Below are items of interest for education technology directors, IT managers, technical staff, and education technologists. If you have questions about items in this message, please email: lisa.helme@vermont.gov.
AOE Offers Cybersecurity Intrusion Workshop at Vermont Fest
How are Vermont SU/SDs managing their cybersecurity concerns? On November 2 at the Vermont Fest Conference, AOE will facilitate a two-hour training session that will start by highlighting the work of 10 Vermont school districts to develop cybersecurity policies and data breach/incident response plans. Examples of policies and plans will be shared. Following that, members of the Vermont Intelligence Center and FBI Cyber Task Force will provide an update on current cyber threats and steps districts can take to protect their networks. The session will end with a discussion of a new cybersecurity employee training platform that will be made available for free to every public Vermont SU/SD. A larger room has been secured for the session than was available last year. Register today for the conference and join us for practical and current information on cybersecurity protections.
Speaking of Cyber Intrusions . . . Oct 27 Details on Security Onion Training Coming
More than 40 people from 29 school districts have signed up to participate in the AOE sponsored cyber intrusion workshop in Montpelier on October 27. If you have signed up, you will be contacted to see whether you would like to attend the morning session from 8:30 am-12:30 pm or the afternoon session from 1-4:30 pm. Each session is limited to 30 people and there are still spaces available. The Vermont Army National Guard IT Department will present on how to use Security Onion, a free intrusion detection software. Each participant will receive instructions on how to prepare for the hands-on session. If you are interested in attending and haven’t signed up, send an email to lisa.helme@vermont.gov.
AOE Offers Virtual Training Session on Early Warning Systems
The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) is hosting a professional learning series to assist Supervisory Unions/School Districts (SU/SD) in developing and implementing Early Warning Systems (EWS). An EWS is a tool that aims to identify students at risk based on the presence of “red flags” -- specific factors that contribute to dropping out of school. Learn how you can leverage your SIS to do this. AOE is offering a two-hour virtual session to introduce data and concepts around EWS, discuss interventions, and begin to map out implementation steps. The virtual session is scheduled for Thursday, October 12, from 1-3 pm. The workshop is being facilitated by Resultant, a national consulting firm with expertise in data analytics. Please RSVP here to receive the agenda and meeting link from Resultant. Questions? Contact AOE’s Ryan Parkman at ryan.parkman@vermont.gov.
October 16 Deadline for STEAM Challenge Grant Application
The AOE is offering a competitive grant to support programs providing students with a holistic STEAM experience. This short-duration, competitive grant opportunity will make awards of no more than $15,000. The intent of the grant is to promote rigorous, relevant and authentic STEAM learning experiences that encourage students to apply STEAM concepts to real-world situations. Vermont public secondary schools, including career technical education centers, are invited to organize interdisciplinary student teams to address a problem within the state.
New to E-Rate? Check Out These Virtual Training Options
USAC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, is offering a series of webinars on E-rate. USAC is the company the FCC has contracted with to manage the E-Rate program. USAC has posted a list of upcoming webinars that cover program updates, E-Rate program rules and orders, guidance about compliance and filings, stakeholder support, and more. During each webinar, the audience will have the opportunity to take part in a live question and answer session with members of the E-Rate program team.
Also, the FCC released a declaratory ruling on the use of Wi-Fi on school buses, determining that such expenditures will be eligible for E-Rate funding. You can read details of the ruling in the FCC Fact Sheet released on September 28.
Alerts from MS-ISAC
The MS-ISAC offers a range of free services to school districts. One of those services is timely notification of cyber alerts. To view alerts, go to CIS Advisories (cisecurity.org). AOE encourages SU/SD to sign up for the free membership in MS-ISAC.
In the News: Stories & Programs of Interest
Below are links to articles, programs and events that may be of interest to you.
The hazards of facial recognition in schools - Route Fifty (route-fifty.com)
ISTE: Most New K-12 Teachers Not Confident About Technology (govtech.com)
SEL in Digital Life Resource Center | Common Sense Education
E-Rate System Consolidation - Universal Service Administrative Company (usac.org)
How one school district empowers parents with access to IT (districtadministration.com)
4 signs that your school needs a media center upgrade (districtadministration.com)
Will Teachers Listen to Feedback From AI? Researchers Are Betting on It | EdSurge News
SLDS (Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems) Basics & Ed Data Management — Project Unicorn