Archive: 2014–15

Academic Office

• The RESC Alliance is providing coaching services for the implementation of Connecticut Core Standards. Schools and districts that are interested may complete the coaching request form. Applications for support must be e-mailed by July 6, 2015.
• The Academic Office released its June 2015 newsletter. It included Smarter Balanced Individual Student Report samples for grades 5, 8, and 11; a brochure on Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments workshops; Connecticut's achievement level descriptors for the Smarter Balanced assessment; a report that highlights gaps between state test results and 2013 NAEP results
• The Academic Office released its April 2015 newsletter
  • Smarter Balanced Digital Library webinars will be held through May 8
• The following items were distributed with the Academic Office newsletter for March 2015:
  • Common Core information from CCSSO and an article from U.S. News and World Report about reading ability at the kindergarten level
  • The education reform organization Achieve is looking for educators and curriculum developers to submit units aligned to Common Core state standards. A $1,500 award is available
  • The Smarter Balanced Digital Library is an online collection of instructional and professional learning resources
• The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and the CSDE sponsored a Connecticut kindergarten symposium on May 12, 2015
• Academic Office Newsletter (April 30, 2015)
  • Smarter Balanced Digital Library forums
• Academic Office Newsletter (March 24, 2015)
  • Common Core Information and Resources/EQuiP Call for Units
  • Smarter Balanced Digital Library Information
  • Smarter Balanced Parent Guides: English, Spanish, Chinese, Creole, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic
• Academic Office Newsletter (January 14, 2015)
  • Meeting the Challenge: CT Core Standards Success for English Learners and Students with Disabilities
  • Comparison Table CMT/CAPT Skills Checklist and Connecticut Alternate Assessment
  • FAQ regarding Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments
• Women in STEM Conference December 13
• Assessment Grant Reduction
  • Assessment Reduction Grant memo (December 8, 2014)
  • Assessment Reduction Grant application
• Academic Office Newsletter (November 26, 2014)
• Academic Office Newsletter (October 8, 2014)
• 2014-15 student assessment calendar
• Position statement on K-12 social studies education
• Student Assessment News (September 2, 2014)
• Academic Office Newsletter (August 21, 2014)
  • Webinar series for principals
  • Common Core implementation supports for school leaders
  • List of potential K-3 reading assessments to replace DRA2  
• Comparison of CMT/CAPT Skills Checklist and Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA)

Commissioner's Office

• ED607 - Title IX coordinator survey
• The Department published the 2014-15 statistics for districts to use when analyzing whether any disparities in racial or ethnic diversity exist in their schools
• Reminder of the deadline for school security plan and reporting requirements
• On May 22, 2015, the Department released a revised RFP for a $10 million technology grant to help districts implement CT Core Standards and Smarter Balanced assessments
• Districts are invited to participate in the 2016 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program
• The 2015 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge. More information
• Update on opportunities to learn about the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and implications if they were to be adopted as a new K-12 science framework in Connecticut
• The Department issued a progress report on Smarter Balanced in Connecticut:
  • Memo (April 21, 2015)
  • Report
• Immigrant children and youth survey (ED 236)
• Teacher shortage areas for 2014
• Summary of legislation enacted in 2014 by the General Assembly
• 2014 School Security Competitive Grant Program

Finance Office

• Districts that completed the 2014-15 out-of-town magnet school transportation grant application (Form ED021) are scheduled to receive the balance of their reimbursement in May 2015
• Education revenue update for Education Cost Sharing, Public and Nonpublic Transportation, Adult Education and Health Services grants. (February 2, 2015)
• Teacher/Administrator Negotiations Survey (Form ED003) (January 23, 2015)
• Audit process for 2013-14 End-of-Year School Report (November 17, 2014)
• Reimbursement of 2013-14 Health Services for Children in Nonprofit Private Schools
• 2014-15 minimum budget requirement (MBR) memo
  • Preliminary MBR requirements by district
• 2014-15 Out-of-Town Magnet School Transportation Grant Application

Performance Office

• Updates and reminders regarding data collection and reporting
• Reminder about importance of maintaining test security during administration of state assessments
• The Department issued its signature data report, The Condition of Education in Connecticut, as required by C.G.S. Section 10-4
  • Memo (April 10, 2015)
  • Report
• Instructions for submitting Educator Evaluation Data. Deadline extended to Sept. 22
• High school reports on college enrollment, persistence, and graduation
• 2012-13 Strategic School Profiles
• 2012-13 Condition of Education

Student Supports Office

• A Yale University report about homeless youth in Connecticut prompts a reminder of the educational rights and protections for students experiencing homelessness. (November 21, 2014)
• Transportation guidelines for students with a disability
• Bureau of Special Education's 11th annual Back to School Meeting
• McKinney-Vento Act homeless liaison update request
• Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program RFP
• Community Eligibility Provision - A New Optional School Meals Reimbursement Initiative

Talent Office

• The Talent Office released its June 2015 newsletter
• Teacher shortage areas for 2015-16
• Qualifications for instructors of American Sign Language world language high school credit
• Updated guidance and resources for districts as they prepare to submit their 2015-16 Educator Evaluation and Support Plans to the CSDE:
  • Memo (March 25, 2015)
  • Summary of Guideline Requirements
  • 2015-16 Procedures for Educator Evaluation and Support Submission Guidelines
• Guidance and resources for 2014-15 Educator Evaluation and Support Plan submission process
• Proposed revisions to the Connecticut Guidelines for Educator Evaluation and update on the 2014-15 Educator Evaluation and Support Plan submission process
• Update on the Implementation of the Reading Survey Requirement for K-3 Teachers
• CCT Rubric for Effective Service Delivery memo
• CCT Rubric for Effective Service Delivery

Turnaround Office

• The Turnaround Office released its June 2015 newsletter
• The Turnaround Office released its May 2015 newsletter
• Hedy Nai-Len Chang, founder of Attendance Works, will be the keynote speaker at the spring 2015 Alliance District Convening in Meriden on May 7
• September Commissioner's Network Newsletter
• August Commissioner's Network Newsletter
• July Commissioner's Network Newsletter
• Alliance District bulletin (July 7, 2014)