|
This message is official correspondence from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. For general questions, contact Karen.Conway@k12.wa.us.
Bulletins
This week's bulletins:
-
Media Literacy Curriculum Development Grants
-
2019 ArcGIS Online Competition for Middle School and High School Students
- 2019–20 Reimbursement and Categories for School Buses
-
School Bus Driver Compliance Report for the 2019–20 School Year
Bulletin 066-19 attachment 1
Informational: due date October 21
Re: Media Literacy Curriculum Development Grants
Summary: This bulletin provides an overview of the 2019–20 media literacy grant program. These funds will be awarded through a competitive grant process to 6-10 school teams to develop and share openly-licensed 2-4 week curriculum units focused on media literacy or digital citizenship, or both, that may be integrated into social studies, English languages arts, or health classes. Grant applications are now available on iGrants Form Package 922, and are due by 4:00 pm on October 21.
Key Audiences: Educational Service District Superintendents, School District Superintendents, School District Curriculum Directors, Teacher-Librarians
Bulletin 067-18
Informational
Re: 2019 ArcGIS Online Competition for Middle School and High School Students
Summary: For the previous three school years, Esri, a leading GIS software vendor, has conducted a national online mapping competition for middle school (grades 4 – 8) and high school (grades 9 – 12) students. Washington state first participated this past school year. We are proud to say, our middle school entrant received the Honorable Mention award in the national competition and we had a strong showing from all of our entrants. A group of GIS professionals from state and local agencies, higher education, and private industry are part of the state leadership team registered with Esri to work with local schools and submit entries to the competition.
Schools can participate in the competition by forming teams of one or two students who conduct research on a topic geographically focused within Washington state and present the results of their research in the form of a story map or web mapping application. Each school can submit up to five entries to the state competition. The state leadership team will choose five top entries from each division, middle and high school, to receive a $100 gift card. Likewise, the state team will choose one winner from each division who will advance to Esri’s national competition. Esri will chose one national winner from each division who will be invited to attend Esri’s Education Summit at the 2020 Esri User Conference in San Diego, California.
Public and private schools intending to offer Traffic Safety Education (TSE) are required, under Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-153-014, to apply annually to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for program approval. Programs must be approved by OSPI in order to enter valid completion information into the Department of Licensing’s (DOL) License Express for Business.
Key Audiences: Educational Service District Superintendents, Chief School District Superintendents, District Technology Coordinators, Middle Schools Principals, High School Principals, School District Transportation Administrators and Regional Transportation Coordinators
Bulletin 068-19 attachment 1
Informational
Re: 2019–20 Reimbursement and Categories for School Buses
Summary: School Bus Reimbursement (Depreciation) information for the 2019–20 school year is available online at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) School Bus Information System (SBIS). There are two views that are important to school districts.
- The Inventory Report. This is a report that displays all buses currently active at every school district regardless of its status in the reimbursement system.
- The Bus Depreciation Report. This is a report that displays the reimbursement payments (replacement or depreciation) for individual buses. This view only shows those buses currently active in the reimbursement system.
The Bus Depreciation Report indicates reimbursement (replacement or depreciation) amounts for the current school year. As required by Section 505 (6) of the Washington State Operating Budget (ESSB 6032) all depreciation payments for school district-owned school buses will be made on August 31, 2020. Payments in lieu of depreciation for contractor-owned school buses will be made to school districts on the schedule specified in Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.500.040.
Key Audiences: Educational Service District Superintendents, Chief School District Superintendents, School District Assistant Superintendents for Business and/or Business Managers, School District Transportation Administrators and Regional Transportation Coordinators
Bulletin 069-19
Action Required: Due Date: October 31, 2019
Re: School Bus Driver Compliance Report for the 2019–20 School Year
Summary: Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-144-160 requires school districts to annually evaluate each authorized driver for continuing compliance with the provisions of chapter 392-144 no later than the last business day of October.
Each school district must verify each authorized driver continues to meet the requirements in WAC 392-144-102, including the physical requirements of WAC 392-144-102(5)(a)–(d) as well as verify each authorized driver has provided a disclosure in writing, signed and sworn under penalty of perjury, which updates the disclosure required by WAC 392-144-102(4). A sample school bus driver’s annual disclosure form (revised 7/2018) is available online at School Bus Forms. The evaluation must also ensure each authorized driver has not violated the disqualifying conditions listed in WAC 392-144-103.
Key Audiences: Educational Service District Superintendents, Chief School District Superintendents, School District Assistant Superintendents for Business and/or Business, Managers, School District Transportation Administrators and Regional Transportation Coordinators
Of Notable Interest
Each year, DOH Office of Drinking Water works to spread awareness about the importance of safe, clean, reliable water by participating in this national campaign organized by ImagineADayWithoutWater.org.
The social media team at the Washington Department of Health (DOH) is running a video contest for high school students for the national Imagine a Day Without Water campaign on October 23. The goal is for students to imagine how their day would go if there was no water to use for coffee, showers, washing, etc.
They will collect video contest submissions until October 14. They will feature the winning student or team of students on DOH social media channels for the October 23 #ValueWater campaign. Winning participants will also receive a signed certificate to commemorate their victory.
Invitation to apply for the Partnership Access Line (PAL) for Schools Telepsychiatry Consultation Pilot Program:
The University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital will implement a two-year pilot of school staff mental health education, and telephone and televideo psychiatric consultations for students at middle, junior and high schools in in two Washington school districts (one east and one west of the Cascades). Pilot duration will be during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.
Purpose: To provide (1) professional learning opportunities for school staff and (2) telehealth consultations that serve as one strategy among the school’s multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) for behavioral and mental health. Eligibility: School Districts of 2,000 – 20,000 students that can demonstrate readiness of middle and high schools to:
- Identify a lead contact for coordinating services;
- Co-develop a professional learning plan with project staff on school mental health using tele-consultation;
- Host telemedicine appointments during the school day.
Vaping-related Lung Disease and Young People: What You Need to Know
Many are concerned about the recent vapor product and e-cigarette related outbreak of severe lung disease in young people across the country. The Washington State Department of Health is monitoring the situation in our state, and they have developed a one-pager with information for trusted adults to help prevent youth and young adult use.
Inclusionary Practices Project Pilot Site Notification
Background
Inclusion is the belief and practice that all students have the right to meaningfully access academic and social opportunities in the general education setting. The body of research on inclusionary practices consistently supports a positive link between access to core instruction in general education setting and improved outcomes for students. In Washington State, only 56 percent of students with disabilities are currently included in general education setting for 80–100% of the school day.
Over the past two years, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has partnered closely with stakeholders in support of more inclusive schools, culminating in the induction of the Inclusionary Practices Professional Development Project. This is a $25,000,000 project, funded through the state’s 2019–2021 biennial budget, that will span the 2019–20 and 2020–21 school years, with an emphasis on the implementation of professional development in support of inclusionary practices, and will focus on coaching and mentoring classroom teachers on best practices for inclusive education, differentiated instruction, and individualized instruction. OSPI’s Special Education Division is excited to be partnering with our project lead, the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP), a Washington-based organization with deep ties to the education community in support of educator development.
“The strong support from OSPI and stakeholders has resulted in a great investment by the legislature and an exciting opportunity for educators across school systems in Washington to focus on inclusive practices that support the learning and growth of all students,” said Nasue Nishida, Executive Director for the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession.
October 2019: Notification of Selected Schools
OSPI has identified approximately 160 schools to participate in the year one cohort of pilot sites, following a review of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) data. Starting in October 2019, OSPI and CSTP will contact the special education directors in the identified school districts and extend an invitation to participate in the cohort of pilot school sites. This initial notification will be followed by an invitation packet to school district and school building leadership, along with information on an online webinar for potential participants. OSPI will also be launching a project funding application form package for these invited schools/districts to participate in the Inclusive Practices Professional Development Project.
Spring 2020: Professional Development and Model Demonstration School Sites
In spring 2020, state funding for the Inclusionary Practices Professional Development Project will also provide opportunities for educators and leaders to visit model school demonstration sites, which are already utilizing inclusive practices, as well as to access professional development for education leaders, educators, educational support personnel, families, and students.
Further information and ongoing updates about the Inclusionary Practices Professional Development Project can be found on the OSPI project's webpage.
The Bulletins & Memos Weekly Update is official correspondence from OSPI to K–12 Superintendents, Principals and Educators in Washington state. If you have questions about your subscription, contact karen.conway@k12.wa.us.
|
