Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Welcome to the ConnectEd Bulletin Board!
This is the place to find opportunities for further professional development, grant and awards opportunities, and much more!
Take the DPI Strategic Planning Survey and Attend a Community Engagement Session!
November is Military Veterans and Military Family Appreciation Month
Readers Needed for Herb Kohl Foundation Applications
WI 21st CCLC 2024-25 Grant Applications Are Now Available!
Better FAFSA Form for 2024-25 Coming Soon
Parent Partnership: Secretary Cardona and Friends Celebrate National Parent Involvement Day
PBS Wisconsin Education Adds Three New Resources to Popular Collections
Educational Equity Network Leadership Series
Virtual Workshop for Teachers of Native American Indian Languages
Nominate an Outstanding WI Mathematics or Science Teacher Today!
Design a Civics Game for Fun and Prizes!
News from Around the State
Take the DPI Strategic Planning Survey and Attend a Community Engagement Session!
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is engaged in the creation of a five-year strategic plan. The Strategic Plan aims to align the work of the agency and the needs of all learners in our schools and libraries. Our strategic planning process features three phases culminating in a strategic plan in Fall of 2024.
Take the DPI Strategic Planning survey now!
Attend a Strategic Planning Community Engagement Session
Learn more about the DPI's Strategic Planning Process
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November is Military Veterans and Military Family Appreciation Month
November is designated as a time to appreciate veterans, service members, and their families. We are proud to join school districts, organizations, and communities across the state in recognizing the service of all of those who have served and are serving our state and country in the military. Shelley Joan Weiss, the Wisconsin Commissioner for the Education of Military Children, has served in the military and is a longtime educator. She has shared a variety of resources with ideas for recognizing veterans, military members, and their families. If you have questions, please contact Shelley by email.
Readers Needed for Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Applications
The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation is looking for educators, parents, and community members to read and evaluate applications for our 2024 Wisconsin student, teacher, and principal awards! Reader scores determine award finalists and ultimately, award recipients. Would you help us in this awesome endeavor? You can find more information regarding the Herb Kohl awards and timelines on the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation's website.
Anyone can be a reader! Teachers, administrators, school board members, retired educators, parents, community members, and business professionals are all welcome to sign up to review applications and be part of the selection process. Scoring can be done whenever, wherever! You will need access to a computer and the internet. No printing or additional materials are required. Scoring takes approximately 20-30 minutes per application. Applications will be available for scoring from Nov. 10, 2023, through Dec. 15, 2023.
If you are interested in serving as a reader on a selection panel, please click on the link below, and complete and submit the form as soon as possible. Completion of the form does not commit you to reading.
If you don’t have a strong region preference, please select the statement, “I am an appointed organizational representative. Assign me to the region you need me.” This way, we have the flexibility to assign where you are most needed.
Questions? Reach out to Erin Forrest via email at erin.forrest@dpi.wi.gov Share this invitation with others who may be interested in helping select award recipients!
WI 21st CCLC 2024-25 Grant Applications Are Now Available!
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is pleased to announce the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) Grant competition, for funding beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
A 21st Century Community Learning Center provides an array of activities during non-school hours, or periods when school is not in session (such as before and after school, weekends and during school breaks). The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to provide academic enrichment, a broad array of additional services, and offer adult family members of program participants opportunities for educational development and engagement.
Applications are due on or before 4 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2024. More information and application materials are available on the DPI’s 21st CCLC Competition website.
Better FAFSA Form for 2024-25 Coming Soon
For students who plan to attend college or career/trade school between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) processes and system will be getting big updates. This includes a new and improved FAFSA experience for students and families. As a result, the updated FAFSA form will be available in December 2023. Changes include:
- Expanded eligibility for federal student aid
- More streamlined application process
- Better user experience for the FAFSA form.
The US Department of Education has resources available to help you understand these changes, and additional resources and updated information will be coming soon. Updated information will also be available on the DPI's school counseling FAFSA information page.
Parent Partnership: Secretary Cardona and Friends Celebrate National Parent Involvement Day Nov 16, 2023, 6:00 PM
Parents are their children’s first teachers, and the U.S. Department of Education supports the power of parent partnership with educators as a key lever for the success of every child. During this webinar, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will celebrate these powerful partnerships while sharing Department priorities. The event is a call-to-action for parents and caregivers, educators, family engagement practitioners, state and local leaders, and organizations that support effective family engagement. Timed to coincide with National Parent Involvement Day (November 16, 2023), the event demonstrates the Department’s commitment to supporting parents and the success of their children and will feature the Secretary and other senior Department officials in conversation with Grace Bastidas of Parents. Registration Link: https://ed-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_BNcAor3cSY2gn0XZs6jOBg
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PBS Wisconsin Education Adds Three New Resources to Popular Collections
PBS Wisconsin Education’s resource collections continue to expand with a new addition to Meet the Lab and two new music culture-bearers added to the Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin collection.
Meet the Lab connects middle-grade learners to relevant real-world issues, cutting-edge research, and the human element: people working together to research, innovate, and solve problems using science. The new lab, “Climate Trackers: Superpowered by Ecometeorology”, introduces students to scientists who collect and share data about the earth’s land and air to help inform decisions for our changing climate.
The Re/sound: Songs of Wisconsin collection explores the connections between music, identities, cultures, and emotions, introducing educators and learners to Wisconsin musicians from distinct cultural groups through a musical composition and videos discussing their art, culture, and identity. Marcya Daneille, a jazz vocalist based in Milwaukee, joins the collection alongside Kellen “Klassik” Abston, who produces electro-soul-infused hip-hop music.
Educational Equity Network Leadership Series
The Educational Equity Network invites all Wisconsin educators to continue deepening their equity work by attending the 2023-2024 Educational Equity Leadership Series. This unique series was designed to increase educators' capacity for co-creating belonging in all learning spaces. The next learning event will take place online on Jan. 25, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. To learn about the full slate of presenters and to sign up to attend, visit the Educational Equity Network's Winter Institute Page.
Virtual Workshop for Teachers of Native American Indian Languages on Assessing Language Proficiency Levels
The Wisconsin DPI and the Minnesota Department of Education are partnering to offer training on language proficiency levels, based on the ACTFL proficiency scale. This language proficiency training is for teachers of Native American Indian languages and adult speakers involved in supporting Indigenous language learning. The training, provided by ACTFL (a national association of professional language educators), will focus on language proficiency levels and strategies for growing and assessing students’ language proficiency over time.
This virtual workshop is free and scheduled for the mornings of Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2023. Registrants are required to attend both days from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Review the workshop summary and register by Oct. 27, 2023.
Nominate an Outstanding WI Mathematics or Science Teacher Today!
Calling all elementary teachers who love mathematics and science! The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for mathematics or science teaching. The award recognizes those teachers who use their deep content knowledge and pedagogical skills to support and leverage students’ strengths to be successful in learning mathematics or science. Nominations are now open for the K-6 cycle of these awards with applications due in February 2024. Learn more about this White House-sponsored award, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) by visiting the PAEMST website. Mentors and other supports are available for Wisconsin applicants. Have questions? Please contact Julie Bormett for math, or Kevin Anderson for science
Design a Civics Game for Fun and Prizes!
The Library of Congress is sponsoring a challenge to help improve public knowledge of civics – that is, the rights and responsibilities of citizens – by asking video game developers to create fun, lightweight video games related to civics that incorporate Library of Congress resources. The Library will award cash prizes to the winners and the games will be hosted on the Library's site for use by the public. The deadline for entries is Nov. 27, 2023. Additional details on the rules and information on how to enter are available on this website.
Madison school lunches are becoming more culturally relevant via the Wisconsin State Journal
That means offering menu items that students have grown up eating in their homes. Cultural relevance has a broad definition and it’s fluid, said Josh Perkins, director of food and nutrition. It might mean the culture and traditions in student’s families. It might mean experiences gained eating in restaurants.
An Eagle River playground unveils new inclusive additions via WJFW - Rhinelander
Riverview Park, a community playground, has completed Phase 2 out of 3 of its project, installing new park additions designed to make playtime inclusive and enjoyable for families and children of all abilities. The highlights of Phase 2's unveiling include the addition of a new flex climber and musical instrument.
West Bend wins inaugural Civics Invite via Daily News
The West Bend High School Civics Team won the inaugural West Bend Civics Invite, in which teams from Cedarburg and Grafton High School also participated, with Grafton taking third place, on Saturday. However, Saturday was more than about just starting a fall civics event, it was about increasing and spreading civics participation among Wisconsin youths.
We want to hear from you. Take the DPI's Strategic Planning survey!