A Message from Dr. McCormick 08/31/2018 -- UPDATED

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, August 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

McCormick July Update

Dear Educators,

During September several calendar events that impact student learning are recognized. Suicide preventionarts in education, and digital citizenship are all topics of focus for this month. Please reference the attached resources and follow our social media accounts to plan for your local activities.

Sincerely,

Dr. McCormick

 
 
 

ISTEP+ Spring 2018 Reporting Update

The Indiana Department of Education (Department) received communication from Pearson on August 27 characterizing two issues associated with the final ISTEP+ Spring 2018 data reported to schools earlier this month. It is anticipated that only a small percentage of our students in Grades 3-8 and 10 will be impacted. Refer to the attached memo for additional details. 


From the Indiana Department of Child Services

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS)  has announced upcoming changes to the ECPI/DCS background check process used by school employers and vendors through the DCS online portal. DCS has provided the attached high-level overview of the changes for school administrators. DCS anticipates releasing updated user manuals and an FAQ prior to September 17. Technical questions should be directed to the DCS Helpdesk or by calling 1-800-225-9173. 


Student Advisory Council – Seeking New Members

Dr. McCormick is looking for high school juniors from congressional districts 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8 who would be interested in serving a two-year term on the Student Advisory Council. The student must be recommended by the high school principal, and approved by the superintendent. This student would be expected to miss school to attend two meetings per school year. The student should be in good academic standing, actively involved, a positive role model for others, and able to travel to Indianapolis. Interested principals need to submit the students name, school name, school corporation, school address, and phone number to Bailey Walker. Submissions are due by September 14. 


Office of School Assessment

IDOE Winter Pretest Workshops – Required for CTCs Administering Winter Assessments

The Office of Student Assessment will host pretest workshops for Corporation Test Coordinators (CTCs) ahead of the ISTEP+ Grade 10 Retest and ILEARN Biology ECA winter windows, to share program and policy updates. Both online and onsite sessions are available. Since capacity is limited and CTC attendance is documented, please be sure to use your school email address to register only once. Attendance is optional for CTCs whose schools will not administer either winter assessment, but these CTCs are welcome to join and receive general program and policy updates.

2018-2019 ILEARN Biology ECA Participation Guidance – Share with Educators!

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) defined participation guidance for the ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. Schools and corporations should consider this guidance in advance of test administration for individual students completing biology coursework. Contact us if you have questions. 

2018-2019 I AM Biology ECA Participation Guidance

IDOE has defined participation guidance for the I AM Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) here. High School students who have been taught the Biology Content Connectors must participate in this assessment at the end of the school year, regardless of their enrolled grade level. Please contact Stephanie Thompson with questions.

ILEARN and I AM Brochures Now Available

Parent and educator brochures for ILEARN and I AM are now available via the Indiana Assessment Portal (“General Resources” page) and the IDOE website. Don’t forget to register for email updates on the I AM Portal to receive notifications when additional resources are available.

AIR Secure Browser Now Available

The AIR Secure Browser is now available for download in the Indiana Assessment Portal. The Technology Setup for Online Testing Quick Guide provides basic instructions to set up Test Administrator and student workstations, as well as to configure networks and assistive technologies. The following supporting documentation is also available under Technology Resources to reference as needed:

·         Additional Configurations and Troubleshooting Guide for Windows

·         Additional Configurations and Troubleshooting Guide for Mac

·         Additional Configurations and Troubleshooting Guide for Chrome OS

·         Additional Configurations and Troubleshooting Guide for Linux

·         Additional Configurations and Troubleshooting Guide for Android


Office of School Improvement

Multi-Tiered System of Supports Website is Live

The Office of School Improvement is excited to share the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) website. This website will provide schools with resources, toolkits, and materials to support MTSS in your school. Please note, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will roll out MTSS in phases. Phase I includes release of the awareness video and Indiana's self-assessment of MTSS tool. These resources will help your school and/or district establish the strengths and areas of growth in MTSS implementation. Please contact Robin LeClaire or Christy Berger with any questions. 

Professional Learning Communities Conference Registration Open

The Indiana Department of Education is dedicated to supporting schools in their efforts to ensure high levels of learning for all students. The Office of School Improvement is partnering with Solution Tree to provide two day-long sessions that will equip schools to build and sustain truly effective professional learning communities. This will be a free workshop. Please note registration is limited and will be closed September 4 or when capacity is reached. Registration information and further details can be found here. Please contact Robin LeClaire with questions and concerns. 

Creating Strong Classroom Assessment: Assessment Literacy Professional Development

Join the offices of Assessment and School Improvement for free professional development targeting strong practices in classroom assessment. Learn how to create and use various assessment strategies in classrooms to determine true measures of student progress and achievement. Sessions will be held throughout the state to make attending more convenient. View this flyer for more information and to register. 


Office of Title Grants and Support

Training for Parent Notices Software for Federal Programs

In order to facilitate the parent notification requirements of federal programs under ESSA, the Indiana Department of Education has purchased a subscription to an online library of parent forms, available in multiple languages. In-person trainings will be held on September 25 (Indianapolis) and September 26 (Hobart) for federal program administrators and parent involvement staff. See the attached memorandum for more information and to register. Questions can be sent to Alma Flores Carlos.

Invitation for Federal Programs Advisory Board

The Indiana Department of Education is soliciting members to serve on a Federal Programs Advisory Board in order to provide feedback regarding state-level administration of Title I and other federal programs. Interested individuals are invited to complete this survey. Representation is needed in several areas, including federal program administrators (Titles I, II, III, IV, IDEA, and 21st Century), building and district level leaders, parents, private school representatives, charter school leaders, authorizers, school board members, and more. Questions can be sent to Nathan Williamson.

Title III and Non-English Speaking Program (NESP) Grants

Non-English Speaking Program (NESP) and Title III grant applications are due today. Additional supporting resources, including allocations, video walk throughs, and instructions for accessing the grant applications are also available on our website through the included links.

Indiana Migrant Education Program

As a result of changes to the Title I, Part C, funding formula under the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Indiana Migrant Education Program is undergoing consolidation of Migrant Regional Centers. Please see the attached memo for more information about these statewide program changes. As a reminder, all Indiana school corporations are responsible for administering the Migrant Work Survey to all enrolled students every school year. The attached memo contains a link to the Migrant Work Survey and guidance on administration.

Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction and Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment

Applications for both Title II and Title IV grants are due this Friday, August 31, 2018.  Additional supporting resources are available on our website through the included links. Please direct Title II, Part A questions to your assigned federal grants specialist found here. Direct Title IV, Part A questions to Cole Dietrich.

Title I Report and Title I Staffing Report

The DOE-TI report window for SY 2017-2018 closes September 15. Direct questions to Nathan Williamson.

The Title I Staffing Report window opens September 2 and closes October 31, 2018. Please see this memo for more details and instructions on how to complete this report. Direct questions to Dwayne Marshall.


Office of Workforce and STEM Alliances

Computer Science Education

Please click here to view guidance related to the requirements of IC 20-30-5-23. Direct any questions to Computer Science Specialist Jake Koressel.

Girls Who Code Partnership

The Indiana Department of Education has a new partnership with Girls Who Code. Take advantage of this new partnership and launch a FREE Club! Click here for more information. Contact Jake Koressel with questions.

Alternative College and Career Planning Tools

Beginning July 1, 2019 each school and charter school within a school corporation must include for all eighth grade students the use of either Indiana Career Explorer or an alternative internet-based system providing students with college and career planning resources. The alternative internet-based system must be approved by the State Board of Education. This memo provides the steps to obtaining approval of an alternative college and career system.


Office of Student Services

September Is Attendance Awareness Month

School boards, superintendents, mayors, and other elected officials are encouraged to highlight the importance of school attendance by declaring September as Attendance Awareness Month. Please contact Cathy Danyluk with any questions.


Office of Educator Effectiveness

IDOE Online Job Bank Closes TODAY

On September 1, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will fully transition to utilizing Indiana Teachers-Teachers as the primary recruitment platform for Indiana school personnel. The IDOE Online Job Bank will be shut down at the close of business on Friday, August 31. To prepare for this transition, all Indiana school districts, charter schools, and private schools should ensure they have registered for a free account with Indiana Teachers-Teachers. Job postings will not automatically transfer from the IDOE Online Job Bank to the Indiana Teachers-Teachers recruitment platform. It is the employer's responsibility to manually post any current openings prior to the September 1 transition date. Additional information about Indiana Teachers-Teachers is available here. Please contact IDOE Director of Educator Effectiveness Shari Switzer with any questions.


Office of School Finance

Annual Financial Report

Today, August 31, is the deadline to file the Annual Financial Report with the Office of School Finance.  I.C. 5-3-1-3(g) states that each public school corporation [charter schools excluded] shall submit a copy of the Annual Financial Report to the Department of Education. The Annual Financial Report and proof of publication should be provided as a scanned document in a single PDF file and sent here. Mailed hard copies will not be accepted. The template for the Annual Financial Report may be obtained under the Files and Bookmarks tab in the Annual Financial Report folder. If you have questions concerning the Annual Financial Report, please contact email us.

2018 Summer School Final Costs Report

The window to begin submitting the Final Instructional Costs Report for Summer School 2018 closes September 14.  In order to be eligible to receive a summer school payment, the report must be submitted before Friday, September 14. The link to access the report is posted on our website. Information on the Summer School program can be found in the Finance Community of the Learning Connection under Files and Bookmarks in the Summer School folder.

September 14 Membership Count Date

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will collect an average daily membership (ADM) count of students on September 14. (I.C. 20-43-4-2) This is the only ADM count that will be used for Basic and Complexity Grant funding for the 2018-2019 school year. Additionally, the Department will take a second count of eligible pupils enrolled in each school corporation and charter school on February 1, 2019.  The February count is for information purposes only. Please read the Membership (DOE-ME) layout which provides the reporting phases for each count. The layout can be found in the Data Reporting Community of the Learning Connection. If you have any questions concerning the count dates, please contact Amy Pattison or Melissa Ambre.

Indiana K-12 State Tuition Support Report

IDOE has released the second Indiana K-12 State Tuition Support Report. The report provides a tuition support overview, ADM history, and grant descriptions for Indiana school corporations and charter schools. The report can be found in the Finance Community of the Learning Connection under Files and Bookmarks > Reports.    


Office of School Accountability 

Required Virtual Education Program Survey

In order to report to the Indiana General Assembly by January 1, 2019 regarding enrollment in virtual education programs, all public school corporations and charter schools need to complete the Virtual Education Program Survey. Schools without virtual programs to report as described in the survey introduction will only need to complete the first section of the survey. The survey response is due by October 1. Please direct any questions about this survey here


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