It has been a couple of busy months with a bunch of impactful developments – new legislation, new CTE funding, and much more. The new school year promises to be just as active. There are a number of new resources developed for Trade and Industry teachers. Additional resources will also be added as the school year progresses.
Below is information about new MDE resources, professional development opportunities, career exploration events, scholarships and grants, and much more.
Check it out!
Take care and have a great start to the year!
Tim Barrett
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Email Address Change!
Recently, my Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) email was changed to tim.barrett@state.mn.us. Be sure to update your address book!
Annual Trade & Industry Teacher Survey
Every year, we conduct a survey to help to gauge the state of secondary Trade and Industry education programs and identify future professional development/learning opportunities in Minnesota. We are asking for your feedback on how things are going and the most pressing needs for professional development not available or already being supported in your locale. The following survey should not take more than 7-10 minutes to complete, but your answers will help us determine future professional development offerings.
Please complete the Minnesota Trade & Industry Fall Survey 2023. Respond by Friday September 29, 2023.
CTE Teacher Representative and Student Representatives Needed for the Computer Science Education Working Group
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is currently recruiting k-12 teachers and high school students to apply to be part of the Computer Science Education Working Group. The group will meet during the 2023-24 school year and present a final report to the Legislature in March 2024. In addition to specific representation from statewide organizations, the working group must also include at least one career and technical education teacher, one high school student enrolled in a school with fewer than 1,000 students, and one high school student enrolled in a school with more than 1,000 students.
Applications should be completed and emailed to mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us no later than Friday, September 8, 2023. All the information about the working group, including the assumptions and the student and adult applications, are available on MDE’s computer science website.
Minnesota Trade & Industry Frameworks and Safety Guidance Resource
Two long-awaited resources are now posted on the Trade and Industry webpage of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website.
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Trade and Industry Frameworks
Frameworks provide teachers in these career fields with high-quality, rigorous indicators and benchmarks to identify what students should know and be able to do after completing study in any of the Trade & Industry pathways. Frameworks have been developed for each of the separate program areas in Trade and Industry: Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation (including Aviation), and Communications Technology (including Computer Science/Information Technology.) An additional Foundation Framework was developed for the foundational disciplines of STEM, Engineering, and Industrial Technology that underlie all Trade and Industry program areas. There are also a number of support documents that have been developed to assist teachers with the Frameworks.
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Minnesota Safety Guidance Resource
The main Safety Guidance document is also posted on the Trade and Industry page. The Minnesota Schools Safety Resource: Instructor Materials and the Minnesota Schools Safety Resource: Student Materials are available to all Minnesota Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers on request. To request the complete resource, please contact the CTE team at mde.cte@state.mn.us
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Annual Program Approval Reviews
Trade and Industry programs in six Perkins consortia – Great River, Mid-Minnesota, Northeast Metro, Oakland, Pine Technical, and St. Paul – are up for Program Approval renewal in 2023. All programs are approved in a five-year cycle. However, if your district is considering submitting an application for a new Trade and Industry program, you will want to do so before the November 1, 2023, deadline.
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is currently receiving renewal application documents. If you were not able to attend one of the Program Approval training sessions held last spring, contact Tim Barrett to arrange for an individual meeting to discuss the process and documentation needed.
MDE has a Program Amendment Form for submitting any program changes which occur during the years when your program is not due for program approval renewal. The form allows you to note changes in your program teaching staff, CTE courses offered, and/or the person to serve as the contact for program information. Use this form if any of these changes take place in your program.
Don’t Forget License Renewal!
Is your CTE license or Out of Field Permission (OFP) up for renewal for this new school year? Get the information you need from the license agency.
Since January 1, 2018, the responsibilities carried out by the Minnesota Department of Education Licensing Division and the Board of Teaching were consolidated into the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). For assistance with questions on new licensure, licensure renewal, licensure by portfolio, out of field permissions, and the “tiered” licensure structure – check the PELSB website.
Minnesota Education Legislation Updates
In May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed, and Gov. Tim Walz signed into law, the 2023 omnibus K-12 bill and the early learning education bills. The 2023 Session webpage serves as a central hub for communication, resources and guidance issued by the Minnesota Department of Education on the enacted legislation.
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CTE TIP Program
The CTE Teacher Induction Program (TIP) was developed as a professional development opportunity for early-career teachers in career and technical education to support their development, efficacy, success, resilience, and retention. Application is limited. For more information, check out the New CTE Teachers page at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website.
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MDE Trade and Industry Professional Development
A number of professional development opportunities are available this year for Trade & Industry teachers. Check out the ones that can best help you and your program.
Also, feel free to suggest further topics for discussion. Send any ideas to Tim Barrett (tim.barrett@state.mn.us).
Trade & Industry Back to School Round Up
As we return to school, I will be offering a quick overview of relevant topics concerning the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Trade and Industry teachers. Topics include:
- Updated Trade & Industry Frameworks
- New Safety Guidance Resource
- Program Approval/licensing
- T&I resources
Grill Tim – Trade and Industry Office Hours
I will be offering an open session every third Tuesday of each month to allow T&I teachers to ask any questions you might have or to raise any issues you would like to discuss.
Trade and Industry Hot Topic Webinars
Jump online with other Trade & Industry teachers to learn about current issues in the field. You will need to register for this event to receive the link to attend.
- Program Approval September 25, 2023
- CTE Licenses October 23, 2023
- Equipment Requests November 27, 2023
- Industry Engagement/Advisory Committees January 22, 2024
- MN Safety Guidance Resource February 26, 2024
- Trade and Industry Frameworks March 25, 2024
- The Ideal Syllabus April 22, 2024
- Student Leadership vs Career Exploration May 6, 2024
- Labor Market and Workforce Information May 20, 2024
Each session will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Additional Topics may be added throughout the year.
You can find more information and links to register or join these events through the Trade and Industry Professional Development Calendar on the Trade and Industry webpage.
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StellarXplorers STEM Program
The StellarXplorers National Space Design Competition is a fun, hands-on competition that is inspiring our nation’s youth to explore education and careers in space, aviation, and other STEM disciplines. To learn more about how to get involved, visit The StellarXplorers website, or register to attend the upcoming 30-minute information session on Thursday, August 31. Send any questions to info@stellarxplorers.org.
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Robotic Team Grant Opportunities
There are a number of funding opportunities for FIRST FTC and FLL Robotic teams this season. High Tech Kids is proud to once again partner with Boston Scientific and 3M to offer grants this season to Minnesota-only teams! There are also team grant opportunities from REV Robotics and FIRST.
Please look at each grant carefully to determine if your team qualifies and apply by the grant deadline. All team grants may be found on the High Tech Kids FTC Grant and Scholarship page.
Google Certification Through Coursera
Through a partnership with Google, the Minnesota IT Center of Excellence (ITCOE) has numerous access passes for teachers and students to experience Google certifications curricula. There are nine certifications that students and teachers can choose from to explore including Google Cybersecurity, Google Project Management, Google IT Support, Google Advanced Data Analytics, Google Business Intelligence, Google UX Design, Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce, Google IT Automation with Python, and Google Data Analytics. If teachers are interested in incorporating Google certification in their classrooms, please contact Melissa Rousu.
Aerospace Career Exploration Opportunities
Discover boundless horizons with Aerospace Professionals in Schools (APIS). Designed to ignite the curiosity of young minds aged 6-10, APIS is a transformative initiative by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). Through science clubs and engaging career days, APIS showcases the world of aerospace and aviation. Mark your calendars for immersive events:
- September 18–22
- October 22–27
- November 13–17
For information on how to register, contact Donovan Baptiste.
Women in Trucking Foundation Fall Scholarships
The Women In Trucking Foundation is now accepting applications for the Fall 2023 scholarship cycle. Any female who will be attending a training facility for the purpose of advancing their career in the areas of safety, driving, technical, or leadership in the trucking industry is eligible to apply for a scholarship. The application deadline for the Fall cycle is Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, 5 p.m. ET. For more information and to apply, visit their scholarships webpage.
Construct Tomorrow Plans School Year Events
The Construct Tomorrow program provides students with information about career training and opportunities in the construction industry. The team includes staff members from Apprenticeship Minnesota, apprenticeship coordinators, prime and sub-contractors and local educators. The organizers host events for students to introduce them to opportunities in the construction industry.
You will find more information and updates at the Construct Tomorrow website.
Youth Skills Training (YST) Program
YST supports education and employer partnerships to provide students with related classroom instruction, safety training, industry-recognized credentials and paid work experiences in high-growth and in-demand occupations.
If your school or business is interested in creating a YST program and paid work experiences for 16- and 17-year-old student learners, visit the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website and contact YST program staff to get started.
ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge from the Minnesota Zoo
If you are a grade 3-12 teacher looking for ways to engage your students in authentic integrated STEM, join the ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge! Participation is free!
Registered teachers will receive access to a free Zoo training (virtual or in person), design challenge supporting curriculum resources for both in-person and digital learning, and ongoing implementation support throughout the school year from Zoo education staff.
Deadline to register is Friday, November 17, 2023.
In-Person Training at the Minnesota Zoo
September 28, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Virtual Training on Zoom Platform
September 30, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To register, go to the Minnesota Zoo website.
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DLI Construction Career Resources
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) have updated resources for educators and school counselors to share with students about careers in construction and the skilled trades. We encourage you to use these resources and share them with fellow educators and your students.
All of the resources are available on the Trade & Industry page of the Minnesota Department Education (MDE) website or the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website.
IT Exploration (ITX) Computer Science Curriculum
IT Exploration is a curriculum built to support teachers by providing them with a free introductory Information Technology curriculum. In partnership with STEM Fuse, IT Exploration is supported and placed in their Educate platform. By using STEM Fuse and their Educate platform, teachers have access to all the curriculum and are free to use it however necessary. The best part is that teachers can easily integrate the curriculum into their preferred platforms, such as Canva and Google Classroom.
For more information about IT Exploration at STEM Fuse, visit the STEM Fuse website. Contact Boern Vang with any questions.
Free Trade Ambassador Experience curriculum
Trade Hub has a free online Trades Ambassador Experience curriculum platform for educators and students. Check them out at the Trades Hub site.
Check Out These Additional Career Exploration or Curriculum Resources:
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Want to let folks know about a great project or new program or initiative? Know of a great resource or professional development opportunity you would like to share? Have a burning question that needs answering?
Let me know about it so I can include it in an upcoming newsletter. If you have images that go with the information, please send it along to Tim Barrett (tim.barrett@state.mn.us).
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Professional Organizations:
- International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) – Find more information at the ITEEA website.
- Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) – Learn more at the ACTE website.
Minnesota-Based Partner Organizations:
- Midwest Teachers of Transportation and Industrial Areas (MTTIA) – Sign up to join at the MTTIA website.
- Minnesota Technology and Engineering Education Association (MTEEA) – Get more information at the MTEEA website.
- Minnesota chapter of the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA MN) – Get more information at the CSTA MN website.
- SkillsUSA Minnesota – For more information, visit the Minnesota chapter of SkillsUSA at the SkillsUSA Minnesota website.
- Minnesota Association of Career and Technical Administrators (MACTA) – Check out how MACTA helps support CTE on the MACTA website.
Minnesota State’s Centers of Excellence
Explore the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence.
Labor Market Infographics
This page has links to a number of helpful infographics that provide key data to parents concerning the value of CTE career pathways.
RealTime Talent Minnesota Career & Technical Education Pathway Reports
These labor market reports and corresponding presentations provide future trends in workforce needs by regions of Minnesota.
DEED Regional Labor Market Profiles
Downloadable information about jobs/careers most needed per state region.
Advisory Committee Handbook
This handbook was developed to help build and sustain a strong and active advisory committee.
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