Weekly Newsletter
Thursday October 19, 2023
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FOR ADMINISTRATORS
National School Bus Safety Poster Contest Submissions Now Being Accepted
Every year, thousands of school districts in over 40 states participate in local and state-level competitions to select artwork that depicts school bus safety-related themes and encourages and promotes school bus safety. The winning posters are used to promote safer school bus safety and state winners advance to the national contest.
The 2023-2024 National Poster Contest aims to select the poster that best depicts the theme of "Driving Safety Into the Future." Completed posters must be 11" x 17" or 12" x 18". Designs should be submitted on quality tag, poster illustration board or heavy paper. Construction paper may be used but entries must be mounted on quality tag paper. Lamination is not permitted.
All entries must be submitted by April 17, 2024. Submissions should be mailed to: Idaho Department of Education, Attn: Ali Stolzman, P.O. Box 83720, Boise 83720-0027. Download the complete 2023-2024 poster contest guidelines at the button below.
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A Message from Superintendent Critchfield: The Value of Training
Read Superintendent Critchfield's message to Idaho's educational community on two upcoming trainings that will foster transparency. From adhering to open meeting laws to understanding public records, Superintendent Critchfield offers insight on the importance of having well-informed school trustees, administrators and staff.
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Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Mid-Year Elections for the 2023-2024 School Year
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has published a final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision – Increasing Options for Schools. This rule amends the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) regulations by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 25 percent. Lowering the minimum ISP will give states and schools greater flexibility to offer meals to all enrolled students at no cost when financially viable.
The SDE has been approved by USDA to implement this new regulation mid-year to allow qualifying sites to elect CEP during SY23-24.
The site requirements for this mid-year election are:
- Must use CEP data from April 1, 2023 or October 26, 2023
- Must have a minimum ISP of 25%
- Site must not currently be operating CEP
- Must only be electing single sites (no grouping sites)
Please let the SDE know if you would like to elect CEP by October 31. All documentation must be submitted to the SDE by November 3 for validation.
USDA has a CEP Estimator Tool that is located on its CEP Resource Center website. This tool can be used to estimate the reimbursement you would receive if you elect CEP. For more information, the final rule is available to view on the Federal Register. Visit Community Eligibility Provision | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov) at the button below for more information, including the Summary of Final Rule.
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Curricular Materials Review Members Needed for K-12 ELA, Health and PE
The Idaho State Department of Education is requesting applications for review team members to examine curricular materials in K-12 English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA), K-12 Health and K-12 Physical Education (PE). The deadline to apply is December 17, 2023. Review team members will examine curricular materials for both their alignment to Idaho State Content Standards and any implementation requirements. The SDE will provide training to review team members via webinar and a remote review period will follow.
Reviewers will receive $135 for each health/PE course/title/program reviewed or $270 for each ELA course/title/program reviewed. The invitation is open to individuals who have current Idaho certification and who have experience teaching in the specified content areas.
Learn More About the Review Committee and Apply
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Idaho Out-of-School Network Offering Funding for Think Make Create STEM Nights
Funding is now available to support a partnership with Idaho-Out-of-School Network's Think Make Create Labs and school STEM nights. Schools can access up to $500 to host a night of STEM-oriented fun and learning at their school in conjunction with Think Make Create. Administrators or teachers can learn more about the opportunity or apply for funding by contacting Claire Sponseller at csponseller@uidaho.edu. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Since 2021, more than 20,000 youth have used Think Make Create (TMC) mobile makerspace labs. Youth engage with science, have fun, and learn how to tinker, make and create. Each lab offers engrossing, kid-centered, hands-on STEM learning though a quality out-of-school time program.
Visit the Idaho Out-of-School Network Website
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FOR TEACHERS
ICTM 2023-2024 Webinar Series: Building a Thinking State Through Mathematical Tasks
The Idaho Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) Webinars bring national leaders in mathematics education to Idaho. The webinar series will cover the following:
- November 9: Building Fact Fluency Through Mathematical Storytelling with Graham Fletcher
- January 17: Let's Sketch Diagrams to Solve Word Problems with Fawn Nguyen
- March 6: How to Make Math Moments Through Tasks That Promote Reasoning with Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr
Download the webinar series flyer and secure your place at the button below.
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ISTA and SDE to Offer Crosscutting Concepts Book Study
Join the Idaho Science Teacher Association in reading Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning by Jeff Nordine. Participants can choose from a list of possible monthly meetings held Tuesday through Thursday evenings, November through April. Learn to support students in thinking about science in constructive ways with guidance from subject-area experts. The course comes with an optional PD credit, available through NNU.
Learn More and Apply
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Idaho Math Transitions Virtual Webinars Offered in November
Idaho math and science teachers are invited to learn about the work of the Idaho Math Transitions Steering Committee with an upcoming virtual webinar series. The group has been focused on supporting a successful transition in mathematics from high school to college. The webinar will be held on three dates in November. Teachers can choose the date that fits their schedule. The trainings are suited for high school math teachers, college career counselors and more.
Learn More and Register
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Get Funding for Class Pets with the Pets in the Classroom Grant Program
Idaho teachers can secure funding toward a classroom animal with the Pets In the Classroom grant program. Caring for pets in the classroom is one way of improving school attendance and teaching children about caring and responsibility. The program features grant funding, teacher lesson plans and a dedicated resource center. From fur to scales, students can benefit from the addition of a class pet. Learn more about the program at the button below.
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FOR PARENTS
Students Encouraged to Apply for the United States Senate Youth Program
The 62nd annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week will be held in Washington, D.C. March 2–9, 2024. Two student leaders from each state will spend a week in Washington experiencing national government in action.
All delegates will be provided with transportation, accommodations and meal expenses as well as a $10,000 scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must be actively serving in a high-level, peer-elected position
- Applicants must be a junior or senior in high school
The deadline to apply is October 22.
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Kids Invited to Explore Idaho's Outdoors as Junior Rangers
Getting outside this fall is easy with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation's Junior Ranger program. The goal is to help children discover more about the outdoors while learning about our parks and making connections to the natural world. Kids can pick up a Junior Ranger guide at any of the parks in the program. When kids complete four of the Junior Ranger Actions for one of the twenty-two parks in the program, they can receive the badge for that park, complete four activities at a second park to receive the Junior Ranger patch, and complete four activities at a third park to receive the certificate signed by Junior Ranger mascot, Scout. The program is designed for youth ages 6 to 12. Digital options are also available. Download Junior Ranger resources and learn more at the button below.
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Learn more about making the most of your student's Parent Teacher Conferences with some tips from Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield.
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RECENT NEWS RELEASES
View the Latest News from the State Department of Education
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