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Volume 18, Issue 7

Weekly Field Memo
March 6, 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 6, 2024

Request for Public Comments on Proposed Change to Vermont’s State Perkins Plan

Audience: Superintendents, CTE Directors, Principals, CTE educators, Others
The Vermont Agency of Education seeks public comments on proposed changes to Vermont’s State Perkins Plan. The period for public comment is from Friday, March 1, 2024, through Monday, April 1, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. You can read the existing language and the proposed new language and access the public comment form on the AOE website.
Contact: Ruth Durkee at ruth.durkee@vermont.gov

Vermont Model School Protocol for Suicide Prevention

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

Communities of Practice: School and Youth Community Recovery

Audience: District and School Staff, Members of School Communities
In 2024, the AOE established a new network focused on school and district community support. This network provides opportunities for school and district staff to connect with peers, experts from across the state, and local support organizations focused on school community wellness and recovery. Our next meeting is March 27, 2024, from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. The last half hour is an optional peer-to-peer time for our field partners. If you would like to receive an MS Teams calendar invitation to this meeting, please reach out to taylor.goodwin@vermont.gov with the subject line “SYRP Meeting Request”.
Contact: Taylor Goodwin at taylor.goodwin@vermont.gov

2024 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Art Contest

Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Administrators, All Educators, All Schools
March is Developmental Disabilities Month, and the Vermont Agency of Education's Special Education Team is hosting an art contest for students with developmental disabilities. The theme for the 2024 contest is "We Are All Different and That's Beautiful." Each school LEA may submit an entry for each grade- band described in the 2024 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Art Contest Guidelines and 2024 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Art Contest Release Form by March 26, 2024.
Contact: Heather Willis-Doxsee at heather.willis-doxsee@vermont.gov

Vermont Public: More Eclipse Resources

Audience: Vermont Educators
As Vermont prepares for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, listen to Vermont Public on the radio or each weekday evening at 4:48 p.m. for Eye on the Night Sky with astronomy expert Mark Breen from the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, or find a link to the episodes on Vermont Public’s Eclipse page. Visit the Vermont Public Educators page for more recommendations for high-quality resources.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpublic.org

Award Opportunity: VT Lottery Educate Innovate Initiative

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Technology Directors, Curriculum Directors, Educators, Librarians
Through a partnership with the Vermont Lottery, the AOE is announcing the 2024 round of a competitive award program that seeks to further school education technology programs. Proposals should showcase a practical and deliberate use of technology for increasing student engagement and to support student-centered learning. This program aims to support educators from all content areas to create connections between students and curriculum content using technology. Two schools will receive awards of $15,000 each. The deadline to apply is March 22, 2024. Obtain an award application on the AOE Education Technology page.
Contact: Lisa Helme at lisa.helme@vermont.gov

Vermont SU/SDs Signing Up for Infosec+

Audience: Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Education Technology Directors, IT Managers
Currently, 31 Vermont SU/SDs have signed up to take advantage of the free use of Infosec+, a cybersecurity employee training platform and phishing simulator through the 2024-2025 school term. You can learn more about the platform through this Infosec IQ informational sheet or request a link to a recording of an introductory demonstration. There is no limit on the number of employees a district can register for platform use. Each SU/SD will manage their own subaccount and can add or remove users within their assigned district, select training to share with their users, and manage an unlimited number of phishing simulations. Send an email to lisa.helme@vermont.gov with your SU/SD name and the number of seats you would like to register. SU/SDs must register their users by early June or they cannot use the platform for free in the upcoming school term.
Contact: Lisa Helme at lisa.helme@vermont.gov

Reminder - Early Warning System Virtual Workshop: How to Create SU/SD EWS Teams

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Teachers, Interventionists, CTE Directors, Data and IT Managers
This workshop is part of the continuing professional learning series on the development of district-wide Early Warning Systems (EWS). This session will provide a guide to establishing EWS teams at the SU/SD level. Activities and topics include establishing the base structures for your team, planning activities the team should complete, and establishing a dedicated team of staff who will work together to identify students in need of additional supports, assign interventions, and monitor progress. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 1-2:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP online.
Contact: Ryan Parkman at ryan.parkman@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. We’ll 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 your 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

Family Engagement Networking Series    

Audience: Family Engagement Personnel, Homeless Liaisons, Administrators

Please join the Family Engagement Networking Series facilitated by the AOE Vermont Multi-tiered System of Supports (VTmtss) Team. The next Networking Session on March 13, 2024, 1-2 p.m., will focus on Family Engagement with families experiencing homelessness. Katy Preston, State Coordinator for Homeless Education, will share considerations, rights, and support for families including an overview of Vermont's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and Title IV considerations. These are informal monthly virtual sessions for family engagement colleagues to connect and discuss problems of practice regarding family engagement. Sessions are held every second Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. 
Contact: Nancy Hellen, nancy.hellen@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.