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The Agency of Education created the weekly field memo to keep subscribers up-to-date with current education policy, state-wide education initiatives, and official messages from the AOE. The Weekly Field Memo contains education-related posts from the Agency of Education (AOE), other State of Vermont agencies, federal agencies or Vermont's congressional delegation.
Contents: September 13, 2024
- Implementation of Revised Health and Physical Education SHAPE Standards Questionnaire
- Education Quality Assurance Office Hour Fall Series
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Well Being Web Page Updates
- Webinar: Connecting VT CAP and Local Common Assessment Systems
- Governor’s Annual School Safety Conference – Sept. 30, 2024
- Assessment Literacy to Support Student Learning
- Creating Effective Professional Learning Communities
- Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Fish Art Contest
- Vermont Office of Professional Regulation Conducting Sunrise Review of Early Childhood Education
Implementation of Revised Health and Physical Education SHAPE Standards Questionnaire
Audience: Physical Education and Health Education Educators, Curriculum Directors
The Agency of Education (AOE) is working to develop resources and supports for the implementation of the newly revised Health and Physical Education standards from SHAPE America. In order to meet the needs of educators, health and physical education educators are being asked to fill out the following questionnaire(s) for their specific subject and grade areas: Health Elementary, Health Middle/High, Physical Education Elementary and Physical Education Middle/High. The data from these questionnaires will be reviewed by a group of educators and AOE staff to help form statewide model K-12 Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements, Critical Proficiencies, and Priority Performance Indicators.
Contact: Ian Burfoot-Rochford at Ian.Burfoot-Rochford@vermont.gov
Education Quality Assurance Office Hour Fall Series
Audience: Schools Eligible for Comprehensive and Equity Supports, but open to All Schools
To provide leadership, oversight, and technical support the EQA Division will be hosting an Office Hours Series for schools eligible for Comprehensive and Equity Supports beginning this fall. Office hours will be once a month from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Oct. 2, Nov. 13, and Dec. 11, 2024.
Contact: Toni Marra at toni.marra@vermont.gov
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Well Being Web Page Updates
Audience: All Educators and Families
We welcome you to explore new resources that have been added to the Agency’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Well Being web page. This quarter we are highlighting the Lamoille South Supervisory Union and their Act 112 Grant. In addition, new resources have been added to Data Collection and Reporting, Funding Opportunities, Grants, and Legislation, Resources and Tools for Educators, Resources for Families and Caregivers, and SEL and Health Standards.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at tracy.watterson@vermont.gov
Webinar: Connecting VT CAP and Local Common Assessment Systems
Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals, and Teachers
Connecting VT CAP and Local Common Assessment Systems, on Sept. 19, 2024, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., will make connections between state assessment results and student performance within a local common assessment system. Participants will examine the language, format, and level of rigor of VT CAP items to inform the development of common-core aligned instructional and formative assessment strategies, giving students a better opportunity to show what they know, understand, and can do on the state assessment. Online registration for Connecting VTCAP and Local Common Assessment Systems is now available.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Governor’s Annual School Safety Conference – Sept. 30, 2024
Audience: Education Professionals, Emergency Management Partners
Vermont’s Agency of Education, Department of Public Safety, and the Vermont School Safety Center are pleased to announce that the Governor’s Annual School Safety Conference will be held on Sept. 30, 2024. This all-day, in-person event will be held at the DoubleTree in Burlington, VT. The conference will include keynotes and breakout sessions presented by several of the country’s foremost school safety experts and advocates, including Michele Gay, co-founder of Safe and Sound Schools, and Don Hough, Deputy Associate Director of the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Please register by Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.
Contact: Taylor Goodwin at taylor.goodwin@vermont.gov
Assessment Literacy to Support Student Learning
Audience: Administrators, K-12 Educators, and Paraprofessionals
This two-day interactive workshop, available through a contract with Demonstrated Success, is designed to support teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators to leverage a variety of assessment data to inform instruction, provide actionable feedback to students, and identify broader needs for students and staff development. Participants will work as a whole group for part of the day and then work in groups differentiated by levels and roles. This workshop will take place at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee on Sept. 25 and 26, 2024. from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, see the Vermont Agency of Education Assessment Literacy and PLCs - September Flyer. Registration is available on the Vermont Data Use Webpage.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Creating Effective Professional Learning Communities
Audience: Administrators and K-12 Educators
This day-long workshop, available through a contract with Demonstrated Success, will focus on strategies to support highly effective Professional Learning Communities. Teams of educators are encouraged to attend and engage in collaborative data inquiry, utilize data-driven protocols to determine student needs, and explore effective intervention systems. Teams will leave with a strong understanding of how to impact student outcomes by using data in a collaborative, continuous cycle of improvement. This workshop will take place on Sept. 30, 2024, at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, see the Vermont Agency of Education Assessment Literacy and PLCs - September Flyer. Registration is available on the Vermont Data Use Webpage.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Fish Art Contest
Audience: K-12 Educators
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is pleased to team up with Wildlife Forever to bring the national Fish Art Contest back to Vermont. The Fish Art Contest uses art, science, and creative writing to foster connections to the outdoors and inspire the next generation of stewards. This national contest is open to students between kindergarten and grade twelve at no cost. Students begin by selecting and researching a fish species, illustrating the species, and then writing a one-page creative essay. During last year’s contest the Fish and Wildlife Department received over 200 entries and are looking forward to expanding on that success. Winning artwork will be featured in the 2026 Fishing Digest and will receive a new rod and reel.
Contact: Corey Hart at corey.hart@vermont.gov
Vermont Office of Professional Regulation Conducting Sunrise Review of Early Childhood Education
Audience: All
The Office of Profession Regulation (OPR) is conducting a Sunrise Review of Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-8) as a Profession in Vermont. Specifically, the review is focused on whether a separate license, certification, or registration for professionals working in Early Childhood Education should be available or required to practice early education in the State. OPR will hold two (2) public meetings and is inviting your participation in this process. Meetings are scheduled on Sept. 17, 2024, from 2:30-4:30 pm and on Sept. 18, 2024 from 6-8 p.m. Both meetings will have an in person and remote option. Please visit our OPR’s website for more information.
Contact: Tara Grenier at tara.grenier@vermont.gov