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Partners and Friends,
Welcome to the Education Almanac, rural updates from the U.S. Department of Education. Each month, the Department highlights opportunities, events, news, and other information relevant to rural schools and communities. We will also feature schools and leaders who are rethinking education in order to make a positive difference in rural students’ lives. We welcome your feedback and questions. Please feel free to share them to rural@ed.gov.
Thank you, Michael Chamberlain U.S. Department of Education
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SECRETARY DEVOS DELIVERS REMARKS AT WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE PRESS BRIEFING |
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On Friday, March 27, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos addressed the White House Task Force press briefing to update the nation on the steps the Department is taking on behalf of students, parents, and teachers and thank the president and vice president for their leadership during this National Emergency. ED is in constant contact with governors and education leaders at the state, local, and building levels and the Department is “using every tool possible to extend flexibility to states and communities.”
Recognizing that not all students and communities have the same technology resources and access to the Internet, the Secretary lauded leaders who are employing innovative and creative solutions to help students continue learning.
“Distance learning is happening,” she stated. “States like New Hampshire and Florida have implemented phased and tiered approaches to meet the needs of students in their states…In remote Colorado mountain towns without internet connectivity, teachers are putting weekly learning packets together and they’re holding office hours by phone to help their students when they’re stuck. South Carolina is deploying 3,000 buses with mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to help kids in remote areas access learning that way.
“Ultimately, we know everyone is grappling with the challenge of keeping students safe and healthy while also building capacity for remote learning,” the Secretary continued. “It’s an important moment to realize that learning can—and does—happen anywhere and everywhere.
“These are tough times, but ‘We the People’ are tougher.”
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The White House, the Department of Education, and other federal agencies continue to release and update a significant amount of guidance to support schools, educators, and families regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). For updated information, please visit Coronavirus.gov, CDC.gov/coronavirus, and USA.gov/coronavirus.
For education-related information, the Department has established a dedicated Coronavirus webpage (ed.gov/coronavirus), which includes resources for institutions of higher education and for K-12. This information is continually updated so please check back for the latest.
The Department has provided additional information for families and communities including:
The Department will continue to update its website, ed.gov/coronavirus. Please direct education related questions to COVID-19@ed.gov.
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PROPOSED RULE ON INDIAN EDUCATION DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAMS (DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR INDIAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM)
The Department proposes to revise the regulations that govern the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children and Youth Program, authorized under title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), to implement changes to title VI resulting from the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These proposed regulations would update, clarify, and improve the current regulations. The Secretary also proposes a new priority, and accompanying requirements and selection criteria, for applicants proposing to empower Tribes and families to decide which education services will best support their children to succeed in college and careers. The Deadline for Comments is April 30, 2020.
FROM THE OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (OESE): COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY STATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CLSD)
The CLSD program awards competitive grants to advance literacy skills, through the use of evidence-based practices, activities, and interventions, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities. Among the priorities is one for applicants focusing subgrant competitions on projects located in Qualified Opportunity Zones. Please see the notice for details, definitions of terms, and more information. The Application Deadline is June 2, 2020.
FROM OESE: TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER INCENTIVE PROGRAM (TSL)
The purpose of TSL is to assist States, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), and nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, improve, or expand comprehensive Performance-Based Compensation Systems (PBCS) or Human Capital Management Systems (HCMS) for teachers, principals, and other School Leaders (especially for teachers, principals, and other School Leaders in High-Need Schools who raise student academic achievement and close the achievement gap between high- and low-performing students). In addition, a portion of TSL funds may be used to study the effectiveness, fairness, quality, consistency, and reliability of PBCS or HCMS for teachers, principals, and other School Leaders (educators). The Application Deadline is June 2, 2020.
ED.GOV REDESIGN CHALLENGE
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is seeking prototypes for a redesign of ED.gov, the Department’s homepage. We will be using a Challenge-Based Acquisition approach to solicit strong entries from businesses, non-profit organizations, academia, entrepreneurs, and anyone with proven expertise in web design. As a result, ED has posted a solicitation on Challenge.gov, the official hub for prize competitions across the federal government. Submissions are Due by June 15, 2020.
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LOOKING FOR PEER REVIEWERS
ED recently announced opportunities for individuals to participate in the Department’s peer review process for reviewing applications for competitive grant funding. The notice spotlights specific needs of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). The Department will accept submissions on a rolling basis, although requests should be submitted at least four weeks prior to a program’s application deadline. (Note: The Department has issued a toolkit titled “How to be considered as a Peer Reviewer for programs administered by the Department.”)
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Upcoming Grant Opportunities – Competitions Opening Soon! |
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Department News
SECRETARY DEVOS AUTHORIZES NEW FUNDING FLEXIBILITIES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED LEARNING DURING COVID-19 NATIONAL EMERGENCY
The Secretary announced a new streamlined process for providing states funding flexibilities to best meet the needs of students and educators during the COVID-19 national emergency. The new flexibilities, authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, allow schools to repurpose existing K-12 education funds for technology infrastructure and teacher training on distance learning, among other flexibilities to move resources to areas of highest need during the national emergency.
"Across the country, students, teachers and families are proving that learning can and does happen anywhere," said Secretary DeVos. "By extending additional funding flexibility to schools, we are helping to ensure student learning continues and supporting teachers as they transition to virtual classrooms. Local leaders have asked for the ability to steer more resources to local needs, and these new tools will help them do just that."
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FSA TO STOP WAGE GARNISHMENT, COLLECTIONS ACTIONS FOR STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS
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To provide additional financial assistance during the COVID-19 national emergency, the Department will halt collection actions and wage garnishments to borrowers for a period of at least 60 days from March 13, 2020. As a result, the U.S. Treasury will not withhold money from defaulted borrowers’ federal income tax refunds, Social Security payments, and other federal payments. At the same time, the Secretary directed the Department to refund approximately $1.8 billion to more than 830,000 borrowers. Additionally, private collection agencies have been instructed to halt all proactive collection activities, including making phone calls to borrowers and issuing collection letters and billing statements. Visit StudentAid.gov/coronavirus for more information.
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URGING STATES TO CONTINUE EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SECRETARY DEVOS PUBLISHES NEW RESOURCE ON ACCESSIBILITY AND DISTANCE LEARNING OPTIONS |
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In March, the Department released a new fact sheet clarifying that federal law should not be used to prevent schools from offering distance learning opportunities to all students, including students with disabilities. This new resource from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is designed to assist schools in providing distance learning while remaining in compliance with federal law. As the fact sheet states, schools "… should not opt to close or decline to provide distance instruction, at the expense of students, to address matters pertaining to services for students with disabilities. Rather, school systems must make local decisions that take into consideration the health, safety, and well-being of all their students and staff.”
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CORONAVIRUS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY UNDERSCORES NEED FOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S PROPOSED DISTANCE LEARNING RULES |
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Secretary DeVos earlier this week proposed new rules that would govern distance learning for higher education students. Work began more than a year ago on the proposed Distance Learning and Innovation regulation, but the COVID-19 National Emergency underscores the need for reform and for all educational institutions to have a robust capacity to teach remotely. Among the reforms included in the proposal are provisions to emphasize demonstrated learning over seat time, remove confusion over whether a course is eligible for Title IV aid by defining “regular and substantive” interaction between students and instructors, clarify and simplify the requirements for direct assessment programs, and encourage employer participation in developing educational programs.
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SECRETARY DEVOS ANNOUNCES NEW FEDERAL DEADLINE FLEXIBILITY FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION LEADERS |
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Following up on feedback she received from town hall meetings between the Department and state career and technical education (CTE) directors, Secretary DeVos has announced new flexibilities for CTE leaders required to submit local CTE plans under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). “The 12 million students in career and technical education programs today are tomorrow’s first responders, nurses, and medical assistants—those who are right now on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus,” the Secretary said. “They are also those who will help rebuild and grow our economy. This Administration’s commitment to CTE programs is unwavering, and the flexibilities provided today will help to ensure their critical work continues.”
ED GAMES EXPO SUPPORTS DISTANCE LEARNING
An IES blog post, “The ED Games Expo ‘Goes Viral’ to Support Distance Learning,” details the 82 learning games and technologies developed with funding across the federal government that are available online at no cost until the end of the school year.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANNOUNCES SEVERAL MEASURES TO FEED STUDENTS AND ASSIST RURAL RESIDENTS |
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The US Department of Agriculture has made several announcements to provide flexibility, relieve burdens, and assist students and other residents of rural communities.
- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a series of flexibilities to make it easier for children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities to get food during the COVID-19 national emergency and remove administrative roadblocks for the dedicated local staff who serve them. USDA is now allowing states to permit parents or guardians to take meals home to their children. It has also issued waivers on the times meals may be served (to make meal pick-up easier), the requirement that meals be served in group settings (to support non-congregate social distancing), and the requirement that afterschool meals and snacks served through certain programs be accompanied by educational activities (to minimize exposure to the novel coronavirus).
- USDA has extended the deadline for the ReConnect Pilot Program applications to April 15.
- Rural Development (RD) has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Opportunities for immediate relief are being offered by the RD Guaranteed Loan Program, the Rural Housing Service, the Rural Utilities Service and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
- RD has also announced deadlines for upcoming Community Facilities and Distance Learning
- USDA Rural Development has launched a COVID-19 resource page to keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated on actions taken by the Agency to help rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus for information on Rural Development loan payment assistance, application deadline extensions, and more.
- USDA warns SNAP recipients to be on the lookout for potential scammers using the COVID-19 situation to steal personal information. USDA is issuing this warning after receiving reports of several possible SNAP fraud attempts.
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FCC EXTENDS E-RATE PROGRAM DEADLINES, ALLOWS COMMUNITY USE OF E-RATE SUPPORTED WI-FI DURING CLOSURES |
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VISUALIZING COVID-19 IN APPALACHIA |
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The COVID-19 Cases in Appalachia map from the Appalachian Regional Commission displays the current number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Appalachia. Higher numbers of cases are marked by larger dots, while smaller numbers of confirmed cases are represented by smaller dots. By clicking on a location, users can see confirmed COVID-19 cases and any related deaths at the county level. This map is automatically updated throughout the day drawing on data collected by the Johns Hopkins University. Due to frequent changes, it is advised that users refresh their browsers often when viewing the map.
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES |
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The Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is announcing funds for the Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education (HTYPE) Demonstration Program. The goal of the HTYPE Demonstration Program is to fund local educational agencies (LEA) to develop and implement programs to prevent human trafficking victimization through the provision of skills-based human trafficking training and education for school staff and students as specified in the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018.
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KINDNESS PRODUCES STABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT |
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Burton Elementary is in Rexburg on the eastern side of Idaho. The school is located approximately eighty miles from the entrance of Yellowstone and Teton National Parks and two miles away from Brigham Young University-Idaho.
One of the key strategies that has led to success at Burton Elementary is identifying the needs of individual students. Academic, behavioral, mental health, and social/emotional needs are identified and addressed first by a grade level collaboration team.
The principal attributes student success to "amazing families, students, and teachers working together for the success of each student." Burton Elementary focuses on each student, individually. A school-wide program named "walk-to-read" ensures every student receives reading intervention at their instructional level, every day. This program is supported by the special-ed and Title I program in the school.
Read more about National Blue Ribbon School Burton Elementary…
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Find more information and updates on rural education at the Department’s Rural Education Resource Center.
Do you know of a rural school or school leader whose innovative approach would be a great fit for our Rethinking School feature? Do you have a story to share? Do you have friends or colleagues who would be interested in receiving the Education Almanac? You can connect with us at rural@ed.gov.
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All the Best, Office of Rural and Community Engagement U.S. Department of Education
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Education Almanac is a product of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Communications and Outreach, Rural and Community Engagement |
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This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites. |
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