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The Washington Association for Learning Alternatives (WALA) Spring Conference is scheduled for February 24-26 in Spokane. Call for presenters are due January 15, 2022. Apply here.
PURPOSE
Grant funding to investigate innovative approaches to learning through in-person settings and instructional or social emotional practices through Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) settings.
BACKGROUND
More students than ever are continuing to request remote or online learning. Stakeholders are also pressing for in-person learning to look different than the pre-pandemic model, yet we lack evidence on effective practices in these non-traditional settings and systems to support educator-led innovation at the district level. OSPI wants to capitalize on the significant latitude educators from all settings have been given this past year to accelerate learning recovery and rethink what works in education.
Grant funds will financially support local pilots, provide regular professional learning and networking, collect evidence on successful practices, and lead to the development of a menu of innovative practices to support continued transformation of our education system and inform future policy and funding decisions.
DETAILS
PURPOSE
Grant funding to support universal screening and addressing COVID related learning gaps through an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) model.
BACKGROUND
Many students have unfinished learning and exacerbated social emotional needs due to the COVID pandemic. Universal screening can identify a student’s unique academic or social emotional needs, and ALE can address those needs through individualization and acceleration. However, many districts face a variety of barriers to providing individualized scheduling and learning plans due to scheduling constraints and funding formula disparities, thus forcing students to retake entire courses or transfer out of district.
This grant opportunity encourages accelerated learning recovery through academic and social emotional screening, individualizing a response via ALE, and providing the funding for school districts that would otherwise be financially disincentivized to offer ALE. This will reduce the impacts of retaking entire courses, create an opportunity to keep students enrolled at their current school, and get students back on track with their peers in an accelerated timeline.
DETAILS
School Improvement Funding
Additional OSSI Funding Available
The Office of System and School Improvement (OSSI) is happy to announce that additional funding is now available to all schools with existing grants in form packages 871, 873 and 874. Notifications were sent last week to district personnel via iGrants and to building principals via email. The deadline to create a budget revision to access this extra money is Monday, February 28, 2022. After that date, any unapplied for additional funds will be redistributed again.
Mid-Year SIP Progress Monitoring Due Jan 28
Are you an ALE program identified for School Improvement?
The answer is yes if you are 1) receiving funds through iGrant form packages 871, 873 and/or 874, or 2) are identified through OSSI as a Comprehensive or Comprehensive Graduation Rate support eligible location. If so, your Mid-Year SIP Progress Monitoring Review needs to be uploaded in SharePoint by January 28, 2022.
Remember that regular progress monitoring is best practice for SIP implementation and highly recommended.
Two new segments, Serving Students with Disabilities and Truancy in ALE, have been added to the ALE 101 course. This course is located in the Moodle platform and anyone can access through the following steps:
- Visit the OSPI Moodle website.
- Login or create an account. You will not be able to view the course using only guest access.
- Scroll down and click on the Student Support link.
- Scroll down and click on the Alternative Learning Experience 101 (ALE) link.
- Anyone logged into an account should be able to self-enroll in the training and access the segments as desired.
We appreciate your patience as we work out any challenges in the initial launch of this training series. We will be adding additional topics to this training as they are ready.
Across Washington State, teachers, administrators, and community partners are bringing FieldSTEM to life in classrooms, schools and outdoor spaces. On November 10th Pacific Education Institute (PEI) celebrated those efforts at a virtual FieldSTEM Celebration which featured awards in six categories, with highlights and videos from each winner, including On Track Academy in Spokane!
School of the Year: On Track Academy, Spokane Public Schools
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“This was a perfect avenue for us to develop agency,” says Principal Lisa Mattson. “It created a strong sense of connection and community, especially during a pandemic. When you combine that level of power and the capacity to create solutions that are not just about [themselves], our students can’t wait to do more.” |
PEI worked with On Track Academy staff to help students create a plan focused on urban forestry and environmental justice. Students attended a neighborhood council meeting and met with a professional arborist from the City of Spokane to identify areas lacking in tree canopy, where they eventually planted 24 trees. On Track Academy became one of nine Arbor Day Foundation K-12 Tree Campuses in the United States and next year the project will continue with middle school and elementary school students.
ALE Newsletters – topic summaries
Looking for some reading material for your winter break?
Check out our newsletters from 2021!
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January | Online Learning: K-12 Internet Access Program; 2020 graduation pathways snapshot; Social emotional learning resource; CC*: Intervention plans
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February | Truancy in ALE Extension; COVID-19 Student Survey; Bridge to College trainings; CC: Intervention plans
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March | Reopening Guidance; Graduation requirements emergency waiver; CC: Weekly student contact
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April | No spring state assessments; changing school name; CC: ALE Reporting Requirements
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May | ALE summer enrollment; Online learning summer course catalog; Code of Conduct; CC: Compliance Toolkit
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June | 2021-22 Guide to Offering ALE; ALE Year-end Report; 2021 WaKIDS; iGrants; Instructional funding models for 2021-22; Online approvals; CC: Presetting WSLPs
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August | ALE year-end Reporting; ALE Truancy; Online Multi-district approval process; CC: WSLP hot topics
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September | ALE Administrator meeting; Grant opportunities; ALE Advisory Committee; OLAC meeting; Truancy in ALE; CC: September progress reviews
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October | Online learning: Multidistrict school program approval process; Medicaid Reimbursements; CC: Rules & responsibilities: ALE vs HBI
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November | 2021 WaKIDS Debrief; CC: Attendance in ALE
*CC = Compliance Corner
For previous years' topics, contact Liz Quayle.
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2022 ALE Administrator Meeting January 21, 2022 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Register here.
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Next LoLA (Leaders of Learning Alternatives) meetings:
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Statewide PD Network, January 24, 9:00-10:30 am Zoom link
| ESD 101, Feb 22 |
ESD 113, Feb 23 |
| ESD 121, Feb 22 |
ESD 123, Feb 28 |
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Washington Association for Learning Alternatives (WALA) The WALA Spring Conference is scheduled for February 24-26, 2022 in Spokane. Register here.
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GATE Equity Webinar Series Regular monthly webinars. Information and registration available through the GATE website.
Contact Us!
For more information about Alternative Learning, please contact us at ALDInfo@k12.wa.us, or visit our OSPI Learning Alternatives website.
For specific questions, contact us by email:
ALE Programs: Anissa Sharratt
ALE/Reengagement Compliance: Liz Quayle
Online Learning: Nicole González
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