Graphic by Lisa Irish, AZEdNews, 9/13/17

2018

YCESA

The First Choice for Responsive Educational Services

Yavapai County Education Service Agency

Volume 12, Issue 1

January 2018

GiFTS Teacher Scholarship Info p. 5

Supt. Douglas 2018AZ Kids Can’t Wait p. 5

A-F Grades StillUnder Review p. 5

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News

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Quad City Administrators Meetings- 1:30 pm @

YCESA Training Room Jan 17 Feb 21Mar 21

Apr 18May 16Jun 20

Countywide Administrators’ Meeting, Cottonwood Oak Creek ESD, 7:45 am - 4:00 pm ( ) www.ycesa.com/countywide-registration/

Governing Board Presidents’ Roundtable, YCESA Training Room, Prescott, 5:30-8:30

Yavapai County Spelling Bee, Prescott, TBA

Northern AZ Teacher Job Fair, Yavapai College, 9 am - 1 pm

2018 K-8 Northern Arizona Regional Science/ Engineering Fair, Tri-City College Prep, TBD

Countywide Administrators’ Meeting, Prescott USD Washington School, 7:45 am - 4:00 pm

Jan 31

Feb 5

Feb 24

Mar 24

Mar 29-30

Apr 25

Verde Valley Superintendents Meetings

Jan 18 COCSDFeb 15 MingusMar 22 VACTEApr 19 YCESA (location TBD)May 17 SOCSD

2018

Chuck Essigs, Director of Government Relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, isn't happy that Prop 301 renewal now seems to be off the table for 2018, as reported in The Yellow

Sheet (12/14/17). He states waiting until 2020 to address it presents two main problems.

First, Prop 301 expires in July, 2021, and if voters reject an extension proposal on the ballot in 2020, there's no time to put another one on the ballot to ensure the nearly $700 million it generates annually doesn't go away.

Secondly, waiting until 2020 just means schools and students have to wait longer before they get the extra funding that Prop 301 could provide.

If there's no interest in putting Prop 301 renewal on the 2020 ballot, Essigs sug-gests that the legislature could refer something for a special election in March, 2019. That way, he said, the extra money could start flowing in time for the 2019-20 school year, which would be the case if voters renewed Prop 301 in November, 2018. Policymakers could then have a chance to put a different Prop 301 extension measure on the 2020 ballot if voters rejected the original proposal.

Essigs On Prop 301

Source: Supt. Tim Carter, Yavapai County

Owned and copyrighted by company in Washing-ton, DC; can’t be changed without permission

Owned by Arizona, can by changed by Arizona; created with input from 200+ Arizona educators

Had lists of recommended reading materials, some with questionable age appropriateness

Allows districts and charters to select own curriculum and resources

Did not emphasize students learning about time and money in early grades

Math standards have students learning about time and money Grades 1-4

Did not have students learn to read and write cursive

Students required to learn cursive by Grade 5, only state to do so

Not only asked math students to get a certain answer, but they had to show how they got it

Can use different methods to get the correct math answer Source: AZed.gov

Common Core AZ K-12 Standards

Douglas Releases Top 5 Common Core and AZ K-12 Standards Differences

1/01/18

Expect More Arizona, a nonprofit education advocacy organization, commissioned a statewide public opinion survey of 600 likely Arizona voters in mid-December, 2017. For the third year in a row, the poll shows that Arizona voters believe education is the most important issue facing our state, above immigration, the economy or healthcare. They believe that lack of funding and low teacher pay are the state’s two most significant education issues.

POLL SHOWS EDUCATION REMAINS TOP ISSUE IN ARIZONA

Source: Expect More Arizona

Teacher of the YearApplications Still Open

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Just a couple weeks left to enter an application for the 2018 Yavapai County Teacher of the Year!

All Categories (except First Year Teacher) finalists (3 per category) will be awarded $500 each. Category winners will receive an additional $1,500. The overall Teacher of the Year, selected from among category winners of all categories other than First Year will receive an additional $5,000 and other gifts. Each First Year Teacher of the Year Finalist (3 persons) will be awarded $500 each. The First Year Teacher of the Year winner will receive an additional $2,500.

To nominate an excellent teacher and for more information, please visit http://ycefoundation.com/teacher-of-the-year-application/

Honor categories include:˜ ˜

th th thK-5 Grade 6 -8 Grade˜ Cross Grades Specialists (K-8)˜ High School

Cross Grades Specialists (9-12)˜

˜ Outstanding First-Year Teacher

For any questions regarding the 24th Annual Teacher of the Year Program, please contact YCEF Program Coordinator Nick Boroughf at 928-442-5139 or nick.boroughf@yavapai.us

Deadline is January 10, 2018 at 11:59 pm!

Teacher of the YearApplications Still Open

Source: Nick Boroughf, YCEF

The Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality, the 2015 regulations designed to ensure internet

service providers treat all online content and apps equally.

Ajit Pai, the FCC chairman, stated that the net neutrality rules adopted during the Obama administration discourage ISPs from making investments in their networks that would provide even better and faster online access.

But many worry that the repeal will leave ordinary people and nonprofit organizations that exist to be places of knowledge, such as schools and libraries, more at the mercy of cable and wireless companies. If companies decide to block a particular app or control data speeds, they merely need to disclose their policies for doing so. With technology, and the internet specif-ically, deeply embedded in education, some educators fear a limited access to content with providers selling content to the highest bidder or promoting specific content to users.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities have urged the FCC to “maintain enforceable rules that ensure an open internet,” including rules that ban paid prioritization and prohibit the throttling or blocking of content.

The American Library Association generally takes no official position on the repeal, but hopes the FCC will offer regulations that reduce the gap between the haves and the have-nots: those in society who have access to information through the internet, and those who lack access.

For the more information, visit https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/12/13/net-neutrality-vote-schools/ Source: eSchoolNews.com, 12/13/17

Net Neutrality Impact on Schools, Libraries

1/01/18

U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima has permanently blocked an ethnic studies ban in Arizona public schools that dismantled a popular Mexican-American studies program, dealing a final blow to a law that he found to be racially motivated. A final judgment prohibits Arizona edu-cation officials from enforcing the 2010 law, enacted the same year Arizona passed a landmark crackdown on immi-gration. Tashima had previously ruled that racism and political gain were behind the ban's creation.

The Arizona Attorney General's Office, which defended education officials in the case, said it would consult with Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas and see how she would like to proceed spokesman Ryan Anderson said.

Saying she thinks there are parts in the former “ethnic studies” law that should be retained because they “just make sense”, Douglas is asking that the legislature try again to design a law that keeps reason-able restrictions on what should and should not be taught, yet protect the rights of students at the same time.

The law banned courses appearing to promote resentment toward a race or class of people or advocate ethnic solid-arity instead of treating people as individuals. Lawmakers passed it after Tucson Unified School District began offering classes in 1998 focused on Mexican-American history, literature and art. It is not clear that Tucson USD is free to readopt the Mexican-American studies program.

Source: Associated Press, 12/28/17 and Supt. Tim Carter, Yavapai County

Ethnic Studies Ban Unconstitutional

First Thing First has released the Yavapai 2017 Impact Report. With only four colorful pages, it is chock full of the amazing things their partners have done this year.

Find the report at http://www.firstthingsfirst.org/regions/Publications/Impact%20Report%20-

Source: Lisa Blyth, First Things First

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Restoring some of the nearly $1.5 billion cut from classroom resources for the past nine years will be a priority for some Arizona legislators when the new session starts this month, a difficult proposition given a projected deficit and a vow by the governor not to raise taxes.

One way to accomplish sustained and predictable funding so school districts can plan from year-to-year and develop sustainable salary compensation is to restore some of the cuts to additional assistance. This state revenue source pays for classroom resources like textbooks, instructional materials, curriculum, technology, as well as buses and other capital funding. This discussion came from a group of six Republican and Democrat legislators recently speaking before a group of 300 public school leaders. Since 2009, the legislature has suspended $1.498 billion in district and charter additional assistance.

A director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, a nonpartisan group that works for the legislature, said the state faces a projected $24 million budget deficit this year and an estimated $80 million deficit next year.

This forecast does not even consider the impact of the results-based funding plan that will include the A-F school accountability ratings in 2019.

Read more about the budget forecast and proposed spending, at https://azednews.com/legislators-priorities-restoring-funding-classroom-resources-finding-revenue-streams/

Restoring Education Funding Difficult Proposition

Source: AZEdNews, 12/7/17

If you are passionate about children and want to impact the early childhood programs available to young kids in our community, First Things First needs you! FTF seeks about 150 volunteers for the opportunity to impact the early childhood services and programs available to young kids in local com-munities across Arizona.

Research has shown a child's early experiences lay the foundation for a lifetime of success in school and beyond. FTF partners with parents and communities to give children birth to age 5 the tools they need to arrive at kindergarten prepared to succeed. Regional councils made up of community volunteers inform decisions about how First Things First can help strengthen families, expand early learning opportunities and increase access to preventive health services in their area.

Volunteering on a regional council is a unique, high-level leadership opportunity to make a positive impact on children and families in our community. Regional council members help define priorities for funding and strengthen the services and supports available to young children and their families. By collaborating with other dedicated community members, they

provide opportunities for young children to get a strong start in life.

FTF is accepting applications in the Yavapai Region from various backgrounds for the seats that are open either due to vacancy or terms about to expire and want to be a voice for children in our community. Regional council members must live or work in this region. The five regional council seats open in this region are: At-large, Child Care Provider, Parent, Philan-thropy and Tribal.

If you or someone you know can commit to about 10 hours per month to make a difference in the lives of young children in our community, please visit . There, you FirstThingsFirst.org/servecan learn about the volunteer positions available in our area, read a detailed description of the position, and fill out an application.

The job of getting kids ready for school starts the day they are born. Please consider lending your expertise, insight and community spirit to help ensure that all Arizona children are ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond!

Volunteer seats open in Yavapai County to those who want to be a voice for young kids

Mrs. Mikaela Gist is the new governing board member for Bagdad Unified School District, taking the seat opened by the resignation of Dr. Christine Briones. Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter's appointment was based on a review of letters of interest and resumes of the two well-qualified candidates, their interviews, and speaking with current board members and administrative leaders.

Mrs. Gist attended high school in Oregon and earned a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University-Idaho. A resident of Bagdad for more than four years, she and her husband have one daughter. Previously a Bagdad Elementary School teacher, she is currently the Head Teacher at Owens Whitney School District in Wikieup.

Carter felt Mrs. Gist will represent voters well since she has experience working with governing boards, administrations, and the full education community.

Congratulations, Mikaela! Welcome to the Bagdad Sultans!Source: Supt. Tim Carter, Yavapai County

New Board Member for Bagdad USD

Contributed by Jana Truman, First Things First

1/01/18

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The Yavapai Community Public Health Services is seeking individuals who are interested in joining the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The Medical Reserve Corps is made up of medical and non-medical volunteers that assist in preparing for and responding to natural and public health emergencies. The MRC may also be called upon to assist during the year with routine events such as: Public Health Outreach, Flu & Immunization clinics, Community Events, or assisting with projects in the office.

Volunteers must pass a background check and hold a CPR certification and complete FEMA emergency management training. For more information, contact Linda Niles at 928-442-5487 or by email at linda.niles@yavapai.us.

Yavapai County Medical Reserve

Corps NeedsVolunteers

Source: Leslie Horton, YCCHS

Check out YCESA.com

for great grant opportunities!

New Grant

Opportunities!

Some new opportunities for funding your project or supporting your services have been posted to the cumulative list of grants available. Just go to...

YCESA.com Support Services Grants → →

New funding resources are added at least twice monthly. And, it’s printable so you can share with someone who might be looking for funding for a special project or need. We’ll remind you to check for new grants as well whenever something special appears.

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The latest additions are highlighted in yellow. Here are some opportunities you’ll find...

National Science Foundation Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Up to $400,000 or $1.2 millionSupports the development, implementation, and selective spread of innovative strategies for engaging students in experiences that: (1) increase students' awareness of STEM occupations; (2) motivate students to pursue the appropriate education pathways for STEM occupations; and (3) develop disciplinary-based knowledge and practices, or promote critical thinking, reasoning, or communication skills needed for entering STEM workforce sectors.Steelcase Education Active Learning Center Grants Up to $67,000 ea.Funding for furniture, a design review, installation, onsite training, and a Learning Environment Evaluation tool to measure connection, improve engagement, and spur the collective success of students and staff. SRP Classroom Connections—Learning Grants (up to $5,000 ea.), Social Studies Grants (up to $2,500 ea.), and Powering Our Future ($250 ea.)Grants for teaching the standards, helping teach social studies, or using Powering Our Future curriculum.

For grant support, contact: Becky O’Banion at YCESA becky.obanion@yavapai.us

Through a competitive application process, Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County and Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona will award grant funding to local nonprofit organizations and programs serving Yavapai County, Sedona and the Verde Valley. To learn more about the application process and elements of an effective application, representatives of nonprofit organizations, public schools, municipalities and Tribal entities are invited to attend one of four upcoming workshops.

To be eligible to apply for grants in 2018, a representative from your organization must attend one of the grant application workshops. Registration is required and seating is limited.

Prescott Jan. 9 1-2:30 Register at 12:30Yavapai College PrescottBldg. 3 Rm. 119 Register at: https://tinyurl.com/PrescottReg

Clarkdale Jan. 11 1-2:30 Register at 12:30Yavapai College Verde CampusCommunity Rm.Register at: https://tinyurl.com/ClarkdaleReg

Camp Verde Jan. 18 1-2:30 Register at 12:30Camp Verde LibraryTerra Cotta Rm.Register at: https://tinyurl.com/CampVerdeReg

Prescott Valley Jan. 19 1-2:30 Register at 12:30Prescott Valley LibraryCrystal Rm.Register at: https://tinyurl.com/PrescottValleyReg

Grant Application Workshops Required for ACF Grants

Source: Arizona Community Foundation

1/01/18

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Education Scholarship Endowment of Yavapai County2018 GARDNER FAMILY TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FOR

PROSPECTIVE OR DISPLACED TEACHERS

DEADLINE MARCH 5, 2018

The Education Scholarship Endowment of Yavapai County is offering $2,000 scholarships forprospective and displaced teachers who meet the following criteria:

Ÿ The Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship is available to qualified applicants who plan to teach in a K-12 position in Yavapai County.

Ÿ The scholarship is open to high school students, undergraduates enrolled in a teaching program as well as to displaced teachers who need additional coursework to stay in their positions. A person’s potential to be a highly successful classroom teacher is the primary consideration when awarding this scholarship.

Ÿ Financial need may also be considered.

Application forms are accessible through the GiFTS website

http://ycesa.com/gardner-teacher-scholarship/Source: Nick Boroughf,GiFTS

Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas has released her 2018 AZ Kids Can’t Wait! education plan, which presents a comprehensive vision for improving education in

Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Education website.

Based on feedback gathered during the Superintendent’s 2017 We Are Listening Tour, the 2018 plan includes new proposals, accomplishments from last year’s plan and progress updates for several ongoing initiatives.

One of the highlights of the plan includes the proposal to extend and expand Prop 301 to a full one cent, for teacher raises and improved school facilities. The plan outlines the continued roll out of the Arizona Broadband for Education Initiative and Zip Code Project, as well as the addition of the Read20 initiative to encourage early literacy.

“It is apparent that Arizona needs new and bolstered revenue streams to help support and sustain our education system,” Superintendent Douglas stated. “If we intend to fulfill our promise to Arizona children and give them the best education in the nation, we must all band together and make that a reality. I will partner with education stakeholders, Governor Ducey and the Legislature to make sure that the people of Arizona’s voices are heard.”

The plan is online and available at 2018 AZ Kids Can’t Wait!www.azed.gov/beheardaz.

The December meeting of the State Board of Education saw school leaders testifying about their dissatisfaction with receiving either No Rating (NR) or a low grade from the new A-F Grade model. Dr. Jennifer Fletcher, ADE's director of accountability, gave a presentation on the data and coding process behind the letter grades and summarized the letter grade appeals received from schools. Many claimed their score was based on incomplete or inaccurate data.

With this information, the Board recommended adjustments to the formula as follows:Ÿ Allow schools incorrectly submitting the College and

Career Readiness Indicators (CCRI) to re-submit after being contacted by ADE

Ÿ Award applicable bonus points after cut score is setŸ Round points earned prior to calculating the percentage

used to award the letter gradeŸ Cap CCRI points at 20 possible points and 2 bonus pointsŸ Direct ADE to work on creating a Student Growth to Target

(SGT) score for accelerated 8th grade students, who may be attending high school-level classes

Additionally, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) presented its findings on a number of issues in the A-F formula, like n-count, ELL, and growth. The Board directed the TAC to further analyze and report at the January Board meeting on several issues, including the correlation between letter grades and free-and-reduced lunch and how non-typical school configurations should be assessed.

Refinement of the A-F models will continue into the new year. There is no projected deadline for completing the 2016-2017 A-F cycle at this time. Source: Chris Kotterman, ASBA

A-F Grades Still Under Review

Source: Arizona Department of Education

1/01/18

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The Arizona Council of Economic Education and Yavapai County

Education Service Agency are bringing a professional development opportunity to you!

This interactive one-day workshop will offer free curriculum resources with strategies and demonstrate how to use children's literature, playdough, movies, technology and games to teach ELA, math and social studies with economics!

Teachers new to Virtual Economics will receive a VE flash drive with 1,400 searchable lessons by grade level, concept and standards, valued at $160. Supply is limited and will be first come first served

Register at: h�ps://form.jo�orm.com/73444210080949Do not miss this special program, and prizes!

FOR K-6 TEACHERS!Time: 9am – 3pm Date: Friday February 9, 2018

Location: YCESA, 2970 Centerpointe East Drive Prescott, AZ 86301

Cost: $15 Registration fee includes 6 hours of professional development, Virtual Economics 4.5 ($160 value) and lunch.

Infuse Economic$ in Everyday Class…with Fun!

��� �� �� �E S� �� �� �� ��� � C A � �� �� ��� �� � Y The Yavapai Countywide Admininstrators’ Meeting will be held January 31, 2018, in the Cottonwood Oak Creek Administration Building. The agenda will be sent out in mid-January. Please register if you plan to attend... http://ycesa.com/countywide-registration/

The Yavapai County Education Service Agency Governing Board Presidents’ Roundtable is scheduled for February 5, 2018, in the YCESA Training Room, Prescott. Please RSVP at https://form.jotform.com/43524712106951

Questions with these events? Contact Jenn Nelson at Jenn.Nelson@yavapai.us .

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Due to too few registrants, the McREL Cohort VI Balanced Leadership Workshop Spring

2018 has been cancelled.

The McREL Balanced Leadership Refresher is still scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2018. It’s not too late to register at https://form.jotform.com/70586386564974

President Trump's initiative allotting $2 million per year to make coding a priority in U.S. schools will give way to an increased focus on STEM and coding in schools, reinvigorating the “maker movement.” As the maker movement continues to make its way into the mainstream, a growing number of K-12 schools in the U.S. will build dedicated maker spaces in their districts–helping more students than ever to obtain hands-on experience in STEM, tinkering and technology.

What is a makerspace? A makerspace is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools. These spaces are open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs and have a variety of maker equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, cnc machines, soldering irons and even sewing machines. A makerspace however doesn't need to include all of these machines or even any of them to be considered a makerspace. If you have cardboard, legos and art supplies, you're in business. It's more of the maker mindset of creating something out of nothing and exploring your own interests that's at the core of a makerspace. These spaces provide hands on learning, help with critical thinking skills and even boost self-confidence. There have already been many amazing success stories coming out of makerspaces to date.

Find more at https://www.makerspaces.com/what-is-a-makerspace/ or Google it!

What’s A Makerspace?

1/01/18

71/01/18

Ray Newton, a veteran journalist and journalism professor who is now professor-administrator emeritus from Northern Arizona State University and long-time Yavapai County Education Foundation member and educational advocate shares some research with us. You may find it quite interesting! Thank you, Ray!

Information by Generation

The Yavapai County Education Foundation has announced the 2017-18 Mini-Grants awardees. This year's grant cycle saw 40 grants approved, totaling $19,061 in funding to Yavapai County schools. The variety and creativity of the applications made the selections process a challenging and lively experience. Flexible Seating, STEM, Chromebooks, Music and PE Equipment, and 3D Printing Materials were just a few of the many inspiring projects to receive funding.

The following are schools awarded grant funds: Cottonwood Middle School, Heritage Middle School,,Tri-City College Prep High School, Bagdad High School, Taylor Hicks Elementary, Prescott Valley Charter School, Canon Elementary, Liberty Traditional School, Congress Elementary School, Granville Elementary, American Heritage Academy, West Sedona Elementary, Acorn Montessori, Mountain View Preparatory, Oak Creek School, Beaver Creek Elementary, Coyote Springs Elementary, Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School, and Mountain View Elementary

Source: Nick Boroughf, YCEF