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An Official Vermont Government Website

Volume 13, Issue 40

Weekly Field Memo
October 2, 2019

The Agency of Education is Moving

Audience: All
The Agency of Education is in the process relocating operations from our offices Barre City Place to offices National Life Campus in Montpelier. The majority of agency staff will move to our new location as of Oct. 7, 2019. Staff in the Federal and Education Support Programs and Education Quality (Licensing) divisions will move as of Nov. 11, 2019. You can find up-to-date information on the move, including our new mailing address and how to visit us at our new workspace, on our Move Information website.
Contact: Chad Daniels at chad.daniels@vermont.gov

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Application-Third Notification

Audience: All
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant Application is open for the purpose of purpose of providing high-quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities. Applications are due Feb. 4, 2020, in the GMS system. Applicant workshops for teams will be held on Oct. 9 and 15, 2019, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Key information will be presented and there will be time after 1 p.m. for team planning and individual assistance. To view a paper copy of the grant application and associated resources go to the AOE 21C webpage.
Contact: Emanuel Betz at Emanuel.Betz@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1396

2019 Vermont Early Childhood Special Education Survey on the IEP/EARLY Childhood Outcomes Process

Audience: Special Education Directors, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinators, Early Childhood Special Educators, Related Service Personnel
If you have not previously submitted the Vermont ECSE Survey on the IEP/ Early Childhood Outcomes Process, please complete it by Oct. 18, 2019. The purpose of this survey is to gather information about how embedding the Early Childhood Outcomes into the IEP process is being implemented and supported over time. The results of this survey will be used to improve the quality of the IEP process and the outcomes data collection process, to determine child progress, to better understand the effectiveness of related resources and professional development, and to inform future professional development activities and resources.
Contact: Katie McCarthy at katie.mccarthy@vermont.gov

IDEA Monitoring in Grants Management SY2019-2020

Audience: Special Education Administrators; Business Managers
As part of our new general supervision and monitoring system, this year’s monitoring submissions will be conducted through the agency’s grants management system. This training is required for those participating in this year’s monitoring cycle, and is optional for everyone else. Please join our virtual meeting on Oct. 3, 2019, from 10-11 a.m. for a brief overview of this new process. You may also call in to 1-802-522-8456 using conference ID 502450463
Contact: Tonya Rutkowski at (802) 479-1245 or tonya.rutkowski@vermont.gov

Special Education General Supervision and Monitoring System Stakeholder Meetings

Audience: All, Special Education Administrators
As part of obtaining stakeholder input for the new special education general supervision and monitoring system to be fully implemented next school year, the Agency of Education is holding several stakeholder meetings. These meetings are available as both virtual and in-person for all who wish to contribute feedback. Please note you must complete this registration form prior to participation, especially for in-person access. We welcome you to join us on Oct. 8, 2019, from 1-4 p.m. at 219 N. Main Street (Conference room 304) Barre City Place, or you may join virtually using our Skype for business link. For audio participation only you may call (802) 522-8456 using conference ID 362878013. Our third stakeholder meeting will be held Dec. 5, 2019, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (additional details in November).
Contact: Tonya Rutkowski at tonya.rutkowski@vermont.gov

Supporting Youth and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

General and Special Education Teachers, CTE Teachers and Special Needs Coordinators, School Counselors, Principals, Curriculum Directors, PLP and/or Flexible Pathway Coordinators
This free training will deepen your understanding of students and young adults who experience ASD. You will explore challenges related to communication, motivation, social interaction, anxiety and sensory issues which can get in the way of education, employment, participation and independence. Dates: Nov. 12 or 13, 2019. 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., Address: Barre Civic Center Alumni Hall, Barre VT. Cost: FREE. Lunch will be on your own with restaurants and menus provided in advance. The presenters are Alan Kurtz and J. Richardson Collins. Register for Supporting Youth and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Contact: John Spinney at john.spinney@vermont.gov

Seeking Public Comment: ESSA Ed Flex Waiver Application Draft

Vermont’s Ed Flex waiver authority expired on June 30, 2019. The US Department of Education is requiring all states seeking to extend their authority to submit new applications. Please see the AOE’s draft Ed Flex Waiver application. Comments are being sought and should be addressed to: Anne Bordonaro, Division Director, Federal and Education Support Programs at anne.bordonaro@vermont.gov. Comments must be received no later than Oct. 25, 2019 at 4 p.m. to be considered.
Contact: Anne Bordonaro at anne.bordonaro@vermont.gov

Local Comprehensive Assessment System Convenings

Audience: Leadership Teams
Assessment plays a central role in the assurance of equitable outcomes for all students. Excellent instruction and systemic decision-making require high-quality assessment information. When we ensure that our assessment system provides comprehensive and meaningful information, then decisions about students are more likely to be accurate, students are better able to judge their own performance and set new goals, and families are more knowledgeable about how their children are doing. In order to support the development of high-quality local comprehensive assessment systems, the Agency of Education will be holding four convenings, in both northern and southern locations, that will address the knowledge, skills and practices necessary to implement strong assessment systems. Please see the registration for additional information, dates and times.
Contact: Ryan Parkman at ryan.parkman@vermont.gov

VSTA Science for All Learners Conference

Audience: K-12 Teachers, Special Educators, CTE Educators and Leaders, Principals, Curriculum Directors, Higher Ed
On Oct. 24, 2019, the Vermont Science Teachers Association (VSTA) will be hosting its annual science conference from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT. This year’s keynote speaker will be Sarah Michaels, from Clark University. Be part of the action as science educators from around the state dive into science equity within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and learn how to engage diverse student populations with engineering, coding, personalized assessments and more. To register for this year’s event, please visit the VSTA’s website.
Contact: Margaret Carrera-Bly at margaret.carrera-bly@vermont.gov

Fall 2019 Equity Literacy Grant Application

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals,Teacher Leaders
The Agency of Education has engaged in multiple initiatives to develop an equity framework for education at the state level. One of those initiatives, Supporting Educational Equity (SEE), recommends that Vermont’s PK-12 educators have increased opportunities for professional learning as it relates to equity literacy. To support our schools and educators in this collective effort, the agency is providing a second round of competitive grants that will be posted on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. These grants will support professional learning opportunities that lay the foundation for educators to develop and implement strategies to improve equity literacy in their systems and protect our most vulnerable students. Competitive awards will be granted to SU/SDs that show the greatest promise for positive change. Those that create regional partnerships will be prioritized.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov

FERPA In-depth Training

Audience: Administrators, Data managers, School Board personnel, Education Technology Personnel, Library Media Persons, Front-office Staff
The Agency of Education in conjunction with Vita-Learn has secured personnel from the Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) from the USDOE to provide two separate offerings of FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) trainings here in Vermont. The first will be on Nov. 13, 2019, in Central Vermont and the second will be on Nov. 14, 2019, at the Killington Grand hotel (during Vermont Fest). The agency encourages any personnel at your school that deal with communications to parents or the public attend these free trainings. There will be multiple sessions over a period of time each day and participants are encouraged to come and go to those sessions most pertinent to their needs. Generally, they will be FERPA 101, FERPA 201 and a session devoted to Data Security and Data Breach Protocols. To register, please carefully follow the instructions on the online registration form.
Contact: Peter Drescher at peter.drescher@vermont.gov or (802) 793-2645

Register Now for the Annual VTPBIS Forum

Audience: VTPBIS School Leadership Teams, Administrators, VTPBIS School and SU/SD Coordinators, School Staff. 
The Annual VTPBIS Forum will be held on Oct. 10, 2019, at the Killington Grand Resort and Hotel, Killington, VT. This is a great opportunity for schools interested in exploring PBIS to learn more about it and the process for implementation. It’s also a great forum for existing VTPBIS schools to learn and share more about sustainability and evidence-based practices. National PBIS leader Heather Peshak George will be the keynote, VTPBIS Annual Acknowledgements will be presented, and there will be many opportunities to network with other schools during a wide variety of workshop sessions.
Contact: Anne Dubie at anne.dubie @uvm.edu or (802) 656-5775

Courtesy Posts

The views, opinions and resources shared in this section of the WFM are solely those of the original contributors. The Agency of Education does not endorse the views expressed by these contributors and reserves the right to refuse submissions. Questions related to any of these resources should be directed to the organizations, people and opportunities as shared.

Join the Movement: Real Kids Wear Pink of Vermont

Nearly every child knows someone who has been impacted by breast cancer. The American Cancer Society is empowering youth in all Vermont communities to get involved and make a difference during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Kids can fight back against this disease by wearing pink on National Real Kids Wear Pink Day on October 25th. Additionally, students are encouraged to develop their philanthropic leadership skills by working with teachers to incorporate this initiative into their Personalized Learning Plans. Learn more about Real Kids Wear Pink online.
Contact: Calli Willette at calli.willette@cancer.org

Professional Learning Opportunity: Working with Tough Teams and Building Effective Partnerships

VT-HEC is running a two-day workshop or one-credit course, designed to prepare participants to collaborate effectively in order to address the complex needs of children with significant challenges. The content is important for all educators, but essential for those professionals working with children whose needs are intense and complex. Participants are encouraged to come as a team, including special educators, classroom teachers, related service providers, mental health professionals, para-educators and parents. Workshops will take place at the Delta Hotel in S. Burlington on Nov. 4 and 5, 2019.
Contact: Julie Medose at julie.medose@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350

Professional Learning: Equity - Courageous Conversation - Hyde Park, VT

Registration is open for Courageous Conversation: Beyond Diversity at the Green Mountain Technical and Career Center, Hyde Park. This powerful, personally transforming 2-day seminar helps educators and teams understand the impact of race on our lives, our work and our learning. This program has a 25-year history and over 10,000 alumni. Lead by Ismalis Nunez from Pacific Education Group. Nov. 7 and 8, 2019, from 9 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642

Vermont History Day State Contest Materials Now Available

The National History Day (NHD) program engages students in historical research and skills development. Vermont students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to create projects for the Vermont History Day State Contest which will take place on April 4, 2020, at the UVM Davis Center in Burlington. Winners qualify for the national contest. Curriculum materials are available from the Vermont Historical Society. Projects can be about any topic in history (not just Vermont history) related to the annual theme of “Breaking Barriers in History.” Learn more at the educator workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, at the Vermont History Center in Barre. Find workshop details on the Vermont Historical Society website.
Contact: Victoria Hughes at victoria.hughes@vermonthistory.org or (802) 828-1413

Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness Training of Trainers

The Center for Health and Learning is offering Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness Training of Trainers for community members, health care and school professionals who what to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Attendees will learn to help others identify signs and symptoms of suicide, risk and protective factors, when and how to refer for more help, and how to access resources. Trainer’s Manual, Scripted notes, handouts and all materials needed to carry out a workshop are included in this training.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org or (802) 254-6590

Subscribe Online

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.