Choice Ready Grant 2024-2025

At the Choice Ready workshops held earlier this month, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) announced a grant opportunity to strengthen our Choice Ready Framework and enable more students to graduate Choice Ready. 

• The Choice Ready grant applications are due September 6, 2024.
• The following information is posted on our Choice Ready application website:
  • Choice Ready Application
  • Guidance
  • Workshop Recording
  • ACT Tutoring
  • Online Courses
  • Dual Credit

As outlined in the guidance, the CDE online courses and Dual Credit courses are ONLY for new students who've never had the opportunity to take these courses. In order to show growth, we need to increase the number of students taking these courses so they can check those boxes on their Choice Ready Report. If they've already taken online courses or Dual Credit courses, those boxes would already be checked. Schools' need to ensure that the application is completed to reflect the number of new students to receive this opportunity. If you need to submit an updated application, email it to dpiasstsupt@nd.gov.

The Choice Ready applications MUST be submitted as an excel spreadsheet so the NDDPI can compile and manipulate the data. Applications submitted in a different format cannot be accepted. 

Submit completed application to dpiasstsupt@nd.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Matze at (701) 328-2284.

Choice Ready Grant 2023-2024

The deadline to spend funds for the 2023-2024 Choice Ready grant is August 31, 2024. No funds can be spent or obligated after this date. 

We've received questions about reallocating the funds for this fall. Unfortunately, this is not allowable. These awards were for the 2023-2024 school year and the contract in WebGrants expires on August 31, 2024. No services can occur, or funds spent after August 31, 2024. 

Claims for Reimbursement

Grant recipients claim reimbursement for allowable expenditures in the NDDPI WebGrants system. It is critical to submit your final claim as soon as possible after the deadline. We don’t want to return any ESSER funds to the USED.  The NDDPI has a short timeframe to reallocate these dollars to another allowable activity.

If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Matzke at (701) 328-2284.

North Dakota Accountability Reports Coming Soon

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), state education departments are required to annually create an accountability report for every public school in the state, which is publicly displayed on the Insights dashboard. The school accountability reports outline how schools are performing on the accountability elements within the North Dakota ESSA plan. The NDDPI plans to release information next week, so be on the lookout for important memos outlining how schools can review their data and the preliminary results of Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) identification.

Budgeting for the 2024-2025 Consolidated Application Due THURSDAY, August 29, 2024

Final allocations have been posted on the Consolidated Application webpage under the Federal Allocations for Title I, II, III, and IV accordion.

The NDDPI staff continues to review and approve Consolidated Applications. Within 5-7 business days of approval of the Consolidated Application narrative, the NDDPI staff will create a budget(s) for the associated federal Title program(s) with all funds represented in the unobligated object code (950). Districts will then need to follow these steps to obligate funds and enter program activities:

Districts will receive an email notification when the budget has been created and opened. Please follow these Consolidated Application Budget steps to obligate funds and enter program activities:

1. Log into WebGrants 
2. Select "Grants" in the left menu.
3. Select the grant you are working on.
4. Notice the awarded amount at the top of the page. This amount has been prepopulated in the "unobligated" category.
5. Under the "Grant Components" tab, select "Contract Amendment.”
6. Select "Add Amendment.”
7. Be sure the Status = "Editing" and Amendment Type = "Initial Budget" (if you need to change to these, select from the dropdown lists).
8. Enter "Initial Budget" in the Title line. 
9. SAVE form.
10. Select "Edit Amendment."
11. In the "Budget" tab, select "Edit Form" to add the Amendment Justification.
12. Input “Initial Budget” in the narrative box for the initial justification.
13. Select "Save Form" and "Mark as Complete.”
14. Add a row for each program activity within the correct object code section.
15. Provide a specific brief description of the program activity. Use similar verbiage for related activities across object code sections.

Budgets are due by Thursday, August 29, 2024. Guidance and training videos are available here:

• Consolidated Application Budget Training 
• Title IV Creating an Initial Budget Micro Training 
• Funding Your Plan: Best Practices to Sustain Investments 
• Return on Investment Planning Tool Instructions
• Return on Investment Planning Tool Worksheet

Additional training resources will be posted on the Consolidated Application webpage. For questions, please reach out to any of the Consolidated Application contacts

Standards Resources Available

Several resources have been added to the NDDPI Content Standard webpage to assist schools and teachers. 

• New Physical Education Standards 
• 2023 English Language Arts Standards 
• 2023 Mathematics Standards

Click here to learn more.

New K-12 General Education Paraprofessional Certificate Offered to High School Students

Starting in the fall of 2024, high school students will have the opportunity to embark on a career path in education by pursuing a K-12 General Paraprofessional Certificate. This certificate provides a solid foundation in educational pedagogy and enables students to actively contribute to their communities. It signifies students' early dedication to the field of education and prepares them for a fulfilling career focused on teaching and nurturing students' development.

Students can earn the certificate in three ways:

1. Students can take two of the three CTE courses related to teaching: Teaching Professional 09041, Educational Methodology 09042, and Cooperative Work Experience 09299.
2. Students can take two of the three General Education courses: Teaching Professional 20084, Educational Methodology 20085, and Educational Workplace Experience 20086.
3. A combination of the six courses above equaling two or more courses.

The NDDPI has made the application process simple through ND Teach.

For guidance on how to apply for the certificate, please click here. 

You can also access guidance on our website, please navigate to the K-12 General Education Professional Certificate dropdown.

If you have any questions, please contact Joe Kolosky, Director of School Approval & Opportunity, at (701) 328-2755.

Mandated Reporting Training

The 68^th Legislature approved HB 1144 which requires all school teachers, administrators, and counselors to annually take the mandated reporter training. The training was developed by the ND Department of Health and Human Services (NDDoHHS) and can be accessed from Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect North Dakota’s website (PCAND).

The training can be found here.

Note that the training has been updated. Users will be required to register using their school email address.

In addition, please include the license numbers of all staff who take the course.

If you have any questions, please contact Joe Kolosky, Director of School Approval & Opportunity, at (701) 328-2755.

North Dakota Scholarship Information

The new North Dakota Scholarship requirements go fully into effect starting with the Class of 2025, and students can no longer qualify using the old Academic and CTE Scholarship requirements. The new requirements are aligned with Choice Ready but are written with rigor above and beyond what is required for Choice Ready.  To learn more about these requirements, click here.

Foster Care, Homeless and Neglected & Delinquent Liaison Meeting Notice

District Foster Care, Homeless and Neglected & Delinquent Liaisons (and other relevant personnel) will be gathering for trainings and topics including requirements and best practices.

What: Foster Care, Homeless and Neglected & Delinquent Liaison Meeting

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Time: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM CT

Location: North Dakota State Capitol, 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND – Brynhild Haugland Room

The Pathway to Becoming a Paraeducator

Do you have students taking courses through the Educator Pathway Program? Students who take a combination of specific courses can earn a General or Special Education Paraprofessional certification. This opportunity provides a solid foundation in educational pedagogy and enables students to actively contribute to their communities. It signifies students' early dedication to the field of education and prepares them for a fulfilling career focused on teaching and nurturing students' development.

These two opportunities differ from the requirements needed to receive Title I Paraprofessional Certification. For more information, please visit the Title I Paraprofessional Certificate of Completion or contact Lauri Nord.

Click here to learn more.

Support Students with Characteristics of Dyslexia

Is your staff ready to support students with characteristics of dyslexia? North Dakota currently offers free online courses through AIM Institute that can lead to obtaining the ND Specialist Trained in Dyslexia Credential. Register soon as some courses have participant caps and registration deadlines approaching. Educators who have completed ND SoR: Reaching All Learners or LETRS Volumes 1 and 2 are ready for Pathways to Structured Literacy. Other staff may want to explore the introductory course Demystifying Dyslexia. Additionally, districts may apply for a specialist trained in dyslexia grant to receive up to $3,000 to support a staff member in earning this credential. Find information and the application on the NDDPI Dyslexia Webpage. If you have questions, please reach out to Brenda Ehrmantraut at (701) 328-1809.

FREE Suicide Prevention and Postvention Events

With help, there is hope! On September 4, from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM CT, there will be a Survivor Loss Night followed by the 7th Annual Conference, “Providing Hope Across Generations”, on September 5. The annual conference will present evidence-based training and survivor speakers covering suicide prevention, intervention, and survivor-related education pertinent to every stage of life from early childhood to end-of-life mental health and suicide prevention! The 7th Annual Conference, “Providing Hope Across Generations” agenda can be found here. Both events will be held at the Bismarck Career Academy and the annual conference does have a virtual option.

Suicide Prevention Training and Readiness for Schools

The University of North Dakota and NORC have partnered to bring the Suicide Prevention Training and Readiness for Schools (STARS) Program to North Dakota schools. The STARS Program is the first multi-component school substance use and suicide prevention training program for North Dakota and is modeled on existing evidence-based training and practices. Each STARS training is geared toward a specific professional role so that everyone working in your school can help promote student safety and mental well-being. More information on the program can be found here.

Suicide Risk Assessment Webinars

Participants will learn to effectively use the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) screening tool. Through this tool, participants will learn to assess suicide risk and what appropriate next steps to take in a suicide crisis.

These are sponsored by NDDoHHS and registration information can be found here.

PowerSchool Workshops 

Wednesday, August 28

• PowerSchool Historical Grades via Teams, 10:00 AM CT, Historical Grades

Thursday, August 29

• PowerSchool Photo Management via Teams, 10:00 AM CT, Photos
• PowerSchool Student Attendance and Reports, 9:00 AM CT,  Attendance/Reports
• MISO3 Data Help Day in West Fargo, 8:30 AM CT, MISO3

Friday, August 30

• PowerSchool ADA/ADM via Teams, 10:00 AM CT, ADA/ADM

All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program

North Dakota has an incredible opportunity to become the first state in the nation to provide the All Kids Bike program to every kindergartener across our great state. The All Kids Bike (AKB) program through the Strider Education Foundation is on a mission “to teach every child in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten.” Governor Burgum has committed to use Governor’s Emergency Education Relief funds to launch this effort. We are working to find private sector partners to help ensure every public and nonpublic school is provided this opportunity!

The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program includes: teacher training and certification, a fleet of 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes, pedal conversion kits, student helmets, an instructor bike with pedal conversion kit and helmet, 2 rolling metal bike storage racks, and access to a resource portal and live support for the life of the program. Everything needed to teach kids how to ride a bike, in 8 easy lessons!

This is notification is an opportunity, for any schools that have not received the AKB program or previously declined it, to have a last chance to complete the application form and get the program into their school. The application form can be found at https://allkidsbike.org/school-application/.  For questions call (605) 956-3877 or email info@allkidsbike.org.

In addition to our All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program, we want to teach all ages and abilities the life-enhancing skill of how to ride a bike. Learn more about All Abilities Bike Inclusive Learn-to-Ride Program at www.allabilitiesbike.org.