• IU1 Curriculum Department Survey (sent on 10/30)

• IU1 Fayette Academy - Sean VanEman

• StartSole Training - Alyssa Moore, Sarah D'Urzo, Rod Hardy, Matt Weightman

• PDE's Navigating the Roadmap Resources - PDE Website 

  • • Prioritized Standards

      • • Focus on Instruction:  https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/CreatingEquitableSchoolSystems/FocusEffectiveInstruction/Instruction/Pages/default.aspx

        • Focus on Assessment: https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/SchoolReopeningGuidance/ReopeningPreKto12/CreatingEquitableSchoolSystems/FocusEffectiveInstruction/Assessment/Pages/default.aspx

    • Selecting and Implementing an Instructional Delivery Model 

    • Strategic Staff Development - Tool to assist with what staff can fulfill roles this school year and beyond

      • • PDE Navigating Roadmap Strategic Staff Site

• PDE is excited to announce a Distance Learning Series in collaboration with Penn State Study Council and Penn State World Campus. The series takes a systems approach to building and refining a comprehensive distance learning pathway in Local Education Agencies. It is encouraged to sign up for the series in teams a five that include LEA level administrators, special education directors, curriculum coordinators, and educators. Folks may also engage in each webinar as a stand alone experience depending on where an an LEA is at along the continuum of building and refining their distance learning system. Each webinar will highlight and release a distance learning tool for LEAs.  Follow the flyer link to register for the series as a team or register for each individual presentations. The first presentation of the series "A systems Model for Distance Education: Planning for Tomorrow" is on October 29, 2020 from 10:00 - 11:00 am. 

• IU1 Desk Divider SALE!  

• TRETC 2021  - January 18 (Virtual) 

• Live PD is happening daily!   Register on Frontline; Upcoming events are listed on the homepage of the IU1 website

• IU1 On-Site PD opportunities 

  • • 10 hour virtual or F2F contract with a 10% discount

• Asynchronous PD System Update 

• Antigen Testing Update

• Every fall, University of Pennsylvania normally offers activities on campus to promote STEM activities to high school level classes. Since on-site events were cancelled this fall, Penn graduate students stepped up and prepared synchronous presentations for high school classes to share with them aspects of their research and how they came to a career in science. The presentations will be about 45 minutes and will include time for questions and answers. The presentations are geared to high school level math and science classes.   If you would like the opportunity for your class to participate, please go to this form to provide some information and see the different options. We will contact you with further details if we will be able to share our presentations with you.  Questions?  Contact Eric Johnston, Senior Manager Research Support and Soft Lithography, Quattrone Nanofabrication Facility, ericdj@seas.upenn.edu, T. 215.573.6695

• 2020 Online Civics Summit - either 10/28 from 12-3 or 10/30 from 9-12 

  • •  This teacher-focused summit is intended for educators in Pennsylvania who are advocates of engaging and empowering students to be active participants in the life of their communities, state, and country. During this three-hour free workshop, participants will delve into the goal of increasing student civic participation through the lens of PA Act 35 of 2018, the requirement of all schools to administer an Assessment of Civic Knowledge to secondary students. Through the three pillars of Civic Knowledge, Civic Skills, and Civic Actions, as outlined in the PA Department of Education Act 35 Toolkit, this session will provide practical examples for schools and educators to not just comply with requirements of a new assessment, but begin the process of energizing young citizens to action!

• National Geographic Grant to create Social Studies content for remote learning

• Compulsory Attendance - PDE Contact, Scott Kuren; now students under the age of 18 must attend school or an educational program or meet one of the other requirements in the BEC such as a fulltime job (35hours a week) 

• Act 7 - CPR requirements - According to Act 7 students in 9-12th grade must be taught hands-only CPR as well as the use of the Automated External Defibrillator.  PDE will be working on a resource guide of suggested curriculums and programs schools can choose to implement.  According to the PA Academic Standards, CPR standards are required for the 9th and 12th-grade benchmarks.  It is up to the school entity to decide when they would want to present this curriculum to their students.  Best practice would be in 9th grade and 11th grade since if students are choosing to certified for this training, it generally holds for two years.  However, it is up to the schools to make this decision. 

• Update to Act 158 Graduation Requirements

  • • From PDE - "Baring a legislative change (one is proposed), the students ARE still under Act 158 graduation requirements—they would either have to participate in a voluntary re-take (which would not count toward accountability) or graduate under the Alternative Assessment, Evidence Based, or Career and Tech pathways which do not require 3 Keystone scores."

    • A student who is registered in the identified Keystone trigger course in the 2019-20 school year is exempt from accountability calculations (proficiency, participation, AMD) regardless of when (or if) they take the exam.

    • The difference is that accountability is a Federal mandate, and the waiver was issued by USDE. Graduation is a State requirement, that requires a school-code change to waive.

• Race in Rural Spaces: Questions, Conversations, and Equity - provided by Remake Learning on 10/28

• PBS Schedules and Learning Resources - contains links for activities for those with internet access

• Career Resources

  • • IU5: Hosting Virtual Career Connections

    • Start the Conversation Here - PA Chamber Foundation

    • PA Career Zone Resources

      • • PA CareerZone Webinar- How to Maximize Virtual Career Readiness in Covid-19 with PA CareerZone 

        • How to Maximize Virtual Career Readiness in Covid-19 with PA CareerZone PowerPoint 

10/16/2020

Future Ready PA Index - information released 

A-TSI Reporting

Quarterly progress monitoring reports are REQUIRED of all A-TSI schools and completed in the FRCPP - the first due date for Q1 is now on November 20, 2020.  We will review the requirements for reporting at our October 29 A-TSI Regional Network session.

Compulsory attendance (Scott Kuren)

• District had a student that was 17 and wanted to drop out- what are the implementations for the district?

  • The student would still need to be actively engaged in an educational program.

• What if the student is accelerated and has the graduation requirement by the age of 17?

  • The student has met the criteria and would not be required to attend

• Suggestion to review district policies to see how districts have adjusted this requirement.

Comprehensive Planing Update

Career Readiness:

Please join us for a virtual webinar with Laura Fridirici, Career Readiness Advisor, PDE, as she shares updates on the Career Ready PA Coalition and provides technical support for the Career Readiness and Industry-Based Learning Indicator. Topics include updated guidance for Identifying and Reporting Industry Credentials for Non-CTE Students, portfolio evidence collection and requirements, and resources.

Please forward this information to those who participate in Career Readiness in your schools and districts!

Friday, October 23

10am-11am

No fee to participate

 Registration - https://aiu3.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jvrGS3JXSGCUOfFxtiCRUw

 Also, please add this link to the PDE SAS website at:  https://www.pdesas.org/ for Career Ready Community

PVAAS - Click to Link

Other October Items:

2020 Civics Summit October 28 (PM) (12-3) and October 30 (AM)(9-12)

Covid 19 Remote Learning Grant for Social Studies 

10/9/2020 

Social Studies Teacher Regional Network Session -  8:30-11:30  https://iu1-org.zoom.us/j/3151202348 

10/7/2020

• AP Instructional Resources.  Our AP instructional resources provide support for in-person, hybrid, and remote instructional environments.  The attachment provides information on all of the no cost AP tools available to teachers.  More information about AP Classroom found here:  AP Classroom Resources

• • Archived Webinars for AP teachers to review all of the no cost AP Instructional Resources:  Archived webinars for AP teachers

  • New Webinar:  Tips and Insights for Teaching AP Online and Hybrid on October 29th:  Register for this October 29thwebinar

  • AP content workshops: the AP Program is offering new AP online subject workshops instead of the standard face-to-face AP workshops:  AP Teacher Content Workshops

10/7/2020

Further Assessment clarification from Mr. Brian Campbell:

Question:  A student who was enrolled in a Keystone trigger course during the pandemic.  They take the Keystone this spring while NOT enrolled in a trigger course – will their performance factor into federal accountability and state reporting, graduation, and other local policy decisions? 

Answer:  A student who is registered in the identified Keystone trigger course in the 2019-20 school year is exempt from accountability calculations (proficiency, participation, AMD) regardless of when (or if) they take the exam.

Baring a legislative change (one is proposed), the students ARE still under Act 158 graduation requirements—they would either have to participate in a voluntary re-take (which would not count toward accountability) or graduate under the Alternative Assessment, Evidence Based, or Career and Tech pathways which do not require 3 Keystone scores.

The difference is that accountability is a Federal mandate, and the waiver was issued by USDE. Graduation is a State requirement, that requires a school-code change to waive.

So the answer to the question below is No, it won’t count for accountability, but it could effect graduation. That’s why I separated them out in my explanation. Hope this is clear and helpful. Feel free to reach out for any follow-up you need.

10/7/2020

School Climate Resource Links:

• Staff and Student Wellness Guide (PDE)

• Equitable Practices Hub (PDE)

• PA Statewide Suicide Prevention Plan   (PA DHS)

• PA School Climate Surveys (PDE)

• PA Career Ready Skills (PDE)

• School Climate Improvement Resource Package (US Ed)

Toolkit Sections For Career Ready Skills:

• Purpose  Toolkit Purpose

• Implementation PA CRS Implementation

• PA Career Ready Skills (Rationale)

• A Career Ready Graduate PA CRS Graduate

• Skills Continuum Continuum of Skills

• Skills in the Classroom  20th vs 21st skills

• Appendix A: Family Engagement

• Appendix B:  “ Student " I Can: statements

Guidelines for Re-entry from Covid 19

• Includes a 5 Stage Process for Re-entry - p. 11

• Administrative Discussion

10/7/2020  

Released in August:  PDE released the Equitable Practices Hub this week - https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/equityandinclusion/EPH/Pages/default.aspx.  

Of particular interest and relevance to schools working through a continuous cycle of improvement is the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) – Criteria for an Equitable School Tool - 

https://maec.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Criteria-for-an-Equitable-School-2020-accessible.pdf 

Along with a companion Action Planning Guide:

companion action planning guide 

10/7/2020:  

3 Different Grants to apply for, all in eGrants, all separate applications (Due Nov 2)*:

• Compensatory Education Covid Mitigation - SE

• Continuity of Education -July - selected based on schools with highest % of students who couldn’t participate - GEERS but separate

• A-TSI GEERS Funding

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Dave Dunham

StartSOLE:  https://startsole.org/

• A simple, non-intimidating way to incorporate PBL in the classroom

• Teachers can earn FREE Act 48 credits

• SOLE in the Classroom:

  • Big Question

  • Investigate

  • Review 

• How to SOLE

• Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud- inspiration behind StartSOLE

Computer Science Updates

7-12 CS Certification Update

• The test will be available December 2020

  • As of right now, there will be an at-home testing option

  • As of right now, certification would not trigger any loss of teacher in CS

    • In the future, there may be changes to policy due to course codes changing (will receive clarification soon!)

    • Hoping to see a pairing of professional learning along with the CS exam 3-5 years after the certification goes live.

• This certification would be an add-on

  • ACT 86 of 2016 expanded the pool of educators eligible to teach CS. PDE continues to support this expansion and highly recommends all educators teaching CS to engage in appropriate professional learning experiences to prepare to teach the competencies outlined in the CSTA standards endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

    • Currently, these certificates are approved for teaching 7-12 CS:

      • Appropriate science certificates;

      • Mathematics 7-12;

      • Business Computer Information Technology;

      • Technology Education PK-12;

      • Mid-level Math 6-9 and 4-8;

      • Mid-level Science 6-9 and 4-8;

      • Elementary K-6 (with recommended trainings); and

      • Early Childhood N-3, PK-4 (with recommended trainings).

      • https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/CertFAQs/Pages/STEMCS.aspx 

#CSforAllPA Monthly Meet-Ups

#CSforAllPA represents Pennsylvania’s efforts in striving for equitable computer science (CS) education for all students including students of color, historically underrepresented populations, English language learners, and students with disabilities.

The #CSforAllPA series of meet-ups consists of discussions on CS education in Pennsylvania. Moderated by a PaTTAN CSforAllPA consultant, each session invites participants to share challenges, experiences, and strategies with one another.

• Registration is available on the PaTTAN website. Act 48 credit is available. Sessions are “stand-alone” and do not require participation in prior sessions.

• All meet-ups are hosted from 3-4 pm in Zoom.

Upcoming Meet-Ups

 #CSforAllPA monthly meet-ups have been scheduled for the fall: 

October 21,  3:00 - 4:00 pm: CS for Good

November 18, 3:00 - 4:00 pm: Preparing for CS Education Week

December 16, 3:00 - 4:00 pm:  CS Reflections & Resolutions