A Message from Dr. McCormick 9/15/17

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, September 15, 2017

 

Dear Educators:

Thank you for your hard work and continued dedication to serving the students and families in our 2,298 Indiana schools. Having connected with the field at our Teacher/Community and Regional meetings, your attendance, comments, and questions have proven your devotion to the profession and our students. The Department of Education is committed to your success, and we are honored to be serving with all of you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer McCormick
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Indiana Department of Education

Dr. Jennifer McCormick

Assessment
NEW Mode Selection and Paper Request Window (ISTEP+ Grade 10 Winter Retest): The Mode Selection and Paper Request window for the ISTEP+ Grade 10 Winter Retest is now open. Schools are expected to test all students online for Part 1 and Part 2 of the Winter Retest, with the exception of any student who has a paper format testing accommodation, as documented in an IEP, ILP, or Section 504 Plan. For schools requesting paper/pencil testing, the Waiver Request Form for Online Testing must be completed by September 22.

Office of Educator Effectiveness
IGM Data Now Available: Educator Effectiveness ratings (IGM) and Negative Impact for 2016-17 ISTEP+ are now available in the licensing system, LVIS. Please see this memo for more information.

Staff Performance and Evaluation Plan Submission: Legal Standard 12 requires each public school corporation to provide a copy of its entire staff performance evaluation plan to IDOE. The evaluation plan, which must include a Teacher Appreciation Grant policy addendum, should be submitted online by September 15. Submissions must include a completed Evaluation Plan Submission Coversheet for the 2017-18 school year. Please see this memo for additional information, or contact the Office of Educator Effectiveness.

Office of Special Education
Pursuant to 34 C.F.R. §200.6(c)(4), IDOE will seek a waiver for the 2017-18 school year from the USDOE. The regulation requires State Education Agencies to limit the total number of students assessed statewide in a subject area using an alternate assessment. IDOE is seeking public comment on its request for a waiver on the number of students who can be tested using an alternate assessment on annual statewide Indiana Standards Tool for Alternate Reporting (ISTAR) tests. Click here for more information.

Office of Title Grants and Support
1003 Formula and 1003(g) Competitive Grants: For LEAs interested in applying for the 1003 formula and/or 1003(g) competitive grants for Title I served focus/priority schools, including first time D and F schools in 2016, further technical assistance materials have been posted here. Additional resources include 1003 formula slides and video, and 1003(g) competitive slides and video. Applications for 1003 Formula 1 Year Grants of $40,000 per Title I focus/priority school are due September 30. Applications for 1003(g) Competitive Grants of up to $500,000 per year for four years for Title I focus/priority schools are due October 27. If you have questions, please contact Dwayne Marshall.

Peer Reviewers Needed for SIG, Title IV, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers: IDOE is seeking peer reviewers for School Improvement Grants, Title IV, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. If you have expertise in these areas, please fill out the application by September 22. For questions, contact Cole Dietrich or Dwayne Marshall.

Rural and Low Income School (RLIS) Eligible List: The RLIS Program is a formula grant that provides financial assistance to rural districts to meet local academic needs. The grant is non-competitive and its uses of funds can carry out allowable activities from Title I Part A, Title II Part A, Title III Part A, and Title IV Part A. This memo lists the 49 schools eligible to receive the FY17 RLIS grant. The allocation amounts for each district will be distributed once IDOE receives the official award notification from USDOE, which is expected within the coming weeks. For any questions regarding RLIS, please contact Cole Dietrich.

Workshop for New CTE Teachers and ALL CTE State Conference
IDOE is partnering with Indiana ACTE to present an all-day workshop for New and Newer CTE Teachers on September 21, and the All CTE State Conference on September 22 and 23 at the Indianapolis Marriott East. There will be 99 breakouts, with specific sessions for every CTE subject area plus many sessions on best practices for all. Click here for more information and to register.

U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Please see this memo for more information on the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Master File
The IDOE Master File houses school corporation directory information for all public corporations, charter schools, and private schools in the state. This includes superintendents, technical directors, special education directors, and other administrators. Please check the Master File for your district to confirm that the information is up to date.

2018-19 Visual Arts and Theatre Standards
The 2018-19 Visual Arts and Theater Standards have been approved and are posted here. The Dance Standards are now available for public comment from September 15 through October 15. Music Standards (general and ensemble) are available for Round 2 of public review here.

UPDATES - Regional and Teacher/Community Meeting
Combined Meeting: A combined Regional and Teacher/Community Meeting has been added in Southern Indiana. The meeting will be held on Thursday, October 5 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. ET. Attendees for this meeting include administrators, teachers, school board members, school business officials, parents, community stakeholders, and other school personnel. The meeting will be held at the Gibson Southern High School Auditorium in Fort Branch, Indiana. Please visit this page to register for the event.

Additional Opportunities: Two additional opportunities to catch the Regional Meeting overview are being made on September 18 at the Beta Phi Chapter Education Forum at the Avon-Washington Township Public Library, and on September 20 at the Washington Township Parent Council Meeting at the H. Dean Evans Education Building.

Hurricane Harvey and Irma - Displaced Students
Please see this memo regarding the educational needs of students who may be displaced by natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
 


Weekly Updates
Miss an update? View previous weekly updates here. 

 
 

A message from Dr. McCormick will be sent every Friday.