IU6 Curriculum Department Updates
September 2020
COVID 19 and Continuity of Education
- What's New? (A new section on PDE's webpage devoted to weekly updates specific to COVID 19 and school communities)
- The Danielson Framework for Remote Teaching
- Creating Equitable School Systems: A Roadmap for Education Leaders
- If your plan is amended, send the updated amendments to the RA account. You are able to upload the amendments and then send the board minutes for those changes.
- Rapid Response Team: This is a dedicated hotline for school districts to get a response back for COVID related items. Every superintendent has a dedicated number to call. This is a secret hotline into the Department of Health.
Act 158
In place for current 11th grade students.
SB215 is currently making its way through the legislature. One component of the bill is to delay requirements until the 2022-2023 cohort of students.
Toolkit is finished. Will be posting prior to the training. Looking sometime within October for the posting.
More guidance on the service learning project and internship components in the Evidence Based Pathway coming in Fall 2020.
Last year's cohort of students exempt from Keystone exam must at least be given one opportunity to test--can test in any testing window throughout the year.
For the broad base assessments (Work Keys, ACT, SAT, PSAT, ASVAB) if students hit the cut score they meet the assessment requirement. (Similar to the composite score)
Point of Contact for Act 158: RA Account where people can submit their questions: RA-EDGRADREQUIREMENT@pa.gov
Assessments
The September testing window has been extended for the Keystones--it is now a full three weeks. This is a voluntary window.
If you decide not to test in the September window, you can refuse shipment if you have not opened the boxes. If you open the boxes, reach out to PDE and they will help you with the return.
What will happen if schools are virtual the rest of the school year? What will happen to the testing? There is not a test at home or a remote option available. PDE is exploring it at this time.
Georgia asked for a federal waiver regarding testing and it was denied.
PIMS: Two things
October 1 snapshot is the official enrollment for testing snapshot. Keep this as a priority.
Keystone/PSSA labels: Both are going to be due in October. If you miss this, it would be a possibility that you will have to hand bubble all your booklets. (October 7 is the due date.)
Teacher Evaluation
Teacher Evaluation is back on at the moment. Will be using the SPP model. Teachers will need to draft their SLOs.
Next year will be the new teacher evaluation process.
Primary changes: The rubrics and weightings have been changed (21-22).
PVAAS Updates as of September 2020
What Educators Should Know about PVAAS Probabilities
NEW: PVAAS student updates will be based on PIMS student and school enrollment submission due on Sept. 17, 2020.
- 2019/2020 Winter Testing data will be available through email on 9/22/20. An email will be sent with a link to request an Excel file of the data.
PVAAS Projection Reports to Determine Keystone Retesting
- To access the report: Go to https: pvaas.sas.com and log in, click on "Reports", click on "Projection Summary", choose a district, school, and grade.
- You can also access the "Child Success Summary" report to see data on the individual student. In this report, you can now view college readiness projections (ACT, SAT).
Recent PVAAS Recorded Trainings:
- PVAAS and PIMS Data: Quality In, Quality Out
- We "Focused Forward" (Bridging the School Year 19-20 and 20-21)
- Focus Forward: A Call to Action
- PVAAS Child Success Summary-Key Data You Have Now
Contact Dr. Robin Fillman rfillman@riu6.org for support.
Comprehensive Planning Updates
Submission updates- Please check the slide for assistance with submission problems. Phase II Comp Plans for IUs: Hopeful that in the next few months a word document will be available for IUs to start to use for planning. Still due March 30, 2021.
NEW Science Standards Moving Forward (3 year timeline until full adoption)
- A vast group of PA educators have looked at the NGSS, many science standards across the country, and elements of PA science programs to produce a draft of new science standards.
- They are closely aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, with a greater thread of environmental and ecology studies.
*NEW* PDE Equitable Practices Hub
PDE has launched the Equitable Practices Hub, organized around six pillars of equity. The site provides access to vetted resources and tools, as well as links to evidence-based practices to improve equity in schools.
https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/equityandinclusion/EPH/Pages/default.aspx
The attached Equity Audit Tool (by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Center) is a PDE-recommended resource for helping schools assess their equity practices. After use of the audit tool, you can use and reference the HUB to learn and identify resources to inform school and district-level action plans. A critical piece of all equity work is building self-awareness related to equity and one's own experiences.
FREE CDT Support is Available to Schools- (Statewide System of Support)
- 2020-21 CDT User Guide will be available soon (few changes have been made).
- If you are administering CDT's at home NOTE: the URL has changed. SUGGESTION: share the link via email or classroom platform (if the link is saved it is shortened and may not work).
- COMING SOON: NEW Data Protocols
If you are planning to administer CDT's this year, please contact Dr. Robin Fillman or Lori Rodgers for support and/or resources. rfillman@riu6.org /lrodgers@iu28.org
CDT OVERVIEW Training by Robin Fillman (for teachers)
CDT PARENT ADMINISTRATION VIDEO and HANDOUT by Lori Rodgers (for parents)
Your IU Curriculum Department Offerings
Book Study: Teaching for Deeper Learning and Tools to Engage Students in Making Meaning
During this transformation of instruction from face to face to virtual learning, teachers are asking how to move from traditional procedure-based lecture or textbook instruction to designing lessons using content from several sources to help students seek deep understanding and transfer of learning. The content of these courses was taken from the work of Jay McTighe and Harvey Silver (2020), “Teacher for Deeper Learning”. This books is not necessary to complete the training, but it recommended. Teachers will complete the training in three separate sessions:
Book Study: Meaning Making I
Book Study: Meaning Making II
Book Study: Curriculum Mapping Through Unit Design
PBS: Learning at Home PA
PBS affiliate stations throughout Pennsylvania have partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and created Learning at Home. These efforts provide continuity of educational opportunities throughout the Commonwealth.
Get connected to thousands of hours of educational and entertaining programs, videos, and games to support educators, parents, and students.
The PBS Resources page is linked below. Here are some highlights of what you'll find:
- PBS Webinar Series: Integrating On-Air PBS Programming into Your Curriculum; Utilizing PBS Learning Media Resources in Your Classroom; Using PBS Resources to Support Social and Emotional Learning
- BETA Grant Projects
- On-Air Schedules: 20 hours of weekly on-air content streamlined across the state!
Career Readiness Update
To find the latest updates and resources for Career Readiness, head over to the September 2020 Edition
PA Career Zone will be hosting webinars on Sept. 22nd and Sept. 23rd. Please see the details below.
Seminar Details:
How to Maximize Virtual Career Readiness in COVID-19 with the Pennsylvania CareerZone
Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 10 am -10:45 am
Tuesday, September 22, 2020, 1 pm- 1:45 pm
Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 1 pm - 1:45 pm
To Register: https://headed2.com/pa/webinar
Start the Conversation Here Resources
An additional resource to share is Start the Conversation Here.
The PA Chamber Foundation’s workforce-focused website designed specifically for Pennsylvania middle and high school students, and their parents.
The tools and information available on the Start the Conversation Here website are FREE and designed to help students make informed decisions that lead to future success. On the site, you will find an array of valuable information including:
· Insight into the 33 most in-demand careers available in Pennsylvania.
· A career calculator designed to help students and parents understand the financial implications of their desired career path – from expected entry level salaries and estimated college expenses to the length of time it will take to be debt-free following their educational investment.
· Details on work ethic scholarships that are available to Pennsylvania students entering into the skilled trades. Thanks to generous donations from the Pennsylvania business community, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation in partnership with the Pennsylvania Chamber Educational Foundation has already awarded nearly $275,000 in work ethic scholarships to 112 Pennsylvania students.
Pennsylvania's Definition of STEM Education
An integrated, interdisciplinary, and student-centered approach to learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, artistic expression, collaboration, computational thinking, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and design thinking.
#CSinPA: Computer Science
Interested in leveling up your district's Computer Science efforts this year?
SCRIPT — the Strategic CSforALL Resource & Implementation Planning Tool — is a framework to guide teams of district administrators, school leaders, and educators through a series of collaborative visioning, self-assessment, and goal-setting exercises to create or expand upon a computer science education implementation plan for their students. This is a full day-free training- that we can customize virtual or in-person and break up into smaller segments of 1/4 or 1/2 day training. An initiative we partner on with Training and Consultant (TaC) to be sure during our planning time we are keeping in mind ALL learners.
Computer Science Praxis Prep Course
For regional educators who are interested in becoming Computer Science certified, ARIN IU 28 and Riverview Intermediate Unit #6 has partnered with the University of Texas (U of T) in Austin. The U of T Austin offers a Foundations of CS for Teachers, a Praxis Prep course. This course consists of 5 online self-paced modules.
The price per seat is $398.
For more information and to register --> Click HERE.
#CSforAllPA Fall 2020 Meet-Ups
PaTTAN Virtual Webinars:
September 23: Computer Science Birds of a Feather
October 21: Computer Science for Good
November 18: Preparing for Computer Science Education Week
December 16: Computer Science Reflections and Resolutions
You're Invited!!
Do you want to inspire and motivate your students by tying math concepts to cutting-
edge robotic technologies (drones, autonomous vehicles, humanoids)?
Would you like to integrate math-to-robotics connections into your STEM classes? No
prior robotics experience or kits/hardware required.
You are invited - to apply to be a member of the Robot Doctor 2020 Pioneers!
We are inviting teachers who want to explore opportunities to integrate The Robot
Doctor video series into their teaching – during classes, as homework assignments, or
additional enrichment (e.g., school-based clubs and activities) to apply to be a member
of the Robot Doctor 2020 Pioneers!
Description: The Robot Doctors Pioneers is a professional development program for
high school STEM teachers who will work with a team of faculty and staff members from
Carnegie Mellon and RobotWits to generate ideas and develop supplemental materials
to accompany The Robot Doctor video series. The Pioneers professional development
series comprises 5 training sessions, free resources, and a community of partners to
support the Pioneers from education, robotics, and industry.
RESOURCES: Pioneers receive access to:
- Eight (8) 14-minute student video lessons tying robotics to various mathematics
concepts
- Extended challenge questions and student homework sheets for each lesson
- 30-minute instructor support videos with Robotwits’ Dr. Jon Butzke for more in
depth knowledge behind lessons
- A learning channel to support your offline learning projects for students without
Internet access
Stem Lending Library
Technology Integrator Meetings
- 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
- 11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
- 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Meeting Dates are:
- September 24
- October 15
- November 19
- December 17
- Jan 21
- Feb 18
- March 18
- April 15
- May 20
Resources
- EVERFI Toolkit: FREE learning resources for your students in Financial Literacy, STEM and Career Exploration, Social Emotional Learning, Health and Wellness, Cultural Literacy, and Early Literacy.
- Common Sense Education: Recently launched Wide Open Schools. A MUST SEE!
- Pennsylvania PBS: Integrate on-air PBS Programming into your curriculum, utilize PBS Learning Media resources into your classroom, or use PBS resources to support SEL in your school
- Virtual STEM: STEM @ Home, Code at Home, Virtual Field Trips, and more