A Message from Dr. McCormick 06/08/2018

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, June 8, 2018

 

 

 

 

Dr McCormick Updated headshot

Dear Educators,

As we transition into the summer, I encourage all of you to take time to reflect and recharge. Many of you have been providing summer school instruction and actively participating in professional development. Summer of eLearning conferences, computer science trainings, and school improvement trainings are in full swing. We realize this is just a snapshot of the critical opportunities in which Indiana's great educators participate. Once again, thank you for your continued dedication.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer McCormick 

   
 

IDOE Welcomes New Director of Special Education

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is pleased to welcome Dr. Nancy Holsapple as our new Director of Special Education. She replaces Dr. Pam Wright who is retiring.

Dr. Holsapple will join IDOE beginning June 25, after spending the past 15 years as Executive Director of the Old National Trail Special Services Inter-Local. Based in Greencastle, the Inter-Local serves five school districts. Prior to moving into administration, Dr. Holsapple practiced as a teacher of students identified with disabilities. 

Recognized as a positive and encouraging leader, Dr. Holsapple has an excellent reputation for working cooperatively with students, parents, teachers, principals, and community interest groups. We are excited to have Dr. Holsapple join our team.


Office of Student Assessment 

ILEARN Professional Development – Math and Biology WebEx Recordings Now Available

The recent recordings and PowerPoint presentations of “ILEARN Blueprints and Specifications” trainings for mathematics and biology are available on the ILEARN Test Design page (all links are located in the chart on this page). Please share with educators and look for additional WebEx recordings in the coming weeks.

NEW! Spring Preliminary Results Available June 11

Students’ preliminary results will be available in PearsonAccessnext as well as in the Parent Portal on June 11. Parents have the opportunity to request rescores from June 11 through 22. Schools must be ready to assist parents with issuing new or replacement claim codes. Parent Portal Communication templates in Spanish and English have been provided for your convenience.

Assessment Literacy Summer Professional Development

Assessment Literacy—or being knowledgeable about assessments and their purposes—is an essential component of strong instruction and student success. Register for our free Assessment Literacy Professional Development on June 22. This program is designed for corporation staff or those supporting assessment and data use.

  • Learn about the types and purposes of assessments.
  • Discuss quality assessment practices.
  • Hear how schools around the state are collecting and using data.
  • Discover strategies, tools, and resources that support formative assessment practices.
  • Receive updates on new statewide assessment resources.   

Office of School Finance

FY 2019 Indirect Cost Rate

The Office of School Finance is now accepting FY 2019 Indirect Cost Rate Applications through June 30.

The Schedule has been revised to better describe which object codes to use when submitting your application. You can locate the Excel file here, or in Files and Bookmarks>Indirect Cost Rate Program>FY19. Applicants that have already submitted for a FY 2019 rate need not re-apply. If you have questions, please email either Sarah Henry or Amy Pattison.

2018 Annual Budget Workshop

Please read the attached memo regarding the School Budget Workshop to be held on June 27, beginning at 8:30 a.m. (local time) at the Pike Performing Arts Center. Additional details will follow as the event nears.

Form 9 ESSA Guidance

Attached you will find guidance related to the Department and Indiana local education agencies (LEAs) federal reporting requirement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as well as Indiana state law. This resource, updated in April, provides LEAs with an overview of state and federal reporting requirements for school building level data beginning July 1, 2018. The January 1, 2019 submission of July through December 2018 Form 9 financial data must reflect expenditures at the school building level. Also attached is a flowchart providing additional documentation of the method for coding expenditures to the school building level, as well as an updated copy of the Form 9 file format. Please direct any questions you might have on the documents here.

Student-Centered Funding Pilot

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) has announced a new pilot to afford local educational agencies (LEAs) flexibility to create equitable, student-centered funding systems. The USDE will host two webinars providing additional details about the requirements of the pilot, provide time for questions, and address lessons learned during the spring 2018 pilot program submission cycle. The webinars will take place Wednesday, June 20, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET and Thursday, June 21, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET. 

The U.S. Department of Education will accept applications until July 15, 2018.  If interested, please use this link to access the application.


Legislative Updates and Guidance

Cursive Writing

The attached guidance provides information on cursive writing. Please contact Robin LeClaire with any questions.

Nonpublic School Students with Visual and/or Hearing Disabilities

Please read the attached information concerning eligibility criteria for nonpublic school students wishing to attend the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Indiana School for the Deaf. Please contact Dana Long with any questions.

Cambridge International Course Credits

This information provides guidance on the successful completion of Cambridge International courses for high school credit. Please contact Melissa Blossom with any questions.

Virtual Charter School Withdrawal and Charter School Closure

The attached guidance provides information on legislative changes involving students withdrawing from a virtual charter school and students impacted by a charter school closure. Please contact Nathan Williamson with any questions.

Office of Accountability

Training Modules for School Personnel Now Available

The Office of Accountability is pleased to announce the availability of new Moodle training resources on the following topics:

Cohort: This training consists of three sections providing an in-depth overview of the cohort process in Indiana, a summary of graduates in the cohort, and a breakdown of how students may exit a cohort and what documentation is needed to support such exit codes.

ESSA Accountability: This training reviews all components of the federal accountability system outlined in Indiana’s ESSA plan that will be implemented beginning with 2017-2018 accountability.

State versus Federal Accountability: This training provides a step-by-step comparison and contrast of the state and federal accountability systems. The training also offers context regarding the similarities and differences that schools will see between the two accountability determinations that will be released for 2017-2018 accountability.

Each course includes a video presentation and quiz to ensure understanding of content. These training resources are accessible via the Department’s Moodle page under “Accountability” courses. Participants will need to create a Moodle account and enroll in the courses by using the enrollment key of “accountability2018." Please contact the Office of School Accountability with any questions.


Office of Title Grants and Support

Due to a small increase in statewide funding, an additional application opportunity for the 21st Century Community Learning Center program is now available. Intent to apply forms (RFP, page 4) are due by June 12. Proposals are due by August 1 via the online submission form. Additional information regarding the RFP or 21st CCLC programming is available by contacting the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.


Office of Workforce and STEM Alliances

2018-2019 ICE Pilot Program Schools Announced

The Indiana Department of Education has announced 2018-2019 Indiana Career Explorer (ICE) Pilot program schools. Chosen schools and additional program information is available here.


Office of Student Services

Positive School Discipline and Bullying Surveys

The Indiana Department of Education will conduct surveys on positive school discipline and bullying in response to bills passed by the Indiana General Assembly. Please read this guidance for important information.


Office of School Improvement

Important Information on the 2018-2019 Elementary Reading Plan

All State Board-accredited schools with a section of kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 are required to submit an Elementary Reading Plan. The 2018-2019 Reading Plan submission window is now open and will close on June 30. Please find updated guidance for the Reading Plan submission. Questions may be directed to Amy Heath.

Submissions are made via IDOE Online. Principals will utilize their username/password logins to access IDOE Online.  

If  individuals need assistance completing the Reading Plan template, please refer to this information. Content questions should be sent to Amy Heath. Technical questions concerning the Reading Plan should be sent to Rajini Govindarajan

School Improvement Plans for 2018-2019 Can be Submitted Beginning Today

2018-2019 School Improvement Plans are due September 14. Submissions can begin today, June 8. Additional information is available here. Contact Robin LeClaire with any questions. 


Office of Educator Effectiveness

Reminder - IDOE Teacher Survey: Your Voice Matters 

Thank you for your work in completing the 2018 IDOE Teacher Survey: Your Voice Matters. Please encourage teachers to complete the survey prior to June 15. Contact Shari Switzer with any questions. Some helpful tips to encourage teacher participation:

  • Download the survey link for your district and send it out to those in need.
  • Email all of the teachers in your district asking them to check for a survey from support+idoe@panoramaed.com and to please complete it.
  • If teachers indicate that they did not receive one, please share the appropriate school backup survey link with them. Alternatively, you might consider including the backup link with your email so that they can take the survey right there as needed. 

If you have any questions about this or need help locating your backup link, please reach out to support+IDOE@panoramaed.com

2018 Indiana Teacher of the Year Applications Available

The deadline to submit 2018 Indiana Teacher of the Year applications is July 9. Please contact Chris Kates with any questions.

2018-2019 Staff Performance Evaluation Plans

Please read the attached guidance for important information regarding submission of the 2018-2019 Staff Performance Evaluation Plans.


Office of School Building Physical Security and Safety

Law Enforcement Presence in Schools Data Required

Indiana Code 20-34-6-1 requires each school corporation to submit data to the Indiana Department of Education related to law enforcement presence in schools. Please share this link with your superintendent to complete this data collection.


IDOE in the News  

Indiana Schools Report Progress in Digital Learning Environments and Cybersecurity Needs According to Tech Plan Survey Results


Weekly Updates

View previous weekly updates from Dr. McCormick here 


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