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 TEACH is an e-newsletter from the Learning & Teaching division of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Early Learning: We are excited to
announce the integration of early learning into the Learning and Teaching
(L&T) division led by Assistant Superintendent Kathe Taylor at
OSPI. Karma Hugo and Amber Havens joined the OSPI staff, respectively, as
the new Director of Early Learning and WaKIDS Assessment Coordinator. While
Karma will be concerned with all things early learning, Amber will focus on
WaKIDS.
Career and Technical Education: OSPI is also
integrating the critical work of Career and Technical Education (CTE) into the
Learning and Teaching (L&T) division. Rebecca (Becky) Wallace accepted an
appointment as the new Executive Director of Career and Technical Education.
The integration of CTE and Learning and Teaching is essential in order to work
more intentionally and collaboratively to carry out the Superintendent’s
vision. For more information about CTE, visit http://www.k12.wa.us/CareerTechEd/default.aspx.
Special Education: OSPI is also pleased to announce the
appointment of Glenna Gallo as the new Special Education Assistant
Superintendent, effective July 1. Glenna, formerly the State Director of
Special Education at the Utah State Board of Education, will replace Doug Gill,
who will be retiring this summer.
 The artwork has arrived at OSPI! The winning pieces from the ESD regional art shows are now on display at OSPI through June 1. There will be an awards ceremony and reception on Friday, May 19, from 1–3 p.m. at OSPI. For more information and access to the online galleries, please go to http://www.k12.wa.us/Arts/ArtShow/default.aspx.
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In case you missed it, two Washington schools were named
2017 Green Ribbon Schools awardees by the U.S.
Dept. of Education!
Green Gables
Elementary (Federal Way Public Schools) and Lakeridge Elementary (Mercer Island
School District) are among 64 districts and schools across the nation who
achieved the honor this year. Read more: Green Gables.
This
video-based professional learning from OSPI and AWSP supports elementary
principals in developing an understanding of why elementary science is
important and how to lead Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in their buildings.
It makes the case for elementary science by leading principals and their leadership teams through a series
of learning tools, allows for completion of a self-assessment to determine
where the building is in regard to science instruction, and guides action
planning. While the target audience for the video is elementary principals
working with their leadership teams, the resources are useful for all levels of
leadership. The video and all the associated resources can be found on the AWSP
website at http://www.awsp.org/esv.
Are you interested in joining a growing network of Washington educational leaders who expand their capacity to improve student learning through ongoing professional learning and leadership development? Applications are now open for the Washington State Fellows’ Network. The deadline to apply is May 19. Click Here to Apply!
More information about the 2017–18 Washington State Fellows' Network is
available on the OSPI website at http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/Fellows.aspx.
This prestigious award recognizes four
students, two from Western Washington and two from Eastern Washington, for
their civic leadership and academic achievement in social studies. Named after
former Washington State Governor Daniel J. Evans, this award is given each year
to students in grades 3–12 who have successfully completed an OSPI-Developed
Assessment in civics and who are civic leaders in their classroom, school,
and/or community.
Teachers, principals, counselors, and other school personnel may nominate
students online. Nominations for the 2016-17 school year are now open and will
remain open until June 30, 2017. Nomination forms are available at http://www.k12.wa.us/SocialStudies/DJEvans/default.aspx.
For more
information, please contact Carol Coe, Social Studies Program Supervisor, at
360-725-6351 or carol.coe@k12.wa.us.
Encourage
teachers from your district to apply for a position on the Washington State Social Studies Cadre. Any classroom teacher with interest
and expertise in social studies education may apply. Cadre members serve
3-year terms in support of district, regional, and state social studies.
They share their expertise on Social Studies K-12 Learning
Standards, assessments, and the College,
Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework.
Open positions exist in the
following ESDs:
ESD 101: Elementary School, Middle School
ESD 112: Elementary School
ESD 113: High School
ESD 114: Elementary and Middle School
ESD 171: Middle School
Information
and applications will be available until June 30, 2017.
Washington
Reading Corps (WRC) has been awarded additional funding from the Corporation for
National and Community Service for the 2017–18 school year. Applications have
been re-opened for schools who may have missed the earlier round. WRC provides
schools with funding for Americorps members to work as literacy tutors in
elementary schools and early learning centers. Members serve 40 hours per week
for 10.5 months, running from August 15 to June 30. The member placement fee paid
by the school or district is $4000 per member.
View this short informational video on how Washington Reading
Corp can add to your literacy program.
The applications are available at:
Applications will be reviewed weekly and awards will be made accordingly until all 225 positions are filled.
Come learn about the explosion
of Open Educational Resources (OER) and their importance in the changing
instructional materials landscape. Bring a team and learn more about OER,
consider your district needs, and explore how OER resources can support instruction.
Lunch and clock hours provided.
OER District Summit
Capital Region ESD 113 in partnership with OSPI
August 17, 2017
8:30 am–3:30 pm
Registration closes June 30 or when seats are
full. Register on
PDEnroller for Course 24944.
Open Up Resources has developed OER (open educational
resources) full-year instructional materials for 6–8th grade mathematics and
K–5th grade English language arts (ELA). National leaders in mathematics and
ELA developed the materials. The instructional materials will be available for
use for the 2017–18 school year. To learn more about the curricula and to
request access to preview the materials visit:
Sometimes educators are uncomfortable discussing Transgender
topics in the news (e.g., NC bathroom law) and they may need some useful tools
to support discussions on Transgender issues in school
or with parents and students. Recently, Stanford University launched a short online course to boost understanding of
transgender youth. You can read the article at http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2017/03/27/stanford-launches-short-online-course-to-boost-understanding-of-transgender-kids/.
Another helpful resource is the Welcoming Schools website, which has free lesson
plans to support gender expansive students and create bias-free learning
environments. OSPI can offer training on the Welcoming Schools approach.
Contact Marissa.Rathbone@k12.wa.us
with questions.
We can support every student in our class and school because
students who are seen for who they are will be more successful in any
(learning) environment.
Districts interested in
strengthening sexual health education related to HIV and STD prevention have
the opportunity to apply for funding from Advocates for Youth, a national
non-profit organization that supports evidence-informed and -based approaches. This
grant would provide technical assistance to build capacity and will use
approaches currently required in CDC-funded prevention programs. Districts
currently receiving Exemplary Sexual Health Education (ESHE) support are not
eligible to apply. Interested
districts are encouraged to submit letters of intent by May 12. Applications
are due June 9.
In
late April, Superintendent Reykdal sent a letter
to members of the Washington State Congressional delegation to express concerns
about potential cuts to education funding. Last week we learned that President
Trump signed the spending bill for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2017
appropriations, which provides funding for the majority of districts’ 2017–18
federal education formula grants. (Washington has had a 4 percent decrease in the number of
low-income students, this will impact a number of the ESSA Title program
allocations. Presently, we do not know the allocations for the programs listed
below.)
Highlights
from the final budget are below:
- Title I, Part A
received a minimal boost to cover the shift of moving school improvement
funding from being a stand-alone grant to being funded within the Title I, Part
A formula grant.
- Title II, Part A
received a $294 million cut, or approximately 10% (not the 50% that was
indicated earlier).
- Title IV, Part A,
a new block grant authorized by ESSA, was funded at $400 million (details will
be provided when we know how this grant is to be rolled out to OSPI and then to
districts).
- Title IV, Part B,
21st Century Community Learning Centers received a modest increase of $25
million.
If you
have questions concerning this information, please contact Gayle Pauley,
Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs and Federal Accountability, at gayle.pauley@k12.wa.us or
360-725-6170.
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