In Today's Newsletter
1. Coding in Minecraft
2. Congratulations to the Anchorage School District!
3. Assessment Reviews Needed
4. Library Card Month
5. Open Position: Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
6. Coffee and Content
7. Denali Peak Performance Awards
8. UFLI Professional Development
9. Women in Education Leading and Learning Conference
10. NAEP Video Opportunity
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Department of Education and Early Development is excited to announce that the availability of 'Coding in Minecraft' at NO COST to all public schools in Alaska has been extended through the 2023 - 2024 school year!
Coding in Minecraft uses Minecraft: Education Edition to teach block-based coding at levels suitable for students in upper elementary, middle, and high school. The program is designed so that teachers with little or no experience coding can incorporate it in their classrooms.
Many professional learning workshops for Coding in Minecraft are available at no cost to Alaska teachers year-round. The workshops take place over three two-hour sessions, going over the basics of Minecraft, exploring Coding in Minecraft from the perspective of the students, diving into the Coding in Minecraft portal in detail, and presenting best practices on using the immersive program with the students. Teachers can also earn CEU credit by participating in the workshops and post-workshop activities.
Teachers who want to use the program in their classroom can sign up for workshops at https://codingcredentials.com/ak/.
For more information, please contact Faye Tanner (faye.tanner@alaska.gov)
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Dates/Times
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Registration Link
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September Professional Development Option 1
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Tuesday, September 12th
Tuesday, September 19th
4 – 6 PM
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Register Here
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September Professional Development Option 2
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Wednesday, September 20th
Monday, September 25th
Wednesday, September 27th
4 - 6 PM
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Register Here
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‘Back to School’ Info Session Option 2
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Wednesday, September 13th
1:00 PM
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Register Here
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The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is pleased to announce that Anchorage School District’s application as a District-Wide Early Education Program was approved!
Anchorage School District’s Early Education Programs, serving 4- and 5-year-old children, show evidence of compliance with Alaska's Early Education Program Standards and is eligible to include these early education program students in the district’s average daily membership (ADM) for the 2023-2024 school year.
DEED has updated guidance for districts interested in having an approved district-wide early education program (DWEEP). This approved program leads to 0.5 ADM formula funding for four and five-year-old students enrolled in an approved DWEEP.
For more information, email earlylearning@alaska.gov or click the button below to explore the AK Reads Act website.
DEED is recruiting for two virtual events that Alaska educators can be involved in the assessment item development process for the Alaska Science Assessment. If you have a strong understanding of Alaska's current academic standards, we'd love to have you participate:
Alaska Science Assessment Data Review
Alaska educators will review and provide feedback on test item data from the spring 2023 administration. This review will assist DEED and DRC in building operational assessments for future administrations. The data review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $100 stipend for full participation.
Tuesday, October 3 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Alaska Science Assessment Item Review
Alaska educators will provide feedback on newly developed test items to be field tested in spring 2024. Selected panelists will review for content, alignment to the K-12 Science Standards for Alaska, and bias and sensitivity. The review will be held during off contract hours and participants receive a $250 stipend for full participation.
Friday, October 6 – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, October 7 – 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Did you know? September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! Having a library card is elemental (and exciting and essential and entertaining)! Reach out to your local library to learn how to sign-up for a library card.
The Department of Public Safety, Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (CDVSA) is recruiting an Executive Director in Juneau, AK. Recruitment is open until September 21, 2023. Applications may be submitted through Workplace Alaska, hyperlinked here, or at the button below.
This month, DEED is beginning a new event series - Coffee and Content. We will host an amazing line up of Science of Reading speakers. Each month, a new reading leader will share a direct to classroom technique or strategy to add to your SOR toolkit (curricular agnostic), followed by some casual educator chat.
Have questions about reading or choosing interventions? Perhaps you are a single teacher in a village school needing a collaboration partner, or maybe a student just has you stuck and you want a brainstorming partner? This will be an open time for conversation, sharing, and problem solving!
Dr. Timothy Rasinski will be joining us for September 18th.
Last week, Governor Mike Dunleavy announced the winners of the 2023 Governor's Denali Peak Performance Awards. The Denali Peak Performance awards recognize State of Alaska employees for their exemplary public service. There are multiple categories of awards.
Congratulations to the DEED Burns Building Move Team for their award in Innovation in Cost-Savings! As DEED began a process of reducing the Juneau footprint and facility leasing costs, the Burns Building Move Team organized, reduced, recycled and surplused materials. Almost 3000 square feet of the Juneau Burns Building has been released from a building lease. This task saved the State of Alaska over $150,000 in FY2022 alone and has the anticipated annual savings of $624,213.
Whether you are new to the UFLI Foundations program or looking to refresh your skills this back-to-school season, please join us in 3 implementation trainings. Week one will cover how to implement day one of UFLI, week two will cover implementing day two in the UFLI program, and week three will focus on using the CORE screener for UFLI placement.
Choose the 1 Session each week that is best for you! We have sessions on both Tuesdays or Wednesdays, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM AKST.
Implementing Day One: September 12th or 13th
Implementing Day Two: September 19th or 20th
Progress Monitoring and Differentiation: October 3rd or 4th
The sessions are held via Zoom, and a link will be sent to you prior to the session. For questions or more information, contact: tina.peyerk@alaska.gov
The 2023 ACSA Women in Education Leading and Learning (WELL) Conference will take place Wednesday, October 11th in Anchorage at the Downtown Sheraton. The conference will feature keynote presenter Dr. Rachael George and panel discussions with Alaskan Women Educators.
This year, ACSA will also offer a student track! Please consider bringing a student leader with you to the WELL Conference. This will be an opportunity for students to learn from leaders like yourself and meet other student leaders from around the state.
Can't attend in-person? Join us virtually via Zoom - More information on the virtual option on the WELL registration page. Register Today!
Are you interested in filming? How about acting? Are you interested in sharing the unique aspects of your school and community?
DEED is looking for students, teachers, and parents to get involved in the 2024 NAEP Video Project. The video will be an informational piece about the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). It will highlight Alaskan perspectives by involving Alaskan students and filming in one-of-a-kind Alaskan locations.
The video will help students, teachers, and parents understand the importance of NAEP as it pertains to student selection, effort, and how results are used to benefit our students.
Check out the directions in the flyer above, or email Raina.Moulian@Alaska.Gov for more information. Important links can be found below:
Appearance Release Form (child)
Appearance Release Form (adult)
Example Video from Alabama
The Script
Mobile Device Filming Guidelines
Submit to Dropbox
(password: naep2024)
And don't forget to submit your Appearance Release Forms, too!
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