A Message from Dr. McCormick 11/24/17

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, November 24, 2017

 

Dear Educators:

As we break for the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to share once again how thankful I am for the work you do. Indiana students are thriving- thanks to the educational opportunities you provide. Your work will have a lasting impact.

Thank you and enjoy your holiday break.

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

Dr. Jennifer McCormick

Assessment
The Winter ECA Test Window opens Tuesday! Schools can select test dates within the window of November 28 - December 15. Please note:

  • Online Testing- Schools receive 8 days to test
  • Paper/Pencil Testing- Schools receive 4 days to test

If you have any questions, email the ECA Helpdesk or call (877) 424-0322.

Educator Effectiveness
Teacher Appreciation Grant funds were distributed this week. The total allocation exceeded the $30,000,000 appropriation. Each individual distribution was proportionally reduced. As a reminder, school districts have 20 days to disperse funds upon receipt. For more information, please see IC 20-43-10-3.5 (e) (1). If you have questions, please contact us here.

Legislative Updates
HEA 1024 directed the Indiana Department of Education and the Attorney General's office to formulate a student religious civil rights model policy. IDOE, the Indiana Attorney General’s office, and religious civil liberties organizations formulated a model policy to help guide schools and administrators. You can view the model policy here.

School Finance
Please see this memo regarding student enrollment funding.

SAVE THE DATE! An Important IDOE Roadshow: Assessment-Accountability-Statute Flexibility
If you are a superintendent, principal, district administrator, corporation test coordinator, and/or school counselor, you will not want to miss December’s roadshow presentation, entitled “Assessment - Accountability - Statute Flexibility,” presented by Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Dr. Charity Flores, and Maggie Paino. Please click here for the final 2017 dates and times.

Technology Survey
The Department of Education is committed to providing the highest quality of support to Indiana’s schools, teachers, students and parents through secure, reliable, and agile technology. In an effort to support and improve the customer’s experience, the Department is beginning the process of a system modernization initiative. Through this initiative, the Department is evaluating options for improving key business systems, including but not limited to:

  • STN Application Center
  • DOE Online
  • Title I
  • State Aid
  • Learning Connection
  • Compass.  

As part of the system modernization review process, the Department would like to hear the voice of the customer. Our goal is to understand more than system metrics to allow for focused improvement. With this in mind, the Department is asking any and all school personnel to fill out this survey.


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.