News/Resources/Opportunities:

ESSA -STEM education highlights from the bill (Education Week)

  1. ESSA maintains the current requirement around science and math testing.Students would have to take math tests annually in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school, and science tests three times between grades 3 and 12.
  2. It establishes dedicated federal funding for either a state-led STEM master-teacher corps or STEM professional development.The bill allows the education secretary to use Title II funds to establish a competitive grant program for states to create such a corps. The goal would be "to elevate the status of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching profession by recognizing, rewarding, attracting, and retaining outstanding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers, particularly in high-need and rural schools."The secretary could also use that funding for bolstering STEM professional development.
  3. It helps states integrate engineering concepts into state science assessments.
  4. It allows both Title II and IV funding to be used for improving STEM instruction.
  5. It supports alternative certification for STEM teachers, as well as differential pay.States can use federal funds to "establish, expand, or improve alternative routes for" STEM teachers. They can also use federal funds for paying teachers more for high-needs subjects, including STEM.

OSPI:

WA Portal now has given access to the interim assessments through the Assessment Viewing Application (AVA).AVA is a component of the Test Delivery System that allows authorized users to view interim assessments for administrative or instructional purposes. The intended purpose of the AVA is to provide Test Administrators with access to the interim assessments before students are tested and a greater understanding of the content being assessed and the time needed for students to complete an interim assessment. This allows teachers to view the questions in the interim assessment blocks or the comprehensive assessment, similar to the SBAC practice tests.

Paper and Pencil quizzes: OSPI will have paper and pencil quizzes available to augment interim assessments. These assessments will be available in the next few weeks.

Bridge to College: iGrants is launched for the Bridge to College grant – districts can apply. All info is on website and profile page of iGrants. We will be posted an updated FAQ shortly.

Legislative – new standards:

a.Computer Science Standards – workgroup will be convening to begin the process of adopting – OSPI will be looking for teachers to be a part of the workgroup.

b.Computer Science Endorsement – PSEB is convening a group to develop the competencies to create an endorsement for Computer Science for K-12.In the next few days, a draft of the CS competencies will be released for review and input. OSPI needs teacher voices and input on these competencies.

c.Computer Science Grants – money has been designated to support greater access to computer science. Money will be given to districts and used for professional development, technology and supporting the endorsements. RFP will be launched sometime in January – schools with a readiness to benefit will be strong contenders for this first year of money.

d.Financial Education Standards – OSPI will be working with educational stakeholders to develop financial education standards. The hope is to provide guidance on how the standards can be implemented within the existing instruction for grades K-12

PSESD:

The OER Engage NY Users group will have an official launch after the new year. If you are interested in receiving an invite, please email Leslie Nielsen .

Legislatively funded High School Professional Learning opportunity: Stay tuned for more information!