 RED RIBBON WEEK, celebrated annually October 23-31, is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.
By proclamation of Governor Dunleavy, and in unison with the Department of Health, October 23-31 has been declared Red Ribbon Week in recognition of the negative effects drug and alcohol use have on individuals, families, and communities.
Please join the Department of Education and Early Development in raising awareness by decorating office and classroom doors in this year’s theme, wearing red ribbons, and participating in drug prevention activities.
The theme for 2024’s Red Ribbon Week is: “Life is a Movie: Film Drug Free”
We ask everyone to show their support for Red Ribbon Week now and throughout the year by encouraging a substance-free lifestyle through their words and actions, and protecting Alaska’s youth from the dangers that accompany it.
Resources are available at:
redribbonweek (alaska.gov)
DEA Red Ribbon Toolkit
https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/rrw
 Register for the
Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference
The tenth annual Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference is the largest convening of afterschool and summer educators in the state and is designed to support the professional development of out-of-school time providers from across Alaska. Themed Thriving through Transformation, the conference aims to strengthen the out-of-school time workforce, link arms, and move forward towards change and growth. Past conference attendees have included staff from programs such as 4-H, tribal youth programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the Positive Youth Development Afterschool Program (PYDAP), faith-based groups, licensed school-age childcare, summer camps, school district afterschool and summer programming, and more.
This year’s conference will feature more than 24 interactive workshops, 2 preconference workshops, program site visits, a vendor exhibit hall, a networking reception, and much more!
Join us on November 21-22, 2024, at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, Fairbanks to learn, explore, and connect!
Interested in sharing knowledge or skills with the Alaska’s out-of-school time educators? Consider submitting a workshop proposal here!
For more information, and to register, please visit www.akostconference.org. Early bird registration closes 9/30/24.
This conference is a partnership between the State of Alaska Department of Education & Early Development, the State of Alaska Department of Health, and the Alaska Afterschool Network.
 The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), in collaboration with Microsoft and Prodigy Learning, is excited to announce that the Cyber in Minecraft credential program is available to public schools across Alaska at no cost.
Cyber in Minecraft, like Coding in Minecraft, is a credential program with a comprehensive curriculum delivered through Minecraft Education. This program consists of three immersive courses where students engage in a Minecraft environment to build and validate their cybersecurity knowledge, covering key topics such as Digital Citizenship, Networking, and Security.
As part of this initiative, DEED is offering free licenses along with virtual teacher professional learning sessions at the following sign-up portal.
Nominate Students for Presidential Scholars and CTE Presidential Awards Programs
The Department of Education and Early Development is seeking applications for both the 2025 Presidential Scholars and CTE Presidential Scholars programs. The state may nominate up to ten (10) male and ten (10) female high school seniors who exhibit exemplary academic achievement, and up to five (5) high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding success in Career and Technical Education programs. Scholars for both programs will be chosen by a commission on the basis of outstanding scholarship, as well as artistic achievement, leadership, and community service. The programs are open to seniors graduating between January and June 2025 and who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Students at public, private, and home schools are eligible. These are not a scholarship programs; they are recognition programs. Presidential Scholars and CTE Presidential Scholars will receive a medallion at an expenses-paid ceremony in Washington, D.C. Applications are due by 4 p.m. November 1, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only two scholars per school may be nominated.
For more information and to download student applications, please visit: https://education.alaska.gov/RecognitionPrograms/
Questions?
The Department of Education & Early Development is soliciting applications for the U.S. Senate Youth Program—a national program sponsored by the Federal Senate and underwritten by the Hearst Foundation. It is open to juniors and seniors who hold elected positions in student government during 2024-2025 academic year. Students must be enrolled in a public or private school. State delegates will have outstanding leadership qualities and a strong commitment to public service. This is an equitable opportunity for student leaders from across the state and we highly encourage students from rural areas to consider applying.
Each delegate receives a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship and will participate in the USSYP Washington Week in Washington, D.C., March 1-8, 2025, where two Alaska students will join 102 other delegates for an intensive educational program about the workings of the Senate and the federal government overall.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. 25 October 2024. Access the USSYP application packet here. Only one scholar per school may be nominated. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
For more information on the USSYP, please see https://education.alaska.gov/recognitionprograms. Also please feel free to contact Bjorn Wolter with any questions at 907-465-6542 and bjorn.wolter@alaska.gov
Implementing EEP Standards for State Approved High-Quality Early Education Program and 0.5 ADM funding
Registration required. Click the link for recordings, additional information and to register.
Who:
Administrators and/or Program Coordinators
When:
Next session November 14, 10:00 a.m.
Topic:
EEP Standards Section 1 Learning Environment and Section 5 Assessment
Q&A: AK Reads for Early Education Programs
Registration required. Click the link for additional information and to register.
Who: Administrators and/or Program Coordinators
Purpose:
- Improve understanding of the early learning components of the Alaska Reads Act.
- Facilitate communication between DEED and school district early education programs (EEP).
- Answer questions.
- Facilitate problem solving amongst EEP Programs.
When:
October 24, 1:00 p.m.
Contact jayne.mcfarland@alaska.gov with questions.
Naloxone Availability in Public Schools
During the 2023-2024 Legislative session HB 202 was passed and signed into law in August. This bill impacts all public schools in Alaska. It requires:
- That schools have two doses of an opioid overdose drug on school site.
- That schools have at least one staff trained to administer naloxone and at least one dose of the opioid overdose drug on school sites during school days, at school sponsored events, including before and after school.
The Department of Health has sent all districts wall mount boxes that contain two does for each school. The training course requirement may be met by using the 15-minute-long DEED eLearning Module Naloxone Administration for an Opioid Overdose.
If you administer naloxone, you are required to “report back” the administration, regardless of the recipient. The anonymous survey is entirely confidential and takes less than 90 seconds to complete. Please email projecthope@alaska.gov if you have any questions about how to meet this requirement. See attached Factsheet.
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Alaska schools can get free resources to help address youth tobacco, vaping, and nicotine use including new material for young students and links between tobacco use and mental health. Many Alaska students are struggling with tobacco and nicotine use.
Almost 1 out of 4 high school students (23%) used a tobacco product. This includes all types of tobacco and nicotine products, like e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and nicotine pouches. That’s according to new 2023 Alaska Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.
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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released the Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools, a new resource to help kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools and their law enforcement and community partners create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats of violence, including those received on social media. The toolkit outlines steps school leaders can take to assess and respond to anonymous threats, better prepare for, and prevent future threats, and work in coordination with law enforcement and other local partners when threats arise. |
The toolkit emphasizes six key strategies for schools to consider when addressing anonymous threats:
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Build awareness about reporting to detect threats early and deter future threats.
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Develop a partnership structure that will help address threats. This includes school administrators, law enforcement personnel and mental health professionals.
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Engage law enforcement to manage threat situations and decide when to scale response actions up or down.
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Balance initial response steps to ensure the campus is safe. Most critically, treat each threat as credible, and from there, work with necessary partners to determine how to approach an immediate response.
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When appropriate, tap into multidisciplinary threat assessment teams to support interventions and expedite response if the subject who made the threat becomes known.
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Take steps throughout the school year to prepare for threats. Establish a response protocol and practice other types of emergency management activities, such as training exercises for staff.
Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) Conference 2025
ASTE 2025 will be at the Hotel Captain Cook on February 15-18, 2025. The ASTE Board for 2024-2025, under the direction of President Anthony White, has selected "StoryBytes" as the theme:
“At ASTE 2025, dive into a unique educational technology experience designed to enhance your skills and inspire new ideas. Explore a range of registration options to fit your goals. Register now and embark on a journey of storytelling, innovation, and transformation.”
The Call for Proposal to Present for the conference is now open through November 15, 2024. Registration will open after the schedule is finalized so participants can register and sign up for sessions at the same time. Please visit www.aste.org/conference for more information.
Join Us!
The District Communication Hub
Nov. 6th at 2:00pm OR Nov. 7th at 10:00am
Audience: Districts and Educational Agencies
Description: Join us to explore the District Communication Hub, launched alongside TEACH-AK: The Educator Application & Certification Hub for Alaska. This new online system is designed to streamline the certification and renewal process for educators by providing real-time information to districts. Come learn how to navigate the Hub and support your educators.
The Teacher Application &
Certification Hub Alaska (TEACH-AK)
Nov. 6th at 4:00pm
Audience: Educators
Description: Join us to explore this new online system designed to simplify the certification and renewal process for educators. This presentation will guide you through the key features of the TEACH-AK dashboard, where you can view, download, and print your active certificates. You'll gain a clear understanding of the renewal process, how to add endorsements, how to monitor the status of your current certificate, and more! By the end of this session, you’ll have the knowledge, and tools needed to confidently navigate TEACH-AK and efficiently manage your certification needs.
 The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the top honors bestowed by the U.S. Government to K-12 STEM teachers. Each year, up to 110 outstanding educators from across the country may be recognized by the White House for their passion, dedication, and impact in the classroom.
Learn more about this prestigious award, and how nominating a teacher for PAEMST can change their life.
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ACPE’s Kids2Careers Early Career Explorers FREE educational resources incorporate career exploration alongside traditional subjects to be used in the classroom or at home. Students build a strong foundation to better understand the importance of academics, extracurricular activities, and healthy study habits as it relates to future career goals. (Flexible grade levels.)
Download Resources Here: https://acpe.alaska.gov/PLANNING/Request
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ACPE’s Kids2Careers offers a variety of FREE resources and activities to help 5th-12th grade students explore and plan for education and career training options after high school. In addition to Postsecondary Planning Tools, Success Steps for Students and Guiding Steps for Families, Educators can apply for any or all of the following: 6-Lesson Classroom Curriculum, Postsecondary & Career Prep Panel Discussions (tiered for different grades), and Postsecondary Pathway Presentations to help Juniors and Seniors track time sensitive steps and familiarize with helpful planning tools. (Distance delivery options and flexible grade levels.)
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Learn More & Apply Here: https://acpe.alaska.gov/K2C/Educators
Keys to Literacy Professional Development
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Keys to Literacy: Keys to Beginning Reading course
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) is excited to announce a new K-3 Alaska Reads Act course. A Keys to Literacy asynchronous course is now live and available on Alaska DEED’s e-learning platform.
This course is approved by the DEED to meet the regulatory statute requirements outlined in the Alaska Reads Act. Upon successful completion of this course, educators must submit their course certificate to AK Teacher Certification to add the K-3 AK Reads Act Reading Endorsement to their Teacher Certificate.
Keys to Beginning Reading is a 45-hour course designed by Keys to Literacy founder Joan Sedita, and tailored specifically for Alaska educators. It is a practical course that provides the background knowledge needed to teach all the components of beginning reading instruction. The instructional practices are designed to easily transfer to classroom lessons and can be integrated with any reading curriculum or published reading program.
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