Tag Archives: Minnesota Department of Education

Communication, General, Programs

Libraries Serving Youth Meetup School and Public Library Partnerships: Working Together Works!

Libraries Serving Youth Meetup
School and Public Library Partnerships: Working Together Works!

Monday, April 30, 2018

Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. E., St Paul 55107

Optional Brown Bag (BYO) Lunch 12:30-1 p.m. * Program 1-4 p.m. * Optional Social 4-5:30 p.m. (at a nearby restaurant TBD)

Free to attend, but space is limited!

Program

*Access for All: Public Library Cards for Students with Renee Grassi from Dakota County, Drew McCluskey from Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District 196 and Katie Salmela from Burnsville-Eagan-Savage District 191*

*Panel of school/library collaborations:

I Read! I Vote! With Mary Knox from St. Paul Public Library

Kindergarten Card Program with Monica Stratton and Jennifer Dietrich from Ramsey County Public Library

Book Ballots with Dawn LaBrosse from Washington County Public Library *

*10 Easy Ways to Collaborate With Your School/Public Library (and networking)!*

*Lightning Round – What Local Orgs Can Do for You! With the Minnesota Multitypes, MINITEX, ITEM and more!*

Register by April 23 using the following link – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZMQSF8W

Contact Leah Larson with questions – leah.larson@state.mn.us * 651-582-8604

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Updates from MN State Library Services

state_mnTO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: May 22, 2015
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services: Early Literacy VISTA Opening, LSTA Mini Grant Announcement, and more

Work with Us: Early Literacy VISTA Opening at State Library Services

Are you interested in making a difference in the ability of public libraries to deliver high-quality early literacy services? State Library Services is recruiting a full-time VISTA member to work with us on connecting libraries with community-based childcare providers and to develop and assess early childhood services that improve school readiness in at-risk children. Apply at the Americorps website. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; the service year starts in late July. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt for more information at 651-582-8805 or jacqueline.blagsvedt@state.mn.us.

 

Apply for a Libraries and the World’s Best Workforce Mini Grant

State Library Services is pleased to announce a new competitive mini grant opportunity. The Libraries and World’s Best Workforce initiative is designed to help libraries offer programs and services that address Goal 1.2 of Minnesota’s Five-Year Plan for LSTA and the World’s Best Workforce. An estimated $75,000 is available for grant awards of up to $10,000 each. We welcome grant proposals that directly serve at-risk children and youth (between the ages of 0-25) through improved or expanded library-based programs, services and/or learning activities.

Read a more detailed description of this initiative. The application and instructions are available at the Minnesota Department of Education’s grants management site. For more information, please contact Jackie Blagsvedt at jacqueline.blagsvedt@state.mn.us or 651-582-8805.

 

Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years Webinar

Join colleagues for a one-hour webinar on technology and digital media developed especially for Minnesota PreK to 3rd grade educators, parents, and others working with young children on Tuesday, May 26 at 3:30 p.m. During the session, Lisa Guernsey, director of the Early Education Initiative and director of the Learning Technologies Project, will address current research on the use of technology to support early literacy development, and offer effective strategies for family engagement and school-home connections.

Join the webinar. Advance registration is not required. The webinar will be recorded for later viewing. For more information, please contact Debbykay Peterson, MDE Office of Early Learning, at debbykay.peterson@state.mn.us.

 

Apply Today for the NorthStar Youth Worker Fellowship

You can generate more wisdom, language, and leadership in the field of youth work in Minnesota. Apply today for a fellowship that will allow you to explore, reflect, and study to increase your leadership skills. If accepted, you will spend the year reviewing research and writings, tapping the wisdom of your local professional network, conversing with local and national leaders, and writing a position paper that will inform systems development and field advancement. There is no cost to you or your organization for the Fellowship, and you will receive a $500 stipend, books and materials, and extensive contact with local and national field leaders. Learn more about the fellowship and download the application.

 

The deadline to apply is June 1, 2015. Contact Sheila Oehrlein, MDE Safe and Healthy Learners, at sheila.oehrlein@state.mn.us with questions or to request more information. The NorthStar Fellowship is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Education, the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship at Augsburg College, Youthprise, Ignite Afterschool, and the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development.

 

Combat Summer Slide and the Nutrition Gap – Become a Summer Meal Site

Libraries across Minnesota find it difficult to reach underserved families and at-risk youth. Consider this: only 1 in 6 children who receive free or reduced price meals during the school year can take advantage of this same benefit in the summer. The primary obstacle between these kids and a healthy meal is access. Your library can help these hungry kids by becoming a meal site this summer.

 

We’d love to replicate California’s incredible success with its “Lunch at the Library” program here in Minnesota. With the “Lunch at the Library” program, California librarians have seen the way libraries as summer meal sites simultaneously battle both summer slide and the nutrition gap. The program draws in new families, builds community partnerships, creates new youth volunteer opportunities, and increases visibility and support for libraries across the state. Read more about California’s summer meal program on Public Libraries Online. Contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or Jenny Butcher, MDE Summer Food Service Program Coordinator, at jenny.butcher@state.mn.us for more information about becoming a summer meal site.

Screen Documentaries for Free at your Library

POV is a long-running PBS documentary series that puts a human face on contemporary social issues through timely films that share unforgettable stories. Part of POV’s mission is to lend out its films for free screenings. All it costs your library is shipping costs to return the DVD via media mail to POV. There are more than 80 titles available to borrow from the POV Lending Library, which is browsable by title or topic. It takes just a few quick steps to register a screening and borrow a DVD. Begin by registering on the POV Community Network site. If you have questions, contact Alice Quinlan at 212-989-8121, ext. 318 or aquinlan@pov.org.

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MDE: Report highlights need for public preschool options

state_mnThis post’s content comes to us from the Minnesota Department of Education.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2015
Contact: Josh Collins, 651.582.8205, josh.collins@state.mn.us

New Report Highlights Need for Public Preschool Options in Minnesota

ROSEVILLE – A new report issued today by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) shows that Minnesota ranks last out of the 41 states with pre-K programs for access for 4-year-olds. The report also showed that despite this dismal ranking, the state gets high marks for having set rigorous preschool quality standards. The report comes as Governor Mark Dayton continues his push to expand access to preschool for every 4-year-old, free of charge; and expand eligibility for the state’s early learning scholarship program.

According to the report, only about one percent of the state’s 4-year-olds are currently being served by a public pre-K program. One major factor acting as a barrier to families being able to enroll their children in pre-K is cost. The report noted that Minnesota has the third most expensive child care costs in the nation.

Under Governor Mark Dayton budget proposal, the state would invest $343 million to provide 47,000 children with access to free, all-day pre-K. This investment would not only remove any barrier of cost to families, it would provide every single child in the state with the same early education opportunities. With research documenting how important early education is in laying a strong foundation for success later in life, this investment would be a tremendous step forward in the state’s efforts to close achievement gaps.

Governor Dayton’s budget would strengthen the state’s early education efforts by providing the resources necessary to eliminate the current Head Start waiting list. Head Start is a program that promotes school readiness for low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional developments, and by providing their families health, educational, nutritional, and other services. Right now, more than 2,400 children are stuck on a waiting list, hoping to get into Head Start programming. Governor Dayton’s budget proposal would eliminate the waiting list and ensure no child is denied a great start in life.

“The transformational investments the Governor is proposing would open up the doors of opportunity for every 4-year-old in the state,” Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said. “We cannot expect to close achievement gaps if we keep shortchanging our kids on the front end. This is an investment in the long-term vitality of our state, and in the unlimited potential of Minnesota’s children.”

This year, free all-day kindergarten was made available to families across Minnesota. Not only did enrollment exceed state projections with 99.6 percent of eligible students enrolling in an all-day kindergarten program, every single public elementary school in the state, with the exception of one charter school, is offering an all-day kindergarten program.

“We have the opportunity to do something incredible for our kids, an investment that would benefit every child, not just a few. This report serves as a reminder of how important this moment is for our state. I look forward to working with Governor Dayton and Legislature to bring all-day pre-K to every child in Minnesota,” Commissioner Cassellius said.

Read the report here.

General, School Media Specialist

Minnesota Department of Education Announces 2014 Celebration Schools

News from the MN State Department of Education about 2014 Celebration Schools. Congratulations to CMLE member libraries Mississippi Heights Elementary (Sauk Rapids-Rice) and Rice Elementary for receiving the award.

state_mnDRAFT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2014
CONTACT: Keith Hovis, 651-582-8275, keith.hovis@state.mn.us

Minnesota Department of Education Announces 2014 Celebration Schools

ROSEVILLE – Today, the Minnesota Department of Education announced that 22 schools are being recognized as Celebration schools for their efforts to increase student achievement. This year, 143 schools applied for the honor.

“I want to congratulate these schools for this incredible accomplishment,” said Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “Minnesotans should be proud of the work going on in our schools. I look forward to continue learning about their successful efforts to ensure all students succeed and share that work with other schools across the state.”

The Celebration school designation is part of Minnesota’s federal accountability system that replaces No Child Left Behind. Under Minnesota’s program, schools are assigned a Multiple Measurement Rating (MMR) based on students’ proficiency and growth, as well as a school’s progress towards reducing achievement gaps and increasing graduation rates. The state’s Title I schools—those serving racially and ethnically diverse student populations and receive federal funds for children from low-income families—qualify for designations if they are top performers.

Celebration-eligible schools are the 25 percent of schools directly below those designated as Reward schools (the top 15 percent of Title I schools). These schools are then able to apply for Celebration status by documenting what efforts they are using to increase student achievement. The department selects schools based on their ability to effectively document best practices that have led to student success to receive the Celebration school recognition. Celebration-eligible schools are identified annually.

The schools chosen as 2014 Celebration schools this year are:

School Name / District Name

  • Blooming Prairie Elementary / Blooming Prairie Public School District
  • Cedar Park Elementary / Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan
  • Dover-Eyota Elementary / Dover-Eyota Public School District
  • Fair School Downtown / West Metro Education Program
  • Hmong College Prep Academy High School / Hmong College Prep Academy
  • Huddleston Elementary / Lakeville Public School District
  • Kelliher Secondary School / Kelliher Public School District
  • Kennedy Elementary / Willmar Public School District
  • Kenny Elementary / Minneapolis Public School District
  • KIPP Minnesota Charter School / KIPP Minnesota Charter School
  • Menahga Elementary / Menahga Public School District
  • Minnesota Transitions Middle School / Minnesota Transitions Charter
  • Mississippi Heights Elementary / Sauk Rapids-Rice Public School District
  • Moose Lake Elementary / Moose Lake Public School District
  • Oak Grove Elementary / Bloomington Public School District
  • Oak Hills Elementary / Lakeville Public School District
  • Rice Elementary / Sauk Rapids-Rice Public School District
  • Richardson Elementary / North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Public School District
  • Ridgeway Community School / Ridgeway Community
  • South Terrace Elementary / Carlton Public School District
  • Southgate Elementary / Austin Public School District
  • Weaver Elementary / North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale

News of the award was also featured in the St. Cloud Times. Read about it here.

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Appointment of State Librarian/Director of State Library Services

It is with great pleasure that I share this recent announcement about the appointment of our MN state librarian.

MDELogoOn December 23, 2013, Kevin McHenry, MDE Assistant Commissioner wrote….

After a four month process of reviewing the needs of State Library Services, I’m pleased to announce that Jennifer R. Nelson has accepted the position of State Librarian / Director of State Library Services on a permanent basis.  Jen has demonstrated commendable leadership since taking on the role of interim director, and quickly rose to the top of the candidate list when the position was posted. As interim director she has articulated and led an outcome-driven alignment of the division’s activities with Minnesota Department of Education priorities and initiated a number of new processes for redefining State Library Services’ vision, goals and strategic activities to assure transparency and accountability. She brings an expertise in administration, project management and a deep knowledge of libraries to her new role.

With more than 25 years working in libraries, Jen is committed to ensuring that Minnesota libraries are well supported by State Library Services and the Minnesota Department of Education.  From her early days as an assistant in a university archives to her role in moving forward technology programming for teens at the Minneapolis Public Library and throughout the United States, she has developed an innovative approach to helping libraries serve their communities that resonates with changing environments. She holds a Masters in Library and Information Studies and a Masters in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jen is the author of Technology and Literacy: 21st century library programming for children and teens (ALA Editions, 2012) and is an adjunct faculty at St. Catherine’s University teaching a class in grant and proposal writing for public libraries. Jen can be reached directly at 651-582-8791 or Jennifer.r.nelson@state.mn.us

Jen brings a unique blend of talent to the position of State Librarian that has shined brightly during her time at MDE.  She not only has great knowledge regarding the intricacies of Libraries throughout Minnesota and challenges they are facing, but she has the ability to communicate clearly, quickly and fairly with our partners and constituents.   I am excited about the direction of State Library Services under Jen’s leadership.  Please join me in congratulating Jen.

Kevin McHenry,Assistant Commissioner

Minnesota Department of Education

O: 651.582.8250   M: 612.306.0895

Email: kevin.mchenry@state.mn.us