January 19, 2022
Jenny Lent
Accelerated Learning Webinar Open Discussion Series for Administrators
IU1 will be holding an Accelerated Learning webinar series/open discussion for administrators every other Friday at 10am beginning January 21st. During each 1-hour webinar, an accelerated learning topic will be presented with plenty of time for administrators to share out what they are doing and ask each other questions during open discussion. Topics will include creating and supporting an accelerated learning plan, stakeholder engagement tools, creative scheduling, and more. Through this administrator webinar series, we will share ideas to support one another around curriculum and instruction as we continue to feel the impacts of COVID on our students academically.
The January 21st meeting will focus on what exactly is Accelerated Learning and what is an Accelerated Learning plan?
Accelerated Learning webinar discussions and resources will be posted here.
Ron Gallagher
Esports:
IU1 Esports Winter Classic
Virtual tournament will be held on January 28, 2022 from 10:00 to 1:00
PSEL
The Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League is hosting the first annual virtual Esports College Fair on January 20th, 2022 from 5 to 8 PM! Attendees will hear from several colleges that will share their academic, club and competitive esports programs.
Gwoop Esports Enablement Grant
We created the Gwoop Esports Enablement Grant to help schools and community organizations create or advance their esports program. We’ve already helped eight schools, and we hope we can help your school too. The grant is free to apply for, and only takes a few minutes! There are two grants available for $2500 each.
FRCPP Plan Release Updates
On January 24, 2022 the Educator Effectiveness Survey will be available. This is due March 31, 2022. No questions on survey, just ratings for classroom teachers, non-teaching professionals, and principals. A How to Guide will be available on the release date.
On January 31, 2022 the School Improvement Plans (Due June 30, 2022) and the Schoolwide Plan (Due September 1, 2022) will be available.
PDE Update on Winter Keystones
PDE pushes back deadline for winter Keystone Exams due to surge in COVID cases. A Friday deadline for students to take the state's Keystone Exam has been moved to February, according to the Department of Education. The development is likely welcome news for school districts that had been keeping their doors open despite alarming COVID numbers amidst the state's January surge. "The current surge of COVID-19 cases is creating logistical challenges for schools administering the Winter Keystone Exams. To provide additional time for schools, PDE is extending the 2021-2022 Winter Keystone Exam testing window by three weeks, through Feb. 4th," Kendall Alexander, a PDE spokeswoman said Tuesday. Just under 440,000 children ages 5-11 have gotten partially or completely vaccinated, Department of Health data shows. Just under 55 percent of teens, 15-19, have gotten at least one COVID jab. Less than 40 percent of children, 10-14, have at least one jab, and just over 24 percent of children, 5-9, have gotten at least one jab.
ACT 13 UPDATES
There are many great educator effectiveness resources now posted to SAS.
The new 13-1,13-2,13-3 and 13-4 frameworks are posted on the SAS portal under the rating forms tab on the left at the following link: https://www.pdesas.org/Frameworks/TeacherFrameworks/TeacherEffectiveness.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is pleased to announce the following webinar opportunities:
PDE’s Educator Effectiveness Series
Toolkit Overview and Rating Forms
PDE will offer an overview of the Act 13 Educator Effectiveness resources, including the newly posted toolkit and the semi-annual rating forms.
January 19, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
January 20, 2022: 12:00-1:00 PM
January 20, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
Interactive Toolkit: A Deep Dive
PDE will offer an in-depth walk through of the Act 13 Educator Effectiveness interactive toolkit.
January 26, 2022: 12:00-1:00 PM
January 26, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
January 27, 2022: 4:00-5:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions: TPE, IEP Goals Progress, and Employee Categories and Rating
PDE will address commonly asked questions in the Act 13 ra-account.
February 3, 2022: 12:00-1:00 PM
February 3, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
Student Performance Measures and Performance Templates
This Educator Effectiveness session will review the components of the Student Performance Measures Templates: LEA Selected Measures, IEP Goals Progress, and the Principal Performance Goals.
February 9, 2022: 12:00-1:00 PM
February 9, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
Act 13 Rating Tools Review
PDE will review the rating tools for the educator categories.
February 22, 2022: 12:00-1:00 PM
February 23, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
Act 13 Office Hours and Targeted Topics
This session will address frequently asked questions as well as an opportunity for attendees to ask questions relative to Educator Effectiveness implementation and processes.
March 3, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
March 10, 2022: 3:00-4:00 PM
Location: Webinars
Presenters: PDE Leadership
Credit: No credit is offered
Cost: There is no cost for this course.
Registration Information:
You may register online by clicking on the name of the event on the Training Events Calendar at: https://www.pattan.net/events
For instructions on how to register on the PATTAN webpage, please refer to this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jLnlmUbN3vGTPuNb9rmN-sbIwVi7im27VozSSVMVyQU/preview
For content related information and questions, please contact Sara Frey at sfrey@pattan.net or 717-901-2294.
For general registration information and questions, please contact Sadie Hetrick at shetrick@pattan.net or 717-901-2273
PVAAS:
New Webinars have been posted:
A PDE and SAS EVAAS Local Assessment Reporting Frequently Asked Questions document is available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13gkjSz4NhsUEIlvSZ9sDT2f_alBA7EtB/view?usp=sharing
Local Assessment Webinar Recordings
Local Assessments: Analyze & Interpret Local Assessment Reports
Focuses on Unfinished Teaching & Learning from local assessment data
Local Assessments: Analyze & Interpret Local Growth Reports
Focuses on value-added and diagnostic reporting from local assessment data
The value-added measures based on local assessment data to be released in the PVAAS web-based system - anticipate January/February 2022
New Resources coming to PVAAS
Value-Added Tri-fold Desk Reference
Click Paths - I want to know - What do I click - What will I see?
School Leader Flip -It
Roster Verification
LEA Preview Phase
April 27 - May 6
Teacher Verification Phase
May 7 - 20
School Administrator Verification Phase
May 21 - June 3
LEA Verification Phase
June 4 - 24
Phase Dates, Resources, and Webinars available below
Two separate webinars will be offered in winter and spring 2022 for focused learning and support of the different parts of roster verification. Registration links can be found on the PDE PVAAS roster verification page linked above.
1. Roster Verification: Make the Most of PIMS!
January 19, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. and January 25, 2022, 9:00-10:00 a.m. (choose one)
NOTE: Time changed to accommodate the PDE Data Quality Network meeting scheduled for January 19.
Ensuring the PVAAS Roster Verification system is pre-populated with key information on teachers' instructional responsibility for students is a time-saver for district and school administrators and teachers. A brief overview of PVAAS roster verification, including key decisions regarding teacher eligibility and instructional responsibility, will also be provided to give context to the importance of the timelines and accuracy of the key PIMS submissions critical to the process.
2. Preparing for an Efficient Roster Verification Process
April 6, 2022, 9:00-10:00 a.m. and April 12, 2022, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (choose one)
Preparing for PVAAS roster verification is critical since the data counts toward an educator's evaluation. The spring 2022 roster verification process serves as data to support year one data in a teacher's three-year rolling average. This session provides an overview of PVAAS roster verification, key responsibilities of teachers, principals, and district administrators throughout the eight-week process, and tips on how staff can efficiently use their time to ensure that rosters are accurate and verified during each phase. Time is allotted for questions and a review of available resources.
Career Ready PA Coalition
Amy Davis and Laura Fridirici- Career Ready PA Coalition
Industry Credentials and Work-Based Learning: IBL and Act 158
February 22 from 9:45am-10:30am
Please join Laura Fridirici, Career Readiness Advisor, Pennsylvania Department of Education, as she outlines requirements in work-based learning and industry credentials as related to both Act 158 and the Industry-Based Learning Indicator for the Future Ready PA Index. To prepare for this working session, please review the Career Ready PA webpage Industry-Based Learning Indicator, as well as the Guidance for Identifying and Reporting Industry Credentials for non-CTE Students.
Audience: LEAs, school counselors, career readiness leads, educators grades 9-12
Registration - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/industry-credentials-and-work-based-learning-ibl-and-act-158-tickets-245803844917
Career Ready PA also has another webinar coming up:
Career First: Moving Beyond College For All
January 20 from 10am-11am
A presentation by MajorClarity - "What do you want to be when you grow up?”—simple enough to ask, but how do you connect the answer to action? Most districts aspire to align academic planning to career exploration but struggle to put into practice. Learn how school districts are increasing CTE enrollments, leveraging career "test-drives" to give kids a low-stakes taste of career pathways, and building career exploration into each grade level. Discover strategies for creating a district-wide network of champions to create alignment between CTE and counseling departments."
Registration - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-first-moving-beyond-college-for-all-tickets-231109373357
Virtual IU1 School Counselor Meeting
There will be a virtual IU1 School Counselor Meeting on January 21, 2022. Topics we will discuss will include, Open Discussion, SEL, ACT 158 Q&A and Tracking Tools, Mental Health discussions, Career topics and more.
PAYS Update
We are happy to share the County Level Special Reports/Preliminary Highlights Reports on the Impact of Covid have been posted! They are up and available on the 2021 PAYS site.
You may go to www.pays.pa.gov and click on 2021 (in 3rd paragraph) OR directly here: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/Pages/Pennsylvania-Youth-Survey-(PAYS)-2021.aspx
Resources:
Parents as Allies Event
One webinar is for teachers and leaders. The second webinar is for parents and families. Click here to view.
OSS
Office for Safe School Major Updates/Reminders
PA School Attendance Improvement and Truancy Reduction Toolkit has been reviewed and is now available.
Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in PA Infographic: Perceptions and Clarity
Equity Resources and Updates
Family Acceptance Project: LGBTQ youth and Family Resources
This first of its kind website for LGBTQ youth and families aims to help decrease isolation, family rejection, and mental health risks, as well as increase well-being.
Coming Feb 8, 2022 from MHTTC: Healing School Communities: Shifting the Dominant Paradigm to Center Student Wellness (Community of Practice)
The MHTTC Network's Healing Racial Violence Teamlet is proud to announce our upcoming Community of Practice, Healing School Communities: Shifting the Dominant Paradigm to Center Student Wellness, which will take place on Tuesdays beginning February 8, 2022! The purpose of this Community of Practice will be to explore the roles and responsibilities of school staff and systems in supporting a school’s healing ecosystem within the context of racial violence. Registration, speaker line-up and session info coming soon.
Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of Racial Trauma and Stress
In the past few decades, many prominent psychologists of color have studied the effects of racial trauma and how it leads to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. It has also been linked to posttraumatic stress disorders, substance use disorders, and other serious psychological conditions. Experiences of racism against people of color build on each other and, over time, can chip away at one’s emotional, physical, and spiritual resources.
Mental Health
Online Course on Illness Management and Recovery
Self-paced, online, three-part course as introduction to Illness Management and Recovery program to help individuals develop tools to manage their own mental health conditions, set meaningful goals, and make progress toward goals.
The Impact of Parental Burnout
Burnout is most often associated with the workplace, but a growing body of research suggests it can also affect parents, particularly while navigating the many stressors of pandemic life.
Youth Thrive Blueprint: Coaching Tool
The Youth Thrive Coaching Tool is one of many resources for implementing the Youth Thrive Initiative developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. The purpose of this Coaching Tool is to give supervisors key questions, guidance, and ideas about how to help workers assess and support Protective and Promotive Factors with youth.
Potential Socioeconomic Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Neural Development, Mental Health, and K-12 Educational Achievement
The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can affect more than a child's biological health. Lack of in-person schooling and increased stress can affect neurodevelopment, mental health, and later life outcomes, especially for students from low socioeconomic status (SES) households. Insights from neuroscience on child development reveal potential neural mechanisms and educational outcomes likely disrupted by the pandemic—and how this will disproportionally affect low-SES children. Integrating the traditionally separate fields of neuroscience and educational research will be critical for developing and assessing the most impactful policies to improve our most disadvantaged children's well-being and educational achievement.
Threat Assessment
NASP: Behavior Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Best Practice Considerations for K-12 Schools
PCCD: Threat Assessment Implementation Resources for PA School Entities
Updated to include Threat Assessment Case Management Form and Webinar: “PA K-12 Threat Assessment: Documentation Overview & Resources for Teams”
Training Highlights:
Preventing Youth Hate Crimes & Identity-Based Bullying Initiative (Office Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)
OJJDP launched a comprehensive national initiative to prevent youth hate crimes. Supports, including curriculum and webinar series can be found on this site.
MHTTC: Healing School Communities in the Context of Racial Violence: Where do we go from here? Recorded webinar
Looking to improve first grade reading instruction and outcomes through an evidence based MTSS R approach?
Equity:
Alyssa Moore- Happy New Year Everyone!
Science Standards Updates
Regulatory process update: On Thursday, January 13, 2022, the State Board of Education unanimously voted to approve the final-form amendments to Chapter 4 (Academic Standards and Assessments).
Key points:
The Board approved all the recommended changes based on the work last fall that was presented to the Chapter 4 Committee on December 1: for example, the Environmental Literacy and Sustainability domain standards.
All the proposed standards that weren’t revised last fall move forward now, too: for example, the 6-12 T&E standards.
The standards will take effect on July 1, 2025. This was changed from July 1, 2024, to maintain our commitment to a 3-year implementation window.
The first year of mandated implementation of the revised standards will be school year 2025-26.
The Biology Keystone and science PSSAs will be updated, and the new tests will be implemented in school year 2025-26.
Two documents were approved:
Final form of Annex A
Final form of Appendix B-1
Reading guide for the above documents:
Strike-through text is deleted in the final form.
CAPITALIZED AND BOLDED TEXT is added in the final form.
[Bracketed items] are text deleted in the proposed rulemaking.
Underscored items highlighted in bold text are additions in the proposed rulemaking.
What happens now: The Board prepares the regulatory package for the final-form regulation stage. The Board and PDE will:
Complete the “comment and response document,” which addresses every comment received on the proposed regulation.
Revise the “Preamble” to explain the reasoning behind each of the changes made to the proposed regulation.
Prepare any supplemental materials that will be included in the regulatory package for context (e.g., a sample standard with foundation boxes).
Share the regulatory package with the executive-branch offices for policy, budget, and legal review.
After that: The State Board of Education submits the final-form regulatory package to the House and Senate Education Committees and IRRC. See the IRRC manual, page 30 for a high-level overview, and pages 13-22 for a detailed explanation of the process.
In the graphic to the left, we are currently at step 1D, preparing documents for step 2A.
Looking for a great way to begin transitioning to the new standards?
Check out Engineering by Design!
Engineering by Design- PreK-12 STEM and Engineering Model Curriculum
Access to the curriculum is FREE for All PA Educators!- Thanks to PDE and the Department of Environment and Ecology
Interested? Start here
Science Matters + Social and Emotional Learning
SM Flyer Coming Soon SEL (002).pdfTeachers receiving the following kits will have access to SEL + Mindfulness Flipbooks for spring:
Lifecycle of Butterflies
Chemical Tests
Motion and Design
Looking for ways to upgrade your science curriculum to begin supporting the new standards? Stay tuned for more Science Matters upgrades soon as this program continues to expand.
Upcoming MWEE: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience
The Western PA Intermediate Units are collaborating to provide educators with training and support for this project-based, environmental exploration at no cost to your district. MWEE’s offer problem-based learning opportunities to students that are aligned to the newly proposed Integrated Standards and will assist educators in engaging in the shifts in science education. Participation requirements are as follows:
Step 1: Teachers complete the on-line Chesapeake Bay NOAA MWEE 101 course (This course is self-paced and participants will receive 3 Act 48 hours.)
Step 2: Teachers attend the MWEE trainings at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Slippery Rock Registration:
February 11, 2022
April 1, 2022 (SNOW DAY)
Step 3: In May or June, conduct a school yard, or local area, field exploration with students followed by a classroom lesson in conjunction with your area’s IU STEM Representative and other regional partners of your choosing. (Act 48 will be awarded by IU1 for this time.)
Get Outdoors Ohiopyle - Winter❄Educator Workshop
Saturday, February 12 and Saturday, February 26, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm each day
In-person at Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main St., Ohiopyle, PA 15470
Fee: $140.00
CPE Credit: Participants will receive ONE CPE CREDIT (30 Act 48 hours) for attending
Get Outdoors Ohiopyle is an educational, interdisciplinary, winter-based program for grades 4-12. It encourages the study of the winter environment, both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants will gain information on how NASA studies our planet's climate and the cryosphere. Teachers will be given the tools and training to facilitate a comprehensive study of ⛄winter in their classroom. This includes investigating snowflakes , thin sectioning ice, viewing ice crystals under polarizing sheets, determining snow density and temperature in the snow pack, the albedo effect, and investigating winter through the use of thermochrons. Attendees will also participate in a winter❄ecology snowshoe hike and spend time using snowshoes during a history activity. The majority of the lessons will be hands on both in the classroom and outside.
Participants in this program will spend a great deal of time outside. Educators should be prepared for the out of doors. Information regarding weather preparedness will be sent to participants prior to the workshop. Participants will be required to complete a homework assignment, a pre/post test, and a plan for using the curriculum in their classrooms. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Barb Wallace, EES at bawallace@pa.gov or 724-329-0986.
Remake Learning Updates
RLD22_4x6PASaveTheDatePostCard.pdfSave the Date!
Remake Learning days- Southwestern PA- May 12-23, 2022
Please submit your event by Monday, February 14.
Once SWPA Event Hosts have submitted their event, they may apply for a RLD event mini-grant for their organization.
A limited number of $200 event mini-grants are available.
Apply for a mini-grant by Friday, January 28.
Event Hosts in need of a refresher on the RLD event submission process can view the 15-minute webinar below.
Topic: Webinar: How to Submit Your RLDAA Event
Meeting Recording:
Access Passcode: ?Q%V?!f6
Please share the following networking opportunity with your STEM educators.
Save the Date!
February 22, 2022 from 11am-12pm
Register here
Are you a new or veteran STEM educator in the Rural Remake Learning Network looking to chat and network with others? This virtual coffee hour is designed for you to meet and collaborate with others around the ways you are engaging students in STEM in rural spaces. A guided discussion will be facilitated by your Rural Outreach Coordinator, Alyssa Moore.
Not a member of this free network yet? Join here!
Rob Baier
HUGE shout-out to McGuffey's Curriculum Director, Dan Gottron, for this GEM that breaks down the reporting categories listed on the raw data sheets.
Dave Dunham - ELA
January_2022.pdfWhat's Inside?
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is a unique office within the commonwealth as it is a dual deputate reporting to the Pennsylvania Departments of Education (PDE) and Human Services (DHS). OCDEL, through PDE, is offering an opportunity for school districts to engage in a continuous quality improvement process using certified observers / assessors and the CLASS assessment tool. The Classroom Assessment Scoring System ® (CLASS ®) is an observation instrument developed to assess classroom quality in Preschool through Third-Grade classrooms. https://teachstone.com/class/
To learn more and take advantage of this free opportunity, please contact Maryanne Olley at molley@pa.gov or Barry Wiestling at bwiestling@pa.gov.
This month's issue is also presenting about 15 resources that you can utilize for literacy instruction.
Science of Reading Series
5 Part Series to get back to basics with the Science of Reading.
Look for more dates and information in February!!!
SNOW
No breath of wind,
No gleam of sun –
Still the white snow
Whirls softly down
Twig and bough
And blade and thorn
All in an icy
Quiet, forlorn.
Whispering, rustling,
Through the air
On still and stone,
Roof, - everywhere,
It heaps its powdery
Crystal flakes,
Of every tree
A mountain makes;
‘Til pale and faint
At shut of day
Stoops from the West
One wint’ry ray,
And, feathered in fire
Where ghosts the moon,
A robin shrills
His lonely tune.
Professional Development/Workshops
-Data Dive
- Curriculum review/Gap analysis
- Creating a virtual classroom
- Making your ELA Classroom Interactive
- Writing and Collaboration in all subject areas
- Classroom Management and Behavior Strategies
- How to incorporate entrepreneurial skills in the classroom (EntreEd)
- The Lending Library in the ELA Classroom
- Strategies to Reach the Advanced Learner in your Classroom
- Instructional Coaching
RR STEM Competition Save the Date.pdfNEW! Student Competition from Range Resources
The Range Resources STEM Challenge is a competition for students in grades 5-8 and 9-12 where they build a project out of the suggested materials. Each school is limited to a maximum of two teams per school per grade level due to space (openings may become available for more teams after initial registration). Each grade level will be tasked with specific challenge. To see each grade levels challenge go to: https://sites.google.com/iu1.org/range-stem-challenge/home
The competition location and time are still TBD, please be aware that the competition may be held virtually.
Teams will have from now to April 6, 2022 to design and build their projects.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact me. Registration is now open at https://forms.gle/jooAcGEG2uVsJisx5 and you can learn more about the competition including rubrics and prizes at https://sites.google.com/iu1.org/range-stem-challenge/home.
Camp Tech 2022 - W&J and Waynesburg University (TBD) registration opens in March, sessions TBD
Camp Innovation - Interested in hosting your own summer camp with your teachers in your district? Contact me to learn more!
Fab Lab PD - Planned for end of February and one more in spring.
Fab Educators Summit - Register here ---> https://www.edufab.org/summit-registration
Pre Apprenticeship in Manufacturing Program - https://www.catalystconnection.org/workforce-development/skilled-manufacturing/pre-apprenticeship-programs/
Amy Dillow - PBIS amy.dillow@iu1.org
Carly Taylor - Everfi