Weekly Newsletter

Thursday August 17, 2023

FOR ADMINISTRATORS | FOR TEACHERS | FOR PARENTS
IMPORTANT DATES

Superintendent Debbie Critchfield welcomes Idaho students and teachers back to school.

FOR ADMINISTRATORS

ESEA / IDEA Federal Programs Directors Meeting

Every year, the SDE's Federal Programs Department, Special Education Department and Assessment & Accountability Department partner to provide annual training for district federal program directors that focuses on the many unique aspects of running federal programs within districts and schools in Idaho. This training is for directors with less than three years' of federal programs experience and for directors who have more than three years' of federal programs experience, but want focused training in specific areas. This year's events will take place September 14 - 15 at the Nampa Civic Center and September 25 - 26 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn in Coeur d'Alene.

Idaho Digital Equity Plan Public Comment Window Open Through September 8

Educators can now add their voices to the public comment window for Idaho's Digital Equity Plan. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Digital Equity Act, led by National Telecommunications and Information Administration, all states are developing digital equity plans throughout 2023. State digital equity plans should cast a vision for, and think critically about, how they will support the achievement of digital equity in their state and should seek to ensure that capacity funding is used most effectively to close the digital divide in each state. Educator comments are encouraged.

Access Public Comment Form

The 2023 PAEMST Award Cycle Nominations Now Open

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teachers, or PAEMST, is the highest award that the U.S. government dedicates to math and science educators. It was created by Congress in 1983. The 2023 cycle for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 7-12 math and science educators has opened. This year's deadline for nominations is February 6, 2023. Administrators are encouraged to nominate a teacher who they know is making a difference in STEM. Self-nominations are also accepted.

Nominate a Teacher
Apply Directly

Update: Sign-Up Begins for Story of America Supplemental Curriculum

Sign-up is now underway for Idaho schools interested in accessing U.S. History: The Story of America, an online curriculum developed by Istation. Materials will be available at no cost to schools starting in the 2023-24 school year and for the following two years. The program is designed for use by history students in 8th and 11th grades. Istation is reaching out to educators and administrators this week to begin the sign-up process.

Learn More about Story of America

Superintendent Debbie Critchfield discusses recent efforts to update the Idaho School Funding Formula.

FOR TEACHERS

Learn More About Idaho Out-of-School Network's Think Make Create (TMC) Labs

Educators interested in expanding their STEM offerings are encouraged to join the Idaho Out-of-School Network to learn how to use Think Make Create (TMC) Labs to teach STEM concepts through fun, hands-on activities. The TMC Labs are mobile makerspaces equipped with focused K-8 curriculum aligned to Idaho science standards and the materials to complete each activity. They are available to educators for use in classrooms, afterschool programs, summer camps, community events and more at little or no cost. Learn more at one of these free 5-hour trainings held at numerous locations around the state:

August 29 in Nampa
September 15 in Twin Falls
October 17 in Boise
October 20 in Idaho Falls
October 27 in Grangeville
November 20 in Coeur d’Alene

Click Here to Register

Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars (ISAS) Applications Now Open

STEM-focused high school students are encouraged to apply for the 2023 Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars (ISAS) program. ISAS is a competitive program that allows high school juniors to take an engaging online NASA-developed course on space exploration through the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance that teaches a broad range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills aligned with Idaho Content Standards. Click here to learn more about the ISAS coursework and ISAS Summer Academy.

Access the 2023 ISAS Application

FOR PARENTS

PBS For Parents Releases Resources for Back-to-School

Parents looking for additional support this back-to-school season are encouraged to visit PBS' dedicated back-to-school resource page. Explore topics such as coping with back-to-school anxieties and emotions, creating daily routines and tackling common situations that arise with the start of school. As educational communities adjust to the new routine of the 2023-2024 school year, this page offers advice that is both fun and practical for students and families. Parents will find resources to ease the transition back to classes a variety of resources made just with this time of year in mind.

Visit the PBS Back-to-School Page

Review the Parents' Guide to FERPA from the U.S. Department of Education

Parents are encouraged to review the finer points of what the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) offers their student and their family when it comes to student privacy in schools. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records. The U.S. Department of Education has put together a variety of resources designed to walk parents through their rights under FERPA:

IMPORTANT DATES

Virtual: Classroom Management Workshop
August 18

FACE Conference Registration Opens
August 21

EL Identification Course, Session 1
August 22

Welcome Back: 2023-2024 ELPA Test Cycle Overview & Updates
August 24

Navigating the ELPA-Verse-ELMS/WIDA AMS/WIDA Secure Portal: Session 1
August 29

Rural Healthcare Access Incentive Program Applications Due
August 30

Driver Education Instructor Certification Course
August 30 - December 30

Administering WIDA Screener and WIDA Screener For Kindergarten
August 31

Webinar Opportunity: "The Future: STEM AC and the Idaho EcosySTEM"
September 14

DTC In-Person Fall Training - Nampa
September 14 - 15

Karly Cantrell Furball Gala Essays Due
September 22

DTC In-Person Fall Training - Coeur d'Alene
September 25 - 26

Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.'s 2023 Parent Voice Pre-Summit
September 29

Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.'s 2023 Parent Voice Summit
September 30

Waypoint Conference
October 1 - 3

United States Youth Senate Program Scholarship Applications Due
October 22

View Complete SDE Calendar

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