A Message from Dr. McCormick 02/16/2018

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, February 16, 2018

 

 

 

Dear Educators:Dr. Jennifer McCormick

Again this week, our nation has been faced with the heartbreaking news of another mass shooting involving a school. As educators, we are committed to keeping our students safe. We fully understand the importance surrounding this enormous responsibility. As a Department, we are dedicated to providing the training, the resources, and the guidance our schools need to protect our children. Thank you for all you do to help keep our students, classrooms, and schools secure.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer McCormick 

 

Assessment

ISTAR Part 1 Window Closes Today

The ISTAR Part 1 Window closes today, Friday, February 16. If you have any questions, please contact the ISTAR Helpdesk or call 877-424-0322.

WIDA ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alternate ACCESS Window Ends Friday, February 23

The testing window for ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and Alternate ACCESS for Indiana will end on Friday, February 23. Click here for details and the student completion check.

Indiana Participation in WIDA Tryouts

WIDA and the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) are currently recruiting participants for teacher-led tryouts of writing tasks. Tryouts will take place May 10-23. Participating schools will receive a $100 Amazon gift card for school supplies upon completion of all tryout activities. Click here for more details. 


Office of Workforce and STEM Alliances

New CTE Director and Upcoming CTE Grant Opportunity 

The Office of Workforce and STEM Alliances has two important announcements to share.


Graduation Pathways and Accountability Rule Public Hearings Information From State Board of Education

State Board Provides Answers to Common Graduation Pathways Questions

The State Board of Education has provided answers to frequently asked questions related to Graduation Pathways. Please find the FAQ here. Any questions related to the FAQ should be shared with Alicia Kielmovitch, Director of Policy and Legislation for the Indiana State Board of Education.

State Board Announces Public Hearings on Accountability Rule

The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) has announced five public hearings to be held around the state regarding the Board’s proposed Accountability Rule.

At the January SBOE business meeting, the Board voted to advance proposed changes to the state’s school accountability rule to a public comment period. In an effort to get as much as information as possible from the field the SBOE will be holding public hearings.


Office of School Finance

Information on Indirect Costs

The Office of School Finance will accept FY 2019 Indirect Cost Rate Applications through June 30. Please read the attached memo for details. If you have questions, please email Sarah Henry.

Important ESSA Form 9 Guidance

Please see the attached guidance regarding ESSA Form 9 on the timing and process for coding Form 9 financial data beginning July 1. This resource is meant to provide Local Education Agencies with an overview of state and federal reporting requirements for school building level data. If you have any questions, please email either Melissa Ambre, LaTrice Akers, or Amy Pattison.

Information on Curricular Material

The Office of School Finance has calculated the 2017-2018 curricular material reimbursement payment to qualifying schools and charter schools. Attached is the payment by school. If you have any questions, please email either Sarah Henry or David Ryan.

Summer School Information

The deadline for submission of the summer school Estimated Instructional Costs Report and List of Courses is March 30. Please read this memo for additional details. If you have any questions, please email Kathryn Roth.


Title Grants and Support

Title I and Title II Funding for 2017-2018

Please see the attached memo regarding possible impacts to Title I and Title II funding for the 2017-2018 school year. Educators with questions may be email Nathan Williamson or call 317-232-6671. 

New Resource Available: Work Guide for Managing the Nonpublic School Equitable Share Transfers Process

A Work Guide for Managing the Nonpublic School Equitable Share Transfers Process has been created by the Title Grants and Support Office. The Work Guide is designed to provide neighboring school districts with a collaborative process for providing services to eligible nonpublic school children in a private school that pulls children from several school districts. More information is available here.

Workplace Spanish Standards

The Workplace Spanish Standards are available for public review until March 9. Your feedback will enable us to validate and refine the standards to better serve and prepare Indiana's students. Following further evaluation of information gathered, the standards will be finalized and released. 

Title I Grants and Support

Notice that the allocation of funds for educational services and other benefits under Title I, A, and C; Title II, Title III, and Title IV, A and B that Local Educational Agencies have determined are available for eligible nonpublic school children can be found here

Also, a Nonpublic Equitable Services Guidance Document has been provided to support public and nonpublic school administrators and can be found here.


Office of Educator Effectiveness 

STEM Summit Scheduled for June

The Indiana Department of Education, in partnership with Teach to Lead, will host a STEM-focused summit in Indianapolis, June 14-15. Through a competitive process, approximately 20 invited teacher-leader and stakeholder teams will convene at the summit to develop action plans that address local STEM issues and leverage teacher leadership to promote STEM opportunities within their schools. Teacher-leaders are encouraged to review the application and rubric and apply to participate in this exciting inaugural summer summit. Please contact the Office of Educator Effectiveness with any questions.

Staff Performance Evaluation Plan Feedback

SY 2017-2018 Staff Performance Evaluation Plan Feedback was emailed to superintendents this week. Please email the Office of Educator Effectiveness if you have questions or need support.

Spanish Visiting Teacher Program 

Priority consideration applications for the IDOE Spanish Visiting Teacher Program are due by February 22. 


Office of Special Education

Coffee Talk Series Continues

The Office of Special Education has released another video in the Coffee Talk series. In partnership with our Indiana IEP Resource Center, Project SUCCESS, and the Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center, the latest video highlights key components of a measurable annual goal and how it aligns to grade-level standards.


Office of School and Community Nutrition

School Food Service Employee of the Year Award

The Office of School and Community Nutrition is accepting nominations through February 23 for the School Food Service Employee of the Year. You have the opportunity to publicly recognize employees who make outstanding contributions to school food service. For information on how to nominate a deserving school food service employee, please read this announcement and nomination form.  


Weekly Updates

View previous weekly updates from Dr. McCormick here

Stay Up to Date

Did you miss a message? View previous weekly emails here. Want daily updates? Be sure to follow the Department on Twitter and Facebook.

 

 
 

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