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November 28, 2023

In Today's Newsletter 1. Proclamation: Computer Science Education Week 2. Coding in Minecraft 3. Public Comment: Task Force on Child Care 4. Rural Educator Virtual Summit 5. Project Learning Tree 6. State-Education Tribal Compacting 7. Professional Teaching Practices Commission 8. Alaska Leads Charter School Ranking 9. Careers at DEED

Computer Science Education Week

The Governor has pronounced the week of December 4th "Computer Science Education Week," and we are getting ready to celebrate! DEED will be hosting a new Ed Tech event each day next week: December 4: Hour-long webinar CSEdWeek Kickoff: Impacts of Computing from 3-4 p.m. AKST. December 5: Live lesson of Coding in Minecraft from 10-11 a.m. AKST. December 6: Participate in video series, Hour of Code: How AI works December 7:  Live afterschool lesson of Coding in Minecraft from 4:30-5:30 p.m. AKST. December 8: Participate in video series, Hour of Code: Generation AI Contact Faye.Tanner@Alaska.gov, the Computer Science Program Coordinator, for more information about the Computer Science Education Week and corresponding events.

Coding in Minecraft

Congratulations to our Coding in Minecraft Competition Winners!

During the 2022-2023 school year, these three schools delivered the most Coding in Minecraft credentials in Alaska (per capita):

1. Bethel Regional High
2. Chiniak School
3. Angoon high School

There are awesome tech prizes for the three winners. Congratulations! Keep coding!

December Dates

DEED will continue to offer Coding in Minecraft professional learning workshops for Alaskan teachers. Check out the available dates and times below:

PUBLIC COMMENT: Task Force on Child Care

The Governor’s Task Force on Child Care will deliver two reports to the Governor. The first report is due on December 31, 2023, and focuses on background checks, licensing, and workforce. The second report is due on July 31, 2024, and will focus on access, quality, and subsidies.

The Task Force is seeking public comment on preliminary recommendations for inclusion in the December 2023 report. You can read the recommendations here: FINAL TFCC Master Recommendations 11.15.23.docx (ddaalaska.com)

To provide written comments, please visit: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

There will also be a virtual meeting to receive oral public comment: 

November 29, 2023
5:30 - 7:30pm
via Zoom - register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Rural Educator Virtual Summit

The National School Boards Association (NSBA) is hosting an inaugural Rural Education Virtual Summit! It will be a complimentary national online gathering to address unique challenges and opportunities in rural education. Participants will hear thought-provoking discussions and learn innovative strategies to foster a supportive network that empowers rural communities to enhance educational outcomes and promote equitable access to quality education. The virtual summit will take place on December 13 from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM AKST.

Educator Resources: Project Learning Tree

Native American Heritage Month

As we conclude our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, please take the time to watch this incredible video from Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. about the harsh and heartbreaking history of education in Alaska. The video, "Our Future Ancestors: A Story of Education in Alaska" ends with optimism - State-Tribal Education Compacting is an exciting possibility for all Alaskan students. 

DEED is in the midst of creating a pilot program for State-Tribal Education Compacting (STEC). With STEC, Alaska would have public schools open to all students that would offer a unique, culturally rich combination of Western teaching and millennia-old tribal educational models.

During this pilot program creation, DEED is working with five tribal partners:

1. Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
2. Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope
3. Ketchikan Indian Community
4. King Island Native Community
5. Knik Tribe

Thank you to our tribal partners! And thank you to CITC for their informative and poignant video storytelling. 

The Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) Professional Boundaries

The intent of the Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC) is to serve as a preventative and positive force in helping enhance the professional performance of all educators so that the public's right to the best education possible for all of Alaska's students is adequately protected.

Read more about PTPC's protections of professional boundaries here.

Whenever a staff member observes another staff member engaging in inappropriate boundary invasions with a student, they must report what they have observed to administration. When in doubt, report it out.

Have additional questions, concerns, or just want to learn more? Melody Mann, PTPC's Executive Director, is available to present information about PTPC to educators around the state. Send her an email to schedule an informational presentation.

#1 in Charter Student Performance

Earlier this month, the Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG) at Harvard released the first-ever state ranking of charter student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in its groundbreaking report, titled The Nation’s Charter Report Card. According to the report, Alaska leads the pack with an outstanding performance in both math and reading. Alaska shows strongest academic performance from charter school students at 32 percent of a standard deviation above the average charter score nationwide, followed by Colorado and Massachusetts. According to PEPG, a 32% standard deviation above the average national charter score equates to more than one full year of learning. Charter schools were established to provide alternatives to traditional public schools while maintaining a commitment to public education. The desired outcomes of charter schools include innovation and flexibility, choice and parental involvement, a diversity in educational models, community engagement and collaboration, and increased student achievement.  "I congratulate the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Alaska's Charter schools in their success. Your learning performance is a testament to your commitment to excellence," said Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Commissioner Dr. Deena Bishop Check out DEED's congratulatory press release here: Alaska Leads Charter Student Performance in New Ranking

Careers at DEED

Want to work with DEED? We have a variety of positions currently open, including positions with Teacher Certification, Administrative Services, and Libraries, Archives, & Museums. More information and other job postings can be seen at: Workplace Alaska

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