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The Results are In!
Based on pre- and post-tests, Academic Decathlon participants (statewide high school students) not only improved their academic scores, but also gained valuable communication skills and self-confidence.
The Alaska Academic Decathlon is a state and nationwide scholastic competition based on a yearly theme. Students compete in ten subjects both individually and as an integral part of a team. Aligned with National Standards and Alaska’s Education Challenge, the curriculum transfers across core content areas to increase student performance in Literature, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Math, and the Arts (other subjects include Essay and Economics, Speech, and Interview for high school students). Each team is made up of students with varying abilities and GPAs. The program can be offered as a class or after-school activity.
Learn More About Academic Decathalon Alaska
Register a Team for Next Year!
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"I love this program, not only for the academic challenges it gives us, and the engaging curricular approach to the various subject areas, but also for the opportunity it gives to boost the self-confidence of our participants. I’ve seen our students grow as learners, speakers, and team members through this program.
From the bottom of my heart, QUYANAQPAK!"
– Bering Strait School District Academic Decathlon Coach –
Help build Alaska’s workforce plan for the next five years!
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Take the survey online on your phone, anytime, anywhere! Your insights will directly influence strategies to tackle our state's workforce challenges.
To take our survey, scan QR code at left or use this link to take the online survey: Survey of Students Emerging Adults, and New Job Seekers (jotform.com)
Your privacy is important! No personal identifiers are collected.
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Your Voice Shapes Our Future Workforce!
Keys to Literacy can work with you to put together a cohort for your teachers/paraprofessionals/administrators to have professional development in the science of reading. This course meets requirements for the Alaska Reads Act Educator Endorsement. Act now before dates are filled!
Application for Early Education Program Approval and 0.5 ADM / Formula Funding (EEP-ADM Application)
DEED is inviting applications for FY2025 Early Education Program Approval. Those districts who receive approval will be eligible to report enrolled early education students in the district’s average daily membership (ADM) that determines Foundation Formula funding. Funding will be granted at a rate of 0.5 ADM for each eligible 4-year-old and 5-year-old student.
Approval will be determined according to compliance with these requirements:
- Operate an early education program for three or more years,
- Consult all high-quality childcare programs within the school district boundaries, including Head Start [Sec 14.03.410(c)],
- Successfully implement the Alaska Early Education Program Standards, and
- Employ early education teacher(s) with the required and current teacher certification.
Due Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Sample Application: Form # 05-24-034 at Forms - Education and Early Development (alaska.gov)
Application: EEP-ADM Notice of Intent to Apply
Technical Assistance Webinar: Recording from February 21.
For more information, visit education.alaska.gov/earlylearning or contact earlylearning@alaska.gov
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The Educator Application & Certification Hub Alaska (TEACH-AK) is an online certification system. Certificate holders can view, download and print active certificates through the applicant dashboard. Certificate renewals, extensions and new applications will all take place within TEACH AK.
Accessing TEACH AK - The new online system requires a one-time registration process that all educators will need to complete. To register, visit The Educator Application & Certification Hub Alaska (TEACH-AK) and follow the log in/registration instructions.
UPDATE: The Teacher Certification Office is accepting online applications for all certificate types. Paper applications will not be accepted past a postmarked date of June 1st. Application packets received after this date will be returned to sender.
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Thousands of school-aged children in the United States and Canada are vulnerable to being trafficked. Some victims continue attending school during the day — and riding the school bus — even while they are being trafficked or groomed behind the scenes. School transportation professionals may observe red flags that a child on their bus is being exploited or can play a preventative role by noticing signs that a child is being groomed for trafficking.
School transportation plays a crucial role in identifying and responding to potential cases of child trafficking, especially as it is an integral component of the school environment. FREE resources to help your school identify potential victims are provided below.
Busing on the Lookout (BOTL): School Transportation
BOTL App
School Transportation Toolkit
School Bus Survey Report
BOTL School Transportation Training Video
School Transportation Red Flag Video
Wallet Card
School Transportation Poster
Guide for State School Transportation Leaders
Guide for School Transportation Associations
Special Needs Transportation
School Resources & Talking Points
School Transportation and Labor Trafficking
For more information about this program, please contact Lexi Higgins:
Lexi Higgins
Director of Industry Engagement
Transit | Motorcoach | School Transportation
TAT
C: 206.697.0886 (Eastern Time)
E: lhiggins@truckersagainsttrafficking.org
HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE
Any suspicions of human trafficking by a school transportation employee should be reported in accordance with school protocol on reporting suspicions of human trafficking and/or child abuse, as well as state mandatory reporting laws. Both the United States and Canada have national human trafficking hotlines that are available to answer calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
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Are you looking for free professional development that meets the required foundational reading skills addressed in the Alaska Reads Act? Keys to Literacy is an approved provider by the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development to provide a free professional development course that meets these requirements.
Click here to learn more about Alaska Reads
Keys to Literacy has limited seat availability for free summer PD that meets Alaska Reads Act Educator Endorsement requirements.
Follow this link to apply for a seat: https://keystoliteracy.com/alaska-reads-professional-development/
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NWEA SoR for Leaders: Summer Intensive Course
There will be a summer opportunity for the NWEA Science of Reading for Leaders Course.
Summer is a great time for Alaska Leaders to take this course that meets Alaska Reads Act Educator Qualification requirements.
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 Register Now!
It's now time to register for the 2024 Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit, happening September 25-26 at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center!
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 by both learning and sharing methods to: Promote healthy development through trauma-engaged and restorative practices, improve school climate, and be better prepared for any possible school crisis.
Are you interested in speaking at the 2024 Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit, happening September 25-26, 2024 at the Egan Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska? If so, please fill out the form here!
All applications will be reviewed by the conference planning committee. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM AKT.
Presentations should be intended for the following conference audience: Administrators, Teachers, School Counselors/Nurses/Social Workers, Community Partners, School Board Members, Parents, Students.
If you have any questions regarding the event or your submission, please contact the Conference Coordinator, Storme Srisaneha, at storme@goveventservices.com.
Teacher Certification has made a few changes to the Alaska Reads Endorsement application to simplify the process.
The form has been split into three separate endorsement applications:
If educators complete a DEED-offered professional learning course they do NOT need to turn in an application. Their certificate is on record with DEED and the appropriate AK Reads K-3 Teacher/Administrator endorsement will be added to their certificate prior to the July 1, 2025, deadline. You will receive an email with a link to TEACH AK where you can view, download, and print your updated certificate.
Note: There are additional requirements that need to be submitted for the Alaska Reads Act Reading Teacher and the Alaska Reads Act Early Education Lead endorsement.
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The Teacher Certification Team is hosting virtual informational sessions. Each session will include updates and a question-and-answer session.
Date/Time
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Audience
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Topics
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Registration
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May 1st
1:00 – 2:00 pm
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Districts and Education Preparation Providers
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- Emergency Cert Plan (June 1st)
- TEACH AK online application process.
- AK Reads Act endorsement info.
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May 1st
4:00 – 5:00 pm
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Teachers
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- Certification information for teachers new to Alaska.
- TEACH AK online application process.
- AK Reads Act endorsement info.
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Click here to recommend topics for future sessions.
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The Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO), through its Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), will offer a three-day virtual webinar series on student privacy and data security. The webinar series will provide the education community with opportunities to learn more about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), data security, data breach preparedness and response, transparency, and more. Register at the links below.
Day 1: FERPA 101 and Data Security Best Practices, April 10, 2024, 2-4pm ET covers the basics of FERPA and provides training on current data security best practices for education data systems.
Day 2: FERPA 201 and Transparency, April 17, 2024, 2-4pm ET dives into scenarios faced by schools and districts and highlights PTAC’s research on transparency.
Day 3: Incident Response and Vetting Educational Technology, April 24, 2024, 2-4pm ET leads participants through a simulated data breach and explores how to assess online educational technology for privacy protections and general FERPA compliance.
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The Department of Education & Early Development, Facilities section, is offering a free workshop on the FY2026 CIP Grant Application on April 26, 2024, at the Atwood Conference Center in Anchorage. This full-day workshop will review the FY2026 capital improvement project application, discuss the changes from prior year applications, offer tips to assist districts in submitting an application that reaches its full scoring potential, and provide an opportunity to ask specific questions on current or upcoming projects. Workshop is open to school district or municipal personnel and interested members of the public.
More information on the CIP Application & Support page.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) provides access to education funding for students. With historically low rates of FAFSA completion, our students miss out on substantial funding sources to support postsecondary education and workforce needs. In recent years, Alaska high school graduating classes have left over $12 Million in Pell Grant funding unused by not completing the FAFSA. Additionally, Alaska students will not receive the Alaska Performance Scholarship, Alaska Education Grant, and institution-based financial aid awards without completing the FAFSA.
To support FAFSA completion efforts, the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) leads the Alaska FAFSA Completion Initiative. Offering support to increase FAFSA completion including a Reference Guide outlining ACPE’s FAFSA resources and the FAFSA At-A-Glance for students. ACPE delivers its Master the FAFSA Training every Monday and Thursday via Zoom in which attendees become a FAFSA completion resource within their own community. Please visit ACPE’s FAFSA site to review the full suite of resources available to support FAFSA completion efforts in your districts and schools.
DEED is committed to providing information, resources, and leadership to schools, districts, parents, and the public in order to support an excellent education for every student every day. Staff at DEED are engaged in meaningful professional work in support of Alaska’s most valuable resource – its children.
DEED values collaboration and relationship building, creativity and innovation, and mission-driven work guided by the Alaska’s Education Challenge. The daily work environment at DEED is energetic, collaborative, fast paced, and challenging as staff work together to support Alaska’s school districts and students.
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