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In this issue:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION: Only teachers will register and enter participation comments/questions in the ALTed Talks chat. Please project ALTed Talks on to a screen in your classroom.
ALTed Talks: Drug Trends, Threats, and the Elephants in the Room
When: Nov 8, 2022, 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcuyrqz4iG_NtJbopTA54gb3oKnfoKxA
OSDE again plans to dedicate $6 million in federal relief funds to help classroom teachers obtain resources for their students through the national nonprofit DonorsChoose. Dates for the second CLASS Grant initiative (CLASS 2.0) will be announced once it has the governor’s cabinet secretary’s signature.
The OSDE will provide up to $800 to an educator’s project, available on a first-come, first-served basis for only one project per classroom teacher. Materials requested must be for student use; professional development materials will not qualify.
More than 7,500 Oklahoma classroom teachers in 1,411 schools at 462 districts received shipments of hand-picked learning tools and school supplies through the first CLASS grant initiative. Teachers, schools and districts interested in participating can visit sde.ok.gov/classgrant.
https://www.normantranscript.com/news/hofmeister-announces-grant-initiative-this-fall/article_bed9f9ce-5154-11ed-85c0-27e4f6df5550.html
There are many ways to help your students succeed. Using the toolkit and helpful guides found here, you can learn best practices and view resources for implementing the Individual Career Academic Plan in your classroom and school.
WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AN ICAP?
An ICAP has a strong, intentional connection with readiness for career and college. An ICAP identifies student interests, skills, postsecondary and workforce goals and experiences that lead to a meaningful plan that charts the progress needed to prepare students for college, career and life.
It should include:
■ Career and college interest surveys
■ Written postsecondary and workforce goals and progress toward those goals
■ Scores on assessments (required state and federal assessments and a college and career ready assessment)
■ Experiences in service learning and/or work environments including apprenticeships, internships, mentorships, job shadowing and others
■ Intentional sequence of courses that reflects progress toward the postsecondary goal (this may include identified career pathways or career endorsements)
■ Academic progress
The ICAP Recovery Guide has been created as a resource for students that are not currently on track to complete ICAP requirements before graduation. This guide will allow you to engage students to complete the necessary activities and ensure that all ICAP requirements are met in accordance with the Oklahoma State Department of Education graduation mandates. For more questions visit www.okedge.com or call 405-522-1918
Students in Oklahoma are required to take all of the required CCR assessments (ACT/SAT, Science, US History) in order to graduate (per 70 O.S. § 1210.508). Currently, we have a flowchart that addresses students in unique situations. However, please be advised that this determination is based on the federal government’s declaration of a public health emergency, which is updated every three months and is due to be updated in October. If this declaration is lifted, then the assessment waiver will no longer be in place. If the student finishes all coursework while this declaration is in place, then they should be eligible to graduate, provided that they meet the other graduation requirements outside of the assessments.
Across the country, more than one in five registrations for the national ACT test (taken by students on a Saturday) are completed using a fee waiver. ACT's fee waiver program is a key part of ACT’s nonprofit mission to help everyone find success in education and the workforce.
ACT's Fee Waiver program provides:
- 100% coverage of ACT test fees
- FREE access to learning resources
- FREE additional score reports
- Eligibility to have college application fees waiver
Learn more here
 Lawton Public Schools’ principal Jennifer Mason and assistant principal Keli Collins of the Douglass Learning Center in Lawton attended the National Alternative Education Association annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri October 19-21. Because their school encompasses Lawton’s alternative education programs like the Gateway Success Center and Lawton Virtual Academy, the pair were asked to present a session on constructing unconventional credit. Unconventional credit opportunities for alt ed students are vital to keeping them engaged and motivated for continuous learning. Mason and Collins shared strategies their site uses, such as partnering with community centers for physical education and art classes, attending hands on field trips for forensic and history classes, developing drama and speech classes tailored to fit the needs of students, and other unconventional methods to help students meet learning goals. The Gateway Success Center stresses the importance of personalized education. A mixture of online curriculum and hands-on learning is a major component of what makes the program successful.
One of the major points Mason stressed was the importance of a strong staff and support from district administration. Session attendees asked many questions about what Mason and Collins consider nonissues in their district. How do students have access to the internet if they have to work from home? The district provides hotspots to students in need. Who funds the field trips? Community sponsors and funding from the district. What does a teacher need to do if they want to try something new? “Simply ask! As long as it is something that will help students, try it. If it works, great. If not, what needs to be changed to make it better for students?” Mason said regarding faculty projects and ideas.
Focusing on what is best for students is the driving factor behind the decision-making process for the building and district administration. Removing roadblocks and allowing the alt ed students as many opportunities as possible is what LPS strives for. These students have the opportunity to attend career tech, earn college credit, participate in sports, clubs, or activities, and can attend the Life Ready Center with students across the district. The Gateway Success Center is a place where students can be themselves and take advantage of the educational opportunities to help them become life ready citizens.
For information on bringing this concept to your school, contact Jennifer @ jmason@lawtonps.org
The student walks into the room and flips over the chair with no warning. They start yelling at you with a loud, fast voice. They are saying something about a grade they got on an assignment and how something isn't fair. You are trying to decide what to do and how to calm them down. You are also trying to consider how to calm them down or if you need to get a counselor, call the resource officer or do something else. And you have to decide immediately so the situation doesn't get worse.
When the student calms down, they can't really tell you what happened or why they reacted that way. You are left wondering what happened and how to keep it from happening again.
Sound familiar? Please join us at our Spring Meeting. We will be focusing on the SDE's Trauma Framework. Participants will find out about why students react and become dysregulated, how to help them calm down when they do, and how to keep it from happening in the first place. You will learn practical applications for your schools that will apply to a variety of situations and students.
Here are the links to register:
Northwest-High Plains Technology Center, Woodward
Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 9:00 to 12:30
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alternative-education-spring-regional-meeting-northwest-tickets-431940253927
Southwest-Southwest Technology Center, Altus
Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 9:00 to 12:30
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alternative-education-spring-regional-meeting-southwest-tickets-432043011277
Southeast-Kiamichi Technology Center, Atoka
Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at 9:00 to 12:30
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alternative-education-spring-regional-meeting-southeast-tickets-424225549037
Northeast-Tulsa Tech Lemley Memorial Campus, Tulsa
Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 9:00 to 12:30
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alternative-education-spring-regional-meeting-northeast-tickets-432047354267
Central-Francis Tuttle Rockwell Campus, OKC
Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 9:00 to 12:30
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alternative-education-spring-regional-meeting-central-tickets-423529286497
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