Idaho State Department of Education - SDE Update 02/12/2021 - Idaho State Department of ...
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Idaho State Department of Education
SDE Update 02/12/2021
State Department of Education Weekly Update: February 12, 2021
Quick links to this week’s updates
Superintendent’s Update
COVID-19 Related Updates
Updated CDC Guidance and ED COVID19 Handbook
Vaccine Availability and Data Collection
COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Transparency Date is now live
COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation, Ordering, and Distribution Flow
Department of Health and Welfare Vaccine FAQ page
Assessment & Accountability
Application for Remote Spring ISAT Administration Available February 8
Student, Parent, and Staff Surveys Open February 15
Public Comment Requested on Two Proposed Waivers
Child Nutrition
Idaho P-EBT
Emergency Operational Costs for CNP
Child Nutrition Programs COVID-19 Webinars & Town Hall Meeting
Content & Curriculum
Annual K-3 Reading Summit
Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society 2021 Virtual Conference – Technology and the Evolution of Wildlife Science
Federal Programs
User-Friendly Guidance Document on ESSER II Uses of Funds
5 Considerations for Determining ESSER Allowable Uses of Funds
Odds & Ends
Idaho Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Essay Contest updated deadline!
E-Books Available to School & Public Libraries
Better Business Bureau Students of Integrity Scholarship for juniors and seniors
Doodle for Google art contest for K-12 students
SDE Weekly updates now available online
Superintendent’s Update
SDE Welcomes Public Comment on Initial Draft of Proposed New Content Standards
Initial drafts of new Idaho Content Standards for math, science and English language arts (ELA) are available for review,
and Idaho citizens are encouraged to study these drafts, comment on the standards and provide feedback that will guide
the remaining work to be done on the standards before they are finalized and presented to the State Board of Education
next fall and the 2022 Legislature.
To review the initial draft standards and submit feedback, visit the State Department of Education’s Content Standards
Review page.
After a presentation to a Joint meeting of the House and Senate Education Committees, there appears to be consensus
around the initial draft of the math standards, so please take time to share these with your teachers and parents, as
legislators are interested in their feedback, and we believe these are likely to be approved by the committees.
High School Seniors Encouraged to File 2021-2022 FAFSA
Idaho State Department of Education | Superintendent Update | February 12, 2021Idaho State Department of Education
SDE Update 02/12/2021
Please encourage your high school seniors to file the 2021-22 FAFSA form to help defray, and in some cases completely
cover, the costs of their postsecondary education. Federal Student Aid has made it easier than ever for students and
families to access resources available on our digital platform at StudentAid.gov. These resources can assist them in filing
a FAFSA through a computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
Nominate a Teacher to be Idaho’s 2022 Teacher of the Year!
The Idaho Teacher of the Year Program, which began in 1959, is one of the most prestigious honors in the state for
teachers. The program focuses public attention on excellence in teaching that has a real impact on the students of
Idaho. If you know a teacher who inspires students to achieve, innovates in the classroom, and goes beyond the call of
duty to help our students persevere in life and prepare for their future, please fill out this nomination form. We will
contact nominated teachers and invite them to apply for Teacher of the Year. Nominations are being accepted through
Monday, April 5, 2021.
COVID-19 Updates
Karlynn Laraway, Director of Communications
klaraway@sde.idaho.gov
208-332-6976
Updated CDC Guidance and ED COVID19 Handbook
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) are providing
recommendations and considerations based on the most recent scientific evidence to support school and district leaders
and educators in meeting these ever evolving, significant challenges.
Consistent implementation of mitigation strategies during all school-related activities is critical for reopening schools –
and keeping them open. To that end, ED has released the COVID-19 Handbook, which will support the education
community with implementation guidance, strategies, and considerations to help reopen schools safely. The handbook
is being released in two volumes. Volume One supplements CDC’s Operational Strategy for K‐12 Schools through
Phased Mitigation. ED’s handbook provides practical examples and roadmaps to provide educators and staff with the
tools they need to implement CDC’s recommended safe practices for in‐person learning. Highlights include Masking
Practices, Physical Distancing Practices, and a Roadmap for Stakeholder Engagement. The COVID-19 Handbook is
accompanied by a COVID19-Handbook Fact Sheet.
The second volume of the ED COVID-19 Handbook will be released in the coming weeks and will provide specific
strategies to address the extraordinary disruption created by COVID-19 for students, educators, and parents.
Vaccine availability and data collection
Idaho has designated Albertsons and Walmart as the pharmacy partners for the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. The
additional doses received by the pharmacies, about 5,000 per week, increases Idaho’s weekly allotment to 30,000 doses.
Vaccines for this program are sent directly to the pharmacy partners. Walmart announced they will administer vaccines
at ten locations, beginning tomorrow. Albertsons has also set up an appointment app to schedule vaccinations.
COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Transparency Date is now live
Governor Little has released a new tool that shows the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses that individual providers and
local public health districts have been allocated and the number of doses that remain for them to administer. To view
the dashboard, please visit this link.
Idaho State Department of Education | Superintendent Update | February 12, 2021Idaho State Department of Education
SDE Update 02/12/2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation, Ordering, and Distribution Flow
DHW published a helpful graphic that has information about how and when the state orders, allocates, and distributes
the vaccine. The PDF has a graph that broken down on a daily and weekly basis. To view the PDF, please visit this link.
Department of Health and Welfare Vaccine FAQ page
Below is the link to the new vaccine FAQ page, published by DHW. You can find the link on the DHW website or through
the coronavirus website. This will be updated regularly. https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/idaho-covid-19-
vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccine-faq
Assessment & Accountability
Kevin Whitman, Director
kwhitman@sde.idaho.gov
208-332-6893
Application for Remote Spring ISAT Administration Available February 8
The SDE has made several modifications to this spring’s ISAT administration to provide districts with additional flexibility.
In addition to extending the assessment window and using an adjusted form that will reduce testing time, the SDE is
enabling remote testing for students who cannot test in person. Most students will continue to test in school, but
districts will be able to apply to enable the remote option for students if needed. The application for remote testing will
open on February 8. The SDE has posted a new FAQ for remote administration on the ISAT portal and will be sharing
additional guidance documents and training resources in the coming days.
Student, Parent, and Staff Surveys Open February 15
The student, parent, and staff survey window will be open from February 15-March 31, 2021. These surveys are required
as part of Idaho’s accountability system. The initial student survey rosters are based on the December ISEE data
submitted by districts are now available for review and modification in eProve.. Principals and district test coordinators
were emailed with information on the roster update process on February 1. Additional information, including survey
links, were provided directly to Superintendents, Principals, and District Test Coordinators yesterday. Resources have
also been posted on the Assessment Surveys page on the SDE website.
Public Comment Requested on Two Proposed Waivers
The SDE is requesting public comment on two waivers that the Department plans to send to the U.S. Department of
Education next month. The comment period for both will open on 02/15/2021 and close on 03/05/2021.
The first waiver applies to several reporting requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act for students
participating in this year’s alternate assessments in ELA/Literacy and mathematics. Idaho students with the most
significant cognitive impairments, participate in these assessments. Idaho will be administering new versions of the
alternate assessments this spring. Originally, the state planned to conduct standard setting after this administration,
which would allow us to produce student-level scores on these assessments in fall 2021. However, due to the ongoing
disruptions caused by COVID-19, the SDE is planning to instead conduct standard setting following the 2021-2022 school
year. If approved, this waiver would allow the state to not report student results on the alternate assessments in
ELA/Literacy and math for this school year, although participation would still be required. Please see the draft alternate
assessment ELA/Literacy and Math waiver request and the associated public comment form.
Idaho State Department of Education | Superintendent Update | February 12, 2021Idaho State Department of Education
SDE Update 02/12/2021
The second waiver is related to federal school identification requirements for school accountability and, if approved,
would not require Idaho to identify schools for targeted support and improvement based on consistently
underperforming student subgroups following the 2020-2021 school year. Schools are identified for targeted support
and improvement annually, using three consecutive years of results from the statewide assessments in English language
arts and math. If submitted and approved, the waiver would allow Idaho to postpone identification of schools for TSI
until after the 2021/2022 school year. Please see the draft targeted support and improvement waiver request and the
associated public comment form.
Child Nutrition
Colleen Fillmore, Director
crfillmore@sde.idaho.gov
208-332-6823
Idaho P-EBT
Idaho State Department of Education, Child Nutrition Programs is working on an application for the Pandemic Electronic
Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). P-EBT is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First
Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other
Extensions Act (PL 116-159), provides the Secretary of Agriculture authority to approve state agency plans to administer
P-EBT. Idaho State Department of Education is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across
the state of Idaho due to the coronavirus pandemic. More information will be provided once USDA has approved Idaho’s
P-EBT Plan.
Emergency Operational Costs for Child Nutrition Program
On January 26, 2021, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published implementation guidance for the CNP Emergency
Operational Costs Programs, as authorized in Sec. 722 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260).
Under this authority, FNS is offering additional funds to State agencies administering the National School Lunch Program
(NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide eligible program
operators with additional reimbursements for emergency operating costs they incurred during the public health
emergency. If you school district is eligible for these monies per USDA regulations you will be notified. More information
will be coming.
Child Nutrition Programs COVID-19 Webinars & Town Hall Meeting
CNP Townhall, Wednesday Jan 20, 2021 2:30 – 3:30 PM MDT
Content & Curriculum
Todd Driver, Director
tdriver@sde.idaho.gov
208-332-6876
Annual K-3 Reading Summit
K-3 Teachers can register NOW for the First Annual K-3 Reading Summit. This will be a virtual/online day full of learning
through literature focused on the science of reading and content integration. Participants will actively engage with the
author of …. Dr. Louisa Moats and leave with practical strategies and practices to implement immediately.
Idaho State Department of Education | Superintendent Update | February 12, 2021Idaho State Department of Education
SDE Update 02/12/2021
This summit will be the kickoff to a variety of additional learning and professional development opportunities to support
K-3 teachers to be masters of teaching reading. We hope you will join us and be among the first teachers in Idaho to
learn the science of reading and use this knowledge to propel your students learning in reading. To learn more and to
register, please visit the SDE website.
Idaho Chapter of the Wildlife Society 2021 Virtual Conference – Technology and the Evolution of Wildlife Science
ICTWS will be hosting their annual conference where wildlife professionals get together to attend presentations, review
scientific literature, and discuss wildlife research and management within the state. The conference takes place
February 22nd-25th and the theme for this year is “Technology and the Evolution of Wildlife Science.” To learn more and
to register please visit this link.
Federal Programs
Karen Seay, Director
kseay@sde.idaho.gov
208-332-6978
Important Federal Funds Update!
The Department of Education is excited to share a user-friendly guidance document on ESSER II uses of funds. This
document provides information on the variety of ways these funds can be used as they are much more flexible than
other federal funds. This additional document compliments the ESSER I and II Use of Funds guidance we have previously
shared.
5 Considerations for Determining ESSER Allowable Uses of Funds
1. Will the proposed use of funds “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus”?
2. Is it one of the 15 allowable use of funds under CARES/CRRSSA?
3. Is it reasonable and necessary?
4. Does it promote equity?
5. Does it support returning students to the classroom?
Odds and Ends
If you would like to include information in Odds and Ends, please send it to Karli Bennett Kbennett@sde.idaho.gov
Idaho Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Essay Contest updated application deadline!
The Idaho Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution would like to encourage all students
(male and female) in the 9th through 12th grades (home, public, private, and parochial) to participate in the George S. &
Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. Contestants need to research and write an original 800 to 1,200-word essay on a person,
philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United
States Constitution. Student essays will be assessed on historical accuracy, clarity, organization, grammar, spelling, and
documentation. Application deadline is on or before February 25, 2021. For all the details, including the essay
application, rules, and an example essay, please go to the National Sons of the American Revolution website at
https://www.sar.org/george-s-stella-m-knight-essay-contest/or contact Mr. Matt Brechwald at
mattbrechwald@gmail.com.
E-Books Available to School & Public Libraries
The Idaho Commission for Libraries’ (ICfL) Idaho Digital E-Book Alliance (IDEA) provides high-quality e-books and e-audio
titles at no cost to Idaho’s school libraries.
Idaho State Department of Education | Superintendent Update | February 12, 2021Idaho State Department of Education
SDE Update 02/12/2021
More than 75% of the IDEA content is comprised of children’s, juvenile, and teen titles. In Idaho, 90% of school libraries
lack e-books. The IDEA collection will help fill this void by providing students with 24/7 access to a custom collection of
titles that are available on the devices they use every day.
For school libraries, the IDEA collection is accessed at the school district level via the OverDrive Sora app. No student
data is collected, so student privacy is maintained.
For more about the IDEA, visit the Idaho Commission for Libraries website.
Better Business Bureau Students of Integrity Scholarship for juniors and seniors
Scholarship opportunity for high school juniors and seniors in the Northwest, including Idaho students! The Better
Business Bureau's Students of Integrity Scholarship is an essay scholarship that recognizes students who personify and
communicate ethics in the real world, as demonstrated through community service, personal integrity, and academic
accomplishments. Each winning essay will receive a $2,000 scholarship to the school of their choice! Learn more here,
and apply by April 5.
Doodle for Google art contest for K-12 students
It's time for K-12 students to enter the annual Doodle for Google contest with a Google Doodle that addresses the
theme "I am strong because..."! This year’s contest is open for online and mailed entries until February 26, 2021 at
11:59pm PST. Scholarships and prizes are available to National Finalists and the National Winner, and the National
Winner's artwork will be displayed on Google.com for one day! Learn more and make a submission here.
SDE Weekly updates now available online
Current and past weekly updates are available on our website. Visit the weekly update page. You can also subscribe to
receive our weekly update directly in your inbox.
Idaho State Department of Education | Superintendent Update | February 12, 2021You can also read
