ARP ESSER III Funds Closeout Procedures – Late Liquidation Requests Due by October 15
School districts can still submit and correct ESSER III claim requests until the December 30, 2024. If school districts need longer to claim remaining funds a liquidation extension must be submitted in WebGrants by October 15, 2025. Liquidation extensions can be requested by school districts that have extenuating circumstances and are in good standing with all federal reporting requirements. Late liquidation requests can be submitted on WebGrants through October 15, 2024. See memo and instruction links below for more information.
Extended liquidation funds can ONLY be used to pay for:
If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne Butterworth, NDDPI ESSER Program Manager.
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K-12 Data Modernization Update
Last week, we announced that Infinite Campus has been awarded North Dakota’s K-12 Data Modernization contract. In response to this announcement, we have received several questions from districts. Since the details and timeline of the contract are still being negotiated, not all answers have been finalized at this time, but we are committed to remaining transparent throughout the RFP completion and implementation phases of this project.
Question: How will the implementation of Infinite Campus impact other K-12 data systems?
Answer: The data modernization project will streamline and simplify North Dakota’s K-12 data systems by moving away from the separate systems we’ve been using, including STARS for reporting and PowerSchool as the student information system. It has often been challenging to get these systems to communicate effectively. With Infinite Campus, we are transitioning to a single enterprise system that will replace PowerSchool and large portions of STARS. This unified solution will provide better integration, making data management more efficient and seamless for districts by:
- Automating state and federal reporting for school buildings, districts, and the state
- Leveraging modern technology, including machine learning and predictive analytics
- Reducing the human time and effort needed to manage data and reports
Question: What’s happening with the RFP now?
Answer: As part of an RFP process, vendors who respond to a solicitation and are not awarded are offered an opportunity to protest. This is a chance to address discrepancies they think may have impacted the award outcome. PowerSchool has filed its protest. Like the evaluation process, it is a closed record until the process is completed.
The RFP process was extremely thorough, and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is well prepared to respond. The state law has an expedited process to review and resolve protests received. After the agency responds, the aggrieved vendor has the option to appeal that decision to the State Procurement Director. The total timeline for the process should not exceed one month.
Question: Where can I find the most up-to-date information about the K-12 Data Modernization project?
Answer: All updates and communications about this project will be communicated in the weekly Blast newsletter. If you know someone who isn’t subscribed to the Blast, please have them follow these steps to subscribe: click this link North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (govdelivery.com), enter email, select “Add Subscriptions,” and select “Blast” (and any other topics you’d like). These topics are public, and anybody with a valid email address can subscribe.
Mandated Reporting Training Update
As of October 1, 2024, 12,815 North Dakota school teachers, administrators, and counselors had completed the mandated reporter training. Thank you to all the educators in the state who have taken the time to complete the training to keep North Dakota students safe.
If educators in your district have not yet completed the training, there is still time. Access the updated training here.
Please note that users must register using their school email address. Additionally, ensure that the license numbers of all staff who complete the course are included.
If you have any questions, please contact Joe Kolosky at (701) 328-2755.
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Technical Assistance for Schools’ Annual Continuous Improvement Plans
The NDDPI is providing a free workshop to support schools’ Annual Continuous Improvement Plans. Amy McVey from Cognia will lead the session and support school teams in reviewing, evaluating, and developing the upcoming 2025-2026 strategic plans. Additionally, teams will have dedicated time to work on these plans during the session.
Continuous improvement is not a one-time event but rather an ongoing process. We strongly encourage school teams to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to enhance their strategic planning efforts and drive sustained improvement in their schools.
- Date: October 29, 2024
- Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM CT
- Location: Bismarck Career Academy, 1221 College Drive - Multipurpose Room
- Cost: FREE
- Please note: Lunch will be on your own
- To register, click here
Please contact Arlene Wolf in the Office of School Approval and Opportunity with any questions.
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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.
- The Dual Credit approval notices were disseminated on October 4, 2024.
- The Dual Credit notices to those districts who didn't receive funding will be disseminated on October 11, 2024.
- The NDDPI will be sending out the notices for the online courses through NDCDE the week of October 14-18, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Matzke at (701) 328-2284 or Kassie Schaff at (701) 328-2824.
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School Bus Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released this guide on the illegal passing of stopped school buses. Students entering or exiting a school bus on the roadway experience risk from motorists nearby, particularly at school bus stops where students may need to cross the road. Since the earliest school buses hit the road over a century ago, the risks posed by other motorists have been increasingly addressed by the development and deployment of various technologies (e.g., stop-arms) to prevent illegal passes. Today, all states have laws requiring motorists to stop for a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop signal arm deployed. Despite these advancements, school buses are still illegally passed at an alarmingly high rate. In recognition of the importance of identifying and combating this dangerous issue, the purpose of this guide is to present the current best practices for reducing these violations and keeping child pedestrians safe.
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NDCDE Selected as State Affiliate for the Digital Learning Collaborative
The North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE) has been selected by the Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC) to serve as its official state affiliate. The DLC is a national organization that connects K-12 educators, leaders, and advocates in the digital learning space. This designation allows NDCDE to offer valuable resources and promote statewide conversations about high-quality digital education.
As part of this collaboration, NDCDE will host free monthly virtual training sessions starting this month, focusing on key topics in online education. These sessions provide North Dakota educators an opportunity to network, share best practices, and explore emerging trends in digital learning. Participants will also have access to an online portal designed to connect peers across the state.
Upcoming Sessions:
- October 21: Learning Coach Insights, 9:00 - 10:00 AM CT
- November 18: Selecting Spring NDCDE Courses, 9:00 - 10:00 AM CT
- December 16: Military Pathway Program Overview, 9:00 - 10:00 AM CT
- January 21: Competency-Based Education at NDCDE, 9:00 - 10:00 AM CT
To join the DLC State Affiliate group and register for these events, email Dr. Alyssa Martin with the subject line "Add to DLC State Affiliate List." You will receive further instructions on accessing the DLC online portal and event registration.
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PowerSchool Workshops
Monday, October 14
Tuesday, October 15
- eTranscript Training and Help Day via Teams, 1:00 PM CT eTranscript
Wednesday, October 16
Thursday, October 17
- SLDS State and Federal Reporting via Teams, 9:00 AM CT, SLDS Reporting
Friday, October 18
PowerSchool Users’ Group is also fast approaching. It will be held November 6 and 7 at the Radisson in Bismarck.
November 6 – Day 1: Registration, general session and announcements will take place in the morning followed by a variety of concurrent sessions. Click here to register for Day 1.
November 7 – Day 2: Registration and announcements during breakfast will take place in the morning followed by a 3-hour session of your choice. You will need to register once for the entire day here AND also click a link below to register for one of the 3-hour sessions you plan to attend. Day 2 will end at 11:30 AM.
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ND FIRST: Final Public Comment Invitation
Superintendent Baesler invites North Dakotans to provide public comment on the implementation of Senate Bill 2254, which NDDPI has deemed ND FIRST (Fostering Improved Results for School Transformation). The materials on the website are being shared with all stakeholders in the spirit of transparency. All documents are in draft form and subject to revisions through various internal and external feedback sessions. Please use this anonymous form to provide feedback between September 18, 2024, and October 11, 2024.
If you have any questions or feedback, contact Amanda Peterson.
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Key Findings from the First Five Years of Personalized Learning
During this insightful, interactive hour, we will use guiding questions to explore the data and analysis from our first five years of work within the ND PCBL cohort. Join us on October 15, 2024, at 12:00 PM CT. To register, click here.
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Computer Science Teacher Landscape Survey
The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), the Kapor Foundation, and the Alliance for Identity Inclusive Computing Education (AiiCE) are conducting a survey of PreK-12 computer science (CS) teachers in the United States. The CS education landscape continues to evolve, particularly as topics such as AI and policies like high school graduation requirements take hold. We want to hear vital insights directly from teachers about your experiences so that we can make specific recommendations to better support CS teachers and their students.
If you teach K-12 computer science, we need your voice! The survey will take approx. 20-25 minutes. Responses are confidential. Please respond by October 23, 2024.
As thanks for your time, the first 4,000 teachers who complete the survey will receive a $10 gift card (options: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, Dunkin). All participants will be entered in a raffle for one of five $200 gift cards.
If you have any questions, contact membership@csteachers.org or research@kaporcenter.org.
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 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.
To learn more, click here. To register click here.
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