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Weekly Blast 

October 3, 2024

Update on Choice Ready Grants The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is working to process the 2024-2025 Choice Ready applications. The application notices will be processed in three separate batches. Applicants will receive notification regardless of whether services are awarded.  The ACT boot camp notices were emailed out on September 13, 2024. The NDDPI secured executed contracts with the North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE) and eight colleges/universities prior to the September 30, 2024, deadline.  We are now working on the Dual Credit notices, which will begin to be disseminated next week. The NDDPI will then send out the notices for the online courses through NDCDE. If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Matzke at (701) 328-2284 or Kassie Schaff at (701) 328-2824.

K-12 Data Modernization Update Over the past several months, the state has worked diligently to identify solutions to modernize and transform the management and use of K-12 education data in North Dakota. This effort is a direct response to concerns raised by local school leaders for several years, who passionately informed legislators about the increasing time burdens of data reporting because of the outdated nature of the STARS system. After a thorough RFP process, we are pleased to announce that Infinite Campus has been awarded North Dakota’s K-12 Data Modernization project contract. The entire process leading to award determination was conducted in accordance with state procurement laws. The evaluation team was comprised of leadership personnel and technical experts representing NDDPI, North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT), and local school districts. The team reviewed proposed solutions and processes to meet requirements, primary and subcontractor roles and duties, system security and architecture, offerors’ implementation, ongoing service and support, prior experience, and proposed contractual terms and conditions. We recognize that statewide implementation will be a large-scale effort. To ensure a smooth transition, NDDPI has dedicated a full-time position to this work and promoted Steve Snow to serve as the Systems Integration Specialist who will oversee this initiative. Additionally, Infinite Campus will provide extensive implementation and support for the platform. NDDPI, in partnership with NDIT, is committed to supporting districts throughout this transition, with the goal that full implementation will be completed by September 2026. We remain focused on the initiative's goal of modernizing education data management. This will allow teachers and administrators to spend more time on North Dakota’s PK-12 Vision and Mission: All students will graduate Choice Ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to succeed.

Congratulations to NDDPI Fiscal Team

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the recipients of the Governor's Awards for Excellence in Public Service were announced. We are proud to announce that the NDDPI Fiscal Office received the Roaming Bison Award!

The Department of Public Instruction's fiscal staff worked tirelessly to provide quick and efficient administration of federal COVID-19 relief dollars from April 2020 through September 2024. They have been essential to the recovery of our students, schools and families from the aftermath of the pandemic. Their customer service was exemplary, answering questions from hundreds of school leaders, board members, and education providers. Their hard work resulted in nearly 100% utilization of both state-level set aside funds and school district allocation, with no audit findings.

Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (RAP-T) RFA Released On September 26, 2024, a request for applications (RFA) was released for round four with $1,000,000 available for educator preparation providers (EPPs) and their partner districts to assist paraprofessionals in becoming licensed teachers. Key information pertaining to round four can be found here. The RFA for round four can be found here. School Administrators that have paraprofessionals that would like to get their teaching degree should reach out to our ND universities and let them know you are interested in forming a partnership for a round four of the RAP-T grant.

Paraprofessional Certificate Options Available Through NDDPI The NDDPI is responsible for various paraprofessional certifications in North Dakota. Each certificate has specific requirements which are overviewed within the links below. The Office of Educational Improvement & Support is responsible for: Title I Paraprofessional Certificate of Completion. All instructional paraprofessionals working in a Title I program are required to obtain a Title I paraprofessional certificate at the time of hire. In a Title I targeted assistance program; this applies to all Title I-paid instructional paraprofessionals. In a Title I schoolwide program, this applies to all paraprofessionals with instructional duties, regardless of whether the position is supported with Title I funds. This includes all instructional paraprofessionals paid with the district, Title I, school improvement, Special Education, BIA, or other funding sources. The Office of Specially Designed Services is responsible for: Special Education Paraprofessional Certificate of Completion. Special Education Technician. Speech-Language Pathology Paraprofessional Certificate of Completion. Students taking courses through the Educator Pathway Program can combine specific courses to earn a Special Education Paraprofessional certification. Students can choose from three universities and take the listed courses to earn the special education certificate: The Office of School Approval & Opportunity is responsible for: K-12 General Education Paraprofessional Certificate (high school students only). High school students can 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 contribute to their communities actively. It signifies students' early dedication to the field of education and prepares them for a fulfilling career focused on teaching and nurturing students' development. Resources and contact information for all of these paraprofessional certificate options can be found here.

November 1 Course Codes Approval Deadline Requests for new course codes for the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year will be accepted until November 1, 2024. Schools wishing to request that we add new course codes for the second semester of the 2024-2025 school year can do so by completing and submitting the New Course Code Request Application (SFN 60065). If you have any questions, contact Jim Upgren at (701) 328-2244.

High School Course Code Documents Updated to Include North Dakota Content Standards Alignment

The High School Course Code Documents have recently been updated to also include the list of North Dakota Content Standards that each course is aligned to.

In the spring of 2023, we sent an invitation to the field asking for teachers who were willing to participate in the work of aligning each course code to content standards. Then, during the 2023-2024 school year, we set up teams of interested teachers from each content area and met virtually with those teachers to determine which of the content standards each of the courses covered. Every teacher that expressed interest in being a part of the project was invited to participate, no teachers were turned away.

Listed below is the new course code document (including standards alignment) for each subject area. Please note that this does not include CTE courses, as CTE has its own content standards for their respective courses.

• English/Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Indigenous and World Languages
• Fine and Performing Arts
• Physical Education and Health

If you have any questions regarding course codes, contact Jim Upgren at (701) 328-2244.

Nominations and applications are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)! 7-12th grade educators who teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science as part of their contracted teaching responsibilities are eligible! Applications must be completed by February 6, 2025. To nominate or apply, visit the PAEMST website here. 

USDA Crunch Off Registration Open

To celebrate Farm to School Month (October), states throughout the Mountain Plains Region (CO, MT, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD, WY) hold a friendly competition to see which state can get the most “crunches” into local produce and other foods, per capita. Bite into local produce together (virtually or in person) to celebrate the wonderful fruits and vegetables grown in the Mountain Plains Region. Crunch Off events encourage healthy eating and support local agriculture while celebrating Farm to School Month and highlighting the strength a community gains from farmer-school food service partnerships. To read full article, click here.

• For more details on hosting a Crunch Off event visit the website here.

• Register your crunch off event here.

• Take a picture of your event and email it to kmhanenberg@nd.gov. Make sure to include your name, grade, school, and the details of why your event was so unique and should win.

• The winner will be selected by mid-November.

• What will you win? A teacher pack full of Ag in the Classroom materials and project supplies plus Fresh from North Dakota products for your classroom to sample!

North Dakota Soybean Education Mini-Grant Program

The North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) is awarding grants to elementary, middle, and high school teachers; the awards are worth up to $500 and will be awarded competitively to support lessons related to soybeans or soy products. Applications can be submitted throughout the 2024–2025 school year. To apply, click here.

Grants are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Grants awarded for the 2024-2025 school year need to be used by April 30, 2025.

Funds may be used for materials associated with projects that help students learn more about soybeans, soybean-related products, soybean research, soy innovations, soy health and nutrition, etc.

If you have questions, contact Shireen Alemadi, Outreach & Engagement Director at the North Dakota Soybean Council at (701) 361-5190.

PowerSchool Workshops  Monday, October 7 PowerSchool ADA/ADM via Teams, 2:00 PM CST, ADA/ADM Tuesday, October 8 Dates, Dates, and More Dates via Teams, 9:00 AM CST, Dates Cleaning up Enrollment Dates via Teams, 11:00 AM CST, Enrollment Dates Historical Grades via Teams, 1:30 PM CST, Historical Grades Thursday, October 10 Object Reports Help Day in Bismarck, 8:30 AM CST, Object Reports Friday, October 11 eTranscript Training and Help Day via Teams, 9:00 AM CST, eTranscript PSCB Customizations via Teams, 1:00 PM CST, PSCB

Here’s a chance for a North Dakota student to win $500 by using art, essays, and his or her creativity to illustrate the importance of the Bill of Rights, which are the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The federal courts of the Seventh and Eighth circuits, which cover 10 states in the Midwest and upper Great Plains, are sponsoring Bill of Rights Day for students in grades 5-12. You can find more details here. The entry deadline is Nov. 1, 2024. Another bonus: Students can help their teachers win a raffle if they list their teacher’s name on their submission.

Free Professional Development Opportunity

The North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities is excited to announce our free Customized Employment Solutions ECHO series. Participants will gain practical insights into how Customized Employment can be incorporated into their daily work, improve their understanding of VR processes, and learn to overcome common misconceptions about social security benefits and competitive integrated employment. The goal is to empower educators and specialists to create meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities for students with disabilities through these sessions.

Every Tuesday, October 22, 2024 - December 3, 2024, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM CT. To learn more, click here. To download the flyer, click here.

SpaceConnect for High School Students

Join us for SpaceConnect at the University of North Dakota, where high school students will explore the exciting applications of space agriculture. Engage in hands-on workshops, witness the space projects and missions, and discover career opportunities in Space Ag. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn from experts, witness a Near-Space mission, and connect with NASA astronaut Paul Lockhart, making it an unmissable experience for aspiring space explorers and agricultural innovators. SpaceConnect is a part of Space Ag conference hosted by Grand Farm. 

• Objective: To excite the next generation of agriculturalists by exploring space agriculture applications
• Audience: 9-12 Graders
• Date: Thursday, Oct 24, 2024
• Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT 
• Location: Memorial Union, University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks, ND
• Ticket: FREE + Lunch Provided (registration required)
• Register Here: SpaceConnect Registration
• To learn more: click here

Looking for a Way to Meet Every Learner’s Needs?

Join North Dakota’s next Modern Classrooms Project Cohort Virtual Mentorship Program. This self-paced, virtual professional development teaches you practical strategies to increase student engagement and differentiation. You’ll also work with a personal mentor to help you apply what you learn to your classroom immediately. This opportunity is free for all North Dakota educators and includes a $500 completion stipend. 

To register, click here by October 13 for the session on October 21, 2024 - January 19, 2025. 

Breathing Easy Through 2024 Webinar

Join this webinar to learn about a doctor's guide to preventing and managing respiratory illnesses, featuring Dr. Stephanie Hanson of Sanford Children's in Fargo on October 8, 2024, at 12:00 PM CT. Brought to you by the Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota.

To learn more about this webinar, click here.

NDCA Arts in Education Opportunities

• The North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) Artist in Residence program provides noncompetitive reimbursement grants up to $2,500. This initiative connects North Dakota Pre-K-12 students and teachers with professional artists, both in traditional and after-school programs, enriching learning experiences through the power of creativity.

NDCA is excited to announce the 2024-25 ND Poetry Out Loud (POL) program is now open and accepting applications! Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, POL is a national recitation program where educational institutions incorporate memorization and performance in the classroom. POL sets the stage for students to deepen their understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and the nuances within word meanings. NDCA also offers funding up to $2,000 to support poet visits to schools registered in the POL Program. These funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Furthermore, our partnership with the ND Afterschool Network expands art engagement opportunities for K-12 students throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Funding ranging from $500 to $2,000 supports afterschool and out-of-school-time programs, ensuring that students have diverse avenues to explore their artistic passions.