Education briefs

Energy agencies sponsor a video

competition for high school students

Renewable Energy Alaska Project, Alaska Energy Authority and the statewide Energy Efficiency and Conservation Working Group invite teachers and their students to participate in the Energy Efficiency Makes $ense! Video Contest, a competition to promote energy awareness and encourage energy savings.

The top three entries will win Apple iPrizes for the students and $1,000 for their sponsoring teacher’s classroom. The first-place entry will air on statewide television during the 2012 Super Bowl pre-game.

All Alaska students in grades nine-12 are eligible. Students may enter as individuals or teams to produce a 30-second public service announcement promoting energy efficiency and conservation. The PSA must be created by students, but entries must be submitted through a teacher or other school advisor.

Please note: Prizes are limited to three per winning entry, so teams of more than three students will have to figure out a way to divvy up their iPrizes.

All entries are due by 4 p.m., Nov. 30. See akenergyefficiency.org. Please email any questions about the competition to EEvideocontestAK@gmail.com.

U.S. Senate Youth Program

accepting applications

Two outstanding Alaska high school students will have an opportunity to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to visit the nation’s capital to observe the federal government in action. The two students will also receive a $5,000 college scholarship as part of the 50th United States Senate Youth Program.

Sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the USSYP is a unique leadership program for student government delegates from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense.

During the week of March 3-10, 2012, student delegates will visit the White House and tour historic sites, monuments and museums as part of the USSYP’s Washington Week. They will also attend meetings with senators, Cabinet members, representatives of the U.S. Supreme Court and other government officials.

The program in Alaska is open to qualified high school juniors and seniors elected or appointed to currently serve as a representative in student government, or as a student representative to a civic or educational organization.

The principal of each participating school is requested to select no more than one candidate for statewide competition.

Students should carefully review the application package and include all required elements. The application is at eed.state.ak.us/forms/home.cfm.

In the “Section” box use the drop down menu and select “Scholarships.” You may also want to visit ussenateyouth.org.

For information, contact Shari Paul, Program Coordinator, 907-465-6535, shari.paul@alaska.gov.

Schools with federal funds

must teach Constitution

Sept. 17 is Constitution Day/Citizenship Day, commemorating the Sept. 17, 1787, signing of the U.S. Constitution. In recognition, Congress has mandated every educational institution receiving federal funds take a day to teach about the seminal document. As Sept. 17 falls on a Saturday this year, institutions may celebrate either the preceding or the following week.

Free online resources are available from the department’s Federal Resources for Educational Excellence website, as well as the National History Education Clearinghouse and the National Archives and Records Administration at www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/constitutionday.html.

Community content through

videoconferencing

Kids Creating Community Content International Contest challenges students of all ages to research, develop and present community content through various technologies and connect with classes worldwide through videoconferencing.

Students choose a topic, such as the history of their village or subsistence fishing, and create a videoconferencing program. The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration will find an audience site and schedule the presentation.

Schools may register at kc3.cilc.org. The registration deadline is Dec. 17. For more information, contact Bev Mattocks at bmattocks@cilc.org. One-hour informational webinars are scheduled for Sept. 21 and Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. Alaska time. Register at least two days in advance at schoolaccess.net/KC3-webinar.htm.

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record

set for Oct. 6

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is Oct. 6. Around the United States, adults and children will gather to read the same children’s book, “Llama Llama Red Pajama,” to show their support for early learning. More than 2 million people participated in last year’s event.

The book is available online for free at wegivebooks.org.

For every copy that is read online, the Pearson Foundation will donate a print copy to a child in a Jumpstart center. Jumpstart is a national early education organization that helps 90,000 children a year develop literacy skills. For more information, visit jstart.org.

State board seeks comments

on proposed scholarship regulations

The state Board of Education and Early Development is seeking public comment on proposed regulations that would set the high school courses required for eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship.

The proposed regulations, if approved, would take effect for the high school graduating class of 2015 and thereafter. The proposed regulations provide students with a menu of courses that meet the curriculum requirements for eligibility. The proposed regulations also allow school districts to submit other courses for state approval.

The public may see the proposed regulations and submit comments at eed.state.ak.us/regs/comment.cfm. Deadline to submit comments is Nov. 10.

Electronic field trip to Sonoran

Desert in Arizona is available

The National Park Foundation is offering a free electronic field trip to Saguaro National Park in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. The event will air twice Oct. 21 — at 9 a.m. and noon Alaska time. The event, intended for students in grades four through eight, is led by the National Park Service and National Geographic.

A companion website, with lesson plans and interactive games, will go live Sept. 19 at electronicfieldtrip.org/saguaro. For more information, contact eft@nationalparks.org.

Previous broadcasts from parks are available for free at nationalparks.org/eft.