Weekly Newsletter
Thursday August 3, 2023
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FOR ADMINISTRATORS
Help Idaho State Agencies Distribute Accurate Information on PANDAS/PANS to Idaho Families
Local education agencies across Idaho are encouraged to take part in raising awareness of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Infections (PANS). Why is this important to our communities? PANDAS/PANS is associated with strep, bacterial or viral infection, and affected children may show sudden, dramatic changes in personality manifesting in symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics, anxiety and other neuropsychiatric issues. It's estimated that at least 1 in 200 children in the United States, including more than 2,000 children in Idaho, are affected by PANDAS/PANS. The disorder, when properly identified, is treatable. Please join us in making accurate information on PANDAS/PANS readily available to families in your educational communities.
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Feedback Welcome: Help Streamline the E-Rate Program
The FCC is making its E-rate program easier to use, and is now collecting feedback on various ways to streamline this important funding program. Visit Broadband and E-rate Programs Coordinator Daniel Vogt's newsletter to learn more about changes that FCC commissioners have already voted to adopt and to access the FCC survey form to submit your feedback on the program.
Submit Your E-Rate Program Feedback
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Education World's Back-to-School Resources for Administrators
Education World has gathered a variety of resources curated specifically for the challenges that school administrators face during the back-to-school transition. Administrators can explore a wide selection of articles on back-to-school success stories, access program guides and find proven ways to ensure student engagement and parent involvement in their learning communities.
Access the EdWorld Back-to-School Page
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FOR TEACHERS
Idaho Humanities Council Seeking Applicants for Teacher Advisory Panel
Every school year, the Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) works with a teacher advisory council (TAC) composed of three teachers from each region of the state and a chair. The TAC advises IHC on their summer teacher institutes, K-12 grants and educational resources. They are seeking applicants from the Treasure Valley, Eastern Idaho and North Idaho. TAC members receive a $500 stipend for participation in four meetings throughout the school year.
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Access the Corwin Guide to Understanding and Combatting Cyberbullying
Corwin Press is offering a must-have resource for educators combatting cyberbullying in and out of the classroom with "Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard, Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying." This bestselling guide from the co-directors of the Cyberbullying Research Center provides the tools that educators need today to keep students safe in an increasingly connected world. Featuring solutions that are accountable, relevant, current and data-driven, this guide is ideal for educators in a variety of settings and provides a pathway to promote safe, healthy and ethical student interactions online.
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"Do the Math. Save a Life" Math Program Teaches Safe Driving and Data Science
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Idaho Department of Education, Idaho STEM Action Center and Horizon Credit Union have teamed up on new math resources for Algebra 1 students. A coalition of math educators from across Idaho developed a series of lessons, called “Do the math. Save a life,” that use Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) crash data to teach Algebra and data analysis skills. OHS collects data on all crashes that happen on Idaho roads and displays it on publicly available dashboards. The new math program uses that data to provide examples of math in real life and teaches students lessons like scatter plots, frequency tables and analyzing claims. The lessons are designed to not only teach math, but to also expose Idaho teens to the dangers of distracted, aggressive and impaired driving so they can understand the risks and make safe choices when they hit the road as student drivers. Click here to read the Idaho Transportation Department press release on the new program.
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FOR PARENTS
USDA Publishes Free and Reduced-Price Meal Income Guidelines for the 2023-2024 School Year
Each year, the Idaho State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs announces the income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for students in schools operating the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, and for free milk in schools operating the Special Milk Program. Families in Idaho can now view the 2023-2024 income guidelines and apply for free and reduced-price meals for the upcoming school year. Information is now available on household size and income eligibility, identification of eligible households by local school districts and more.
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Registration Open Now for Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.'s 2023 Parent Voice Summit
Parents in Idaho are invited to embark on a transformative journey at Idaho Parents Unlimited Inc.'s 2023 Parent Voice Summit. The summit will delve into the world of children and family systems and will bring parents together for an event dedicated to decision-making and meaningful networking. The Parent Voice Summit will be held on September 30 at the Galaxy Center in Meridian. A pre-summit event specifically for families of youth with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood will be held on September 29 at the same location. Parents in need of lodging or travel assistance can reach out to pvs2023@ipulidaho.org for more information
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STAFF HIGHLIGHT
Meet Jill Mathews, the State Department of Education's Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Coordinator and Foster Care Liaison!
This week, we're highlighting Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and Foster Care Liaison, Jill Matthews. After earning both a bachelor's and master's in education from Boise State University, Jill worked as a behavior specialist in Houston, Texas and as a special education assessor for Department of Defense schools in Kentucky. As a 5th-generation Idahoan, Jill always wanted to return to her roots, and joined the SDE team almost nine years ago. She has since earned an education specialist degree from Idaho State University. Jill wanted to work in education from a young age because she struggled in school as a child and always wanted to help students conquer their own hurdles to success.
In her position with the SDE, Jill helps school districts coordinate transportation so that children in the foster care system can attend their school of origin, and helps districts strengthen family engagement and build community partnerships. Jill also founded the annual Family and Community Engagement Conference to support and inspire educators statewide. The FACE Conference has since become one of the largest professional development opportunities offered by the SDE. The conference is expanding this year to include a special one-day event in Coeur d'Alene in addition to the three-day conference in Boise. Click here to learn more about this year's events.
Engaging families and community partners is a top priority for the State Department of Education and we are grateful for Jill's hard work, enthusiasm and strong connections with district partners.
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