K-12 Data Modernization Project Update
Last week, we informed the field that PowerSchool protested our K-12 Data Modernization award decision, and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) upheld the decision. PowerSchool had the opportunity to appeal, but they chose not to do so. The protest period has ended, and we will continue to move forward with contract negotiations with Infinite Campus.
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The Four-Year Rolling Plan
Recently, the NDDPI provided guidance recommending the use of Compass within RUReady.ND.gov for capturing the Four-Year Rolling Plan. Compass helps students understand their skills, learn about local employers and opportunities, apply for work-based learning, and make connections with employers and colleges to help plan for their future. Resources are available to school professionals to manage class lists, understand students’ interests and the opportunities that they’re a good fit for, and can help go into depth with the student on their Four-Year Rolling Plan.
To view some resources that will help you get started, click here for the guidance and here for the FAQ.
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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.
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Free Training Next Week
The NDDPI is proud to host the Strategic Thinking and Planning Workshop training session on October 29 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM CT at the Bismarck Career Academy.
Amy McVey from Cognia will be leading the session to 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.
The NDDPI strongly values continuous improvement, and we are happy to be able to offer this important training FREE OF CHARGE!
*Please note that lunch will be on your own.
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. If you or your school team is interested in attending this workshop, please register here.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Arlene Wolf, Assistant Director.
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ND PL Network Site Visits
October 29, 2024, from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM CT
The Northern Cass Public School District is excited to have you join them for a day of learning! This district-wide site visit is open to all grade levels and roles. Participants will engage with leaders, staff, and learners through classroom observations, panel discussions, and collaborative roundtables.
November 7, 2024, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CT
The Oakes Public School District is excited to have you join them
for a day of learning! This will be a district-wide site visit open to
all levels and roles. Participants will engage with leaders, staff,
and learners through classroom observations and collaborative
roundtables.
2024–25 Learning Opportunities
The NDDPI and schools from across the state invite you to join us to explore personalized learning, collaborate with colleagues, and share your ideas and experiences.
Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, a variety of site visits, learning cycles, & resources will be available. All North Dakota leaders and educators are encouraged to engage.
To learn more, please visit the ND Network for Personalized Learning website and consider signing up for our monthly newsletter.
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Virtual Workshops for Teachers of Advanced Placement Courses
High school teachers who are teaching dual credit, english, social studies, mathematics, science, or computer science are welcome to attend. To learn more, click here.
If you have questions about these training opportunities, please contact Davonne Eldredge at (701) 328-4525.
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Data Cleanup – Preparing for Data Modernization
Migrating data from one Student Information System (SIS) to another can feel like moving house—everything must be packed neatly to avoid chaos at the new place. Cleaning up data before migration is essential to ensure a smooth transition and accuracy in the new system. Here's a quick guide to help you get started:
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- Identify Redundant Data: Start by identifying and eliminating redundant or duplicate records. Redundant data can clog up the new system, making it difficult to manage. Use data profiling tools to scan for duplicates and inconsistencies.
- Validate Data Accuracy: Ensure all data is accurate and up-to-date. Cross-reference data with reliable sources. Verify student contact information, academic records, and demographic details to avoid discrepancies.
- Standardize Data Formats: Standardize data formats to maintain consistency. This includes date formats, addresses, and academic codes. Consistent data formatting facilitates smooth integration into the new SIS.
- Remove Inactive Records: Filter out inactive records, such as graduates or transferred students, unless required by institutional policy. Keeping only active records ensures that the new system is not bogged down by irrelevant information.
- Conduct Data Audits: Perform thorough data audits to detect any anomalies or missing information. Regular audits help in maintaining data integrity throughout the migration process.
A clean and organized dataset ensures a seamless migration and sets the foundation for effective data management in your new student information system. If you have any questions or need help, please contact your EduTech team at (800) 774-1091 or Steve Snow at (701) 328-2236.
National School Bus Safety Week
This year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) North Dakota Division and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Region 8 offices are working together to raise awareness about NHTSA’s National School Bus Safety Week and focus on valid commercial driver licenses (CDL) for bus drivers, endorsements (to carry passengers), and impaired driving prevention—all to keep bus passengers and drivers safe on the road.
For more information on school bus safety, please click here.
For more information on bus licensing, endorsements, the Clearinghouse, and keeping passengers safe, please visit:
School Bus Safety | Traffic Safety Marketing
Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse (dot.gov)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (dot.gov)
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ND Ed Hub New Courses: Leveraging the Math & ELA Standards
FOUR NEW COURSES!
Collaboratively, the Northeast Education Services Cooperative, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI), and a group of standards writing committee members developed these courses to provide you with the tools and insights needed to support students through aligned systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment based upon our ND ELA & Math standards.
Click here to enroll in the Math Standards courses.
Click here to enroll in the ELA Standards courses.
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Driving Math Success Workshop Series in November
- November 12 - Designing Effective Tier 2 Interventions
- November 13 - Homework and Grading Practices
- November 14 - Data-Driven Instruction – Analyzing Student Work
These FREE virtual sessions are from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CT. View the flyer to register and click on the dates. Graduate credit is available. Workshops are presented by Dr. Nathan Lang-Raad.
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Upcoming Webinars – Available through the WIDA Portal
ACCESS Technology Support and Online Preparedness
November 5, 2024, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CT
This webinar includes establishing a local communication plan to identify issues and troubleshooting if problems arise as well as reviewing when to support test administrators at their testing sites by training them to respond to technical issues and when and how to report them.
Let’s play! Joyful learning for multilingual children in PreK-third grade
December 3, 2024, 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM CT
This WIDA Webinar will provide a brief introduction to Teaching in PreK-3, an emerging WIDA topic area, followed by a specific focus on play.
The Key Language Uses in Bilingual Writing
January 23, 2025, 3:00 PM - 4:10 PM CT
In this webinar we’ll examine the Key Language Uses in writing in both Spanish and English.
Strategies for Supporting Multilingual Newcomers
April 1, 2025, 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM CT
In this webinar, we will discuss how we can build and strengthen systems that promote multilingual newcomers’ success in classrooms across the consortium.
Aligning AI for MLs - Integrating the WIDA ELD Standards Framework into Prompts
May 8, 2025, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM CT
In this interactive webinar, we'll explore how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) effectively to create engaging and standards-based activities for your multilingual learners.
Kindergarten ACCESS for New Test Administrators
November 12, 2024, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CT
This webinar provides an overview of Kindergarten ACCESS including scheduling, basics of administration, and review of training resources. This is not a replacement for the required training course to administer the WIDA assessment(s).
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Seeking Nominations for the National Teachers Hall of Fame
The National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) is currently seeking applicants for our 2025 class of inductees, and they need your support to spread the word!
Founded in 1989 in Emporia, Kansas, the NTHF recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding career teachers from both public and private schools. Each year, five PreK-12 educators with at least 20 years of teaching experience are inducted into the Hall of Fame, honoring their dedication to the profession and their impact on students and communities.
Nominations can be submitted here. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2024, so it’s important to nominate early.
If you need more information, contact the Hall of Fame office at hallfame@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5660.
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PowerSchool Workshops
Tuesday, October 29
Thursday, October 31
PowerSchool Users’ Group (PSUG)
This event is fast approaching. It will be held November 6 and 7 at the Radisson in Bismarck.
November 6 - Day 1: Registration, general session and announcements in the morning followed by a variety of concurrent sessions. You only need to register once for the entire day at the following link. To register for Day 1, click here.
November 7 – Day 2: Registration, announcements during breakfast followed by a 3-hour session of your choice. You need to register once for the entire day here AND for the 3-hour session you plan to attend below. Day 2 will end at 11:30 AM.
Day 2 (3-hour sessions), click the link below to register for the 3-hour session of your choice:
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Title I Schoolwide Reporting Training Dates Forthcoming
Please review the dates below and mark your calendars!!! We would love to see you there!
Reminder: Schools that are in a schoolwide planning year are required to attend the following trainings.
Links for these upcoming meetings will be sent closer to the event.
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Thursday, November 21, 2024 – SW Comprehensive Needs Assessment and What Comes Next.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2024 – TA/SW Record-Keeping/Monitoring webinar
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 – Midyear Schoolwide Title I Reporting Review
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Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – Requirements for Annual Schoolwide Title I Reporting
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Siegfried at (701) 328-3544
Federal Judges Available for Classroom Visits for Bill of Rights Day
High school teachers who want to give their students the opportunity to interact with a federal judge about their constitutional rights may request a classroom visit now for an appearance in December. In observance of Bill of Rights Day, December 15, teams that include a judge, an attorney, and a non-attorney court professional are available throughout December for an interactive Q and A session – virtually or in-person – in classrooms across the country.
The 50 or 90-minute class period opens with a four-minute video to prompt discussion and questions on the theme: The Bill of Rights in Your Life. The team also will talk about careers in the courts.
To request a visit anywhere in the country, contact the national educational outreach manager Rebecca Fanning.
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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.
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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.
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Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood
This live, interactive training series for early childhood professionals and community members is being offered one Thursday evening a month for the 2024-2025 school year. Join us for one or multiple sessions. To learn more, click here.
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