In Today's Newsletter
1. DonorsChoose Update
2. LAST CHANCE: White House Spring Internship
3. Webinar: Low-Cost Educational Technology Tools
4. We are Hiring!
5. IES Math Summit
6. High School Grant Program
7. Professional Teaching Practice Commission
8. Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative Awardees
9. Salmon in the Classroom
10. Resources for FY24 COVID Relief Grants
11. Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit
12. mClass Resources
13. Academic Decathlon
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The application deadline for the spring White House Internship program is fast approaching. Applications are due this Friday the 18th, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership and development program that provides emerging leaders with an opportunity to gain valuable skills while supporting the work of the White House.
The spring program begins in January 2024. Interns receive a stipend, live in Washington D.C., and can earn academic credits.
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The Office of Educational Technology (OET) is partnering with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to host a webinar on Aug. 29 for educators, families, and caregivers. The webinar will highlight free or low-cost accessible educational technology tools. And these tools are evidence-based!
STEMIE will share their resources to help families and other caregivers learn why STEM concepts are important and what children are learning. The recording of the webinar will be available on OET's YouTube channel and OET’s Website.
Education Specialist 2, Alyeska Reading Academy & Institute
DEED is seeking experienced, committed education professionals to provide direct reading instruction, response to intervention, and tutoring services to at-risk students. In addition to working with students, teachers may be called upon to provide adult learning opportunities including lesson demonstrations, coaching, and professional development, depending on their skill sets in those areas.
These positions are on call non-permanent. Pay will be an hourly rate of $39.93. Work will be available at least four days per week for one to two hours per day, with options to work any or all of the available days/hours. The work hours will occur in the later afternoon and evening. The positions will be remote to begin with and will report directly to the Division Director. Positions will be open until filled.
Early Literacy and Children's Coordinator Librarian 3
*now open to nationwide applicants*
The successful applicant will provide a broad range of professional and technical consulting and training to Alaska librarians as they develop, fund, and manage early literacy and children's services in their libraries. This position strengthens local library services by identifying and selectively engaging in early literacy and children's services projects and grant opportunities that support these services. This position will share information from the state, regional, and national library community pertinent to Alaska’s children’s and youth services librarians and will represent Alaska at national, regional, and state discussions and activities. As a member of the Library Development unit, this person will collaborate with other unit members on projects of common concern and will consult with colleagues on how early literacy and children's services may impact their projects. The incumbent may travel once or twice per year, as the agency budget allows.
Districtwide Librarian, Kenai Peninsula School District
KPBSD is looking to hire a dynamic individual for the 2023-2024 school year to oversee KPBSD Libraries, Librarians and Library Assistants. The Districtwide Librarian provides professional development opportunities for library staff, serves as an educational technology resource, assists with the selection of materials and collection development, and is an integral part of the District Instructional Team. Open until filled.
In October 2022, the Nation’s Report Card revealed that fourth- and eighth-grade students assessed in the 2021-22 school year experienced the largest declines in mathematics performance in the program’s history. These national declines in achievement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlight the unprecedented learning crisis that has followed the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, gaps in the mathematics achievement of students with the highest and lowest performance were already widening.
This September, national, state, and local leaders—along with educators, researchers, policymakers, and instructional experts—will convene to explore efforts to address this crisis. During the three-day summit, participants will discuss the latest scholarship on strategies for mathematics instruction and academic interventions; highlight solutions rooted in research and successful classroom practices; and explore emerging resources.
The Summit will address six themes across Pre-K–3, 4–8, and 9–12 grade-level spans:
- Increasing Opportunities to Learn and Raising Expectations for All
- Strategies for Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners
- High-Dosage Tutoring and Other Academic Recovery Strategies
- Learning Progressions and High School Pathways
- Language and Mathematics
- Leveraging STEAM Applications for In-Demand Careers
The Summit is free to attend and will take place at 8:00am - 1:30pm AKST on September 12, 19, and 26. You can read the agenda here.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the launch of a new $25 million Career Connected High School Grant program. This program will provide grants to consortia of local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and employers to pilot evidence-based strategies to increase the integration and alignment of the last two years of high school and the first two years of postsecondary education to improve postsecondary education and career outcomes for all students.
Grantees can use funds for a variety of different activities based on the need of the region, including additional dual enrollment classes, covering the costs of tuition, books, supplies, and other related expenses for low-income students, tutoring, other academic supports, transportation for students to work-based learning sites, the development of new career & technical education (CTE) programs in high-growth fields like clean energy or to support teacher training and new equipment that may be needed to launch these programs.
For many high school students, college is one, but not the only, pathway to a brighter future. And in high schools of the future, every student graduates with the tools they need to “Unlocking Career Success.”
PTPC reminds administrators that the following regulation requires the PTPC Handbook for Educators be displayed:
20 AAC 10.310. DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBOOK.
Copies of the Alaska State Professional Teaching Practices Commission’s Handbook for Alaska Educators shall be conspicuously displayed, and available, at every education institution in the state whose employees are members of the teaching profession under AS 14.20.370.
The Handbook can be found here: Alaska State Professional Teaching Practices Commission Handbook for Alaska Educators
Additionally, the staff of the PTPC urges administrators to distribute the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession to all certificated educators and to include the Code of Ethics in professional development annually.
The Code of Ethics can be found here: Code of Ethics Trifold (alaska.gov)
The staff of PTPC is available to present information about the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards at your school district professional development. Contact Executive Director Melody Mann at 907-269-6579 or melody.mann@alaska.gov.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced their investment of nearly $30 million to boost school nutrition in 264 small and rural communities. The grants, in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids, will give districts up to $150,000 to support them in improving the nutritional quality of their meals and modernizing their operations, including:
- Innovative staff training programs;
- Kitchen updates and renovations;
- Redesigning food preparation and service spaces;
- Other school-district led efforts to support school meals and school nutrition professionals.
In Alaska, both the Petersburg School District and the Dillingham City School District were awarded funds. Congratulations!
Along with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, teachers and students can raise salmon in their classroom! Not only will a program manager walk you through the process, you can also find curriculum and videos online.
Please reach out to Donnie at Donald.Arthur@alaska.gov to participate.
COVID Relief Preparations for Fiscal Year 2024 Grants
As you prepare your FY24 COVID Relief Grants, please consider the following resources:
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FY24 COVID Relief GMS Handbook-Check out pages 2 and 16 for a quick overview of updates for this year.
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FY24 COVID Relief Assurances Packet.
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FY2024 COVID-19 Relief Funding Application Information & FAQs- Check out page 2 for information on accessing the FY24 application.
If you have any questions, please email us at DEED.CARES@alaska.gov.
The deadline for districts to register their teams for the Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit is August 15, 2023 in order to receive a travel grant.
Educational leaders, key staff, and strategic stakeholders - including representation from every district across the state - will convene to improve school safety and well-being in Alaska. During the summit, participants will learn and share methods to: promote healthy development through trauma-engaged and restorative practices, improve school climate, and be better prepared for any possible school crisis.
Read more about the Summit here: Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit | (akschoolsafetyandwellbeing.com)
DEED has planned the Summit to accommodate teams of up to six from each district. Each district will be provided a small travel grant to help bring in a team that may include administrators, teachers, school counselors, parents, community members, and school board members. Please contact Sharon.fishel@alaska.gov for questions about the grants.
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 – Thursday, September 14, 2023
William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska
As part of the Alaska Reads Act passed in 2022, schools districts are not required to administer an early literacy screener to all students in grades K-3. DEED selected mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition as the statewide screener. mCLASS is provided through DEED's partnership with Amplify.
Here you will find important links and reminders for the 23-24 school year! Check out our mCLASS© Technical Onboarding Site for all your enrollment needs.
Also Please share the Teacher Checklist with your staff should they have questions around getting started.
For additional questions please reach out to Jacob Mattlin or Carolyn Mulloy for additional questions.
SERRC's Alaska Academic Decathlon (high school) and Pentathlon (middle school) are rigorous scholastic programs that challenge students to learn about ten subjects based on a yearly theme. 2023-2024 Theme: Technology & Humanity.
The curriculum is aligned with National Standards and Alaska's Educational Challenge and is FREE to new teams, students compete individually and as an integral part of a team, each team includes students of varying abilities, the high school competition takes place at UAA and involves UA staff and faculty from all three campuses along with providing $49,000 in annual scholarships thanks to our partners with Alaska 529 and the University of Alaska.
The middle and high school programs improve student achievement, provide small group engagement and increase confidence, self-esteem and communication skills among participants.
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