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Weekly Blast 

December 19, 2024

ESSA Committee Meeting Held

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) law has expired and there is no discussion at this time of a reauthorization. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) continues to meet with our ESSA Implementation Committee three times a year to discuss the need for changes or updates to our plan. We recently met with this committee on December 16, 2024.

• Access meeting minutes here.
• Access the recording here.
• PowerPoint presentations can be accessed here.
• ESSA Implementation Committee members.

Update on Choice Ready Grants NDDPI used a targeted approach for the Choice Ready grants this past fall to take advantage of the ESSER dollars and get all contracts signed by September 30, 2024. North Dakota high schools applied for student services in the areas of ACT tutoring, Dual Credit courses, and CDE online courses. Below is an update on the grants.

• ACT Tutoring: The Sylvan Learning Center is the approved vendor for this activity. The list of approved schools can be accessed here. Sylvan has reached out to all districts to schedule tutoring services. If you haven't been contacted or if you have questions, please contact Maren Gerhardt at (701) 223-0010.

• CDE Online Courses: The North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE) is the approved vendor for this activity. The list of approved schools can be accessed here. As a reminder, these services are for new students to take an online course to help us show growth. Only courses for spring or summer 2025 can be counted. If you have not yet been contacted, need help enrolling students, or have questions, please contact Steve Ring.

• Dual Credit Courses: Districts selected from a list of colleges/universities that signed up to participate in this initiative. A list of the approved schools can be accessed here. As a reminder, these services are for new students to take an online course to help us show growth. Only courses for spring or summer 2025 can be counted. If you have not yet been contacted or need help enrolling students, please reach out to the college/university you selected. Each college/university and their assigned contact person is available on our website. 

2024-25 Student Engagement Survey Administration North Dakota’s next Student Engagement Survey (SES) is scheduled for Jan. 13 – Feb. 14, 2025. The surveys are now available in closed status in the surveys module of the Cognia myJourney page. School and district rosters are also available for download. The SES is not an evaluation of individual student behaviors, but a method to collect feedback directly from students about their learning experiences. SES measures student engagement in elementary (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12) through students’ responses to 21 items. NDDPI aims for a 95% participation rate for all students in grades 3-12. Data is reported annually as an indicator of school quality as part of the state’s accountability system under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This “Student Engagement” indicator accounts for 30% of elementary or middle schools’ overall rating and 20% of high schools’ overall rating for the school year. For more information on the following, refer to the SES Administration Guide available on the NDDPI/Cognia partnership page: How to download your school or district’s student roster for the survey. How to administer the survey to students. How to verify that each student has completed the survey. How to access and interpret your survey results. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Thomas at (701) 328-2597, or Steve Snow at (701) 328-2236.

Application Window for the Kindergarten Transition Program Grant Opens Dec. 31

The Kindergarten Transition Program Grant is a competitive, one-time planning and implementation grant opportunity for North Dakota school districts. North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) established this grant to support school districts in creating unique kindergarten transition programs. These programs will serve North Dakota’s children and families the year before they enter kindergarten in their communities.

All North Dakota school districts providing kindergarten services are eligible to apply.

Approved awardees will receive a one-time grant of up to $10,000 to support the guided design and implementation of a kindergarten transition program that meets the district’s community needs.

Grant funds will support the plan and arrangement for quality kindergarten transition experiences, including costs for staffing, curriculum/resources, training, equipment, and supplies.

Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, 3 p.m. CT.

A live Kindergarten Transition Program Grant Q&A will be held on Microsoft Teams on Jan. 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT. Click here to join the meeting.

For more information about the grant, including the application, visit hhs.nd.gov/kindergarten-transition-program-grant.

Keynote Speakers Announced 

NDDPI and Cognia are thrilled to reveal our keynote speakers for this year’s IMPACT Conference. Join us on April 16-17, 2025, at the Bismarck Event Center and prepare to be inspired! With these dynamic speakers, you can expect to leave with renewed energy and a fresh perspective, ready to continue making a profound difference in classrooms and communities.

Rebecka Peterson is the 2023 National Teacher of the Year and a high school math teacher from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Known for her dedication to student relationships and finding joy in everyday moments, Rebecka emphasizes the importance of listening to her students' stories and elevating their voices. As an immigrant herself, she celebrates diversity and advocates for equal representation in education. Rebecka's innovative teaching methods and commitment to creating a positive learning environment have made her a beloved educator and an inspiration to her peers. Learn more about Rebecka Peterson here.

Willie Spears is a renowned motivational speaker, author, and educator. Known for his passionate, energetic, and often humorous approach, Willie has captivated audiences across the country. As the founder of The Willie Spears Experience, he has spoken at numerous schools, universities, and organizations, including Fortune 500 companies. With a unique blend of personal experiences and storytelling ability, Willie inspires education professionals and leaders to reach their full potential through his energetic, humorous, and heartfelt talks. Learn more about Willie Spears here.

To secure your spot and receive early bird pricing, register here.

Cognia is accepting session proposals through Jan. 15, 2025. 

Title I Schoolwide Reporting: Training Dates, Recordings, and PowerPoints  Please review the dates and resources below. Mark your calendars for upcoming webinars!  Reminder: Schools that are in a schoolwide planning year are required to attend the following trainings. Links for these upcoming webinars will be sent closer to the event. All webinars will be held from 3-4 p.m. CT. Upcoming Training: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 – Midyear Schoolwide Title I Reporting Review Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – Requirements for Annual Schoolwide Title I Reporting Resources: SW Comprehensive Needs Assessment and What Comes Next webinar was held Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. To view the recording, click here. To view the PowerPoint slide deck, click here. TA/SW Record-Keeping/Monitoring webinar was held Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. To view the recording, click here. To view the PowerPoint slide deck, click here. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Siegfried at (701) 328-3544.

School-Based Intervention Support

The North Dakota Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group is offering a grant opportunity to support schools and surrounding communities with school-based interventions. Due to the over-representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in the juvenile justice system, proposals containing interventions that focus on ensuring equal access to services, creating cultural competence, and/or community connections and support for BIPOC youth and families will be given priority.

More information, including the RFP and application, can be found here. 

Workshop on Developing Quantitative (Scientific and Mathematical) Arguments

NDDPI is excited to sponsor a virtual workshop for high school science, mathematics, and computer science educators (AP, Dual Credit, High School Math, Science, or Computer Science) on developing quantitative arguments.

WHEN: Jan. 15, 2025

TIME: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT

COST: All registration costs are covered by NDDPI

In this workshop, participants will learn how to help students analyze and interpret quantitative data effectively. Topics will include assessing student abilities to interpret quantitative arguments, identifying common learner misconceptions, utilizing AP Exam rubrics to reinforce skills, and implementing strategies to enhance data analysis and interpretation skills.

Registration for this workshop can be found here. Registration closes Jan. 2, 2025.

If you have questions about these training opportunities, please contact Davonne Eldredge at (701) 328-4525.

ND ED HUB's New Course Book Study: The Anxious Generation This course explores the impact of a digital childhood on mental health and academic performance, using Jonathan Haidt's book, “The Anxious Generation,” and supplemental materials. Participants will earn one credit (15 CEUs) through Valley City State University. Haidt examines the decline of play-based childhood and the rise of phone-based childhood, detailing its negative effects on social and neurological development, including issues like sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and social media's damaging effects, especially on girls. Click here to enroll.

Little People, Big Thinkers: Intellectual Engagement in Early Elementary Classrooms

The North Dakota Association for Gifted Children (NDAGC) is offering a webinar that explores intellectual engagement in early elementary classrooms featuring guest speaker Nancy B. Hertzog, PhD. It details the project approach framework, shows examples of young children engaged in high-level thinking, and provides a procedure to elicit such thinking.

• Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at 7 p.m. CT

To learn more, click here.

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

Join North Dakota’s next Modern Classrooms 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. The session runs from Jan. 27 to April 27, 2025. 

Space is limited! To register, click here by Jan. 18, 2025. 

Content Standards Webpage Update

NDDPI is pleased to announce an update to the Content Standards Webpage. The updated page features buttons that link to a page specifically designed for each discipline area. These discipline-specific pages contain the standards and related documents (e.g., crosswalks, family guides, progressions), relevant North Dakota-based links identified in the standards, and links to state professional organizations for educators. The updated webpage was launched in mid-December.

Programming for Students with IEPs

University Startups (USU) has developed comprehensive programming to support students with IEPs in reaching their fullest potential. Our evidence-based program is created by national industry leaders with decades of classroom experience. USU’s approach combines a transition-focused curriculum, teacher training, parental engagement, and entrepreneurial skills, along with virtual internships for every student. Our programming is easy to implement, saving educators time while delivering high-quality results. Limited slots are available for the no-cost pathways pilot program!

USU’s work centers around:

• Improving outcomes for Indicators 13 and 14.
• Providing professional development on building compliant and quality IEP plans.
• Increasing access and agency for students to pursue post-secondary opportunities.

For more information, contact Erica Beard at (804) 767-0318.