: Native Arts Summer Institute and 2023-24 Cohort
July 25–27, 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Cansayapi Wicoicage Oti, Lower Sioux Cultural Incubator and Morton, Minnesota
Register for July 25-27 Reimagining Arts Education Summer Institute and Cohort
This summer institute and cohort will support educators designing and piloting meaningful and authentic standards-based learning experiences about Dakota and Ojibwe arts and cultural expression. Participants will dive deep into Dakota and Ojibwe arts and cultural expression and essential understandings about contemporary Native arts, learning with Iyekiyapiwin Darlene St. Clair, artists, makers, performers from Tribal Nations in Minnesota, MDE arts specialists and Indigenous education specialists. This institute and cohort focuses on supporting K-12 arts educators. Continued support during the following school year for curriculum development and piloting will consist of three professional development days. Costs will be covered for qualifying participants.
For a complete description of participant eligibility, institute and cohort details and financial supports, visit the Culturally Responsive Arts Education webpage and download the Native Arts Summer Institute and 2023-24 Cohort Overview document.
7/13/23 update: Registration is now closed for the second institute, Reimagining Arts and Ethnic Studies Summer Institute: Identity, Power, and Resistance in Education.
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