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OSSI’s monthly newsletter provides accessible resources and connects readers to best practices at the state, regional, and local level that are improving student outcomes. Do you have a story to share? Let us know about it!
Welcome to the Office of System and School Improvement Newsletter!
FOCUS: Informed Action
By Christine Hurley, OSSI Project Manager
Change takes place at many levels – as part of a project, process, or organization. Many changes are planned, initiated, and controlled while others are unexpected and completely disruptive to our work and environment. Sometimes we can anticipate an event is going to happen and plan in advance for it, which helps lessen the negative impact of the change event. At other times, our work and lives are completely disrupted and we see ourselves responding in crisis mode... Continue reading here
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Dr. Dana Anderson, Capital Region ESD 113, is a champion for supporting system change as a foundation for meeting the diverse needs of schools, students and families. We reached out to him to ask for some tips…
He shared these words to live by...
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely sticking to it. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life.” ~ Amelia Earhart
Dr. Anderson's favorite model for change management…
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Click here to learn more about ADKAR and find free resources.
By Dr. Taharee Jackson Diversity Equity & Inclusion Speaker, Writer, Trainer of Diversity Trainers
Just this week, I found myself leading an all-day webinar on antiracism for a group of over 100 Vermont educators. I was originally due to co-lead the session in person with the nation’s foremost expert on poverty, Dr. Paul Gorski of the Equity Literacy Institute, but due to the bizarre time in history this has become as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak..... Continue Reading Here
In 2018, more than a third of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students surveyed indicated that they’d felt sad or hopeless for at least two weeks during the last year. Nearly 1 in 10 indicated that they had attempted suicide in the past year, according to Healthy Youth Survey data.
To combat these trends, school staff and community-based mental health providers in three districts will team up to identify needs, deliver mental health supports, and monitor student progress.
The project, funded by a $9 million, five-year grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) kicks off October 1, 2020, and is focused on building collaborative partnerships between state, regional, and local systems to promote the healthy development....Continue Reading Here
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The achievement gap has driven education reform for the past twenty years. Guest David Stevens says it’s time to stop talking about the achievement gap and focus instead on the “headwinds” and “tailwinds” that hold some students back while pushing others along. With the pandemic exacerbating the inequality between students, Stevens’ alternative approach, what he calls the Academic Support Index, has never been more relevant. You’ll be inspired and encouraged, and you’ll understand exactly why Stevens is the winner of the 2020 Have You Heard Graduate Student Research Contest.
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In 2020, the legislature established a new Financial Aid Advising Day (FAAD), as an equity-centered opportunity for all districts with a high school to enhance their direct support of students’ aspirations to attend college after high school, especially those students who have historically been underrepresented in postsecondary attainment. Ensuring that all seniors know about financial aid opportunities and how to access them could also inspire seniors with other post-high school goals to consider returning to college later in life as their career interests evolve. See OSPI Bulletin 080-20 for more information.
Across the United States, alternative schools, programs and classrooms are serving students who are not succeeding in the traditional educational setting. Alternative education offers innovative, non-traditional approaches to teaching, which aides in preventing these students from becoming dropouts. With that in mind and in an effort to enhance the quality of alternative education in all fifty states, the National Alternative Education Association (NAEA) has identified and crafted fifteen exemplary practices in the field. Forged from research on productive alternative programs and the wisdom of alternative educators, the exemplary practices represent a national effort to develop a common core of principles. Furthermore, the Association has identified specific indicators of quality programming that signify meeting each of the identified exemplary practices. Both the exemplary practices and the indicators are considered essential to quality alternative education programming.
Check out the Exemplary Practices Rubric, as well as the NAEA National Virtual Conference in October.
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Upcoming Webinars & Virtual Conferences You Won't Want to Miss!
FREE Virtual Series on Equitably Expanding Dual Credit Programs
In lieu of an in-person Summit, the WA Dual Credit Steering Committee is hosting the Washington Dual Credit Summit Webinar Series
Wednesdays 12-1pm , September 30th - November 18th
Check out the Series One-Pager for weekly session descriptions and list of presenters.
For questions contact Jason Boatwright or visit the Dual Credit Program webpage
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OSPI-WSAC Wednesday Webinars: December 2nd * 1-2:30pm Supporting Seniors’ Financial Aid Decisions and Student Loan Education The next webinar in this series will focus on helping students and families better understand financial aid and their rights/responsibilities as student loan borrowers.
More information and the link to register (coming soon) are posted on OSPI’s Career and College Readiness webpage.
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Inclusionary Practices Project 2020–21
The Inclusionary Practices Project 2020–21 Grant Funding Application is now open! We are recruiting for pilot partners for year two of the project, which provides funding to support professional development for inclusionary practices. Find out more here
Improvement Science in the Time of Covid-19 Webinar Series
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Check out these Professional Learning opportunities from our partners at Association of Washington School Principals!
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Indicators for student success start in the early years! Attendance, Behavior, Reading at Grade Level in 3rd Grade, and Early Grade Retention all have connections to students’ future academic success. Learn more here.
Check out FairTest for national information on ACT/SAT testing sites. Washington’s 2-/4-year colleges have stated they will use holistic review for Class of 2021 college applications and lack of an ACT/SAT exam score will not be seen as a deficit. This website also includes a sortable list of all the test optional colleges in the country that is updated frequently.
WA Council’s College Admissions Workshops Looking for updates on college admissions for the Class of 2021? Go to the Washington Council’s website and scroll down until you find last month’s 2020 Fall School Counselor Workshops, including links to the Higher Education Handbook, participating College's Presentations (2-/4-Year Updates), and agency updates.
Middle School High School and Beyond Plans Ensuring students have hope for their future is one way to instill positive school climate. The ReadyWA blog recently published a video about Evergreen Public Schools’ High School and Beyond Planning process. Hear students talk about the value they find in the process and educators who explain how it works. Additional High School and Beyond Plan resources can be found on the ReadyWA website
"Equity - A Remote Perspective" Module Added to Teacher Tech Project
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Since last week's Teacher Tech Project launch a new module has been added. While all modules incorporate resources and practices with an equity lens, the new module "Equity - A Remote Perspective" focuses on using equitable practices in an online setting. You can access this module and more on the CSTP website. |
LMS Solutions from AESD!
AESD's LMS 101 Series Get to know the “ins-and-outs” of your selected LMS platform through the LMS 101 series! This 3-part series offers multiple opportunities to learn either live or on your own schedule, as well as weekly office hours to support individual questions and deeper learning.
Family resources - Distance learning resources for families to create effective learning environments and to support student learning through LMS platforms.
Provider/Community Based Organization resources - Resources and a short video to share with child care providers and community based organizations supporting students with distance/remote learning.
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Hands-On Curriculum Adapted for Remote Learning Improve school climate with access to new hands on CTE curriculum! Thanks to the hard work of veteran teachers Jared Greenwood, Creed Nelson, and Matt Johnson, 10 units of Core Plus Aerospace curriculum have been adapted for remote or hybrid instruction, and are available to any interested Washington schools. Check out this 30-second video or go to the Core Plus website for more information on how to access this opportunity.
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Have you heard of the Student Assistance Program? Are you curious about what the program does? Watch a 2-minute video made by a Washington State Student Assistance Professional! You’ll learn about their roles and duties, and how to collaborate for student well-
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being. If you have additional questions about OSPI’s statewide Student Assistance Prevention-Intervention Services Program, contact Mandy Paradise Program Supervisor or visit the website to learn more.
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We Want to Hear From You!
Next month's focus is on “Engagement”. Please let us know what aspects of engagement you would be interested in learning more about by taking this quick survey.
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