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Volume 18, Issue 8

Weekly Field Memo
March 13, 2024

About

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: March 13, 2024

Updated Explanation of VT Student-Centered Learning Plans

Audience: Educators, Families
The Agency of Education has updated the Explanation of VT Student-Centered Learning Plans document. This serves as a resource to ascertain which plan(s) would be most appropriate to address a student’s current needs within a determined time period, including Personalized Learning Plans, Educational Support Team plans, Individualized Education Plans, and Section 504 plans.
Contact: Meghan “MJ” Jaird at meghan.jaird@vermont.gov

Holocaust Education Week: April 1-5, 2024

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Grade 7-12 Educators
The Vermont Agency of Education is collaborating with the Vermont Holocaust Memorial, Echoes and Reflections, and other educational organizations on the 2nd Annual Vermont Holocaust Education Week. From April 1-5, 2024, as part of Genocide Awareness Month, educators in grades 7-12 will be offered a menu of lesson plans and presentations to share with students for a week entitled: “Connections Across Genocides: Learning from the Holocaust”. Please visit the Vermont Holocaust memorial website to learn more and register.
Contact: Martha Deiss at AOE.HolocaustEducationWeekInfo@vermont.gov

Corrected Link: Vermont Model School Protocol for Suicide Prevention

Editor's Note: The following post ran with a broken link last week. The link has been corrected in Volume 7, however we are including it again this week to ensure readers have access to the Model Protocol. We regret the error.

Audience: School Leaders and Staff
The Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with AOE and stakeholders, developed a Model School Protocol for Suicide Prevention in response to Act 56 of 2023. The report describes the components of a model school protocol for suicide prevention, anticipated barriers to implementation, and recommendations for successful implementation, as well as guidelines for educating school personnel on eating disorders, prevention, language, identification and resources. The Department of Health and DMH developed a resource for school leaders and staff which highlights the key elements of youth suicide prevention work in schools and identifies free and low-cost trainings.
Contact: Laurel Omland at laurel.omland@vermont.gov

Webinar: Emergency Operation Plans (EOPs) for Independent Schools

Audience: Approved and Recognized independent School Heads, Staff Involved in the Development and/or Execution of an All-Hazards EOP
This 2-hour virtual webinar will review the available resources and recommended training schedule for approved and recognized independent schools as they engage in Emergency Operations Planning. The webinar will review the statutory requirements related to EOPs for independent schools, how to prepare your teams, and how the VSSC EOP Template and VSSC EOP Guide interact and support work in EOP development. March 19, 2024, 10 a.m.-noon. Join using this Independent School Webinar Meeting Link.
Contact: Taylor Goodwin at taylor.goodwin@vermont.gov

FY25 Nicotine and Substance Use Prevention Grant

Audience: Administrators
The FY25 Nicotine and Substance Use Prevention Competitive Grant is now available in the GMS System.  The At-a-Glance Document has pertinent grant information and more details can also be found at the Substance Use Prevention webpage. There will be two information sessions/open office hours (which will be recorded): Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 11 a.m.-noon and Friday, March 22, 2024, from 10-11 a.m. 
Contact: Beth Keister at beth.keister@vermont.gov

The Vermont Framework for Proficiency Resources

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals, and K-12 Teachers     
A new document, The Vermont Framework for Proficiency: Resources to Support Implementation, is now available on the Proficiency-Based Learning webpage. It can serve as a roadmap for finding resources that are spread across multiple pages of the Agency of Education website. The goal is to enable educators to access the information that is most relevant to the needs of a particular school system. It is organized from a backward-designed perspective so that the initial documents lay the foundation for subsequent work and inform decisions regarding next steps. As new resources are created, this document will be updated.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov

Assessment Literacy to Support Student Learning: Two-Day Workshop 

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals, and K-12 Teachers     
Assessment Literacy to Support Student Learning, a two-day interactive workshop facilitated by Demonstrated Success consultants, is designed to help Vermont teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators leverage a variety of assessment data to inform instruction and provide actionable feedback to students, as well as to 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. Room is still available in the sessions taking place on May 8 and 9, 2024, in Killington. Registration information can be found on the Vermont Data Use site.  
Contacts: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov or Karen Matso at karen.matso@demonstratedsuccess.com

Registration now open for the 2024 BEST/VTmtss Summer Institute, June 24-27 in Killington, VT

Audience: Educators, Administrators, Support Staff, Community Members 
This year’s theme is “A Place of Belonging: Cultivating School Communities Where Strengths are Valued, Nurtured, and Embraced”. The Institute offers an immersive experience for school teams, including educators, caregivers/family members, students and community partners. In addition to a week of high-quality professional learning around social, emotional and behavioral well-being within Vermont’s multi-tiered system of supports (VTmtss), participants will have team time and opportunities to connect with school teams from across the state. Participants will also find time for play, laughter and well-deserved celebrations. Registration is now open and acceptance will be on a first come, first served basis. 
Contact: Anne Dubie at anne.dubie@uvm.edu

 Reminder: Upcoming Training - IEP Rules, Regulations, and Forms

Audience: Special Education Teachers, Case Managers, Related Service Providers, Administrators
Please use this registration form to register and to obtain the link for this offering. This training is offered at three different times: March 18, 2024, 3 - 4:30 p.m., March 20, 2024, 8 - 9:30 a.m., and March 21, 2024, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Participants will increase their understanding of IEP legislation (Rule 2363) from Vermont's Special Education Rules and Regulations and the state generated forms that support these processes. Topics include: IEPs and required team members, planning for services and content of an IEP, and IEP development, review and revision processes.
Contact: Cassie Santo at cassie.santo@vermont.gov

In Person TransAct Trainings in April

Audience: Administrators, Registrars, Communications Professionals
The AOE is happy to welcome TransAct to Vermont to train us on how to best utilize the ParentNotices platform. We are offering two sessions: Friday, April 5 and Monday, April 8, 2024, at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier, College Hall, Room 208 from 9 a.m. - noon. On Friday the training extends to 2:30 p.m. to incorporate a bonus session on identification for registrars. The training is intended for those responsible for registering students and communications with parents. Registration is required and seats are limited.
Contact: Stepanie Vogel at stephanie.vogel@vermont.gov

EQA Office Hours

Audience: Schools Eligible for Comprehensive and Equity Supports 
To provide leadership, oversight and technical support the EQA Division will be hosting an Office Hours Series for schools eligible for Comprehensive and Equity Support on March 20, 2024, at 10 a.m. This will be the last session of a 3-month pilot and a survey will be sent out following the session for feedback on the continuation of the series. 
Contact: Nicole Whitney nicole.whitney@vermont.gov or Toni Marra at toni.marra@vermont.gov 

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The field memo has time-sensitive and relevant information designed for students, teachers, and staff. The agency encourages principals, headmasters, and superintendents to share the memo with their education community. Additionally, individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe online.

Questions? Email Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov.