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October 27, 2023
Updates in this email:
Commissioner Willie Jett will hold Minnesota Department of Education’s annual American Indian Education Field Hearing, 10 a.m.–Noon, Nov. 6 at Cedar Lakes Casino Event Center, 6268 Upper Cass Frontage Road, Cass Lake.
The field hearing is an opportunity for Commissioner Jett and agency staff to gather input from American Indian educators, parents and students on the state of American Indian Education in Minnesota. The agency will develop a report from the field hearing for Minnesota's 11 Tribal Nations for review and comment.
Attendees will have the opportunity to speak during the hearing and individuals can also view the hearing remotely via Zoom, with the Zoom room opening half an hour before the start of the meeting. Comments can be submitted at mde.input-indian-education@state.mn.us. Share this American Indian Education Field Hearing digital flyer or American Indian Education Field Hearing print flyer with American Indian educators, parents and students.
The Minnesota Department of Education is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to expand the reach of new Community Resource Center investments across Minnesota. We’re working quickly to fill Community Resource Center Advisory Council positions so the Council can advise these critical investments for children, families, and communities. Please share this opportunity with the families, communities and educators you partner with, and feel encouraged to apply yourself. The initial application takes five minutes to complete.
The Community Resource Center Advisory Council will advise the department on the development, implementation, evaluation, and ongoing governance of community resource centers in Minnesota. Community resource centers are community-based coordinated points of entry that provide culturally responsive, relationship-based service navigation and other supportive services for expecting and parenting families and youth. Community resource centers focus on ensuring families have equitable access to programs and services that promote protective factors and support children and families. The Council is seeking demographically and geographically diverse members from the following groups:
- (4) Parents/family members
- (3) Community-based organizations serving families
- (1) Urban American Indian representative
- (2) County government representatives
- (2) School/school district representatives
Applicants must first complete an initial application with the Minnesota Secretary of State Boards and Commissions by Oct. 27, 2023. After this date, applicants will receive a supplementary application to be completed by Nov. 5, 2023. For more information, including a frequently asked questions and contact information, visit the Community Resource Center website.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families Implementation Office has begun sending a monthly newsletter with updates on the transition process. We encourage those who are impacted by the transition to sign up for this newsletter and to share with others who may be interested and impacted. Past editions of the newsletter are available on the DCYF Implementation Office webpage.
The Scholars of Distinction program is a statewide program recognizing the academic and intellectual accomplishments by talented Minnesota students that happen both in school and out of school. This program celebrates the collaboration among students and educators, as well as family and community members, that promote ongoing inquiry and the quest for new learning and new understanding of the world around us. The new and improved program has a streamlined application process and adds new areas for student recognition. Students may now earn recognition in Computer Science, Cultural Studies, Environmental Leadership, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and STEM. Participants may be enrolled in grades 11-12 at a public or private school, homeschooled or enrolled in a Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program.
All applicants must complete the Intent to Apply form to enter the program Oct. 1—Nov. 1, 2023. Projects are due on or before Feb. 1, 2024. Find the Intent to Apply form link, specific criteria and other important information on the Scholars of Distinction Award page.
Come Teach in Minnesota seeks to recruit and retain teachers of color and American Indian teachers from out-of-state by offering hiring bonuses of up to $5,000 and retention bonuses of up to $5,000 after four years of service. The Come Teach in Minnesota program was revised in the 2023 legislative session resulting in program improvements.
To learn more about these changes:
If you have any questions about this opportunity or request a reasonable accommodation for the informational webinar, please contact Tamara Valmé at (651) 582-8413.
Mandated Reporting, Non-Exclusionary Discipline, and HEARTS Training – November 9, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
In alignment with the Minnesota Olmstead Plan and efforts in preventing abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities, the Minnesota Department of Education is offering a three-hour virtual training intended for School Administrators and school employees responsible for the care of students. It will include an overview of mandated reporting related to child maltreatment, a session on Non-Exclusionary Discipline 101, an introduction to the HEARTS (Healthy Environments And Response to Trauma in Schools) Framework and an in-depth dive into one of the HEARTS Framework Core Guiding Principles: Safety & Predictability. The training is free to attend and provided via Zoom.
Please register for the Mandated Reporting, Non-Exclusionary Discipline & HEARTS training. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For questions about training or registration, please contact Jodi Schommer, 651-582-8405
The Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative's (FREC) 2024 Racial Equity Leadership Institute is a six-part, interactive zoom series designed to empower educators to learn and unlearn racism in themselves, their organizations and their communities. Featuring interactive guest presenters and facilitator-led discussions, this series is based on materials from the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture and the Minnesota Historical Society. It begins January 11 and concludes in May. See the The Racial Equity Leadership Institute webpage for more details. Registration is open.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) makes MnMTSS grant funding available to Minnesota local educational agencies (LEAs), i.e., school districts and charter schools, to build the capacity of LEAs to support implementation of the MnMTSS framework in order to improve academic, behavioral and social emotional outcomes for all students. Implementation of MnMTSS supports MDE’s vision of a public education system that is intentionally designed for each student to receive a world-class education in a safe and nurturing environment. MnMTSS also supports the World’s Best Workforce goals of closing racial and economic achievement gaps and ensuring all students graduate from high school ready for career and college.
This competitive grant opportunity is open to current MnMTSS grantees for continued funding and to applicants who are not current MnMTSS grantees for new funding. Application materials can be found on MDE’s competitive grants site. Prospective applicants are invited to an informational webinar on October 17, 2023, at 10 a.m. Registration is required, and the webinar will be recorded and posted for those unable to attend. Register for the MnMTSS informational webinar.
Current MnMTSS grantees may apply for up to $250,000 for Fiscal Years 2025-26 (July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026). Applicants who are not current MnMTSS grantees may apply for up to $375,000 for the anticipated grant period February 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026. Applications must be received by November 9, 2023, at 5 p.m. Additional details are available on MDE’s competitive grants site.
Schools may apply to become a supplemental online course provider under Minnesota Statutes 2023, section 124D.094. Approved providers can offer online course options for students who remain enrolled in their local district or charter school. Please complete the Application for Supplemental Online Course Providers by November 15 to be considered for approval and to begin offering supplemental online courses to students in the fall of 2024.
Please contact mde.onlinelearning@state.mn.us with questions.
Extempore has secured a grant to cover the cost of MDE’s Bilingual Seals assessments that are delivered through the Extempore testing platform and paired assessments delivered by AVANT. The following tests are FREE to Minnesota schools during 23-24 and 24-25 school years.
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Amharic, Hmong, Somali, and Vietnamese (Writing and speaking are paired with AVANT.)
- Karen and Oromo
- Dakota and Ojibwe
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Dari and Pashto – reading and listening (For speaking and writing, use ACTFL SOBL bundle.) Only reading and listening portion will be free. Cost of SOBL bundle – if you purchase AAPPL, $55.00, if not, $209.00.
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Swahili – listening (For speaking, writing, and reading, use AVANT STAMP WS.)
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Ukrainian – reading and listening (For speaking and writing, use AVANT STAMP WS.)
Contact mde.worldlang@state.mn.us for further information.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and MDE are partnering to offer training on language proficiency levels, based on the ACTFL proficiency scale. This language proficiency training is for teachers of Native American Indigenous languages and adult speakers involved in supporting Indigenous language learning. The training, provided by ACTFL (a national association of professional language educators), will focus on language proficiency levels and strategies for growing and assessing students’ language proficiency over time. This virtual workshop is free and scheduled for the mornings of November 30 and December 1, 2023. Registrants are required to attend both days from 9:00 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Please review the ACTFL Workshop for Indigenous Language Educators summary. Register for the ACTFL Native American Indigenous Language workshop by October 27, 2023.
Contact mde.worldlang@state.mn.us for further information.
World Languages Education 101 is a workshop offered for educational leaders including principals, superintendents and instructional coaches to learn about some basics of world languages education. This three-hour online workshop addresses types of programs, standards, effective instructional practices and program design. The goal is to increase the knowledge and capacity of leaders in the area of supporting world languages programs and teachers. Minnesota Board of School Administrators (BOSA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available. All sessions are the same content, please choose one session to attend.
- Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Friday, March 29, 2024, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Register for the World Languages Education 101 for School Leaders Workshop
Contact mde.worldlang@state.mn.us for further information.
MDE is convening a Computer Science Education Working Group as part of the Computer Science Education Advancement Program. The working group will develop a state strategic plan for a statewide computer science education program. The strategic plan must include a summary of the current state landscape for computer science in grades K–12, including the diversity of students taking these courses. Through the Minnesota Common Course Catalog, we can access data about computer science education in grades 9–12. We’ve put together a survey to gather information about computer science education in grades K–8.
The survey will be open until Oct. 27. Please contact mde.academic-standards@state.mn.us if you need support completing the survey or have any questions.
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.
Due to the pandemic Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare renewals were paused but are now restarting. More than 1.5 million Minnesotans on Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare will need their program eligibility reviewed through a renewal process by May 2024.
Minnesota will restart the renewal processes for Medical Assistance in 2023 beginning with the July renewal cohort. Renewals for MinnesotaCare coverage will restart beginning in October 2023 for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2024. View the full timeline.
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.
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