A Message from Dr. McCormick 10/27/17

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, October 27, 2017

 

Dear Educators:

The Indiana Department of Education and Governor Holcomb’s office were excited to announce our state’s partnership with EducationSuperHighway this week. Our partnership with this non-profit gives all Hoosier students access to the resources needed for digital learning - with high-speed internet in every classroom. You can read more about EducationSuperHighway and their work with the state of Indiana here.

Thank you for another successful school week and your continued dedication to students.

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

Dr. Jennifer McCormick

Accountability
2017 Graduation Rate Audit: Beginning November 1, the Office of School Accountability will conduct mandatory and voluntary graduation rate audits on the 2017 Cohort. Schools selected for the mandatory audit will be notified by the Office of School Accountability prior to November 1, with instructions for completion. Regardless of participation in the mandatory audit, all schools may request a voluntary graduation rate audit to address potential errors with the 2017 Cohort. The window to submit mandatory and voluntary audits is November 1 through November 26. Please see this memo for audit instructions and requirements. Note: The voluntary graduation rate audit window is the FINAL opportunity to address any errors with the 2017 Cohort and the 2017 Graduation Rate, before its publication by the statutory deadline of January 15, 2018, and inclusion in the 2018 A-F grades next summer/fall. For any questions, please email the Office of School Accountability.

Assessment
ISTEP+ & IREAD-3 Assessment Manual Guidance: Based on field feedback, the Office of Student Assessment defined guidance to help corporations and schools better understand how/when to provide designated school personnel with appropriate access to assessment manuals, both prior to and during test administrations. This memo provides more information. We strongly encourage superintendents and building administrators to share this information with staff who will administer ISTEP+/IREAD-3 assessments this year.

ILEARN Assessment Overview: Work is underway to create the new Indiana accountability assessment - ILEARN. This video shares an overview of next steps for ILEARN, including multiple opportunities for educator involvement.

Educator Effectiveness
Education Evaluation Rating (DOE-ER) Data Collection: The DOE-ER collection window closes on November 15. The purpose of this data collection is to compile the final summative rating on each educator in your corporation, as required by I.C. 20-28-11.5-9. The statute applies to all public, charter, and virtual school corporations. Please email Chris Kates with any questions.

Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) Policies: TAG policies were due September 15. The Office of Educator Effectiveness previously sent TAG Policy approval memos, requests for edits, and reminder calls for submission to all local educational agencies. School corporations should submit questions and policies here. Charter schools should submit here. Please note, failure to submit TAG polices by TODAY will result in LEAs, including charter schools, not being eligible for TAG funding.

Legislative Affairs
Please see this memo regarding the Cursive Writing Report.

Title Grants and Support
Title I Carryover Funds: Each year, LEAs must expend at least 85 percent of the current year’s total available Title I A funding. Please note that 15 percent may be carried over to the following fiscal year with no request or waiver process needed. Carryover funds from Fiscal Year 2017 (School Year 2016-2017) will be available in the Title I Application Center by November 30, when final allocations are determined. Prior to this date, LEAs may estimate their carryover funds available by utilizing Fiscal Year 2017's allocation (not including Fiscal Year 2016 carryover) and subtracting the total expended funds submitted in the final expenditure report.

Title I Excess Carryover: LEAs have until October 30 to submit final expenditure reports for Fiscal Year 2017 (School Year 2016-2017). Once IDOE has processed all reports (by November 30), LEAs that did not expend at least 85 percent of the current year’s total available Title I funding will be notified they are in excess carryover. LEAs that have not utilized a waiver in the past three years may apply for a waiver, which will be included in the notice. The waiver eligibility list can be found here. LEAs that are in excess carryover - and have utilized the waiver in the past three years - will forfeit funds that exceed the 15 percent allowable carryover.

SAVE THE DATE!
An Important IDOE Roadshow: Assessment - Accountability - Statute Flexibility: Superintendents, district administrators, corporation test coordinators, and school counselors will not want to miss our December roadshow presentation entitled, “Assessment - Accountability - Statute Flexibility”. Information will be presented by Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Dr. Charity Flores, and Director Maggie Paino. Mark your calendar and watch for more information. Please click here for the dates and times. Locations and sign-up links are coming soon.


Stay Up-to-Date
Miss a message? View previous weekly emails here. Want daily updates? Be sure to follow the Department on
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A message from Dr. McCormick will be sent every Friday.