A Message from Dr. McCormick 09/07/2018

 

Indiana Department of Education
Friday, September 14, 2018

 

 

 

 

McCormick July Update

Dear Educators,

Since taking office over a year and a half ago, I have made improving Department communications a top priority. We have worked to utilize various platforms to streamline the delivery of information and respond to questions from the field. Please complete this survey to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts. We appreciate your feedback! 

Sincerely,

Dr. McCormick

 
 
 

Indiana Teacher of the Year

Three Finalists Named

Congratulations to the following teachers selected as finalists for the 2019 Indiana Teacher of the Year. They include:

  • Sarah Wolff, art teacher, Carmel High School, Carmel Clay Schools
  • Derek Ruble, social studies teacher, Noblesville East Middle School, Noblesville Schools
  • Tamara Markey, engineering teacher, McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology, MSD Lawrence Township

Indiana Education Employment Relations Board (IEERB)

Bargaining Session Reminder

The 2018 Collective Bargaining Season begins September 15 and concludes November 15. This memo from IEERB contains due dates and links to important information about law changes, compliance guidance, impasse documents, representation, and the 2018 IEERB webinar.


Legislative Updates and Guidance

Common School Loans

The Indiana General Assembly recently passed legislation allowing schools to apply for improvements in school safety from the Common School Fund. These advances may be used to purchase equipment or make capital investments needed to: 1) restrict access to schools, 2) expedite the notification of first responders, or 3) improve school security.

Typically, Common School Loans are provided by the Indiana Department of Education. However, school safety advances from the Common School Fund are administered by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in consultation with the Secured School Safety Board (SSSB). Requests for an advance will be reviewed by SSSB and sent to SBOE with a funding recommendation. Funding determinations will be made by SBOE. For more information, please visit the secured school safety website.


Office of School Finance

2018 Summer School Final Costs Report Due Today

Today, September 14, 2018, is the LAST day to submit the Final Instructional Costs Report for 2018 Summer School programs. In order to be eligible to receive a summer school payment, the report must be submitted before today’s Summer School submission deadline. 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 (Today) is Membership Count Date

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will collect an average daily membership (ADM) count of students today, September 14, 2018. (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, IDOE 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 either Amy Pattison or Melissa Ambre.

Curricular Material Reimbursement

State law allows school corporations, charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools to seek curricular material reimbursement. In order to receive some level of reimbursement, eligible schools must submit both the cost of providing curricular material and data for eligible students. The Indiana Department of Education will calculate the reimbursement amount for each school corporation, charter school, and nonpublic school based on the number of eligible students reported on the “Summary of Costs and Reimbursement Claim Form 2018-2019. School Curricular Material Costs and Eligible Student Counts” and the student level data submitted electronically between October 1 and October 31, 2018, which is the final collection date. Both student level and claim data must be submitted on or before October 31. Information regarding curricular material can be found in the Curricular Material folder in the Finance Community of the Learning Connection under Files and Bookmarks. If you have questions regarding the submission process, please use this email

Common School Loan Applications

The Office of School Finance will accept applications for construction and technology loans from school corporations and school corporation career and technical education schools from September 12, 2018, through October 5, 2018. Petitions must be received by the Office of School Finance by October 5 to be considered. Construction and technology applications can be found in the Finance Community of the Learning Connection under Files and Bookmarks > Common School Loan folder or by emailing either Melissa Ambre or Sarah Henry. Please scan and email completed applications here no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 5. 


Office of Educator Effectiveness

IDOE Teacher Survey: Your Voice Matters! Free Workshops Begin

Free workshops begin on Monday, September 17. Click here to find the location, date, and time that is best for administrators in your school district and register for this free workshop today. IDOE and Panorama Education are excited to work with you to explore your teacher survey data, reflect on outcomes, identify key insights, and plan data-driven next steps.

2018-2019 Staff Performance Evaluation Plans

2018-2019 Staff Performance Evaluation Plans are due today, September 14. Please find guidance here regarding submission of the 2018-2019 Staff Performance Evaluation Plans.

2018-2019 Teacher Appreciation Grant

School Year 2018-2019 Teacher Appreciation Grant Policies are due today, September 14. Please read this guidance regarding submission of the School Year 2018-2019 Teacher Appreciation Grant Policy.

Teachers-Teachers.com- New Resources Available

Three new screencast videos have been posted here providing step-by-step overviews of the different tabs in the Indiana Teachers-Teachers employer platform. Check them out and get started here. Contact Shari Switzer with any questions.


Office of School Assessment

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. 

ISTEP+ 2018 Spring Results

Revised ISTEP+ 2018 Spring results are now available in Pearson Access Next. CTCs and superintendents received communication on September 7 noting specific changes within their corporations and schools.

High School Assessment Changes

The Office of Student Assessment provides this memo to superintendents and CTCs to inform them of the changes for the upcoming 2018-2019 high school assessments.  Questions regarding high school assessments may be directed to Tarrell Berry.


Office of School Improvement 

Indiana Literacy Early Intervention Grant (EIG)

Please read this information regarding submission of the Early Intervention Grant for the 2018-2019 school year. The Request to Participate must be completed by Friday, September 21. Click here to learn more about the EIG. All questions can be sent to Rose Tomishima or Robin LeClaire.

Literacy Framework Now Available

The Literacy Team from the Office of School Improvement is pleased to unveil the Literacy Framework for all K-12 educators in Indiana. All 700+ standards have been unpacked with academic vocabulary, question stems, "I can" statements, and considerations for learners with special needs and English learners. This tool will support teachers in the development of high quality literacy curriculum and instruction for all students. Hundreds of educators have had input in the development of this resource, and we have six schools piloting this first phase. We would love to hear feedback as you use the tool and will continue to add resources to each standard for release in Phase 2 coming in the spring! Please contact Robin LeClaire, Jordan Pridemore, or Rose Tomishima with any questions.

Committee Members Needed to Revise World Languages Academic Standards 

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is developing a list of professionals who would like to be considered as a committee member for revising the Indiana Academic Standards for world languages. Membership in this committee will include two-to-three face-to-face or virtual meetings with IDOE. Additionally, the committee will need to collaborate in order to accomplish the task of revising the Indiana Academic Standards for World Languages. IDOE will assist and guide the process. Please share this with your world language leaders and educators. Educators who would like to commit to this process should submit their information by completing the form at this link. This information will be submitted directly to IDOE. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Walsh, curriculum specialist at the Indiana Department of Education.

$10,000 Scholarship Available Through the Senate Youth Program

The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. All transportation, hotel, and meal expenses will be provided by The William Randolph Hearst Foundation. In addition, each delegate will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. For details on the application process, please visit this site. Applications must be mailed and postmarked by September 28. Contact Collin Gruver by email or by phone at (317) 608-6503 for additional information.

List of Approved Dyslexia Universal Screeners

Senate Enrolled Act 217 requires schools to universally screen all kindergarten, first, and second grade students annually to identify and predict students who may be “at some risk” or “at risk” for dyslexia. The law requires the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) release a list of approved universal screeners. The list of approved screeners, additional information for each level of screeners, a free screener, a screener planning checklist, and a screener decision flowchart can be found on the IDOE dyslexia page.

Literacy Team September Newsletter

The Literacy Team is excited to share this update


Office of Workforce and STEM Alliances

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, or contact Jake Koressel with questions.

Computer Science Champs

Are you new to teaching computer science, the only computer science teacher in your building (or district), or just wish you had some people to go to when you have questions about computer science teaching and learning? Fortunately, Indiana has AMAZING and experienced computer science educators that are here to help! Meet Indiana’s computer science champs here.

SCRIPT Computer Science Strategic Planning Workshop

The Strategic CSforALL Resource and Implementation Planning Tool (SCRIPT) is an initiative of the CSforALL Consortium. This serves as a framework and platform to guide school district staff in the creation of a K-12 computer science implementation plan that reflects the unique goals and needs of their school district. Participation in a SCRIPT workshop is a great way to start planning for how your district will meet the requirements of SEA 172 by 2021. Please visit our continuously updated list of professional development opportunities to learn more and sign-up for a SCRIPT workshop! Several workshops are currently planned in various parts of the state. If none of these opportunities work for your district, but you would still like to participate, please indicate your interest here. Contact Jake Koressel with questions. 

Become a STEM Certified School

STEM education encompasses four academic disciplines - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. STEM guides our vision of ensuring all K-12 Indiana students graduate with critical thinking skills. Indiana students must have access to a world-class STEM education necessary to compete in an innovation-driven economy. STEM will equip students with 21st century skills, preparing future generations of Hoosiers to thrive in STEM-related businesses and industries.

An Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)-approved STEM Certification process and application for schools that want to be recognized as STEM Certified School is in place. IDOE hopes to continue creating a STEM school network promoting a collaboration of best practices to promote STEM Education.

Please click here and go to Becoming a STEM School for more information. Applications are due December 3.

IDOE STEM Acceleration Grant Opportunity

Instructions for Indiana school districts and charter schools seeking funding support for STEM K-6 curriculum implementation and educator training is now available. Please read this memo for additional information. 

Reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Act IV

The purpose of this memo is to call attention to the impact the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Act IV will have on Indiana’s definition of a CTE Concentrator and to the CTE concentrator graduation pathway option.  


Office of Title Grants and Support

September Edition of Title Talk Newsletter Available

This month’s Title Talk newsletter features new updates to the Title I Calendar, information regarding the Federal Programs Advisory Board, and new requirements for Highly Qualified Status under ESSA.   

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 share their interest in serving on this board via this survey. Representation is needed in several areas, including federal program administrators (Titles I, II, III, IV, IDEA, 21st century etc), 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. 


Weekly Bulletin Updates

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Previous weekly updates from Dr. McCormick are available here 


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