 Alaska Science of Reading Symposium Starts Today!
The Alaska Science of Reading Symposium is underway this weekend in Anchorage!
While all Symposium activities are in-person, keynote presentations will be live streamed on the event website and DEED’s Facebook page.
Find the Symposium agenda and more information at https://aksorsymposium.org/
Headed to the Symposium? Download the Guidebook App to help plan your breakout sessions. Click on the "Find Guides" magnifying glass icon in the lower right corner, and search for Alaska Science of Reading Symposium.
Click here for more information about earning credit for your participation in the full symposium. More information will be available at the University of Alaska PACE booth in our Exhibitors Hall.
DEED Accepting Applications for Evidence-Based Comprehensive Afterschool Programs through American Rescue Plan Act Grants
The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is seeking applicants for a competitive grant for evidence-based, comprehensive after school programs. This grant is open to both school districts and community-based organizations. Grants will range from $250,000 to $750,00 and will be distributed over two years.
Through strategic planning that happened prior to COVID-19, DEED identified five positive trajectories or goals which were articulated as Alaska’s Education Challenge. To the greatest extent possible, DEED intends to use these five areas to focus all state-level American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funded initiatives to simultaneously address COVID-19 related needs, address pre-existing areas of challenge, and sustain the gains beyond the availability of these one-time funds.
This request for applications will ask potential grantees to provide evidence-based programming that intentionally supports at least one of the following areas:
- Support all students to read at grade level by the end of third grade
- Increase career, technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and workforce needs
- Close the achievement gap by ensuring equitable educational rigor and resources
- Improve the safety and well-being of students through school partnerships with families, communities, and tribes
The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide school districts and community-based organizations the opportunity to establish innovative strategies to carry out activities that will address unfinished learning and provide enrichment activities through afterschool programs.
Applications are due no later than May 31, 2022 at 5 p.m. The application is available at https://education.alaska.gov/forms. Questions about the competitive grant can be directed to: DEED.CARES@alaska.gov.
SERRC Hiring Rural Empowerment Specialist for Successful School Improvement
A cohort of five schools is working with DEED, R16CC, and SERRC on a new three-year school improvement plan process. The Rural Empowerment for School Improvement engages the school and community in addressing student needs within the local context.
“This work requires a team effort. Our strength will come from the representation of tribal and community leaders, school, and family representatives of students,” shared Nancy Peel, Empowerment Specialist for one site. Empowerment specialists assist in guiding local leadership teams through a situational analysis bridging to establishing goals and an action plan. “We envision that this improvement process will take us to a new level of academic achievement and success for every student with guidance coming from the community,” said Peel. Next school year, more schools will have the opportunity to also work through the new school improvement plan process.
If you are interested in becoming an Empowerment Specialist supporting schools on their path to improvement please reach out to Julie Staley, SERRC Executive Director, julies@serrc.org and apply here Empowerment Specialist
 Vans Custom Culture submission from Wrangell High School.
Palmer, Wrangell High School Among Top 50 Finalist in Vans Custom Culture Contest
Two Alaskan high schools have entries which have made it to the Top 50 round in the 2022 Vans Custom Culture High School Contest. The winning school will receive $50,000 for its arts program.
Vans says that the contest was created to inspire and empower high school students to embrace their creativity through art and design and bring attention to diminishing arts education budgets. Vans believes everyone should be empowered to express themselves creatively and should be given the tools to do so. Custom Culture High School is a national high school customization competition using blank Vans shoes to be customized around the specific themes, Hometown Pride and VanD(IY)oren Legacy.
Palmer High School in the MatSu Borough School District and Wrangell High School in the Wrangell Public School District are among the Top 50 designs. People can vote for their favorite design once per day through May 6.
Vote here: https://customculture.vans.com/
 Palmer High School Submission to Vans Custom Culture Contest.
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