About
The Agency of Education created the weekly field memo to keep subscribers up-to-date with current education policy, state-wide education initiatives, and official messages from the AOE.The Weekly Field Memo containseducation-related posts from the Agency of Education (AOE), other State of Vermont agencies, federal agencies or Vermont's congressional delegation.
Contents: November 22, 2024
- AOE Listen and Learn Update: Additional Dates Added
- Seeking Public Comment on State of Vermont 1% Threshold Waiver Request
- Vermont Alliance for Social Studies (VASS) Annual Conference
- Functional Skills with Tracy Harris and Cassie Santo
- Graduation Readiness Tool Training
- Adverse Effect, Specially Designed Instruction, and Eligibility Determination Training
- Specialized Service Providers: Making Connections with VTmtss Feedback Request
- Webinar on Using Universal Screening to Meet Social/Emotional/Behavioral Needs
AOE Listen and Learn Update: Additional Dates Added
Audience: School Community Members
Additional dates have been added to the AOE Listen and Learn tour on Dec. 3 (Burlington and Brattleboro), Dec. 4 (Hinesburg), and Dec. 10, 2024 (Virtual). Please see the Listen and Learn Tour Public Engagement Schedule for more information.All sessions will take place from6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please check the Listen and Learn webpage to see the most up to date public engagement schedules, links for virtual sessions and information on language accessibility. While not required, pre-registration is encouraged using the online registration form, Listen and Learn Registration.
Contact:aoe.publicinformation@vermont.gov
Seeking Public Comment on State of Vermont 1% Threshold Waiver Request
Audience:Education Administrators, School Board members, Educators and the General Public
The Vermont Agency of Education seeks comment from the public onState of Vermont 1% Threshold Waiver Request. Public Input will be open from Nov. 20, 2024, until Dec. 4, 2024. Public comment should be emailed toAOE.SpecialEd@vermont.govwith the Subject Line “1% Threshold Waiver Request".
Contact: Amanda Hass atamanda.hass@vermont.gov
Vermont Alliance for Social Studies (VASS) Annual Conference
Audience:Curriculum Directors, Educators
The Vermont Alliance for the Social Studies will be hosting its30th Annual Conferencefor Vermont Social Studies educators on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont. Two keynote speakers will highlight the event which includes a diverse selection of breakout sessions which will be of interest to K-12 Social Studies educators and other professionals. Participants will be eligible for eight credit hours of Vermont professional development. Earlyregistrationis suggested.
Contact: Martha Deiss atmartha.deiss@vermont.gov
Functional Skills with Tracy Harris and Cassie Santo
Audience:Pathway (D) Participants, New teachers to the State, Newly Licensed Teachers and Graduates, Special Education Endorsement Candidates, General Education Teachers, High School Special Education Teachers, Educational Support Teams (EST) Members, Evaluation Team Members, Related Service Providers, Interventionists
This training will provide an overview of“Functional Skills” as it’s listed in Basic Skill Areas in Rule 2392(g).Functional skills reflect a student’s current abilities, skills, strengths, and weaknesses; academically, socially, and physically. Knowing this information about a student should shape the goals of their IEP by informing how their learning differences affect their ability to learn in the general education curriculum. This training will be held on Feb. 4, 2025, from 10-11:30 a.m. and Feb. 5, 2025, from 2-3:30 p.m.PleaseregisterforFunctional Skills with Tracy Harris and Cassie Santo.
Contact: Tracy Harris attracy.harris@vermont.gov
Vermont Public: Elements of Art
Audience: Vermont Educators
Elements of Art is part of theKQED Art School Collectionin PBS LearningMedia from Vermont Public and PBS. This series of videos focuses on artists who describe and highlight their techniques.
Contacts: Emily Leute atemily.leute@vermont.govor Heather Duhamel athduhamel@vermontpublic.org
Graduation Readiness Tool Training
Audience:Vermont High School Special Educators and Special Education Directors
The Graduation Readiness Tool was created by an interagency team that included school professionals, Vermont Developmental Disability Services, Vermont HireAbility and Vermont Family Network. The IEP team should be reviewing and discussing this tool with the student and family at each annual IEP meeting. This training will go over all aspects of the tool, as well as the updates to the tool. We will also hear from our Developmental Disability Services partners on best practices regarding the timeline for students as they get closer to graduation and ready for the “handoff” from school to Developmental Disability Services. This session will be held on Dec. 17, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.Please register for Graduation Readiness Tool Training.
Contact: John Spinney atjohn.spinney@vermont.gov
Adverse Effect, Specially Designed Instruction, and Eligibility Determination with Cassie Santo and Ernie Wheeler
Audience:Pathway (D) Participants, New teachers to the State, Newly Licensed Teachers and Graduates, Special Education Endorsement Candidates, General Education Teachers, High School Special Education Teachers, Educational Support Teams (EST) Members, Evaluation Team Members, Related Service Providers, Interventionists
This training will focus on criterion two and three for special education eligibility: adverse effect and the need for specially designed instruction. Attendees will continue to review the complimentary sections of theSpecial Education Evaluation Plan and Reportas well as resources to support criterion two and three of the special education eligibility process. This session will be held on Dec. 3, 2024, from 8-9:30 a.m. and Dec. 5, 2024, from 3-4:30 p.m.Pleaseregisterfor Adverse Effect, Specially Designed Instruction, and Eligibility Determination with Cassie Santo and Ernie Wheeler.
Contact: Cassie Santo atcassie.santo@vermont.gov
Specialized Service Providers: Making Connections with VTmtss Feedback Request
Audience:Superintendents, Principals/School Heads, Special Education Directors, MTSS Coordinators, Specialized Service Providers
ThisSpecialized Service Providers (SSPs): Making Connections with VTmtss toolis to be used by school systems when reviewing and improving their collaboration with Specialized Service Providers (SSPs) to utilize and embed their expertise. It is designed to increase staff awareness of these services and strives to expand access to these services for all students. This tool, published in October 2023, is in its piloting phase until Dec. 31, 2024. After using the tool, yourfeedbackwould be greatly appreciated. Please use Specialized Service Providers: Making Connections with VTmtss feedback form to submit it.
Contact: Nancy Hellen atnancy.hellen@vermont.gov
Webinar on Using Universal Screening to Meet Social/Emotional/Behavioral Needs
Audience:Educators, Administrators, School Psychologists, Counselors, School Teams
This webinar will provide an overview of the benefits of Universal Screening to identify social, emotional, and behavioral risks and strengths. We will explore how screening promotes early identification of children at risk, the systems needed to implement Universal Screening, and the process of matching results with proactive and preventative practices. The webinar will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, from 9 a.m.-10 a.m.Please register to join.
Contact: Anne Dubie atAnne.Dubie@uvm.edu
