Update on Choice Ready Grants
The deadline to submit a Choice Ready application for the 2024-2025 school year was September 6, 2024. Please note the following details regarding the review process:
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- The application notices will be processed in three separate batches. The ACT bootcamp notices will be emailed out on September 16, 2024. The other two notices will occur over the next two weeks.
- Applicants will receive notification regardless of whether services are awarded. The requests totaled over $900,000; therefore, not all applicants will be funded.
- The Dual Credit and CDE Online Course requests will be ratably reduced to fund as many applicants as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Matzke at (701) 328-2284 or Kassie Schaff at (701) 328-2824.
Insights Public Release Happening Soon!
Throughout the past several weeks, North Dakota schools have reviewed their local school accountability reports within an internal test site on Insights and the STARS portal. The public comment period closes on September 13, 2024.
All the information within the Insights dashboard will then be updated to reflect the 2023-2024 data. An official memo will be disseminated soon identifying the next steps in the public reporting and notification requirement, along with sample templates to help communicate with parents and families.
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Family & Community Guides to the 2023 ND Math & ELA Standards: Now Available
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is excited to announce a new resource document for schools, families, and community members. The Family & Community Guides are designed for individuals outside the education field who are invested in students' learning experiences. These guides provide an overview of what students will learn at each grade level, offering insights into classroom activities and suggestions for supporting learning at home.
The guides are organized by grade level to align with the typical school structure, except for High School, which has a single guide each covering grades 9-12. Available in PDF format, these guides can be easily printed and shared, making them accessible to families and community members.
The North Dakota Content Standards serve as a model to establish teaching and learning goals, outlining the knowledge and skills students should achieve at each grade level. While local school districts choose the specific curriculum to meet these standards, the Family & Community Guides present a simplified version for parents and community members. These guides provide a basic understanding of the expected skills and learning experiences, complementing the more detailed standards written for professional educators.
Click here to access the Family & Community Guides to the ND ELA Standards.
Click here to access the Family & Community Guides to the ND Math Standards
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 ND Strategic Thinking and Planning Event
We will support participants in analyzing their current school and district improvement plans. This session will take leaders to the next step in strategic thinking and planning and continuous improvement work, focusing on envisioning, and planning for the future. Join us to learn how to track progress and analyze the effectiveness of your improvement efforts, as well as look ahead to the next steps and create an updated plan.
- October 29, 2024, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CT at Bismarck State College, 1500 Edwards Avenue Bismarck, ND 58506.
To learn more and register click here.
Center for Distance Education Guidance UPDATE
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE) Guidance has been changed regarding students taking retakes and the school district having to pay for the course:
Q) I had a student fail a NDCDE course. The student now is asking the district to re-enroll in the course. Do we have to allow this? Who pays?
A) The NDCDE’s new retake policy allows a district to decide whether to authorize a retake and who pays. If your district decides to allow a student a retake but assesses the cost to the student, the district is responsible for registering and paying the NDCDE for the course, and the district may then send a bill to the family.
Find the updated NDDPI guidance here.
Find the updated NDCDE guidance here.
If you have any questions, please contact Joe Kolosky at (701) 328-2755.
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How to Reimagine Teaching in North Dakota to Attract and Retain Teachers
Join the National Council on Teacher Quality’s (NCTQ) webinar to explore key insights from our forthcoming resource, Reimagining the Teaching Role: How Strategic Staffing Can Attract and Retain Effective Teachers, to see how you can support North Dakota school districts in adopting innovative staffing models for the teaching role.
Just as the Ford Model T doesn’t serve today’s transportation needs, the traditional classroom model isn’t working well for far too many students and teachers. Reimagining the teaching role—also called “strategic staffing”—can make it easier to attract and retain teachers improving student learning outcomes. The resource will explore what it takes for states and districts to “reimagine” the profession.
Featured speakers include Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction, amongst others from NCTQ.
To register for this webinar on Tuesday, September 24 at 2:00 PM ET click here.
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RLIS Reminder: Upcoming Deadline
The Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) Grant application is open in WebGrants and must be SUBMITTED AND APPROVED by Friday, September 13 at 11:30 AM CT.
District final allocations are posted on the NDDPI website
If you have any questions, contact Kate Waechter at (701) 328-2132
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Business Manager Q&A Update
The NDDPI will hold the quarterly TEAMS meeting on Wednesday, September 18, at 11:00 AM CT.
We have been using WebGrants for five years now, so we will expand this TEAMS meeting to other topics that can provide technical assistance in other areas.
Please email Shauna Greff by Monday, September 16, if you have questions or topics you would like to discuss.
To participate from your computer or mobile app, click here to join the meeting or call in (audio only) (701) 328-0950, 243399572#.
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 AI Tool for ND Teachers
Khanmigo is designed to support educators by providing AI-driven assistance for daily tasks, making teaching more effective and manageable. It is trained on only high-quality Khan Academy content. It is a closed/walled-garden system and teachers’/students’ data is secured because it’s SOC 2 compliant.
To learn more about these resources, click here.
Tools to Help Your District Reduce Absenteeism
Schools across the U.S. are experiencing high rates of chronic absenteeism–contributing to alarming declines in K-12 academic performance. To help district leaders improve attendance rates and make progress toward closing achievement gaps, SchoolStatus has prepared a step-by-step guide: How to Start Reversing Chronic Absenteeism in Your District.
The guide includes:
- Insights from national attendance trends.
- Proven, repeatable methods that top-performing districts use to combat chronic absenteeism.
- Downloadable tools and resources to help you implement effective attendance strategies immediately
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Child Passenger Safety in School Buses Workshop
Friday, October 18 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM CT
This training is intended to provide an overview of child restraint system use on school buses with a focus on preschool-aged children and children with disabilities. It will include instructional videos, instructor education and hands-on practice. This class will help school districts, Head Start programs, special education instructors, childcare centers and busing companies understand their role in transporting students safely in a bus environment.
Registration is $20 and required. It includes lunch but seats are limited. To register, click here to view the flyer and access the QR code.
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Teaching Civic Virtues and Discourse
Here’s a chance for teachers to earn $500 for participating in a civics summit at the North Dakota Heritage Center. It is being put on by the Bill of Rights Institute to promote ways to connect with our nation’s founding principles and civic virtues to build community in our classrooms and learn to practice civil discourse. A computer is required for the training. The program will run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM CT on October 21 and 22 at the Heritage Center on the state Capitol grounds.
If interested, click here to register.
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FCC Announces Application Window for the K-12 Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot
On Wednesday, the FCC published a Public Notice announcing the application period and process for the new $200 million Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program. The application window is September 17, 2024, at 8:00 AM ET to November 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. Eligible applicants include schools, libraries, and consortia that meet E-Rate Program eligibility requirements. There will be several USAC trainings:
September 17, 2024, at 3:00 PM ET
- Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program FCC Form 484 Part 1 System Walkthrough. Click here to register.
October 15, 2024, at 3:00 PM ET
- Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program Overview for Service Providers. Click here to register.
PowerSchool Workshops
Monday, September 16
- MISO3 Refresher via Teams, 10:30 AM CST, MISO3
Tuesday, September 17
- PowerSchool New Administrator Training in Bismarck, 9:00 AM CT, New Admin
Wednesday, September 18
- PowerSchool Standards Implementation in Bismarck, 8:30 AM CT, Standards
- MISO3 Refresher via Teams, 1:00 PM CT, MISO3
Thursday, September 19
- PowerSchool Object Reports Help Day in Bismarck, 8:30 AM CT, Object Reports
- PowerSchool ADA/ADM via Teams, 2:00 PM CT, ADA/ADM
Friday, September 20
- Creating and Saving Lists in PowerSchool via Teams, 9:00 AM CT, Lists
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2024 STARS Reading Curriculum and Professional Development Report Now Open for Submission
All K-3 public and private schools are required to submit an annual report via STARS to demonstrate compliance with NDCC 15.1-21-12.1. Based on the report review, schools may receive up to a three-year approval. Check the Public Schools or Private Schools list to see your building’s due date.
The NDDPI Science of Reading Webpage contains information and guidance related to the report. The NDDPI will host two informational webinars to overview the reporting process, the 2024 updates, and offer Q & A. Join webinars on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 11:00 AM CT or Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM CT. If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Ehrmantraut.
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Pathways to Literacy Leadership for North Dakota
Align your leadership plan with dyslexia awareness goals from the NDDPI. New K-3 principals, this is your opportunity for a free course to meet the ND reading professional development law. These self-paced learning courses begin on September 9, 2024.To learn more and register click here. If you have any questions, contact Brenda Ehrmantraut.
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Title I, Part D – Public Comment Period
An updated draft of Non-Regulatory Guidance for Title I, Part D of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) is now available on the Title I, Part D webpage. This is the first revision to guidance for this program since 2006.
Please submit succinct, substantive comments about the content of the draft, which may include:
- Identifying Title I, Part D requirements or topics that you think the NDDPI has not addressed but should.
- Identifying questions or answers in the document, by question number, that you think are not clear and provide a suggestion for enhancing clarity; and
- Providing suggestions for enhancing the document overall.
Please submit your feedback to oese.feedback@ed.gov by September 26, 2024. Please include “ESEA Title I, Part D Nonregulatory Guidance” in the subject line. After any revisions are made, we will publish a revised, final version of the guidance.
If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Withers.
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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
Registration: Click here
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Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance Training
We are happy to announce a one-day Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance training. Schools with new Title I personnel or those needing a refresher are strongly encouraged to attend. This training includes information pertaining to Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance programs, participation in the schoolwide planning year, best practices, and resources. Any school interested in participating in the schoolwide planning year is required to attend.
Date: September 26, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM (Lunch is on your own.)
Place: North Dakota State Capitol, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND - Brynhild Haugland Room
Fee: No cost (Title I funds may be used for reimbursement of travel expenses)
If you have any questions regarding this training, please contact one of the following:
Angie Richter
Assistant Director
Title I Program
amrichter@nd.gov
(701) 328-2287
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Michelle Siegfried
Program Administrator
Title I Schoolwide Program
mlsiegfried@nd.gov
(701) 328-3544
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Shelley Thurow
Administrative Assistant
Title I Program
sjthurow@nd.gov
(701) 328-2958
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An email containing the agenda will be sent out prior to the event.
The deadline to register is September 24 at 5 PM. Click here to register.
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North Dakota Education Portal Training Status Review Reminder
Please review and complete your yearly training by October 1, 2024. To access the Education Portal, click here.
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