With the Governor’s signature on this year’s K12 education budget June 29, coupled with the Minnesota Department of Education announcement of how it will use $125.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds highlight several strategies enhancing STEM education opportunities.

The 2021 session K12 budget bill, setting the education budget for the state for the 2022-2023 fiscal years, included the largest investment in the general education formula in 15 years.  Within that bill is a Walz Administration provision intended to increase the breadth of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate STEM courses available to students and also participation by more diverse student populations.  The provision establishes a priority for those programs offering AP’s Computer Science Principles courses.  The changes require districts and charter schools to establish three year plans only once they receive grants, shifts from a per pupil amount to a flat $75,000 grant amount to support smaller schools being able to utilize the grants, and encourages the Commissioner to consider statewide geographic balance in the awarding of the grants.

June 30^th the Minnesota Department of Education released its plan for allocating $125.4 million in federal American Rescue Funds under its control.  This represents 9.5% of the ARP funds dedicated to education.  90% of the total education funds were directly distributed to schools and districts based on their Title 1 population.

Of the $128 million $66 million will be distributed to schools for evidence based strategies targeted at responding to learning loss. These funds will be distributed based on school’s population of historically underserved students, defined as students of color, American Indian students, low income students, students experiencing homelessness, and students receiving special education or English Language Learning services.

Importantly for STEM education advocates $4 million of ARP funds will be available as grants to schools to support expanding access to rigorous coursework defined as AP, IB, Career Technical Education, and Post-secondary Enrollment Options offerings.  Schools receiving these grants will be required to report the demographics of students participating in rigorous coursework in their building.

MDE will provide $26.4 million for after school and summer enrichment programs.  Half of that money will be distributed by Ignite Afterschool, the states after-school network.  Of those dollars, and the monies MDE is retaining for the same purposes 50% of funds must go to community organizations and 50% of funds must go to culturally specific community organizations.  After school and summer programs often include STEM opportunities and ignite has long prioritized supporting program quality in the STEM area.

The remaining ARP funds go to a variety of programs supporting students social-emotional learning, training for school staff on non-exclusionary discipline, anti-bias, and trauma informed practices, early learning, and department administration.

Now more than ever we find schools, industries, communities, and regions are doing important work to support their STEM pipelines. This collective work around equity, education, workforce participation, and economic development is important to ensure success for our futures. SciMathMN believes that to make the most impact, we have to work together.

With this in mind, SciMathMN has recently engaged in a strategic process to update its mission and vision. And, as we move forward on enacting this mission and vision, it is of critical  importance to engage with STEM education stakeholders throughout the state and from a variety of sectors.

Thus, we invite you to join us for an important conversation about how  SciMathMN can bring value and impact to this work by acting as an advocate, convener, resource, and partner for the efforts of STEM education stakeholders throughout Minnesota.

Register using the links below to help define the next chapter of our collective work and be a voice for your community and the state.

Tuesday, May 18th 1:00 pm  | Register Here 

Wednesday, May 19th 1:00 pm | Register Here 

Tuesday, May 25th 10:00 am  | Register Here

Thursday, May 27th 4:00 pm | Register Here

The Minnesota Department of Education has chosen to delay implementation of the new state academic standards in Science and Language Arts by one year until the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, respectively.  The Department cited a goal of providing schools flexibility as the state emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.  MDE stated that their authority allowed in the rulemaking process allows for this delay.

The planned update to the state’s standardized tests, the MCA-IV will also be delayed a year.  The new Science test for grades five, eight, and high school will be administered for the first time in the spring of 2026.  The Reading MCA-IV for grades three through eight and high school will be delayed until spring of 2026.

 

The new state standards in the Arts and Phy Ed will move forward with implementation on their current timeline. There is however legislation currently being considered to delay the implementation of those standards as well.  The legislature must adjourn by May 17.

March 19 the Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved a resolution providing Tier 3 and 4 science teachers and their schools greater flexibility to support the implementation of the new state science standards in science.

The flexibility recognizes the 2019 state science standards shift the teaching of earth and space science from 8^th grade to 6^th grade, and physical science classes from high school to 8^th grade.  This poses challenges for some teachers and schools depending on the teacher’s exact licensure.  The PELSB resolution allows for out of field permission for teachers to teach in a science content area or grade outside the scope of their current licensure.  These out of field placements do not require the position posting normally required of schools and do not count towards a teacher’s lifetime maximum out of field placements.

Examples of the application of this flexibility provided by PELSB            include

A Tier 4 teacher who holds a 7 -12 Earth and Space Science license: The district and teacher would like the teacher to teach Earth & Space Science at the 6th grade level during the 2021-22 school year. A Tier 4 teacher who holds a 7 -12 Earth and Space Science license: The district and teacher would like the teacher to teach Physical Science at the 8th grade level during the 2021-22 school year. A Tier 3 or Tier 4 teacher who holds either a 9 – 12 Physics or 9 – 12 Chemistry license: The district and teacher would like the teacher to teach Physical Science at the 8th grade level during the 2021-22 school year. This resolution will remain in effect while the board develops new rules in response to changes driven by the new science standards. PELSB can be found online at https://mn.gov/pelsb/ and questions regarding this resolution can be submitted at pelsb@state.mn.us.

Looking to further engage the Minnesota STEM ecosystem SciMathMN will be hosting, with our partners in Project Lead the Way, a series of Twitter chats on key issues in the field today. All chats will be hosted at the hashtag #mnstemchat.

The series kicks off Thursday, February 18, 7:00 p.m., with a discussion of the place of STEM        in Career and Technical education.  February is national CTE Month. The pandemic has challenged hands-on STERM education across all academic areas but has also illustrated the importance of CTE opportunities for students and the need for those skills in our workforce.

The series picks up again Thursday, March 11, 7:00 p.m., with an important celebration of women in STEM.  How can we inspire and empower our next generation of Minnesota STEM leaders?  Bring your best ideas to #mnstemchats.

The series concludes April 2oth at 7:00 p.m. during Mathematics and Stats Month engaging on inclusive (K-12) Computer Science Education. The discussion will focus on 0cnnecting Math through CSED to our everyday lives, the essentials of computer science skills between the industry needs and the what students are learning in the classroom to prepare them for the high-tech demands, and other broader resources and connections.

As Minnesota teachers’ phase in the new academic standards in science some of the most significant changes are about what and at which grade level Minnesota teaches earth science.  To support those teachers looking to strengthen their practice and use more place-based approaches the Minnesota Science Teachers Association is offering the Earth Science Professional Development Program (ESTEP).  The program is open to currently licensed teachers as well as educational assistants who are working towards licensure.  The program is committed to reflecting the diversity of Minnesota educators including BIPOC staff and other underrepresented groups.

 

The 6^th grade program will be a one-week bootcamp style workshop focused on both earth science content and supporting the development of three-dimensional academic units.  After the one week intensive there will be the opportunity for ongoing support including regional cohorts.

The goal will be to offer at least one 6^th grade workshop summer 2021 and possibly as many as 11 over the next three years depending on funding.

For those high school teachers looking to add graduate level course opportunities starting in the summer of 2022, followed by online course work over the school year and concluding with another two-week session summer 2023.

More information is available at the MnSTA website.

The Election is just around the corner, November 3^rd and a lot of choices are on the ballots of Minnesotans.  The absentee ballot process in Minnesota has been expanded due to COVID and already over 1 million Minnesotans have cast their ballot.  There are significant races both at the State and Federal levels that will impact our schools and education system.

All 201 Minnesota legislators are up for election this fall, and which puts control of both the House and Senate up for grabs.  The House currently has a DFL majority of 75 seats (68 is needed for control) and they are looking to hold on to their gains from 2018 and add pick up some seats in the outer suburban areas.  The GOP House Caucus is hoping to capitalize on the outstate support of President Trump to win districts in greater Minnesota and take back some of the suburban seats they lost in 2018.

Republicans hold a slim two seat majority in the Senate (35-32).  They will try to expand that number by also looking to seats in the outstate areas the increase their total.  The DFL is looking at seats in the suburbs, specifically in Plymouth, Maple Grove, Burnsville, and White Bear Lake in hopes of flipping the Senate to DFL control.

The projected significant state budget deficit and how it is resolved will be the biggest task in front of the new legislature when it convenes in January.  Additionally, and importantly for the next decade the next legislature will be tasked with redrawing legislative district lines.   A sweep by one party could have big impacts.

Federally, we have all 8 congressional seats, Tina Smith’s Senate seat and of course the presidential election. For Congress seats several seats are being closely watched nationally. In southern Minnesota Congressional District 1 sees first term congressman Jim Hagedorn (GOP) with a rematch against Dan Feehan (DFL).  Hagedorn has been plagued by ethics complaints in his first term but Feehan will need to overcome a district previously carried by Trump.  Congressional District 7 along the western border has longtime Congressman Colin Peterson (DFL) being challenged by former State Senate Michelle Fischbach (GOP).  Peterson will be challenged to once again try and prevail in an area that will likely be carried by a President Trump in wide numbers.

Finally, the Presidential race between President Trump and Joe Biden.  Minnesota was closer than many expected in 2016 but current polls show Biden with a significant lead in the state and nationally.