Happy New Year!
I know people say things slow down in December, but OESE was busy right up to the end of the year. We are excited to get funds out to grantees to support important work. In addition, we are looking forward to publishing notices inviting applications for FY 2023 that will be coming out over the next few months.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and this newsletter highlights a number of resources to address that issue. I am honored to represent the Department on the government’s Senior Policy Operating Group, which includes representatives from all federal agencies. We meet twice a year to update each other on how we can combat human trafficking and to share our work under the National Action Plan. Our role is to make guidance available to schools on identifying and responding to human trafficking and child exploitation. In addition, this month the President’s Interagency Task Force (PITF) to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons will meet. The PITF is convened by the Secretary of State to hear from agency secretaries about their contributions to combat human trafficking.
Every year, we reach out to our grantees through the Department’s Grantee Satisfaction Survey. This is an important way for us to find out how the Department meets the needs of our grantees. We take the results of the survey very seriously and review the findings to identify opportunities for improvement. Our scores are generally very high for meeting our partners’ and customers’ needs; however, one area in which we have received feedback regarding needed improvement is our website, https://oese.ed.gov/. In response, we are working hard to not only update content on the landing page, but to fix broken links and generally ensure accurate and up-to-date content on each program page. Check out our latest content and visit often to see our progress!
Finally, OESE is preparing for the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) conference at the end of this month. A list of Department-led sessions can be found in the newsletter. I am looking forward to seeing many of you there!
Ruth Ryder
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 The Department is continuing to offer a human trafficking webinar series that began in 2020. These webinars are intended to address the growing response of America’s schools to child trafficking. The series draws attention to the important efforts underway in our nation’s education community to address both sex and labor trafficking. There were six webinars in FY 2022:
These and other webinars are archived on the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) webpage.
Register for the first webinars of 2023:
Human Trafficking in America’s Schools
This August 2022 brief, Human Trafficking in America’s Schools by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (an updated iteration of the January 2021 Human Trafficking in America’s Schools Guide), describes ways schools can partner effectively with people with lived experience of trafficking and explores some of the unique benefits these consultants offer. This brief supplements the Human Trafficking in America’s Schools guide.
Human Trafficking in America’s Schools Staff Development Series
The Department has released a three-part series, Human Trafficking in America’s Schools Staff Development Series, designed to help provide educators with critical information about human trafficking prevention. The series is rooted in the latest research and best practice information available, while drawing from the wisdom of individuals with lived experience and trafficking advocates. It provides information key to identifying potential trafficking, generating appropriate school-level responses, and supporting efforts to prevent trafficking of students. Each video includes comments by both content and lived experience subject matter experts, as well as reflection questions for educators to consider individually or as a group. The series can be found on the Department funded NCSSLE website.
The Department has also developed a set of training collateral, including posters and shareables that can be posted in social media or on websites. These training collateral are designed to pique the interest of educators to learn more about human trafficking, as well as to support their continued attention after completing the Addressing Human Trafficking in America’s Schools Staff Development Series. The materials contain key messages from the series, as well as QR code links to additional information for staff reference. The posters and shareables can be found on NCSSLE’s website.
Addressing the Growing Problem of Domestic Sex Trafficking in Minors through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
This practice brief by the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) highlights the broader issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and suggests a framework for integrating school-based prevention and intervention strategies through PBIS. The brief provides a review of DMST and connections to PBIS regarding how actions within the PBIS framework can help prevent DMST and provide assistance to student victims and their families.
Human Trafficking Youth Forum
Register to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign for a virtual forum on human trafficking and youth in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month on Jan. 31 from 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. ET.. Caretakers and adults who work with youth are invited to attend this webinar to hear from experts to learn how to talk to youth about online safety, gain knowledge of human trafficking trends and how they affect the youth population, and increase awareness of available government resources for youth victims and individuals working with youth.
Introduction to Recognizing & Reporting Human Trafficking
Join the DHS Blue Campaign for a webinar on recognizing and responding to potential cases of human trafficking. Members of the public are invited to attend this webinar that will include an overview of what human trafficking is, the indicators, how to report a suspected human trafficking situation, and available resources to raise awareness in your communities.
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2021 NCSSLE human trafficking webinars:
My Life, My Choice Resources:
Additional resources on human trafficking:
Resources on gender-based violence:
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Meet Department Staff Member Elyse Robertson
Learn more about Elyse Robertson, a program officer in the Office of Safe and Supportive Schools who specializes in the topic of female genital mutilation (FGM). Note that February is FGM awareness month, and that the International Day of Zero Tolerance of FGM will be on Feb. 6.
How long have you been at the Department? I have been at the Department for six years.
What do you most enjoy about working at the Department? I enjoy working in the Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, and I am honored to work with and learn from practitioners and experts from local, state, and other federal agencies to support students’ well-being and safety.
What is one thing you’d like to see happen for the program in the next year? For the Title IV, Part A program, I am looking forward to continuing to learn how program funds are being used by SEAs and LEAs to support activities related to student safety and health.
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Department hosts Raising the Bar: Literacy and Math Series to Address Academic Recovery kickoff
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to support students’ academic recovery from the impact of the pandemic, the Department hosted the first of five sessions on strategies and programs to boost student literacy and math outcomes. View the recording of the Oct. 26, 2022, OESE Literacy and Math Series kickoff event. The recording includes a spotlight of principal Ashley Aldridge Wilson’s school, where administrators used American Rescue Plan funds to address pandemic-related learning loss by meeting students’ specific academic needs.
At the second session, on Nov. 10, 2022, several Department-funded technical assistance centers made presentations on resources aligned with the session’s topic, Best Practices and Research on Rigorous Instruction for all Students in Literacy and Mathematics.
The third session, on Dec. 8, 2022, focused on Increasing Support for Students beyond the Classroom.
The sessions will occur monthly through February and will center on sustained, cohesive efforts to improve educational practice. The final two sessions will focus on the following:
*Date is subject to change.
In the remaining virtual convenings of experts, the Department will continue to build engagement from the field; identify collaboration opportunities among research, practice, and funding; and lift best practices and resources for practitioners and policymakers to take action to address learning loss and academic recovery. Keep an eye on the Best Practices Clearinghouse for continued updates of new resources.
Read the full press release for more information.
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Bipartisan Safer Communities Act webinar series
Join the “Building Stronger Connections” webinar series supporting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) Stronger Connections Grant Program. Learn more on the BSCA webpage. The first webinar, “Building Stronger Connections: Engaging Families and Communities,” was held last year on Nov. 30. Learn more about the session and view the webinar recording.
The second session was held on Dec. 14 and titled “Building Stronger Connections: Selecting High-Quality Evidence-based Strategies for Safe, Healthy, and Supportive Schools Part I.” The webinar recording is available to view.
Register for the remaining sessions of this four-part series:
- Building Stronger Connections: Selecting High-Quality Evidenced-based Strategies for Safe, Healthy, and Supportive Schools Part II
Register for this webinar, on Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. ET, which will continue to focus on the importance of selecting evidenced-based strategies and supports to ensure safe, healthy, and supportive schools. In particular, this webinar will focus on the importance of strong implementation of multitiered systems of support and selecting trauma-informed and restorative strategies. It will also highlight how community violence affects school climate and student health and the importance of addressing trauma from community violence.
- Building Stronger Connections: Professional Development and Training for All School Staff on Strategies for Safe, Healthy, and Supportive Schools
Register for this webinar, on Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. ET, which will highlight the importance of preparing educators to meet the diverse needs of students. Many of the strategies to promote safe, supportive, and healthy schools require pre-service training and ongoing coaching. This panel will discuss strategies to consider, including training all educators in emergency planning, restorative practices, inclusive and inviting classrooms, and asset-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline.
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Upcoming sessions at the NAESPA conference
The below sessions will be presented by the Department at the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) conference, Feb. 1-4. We hope to see you there!
- Promising Practices in the COVID Recovery Effort to Accelerate Student Learning
- Updates from ED: US Department of Education Program Leadership Panel
- Presenting the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Learning Agenda
- Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Updates and Best Practices for Student Well-being
- Guidance to Help Schools Support Students with Disabilities and Avoid Discriminatory Use of Discipline
- Building Strong School Communities by Supporting Student and Staff Well-being
- Addressing Educator Shortages – State Strategies and Resources from the U.S. Department of Education and Comprehensive Centers
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Equity for the Future, Learning from the Past
- U.S. Department of Education: Understanding and Leveraging the Rural Education Achievement Program
- Using the School Spending and Outcomes Snapshot to Support Resource Equity
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New additions to Administration for Children and Families video series on Social and Emotional Development and Mental Health
Supporting the social-emotional development of young children and the well-being of their parents and caregivers is a proactive prevention approach to creating positive long-term outcomes for children, parents, and caregivers. The Children’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Office of Early Childhood Development, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the Office of Head Start, and other federal partners created a series of short videos to spotlight the importance of robust social-emotional development and mental health support strategies within programs serving young children and their families:
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Impact Aid FY 2024 application deadline reminder
Does your district apply for Impact Aid Funding?
The deadline to submit applications for FY 2024 Section 7002 (payments for federal property) and Section 7003 (payments for federally connected children) is Jan. 31.
Visit the Impact Aid portal to get started right away, using our helpful instructions, tips, videos, and resource documents.
Start now to avoid the 10% penalty applied to applications submitted after Jan. 31!
Need Help?
You can submit questions from inside the application system when you need help, phone our Help Desk at 202-260-3858, or send an email to Impact.Aid@ed.gov.
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Message from the Office of Indian Education director
We at the Office of Indian Education (OIE) wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year! As we celebrate the end of one year and beginning of another, we are reminded that a new year ushers in more opportunities to strengthen educational outcomes for all Native students.
Last month, the White House released a memorandum for all federal agencies on uniform standards for Tribal consultation. Upcoming Tribal consultations and listening sessions can be accessed on our website.
In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we encourage you to access Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Information and Resources, available via the Human Trafficking and Capacity Building Center.
In the spirit of the New Year, you can continue to depend on the OIE to meet the needs of grantees across the country. We welcome you to stay connected via our OIE webpage and follow us on Twitter @OIEIndianEd!
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Tribal consultation on planning for a National Native American Language Resource Center
On Jan. 10, from 3-5 p.m. ET, the Department will conduct a Tribal consultation to inform the development of a National Native American Language Resource Center. The purpose of this consultation will be to receive meaningful input from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to ensure that Tribal leader views drive future planning. The consultation will advance the Department’s commitment to uphold the federal trust responsibility as described in Executive Order 13175. Register in advance for the consultation.
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OIE formula grant updates
The recently updated OIE Formula (Title VI, Subpart A) new project director webinar slide deck was published on the communities of practice website.
Program updates
- Save the Date! The OIE Formula Indian Parent Committee Engagement Session webinar for existing grantees and/or applicants will be on Jan. 12 from 2-4 p.m. ET. To register, visit the formula grants page and find the link on right side, the last bullet under “Current Events.”
- The OIE Formula notice inviting applications is expected to publish in the Federal Register in the middle of January and will highlight the expected opening of the Electronic Application System for Indian Education (EASIE) Part I in early February. Please contact OIE.EASIE@ed.gov for more information about submitting a first-time application.
- The OIE Formula website has been updated with FY 2022 award names, funding amounts, and Indian student counts listed in state order.
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New grant opportunities
The Department is now accepting applications for the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP). The program is designed to increase mental health support for children and youth in schools by providing training and creating pathways into school-based mental health fields This program will provide over $140.3 million in competitive grants to support a strong pipeline into the mental health profession, including innovative partnerships to prepare qualified school-based mental health services providers for employment in schools in high-need LEAs. A brochure about the program is available. The Department estimates making 80-100 awards, ranging from $400,000 to $1,200,000 for each 12-month budget period for up to 5 years. The application period closes on Jan. 27. Complete program and application information is available, including information on a pre-application webinar on Jan. 11.
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STEM Dear Colleague Letter
On Dec. 7, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten issued a Dear Colleague Letter to state and district leaders outlining how Federal education funds can be used to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning. It highlights how funds under the American Rescue Plan; Titles I, II, III, IV-A, and IV-B of the ESEA; Perkins; and IDEA can help support STEM activities.
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Dear Colleague letter on pre-award costs and participant support costs
On Dec. 8, the Department issued a Dear Colleague Letter to states granting a limited prior approval for SEAs to approve pre-award costs and participant support costs for subgrantees for programs included in the ESEA consolidated state plan.
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New Resources to Support Homeless Students
The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) and the American Rescue Plan Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) programs have released a number of resources recently to support identification of homeless students and strategies to address barriers to receiving a high-quality education. These resources can be found at the National Center for Homeless Education website at http://nche.ed.gov.
These new reports provide data on student homelessness and program implementation:
These resources provide tips and strategies for using program funds to provide services to homeless children and youth:
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FY 2023 REAP Updates
The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) team is preparing to kick off its FY 2023 formula grant cycle. Over the past several months, the REAP team has been working with SEAs to collect and review eligibility data for all LEAs across the country. This data determines whether a LEA is eligible for the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program and/or the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program. Each LEA that is eligible for and projected to receive funding under SRSA will receive an email in February inviting the LEA to submit a FY 2023 SRSA grant application through the MAX Survey platform. To access SRSA funds, each grantee LEA must have a unique entity identifier (UEI) that is registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). For additional information about UEIs and to learn how to complete the annual UEI reactivation process, please view our UEI Support Guide for SRSA grantees.
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This newsletter may reference and contain links to external sources. The opinions expressed in these sources do not reflect the views, positions, or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, nor should their inclusion be considered an endorsement of any organization.
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