An Update From the Indiana Department of Education

indiana department of education - doctor jennifer mccormick - superintendent of public instruction
Dr. Mac

IN the Know

The Indiana Department of Education has been granted $9 million to address mental and emotional health within Indiana schools as a recipient of the Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education (AWARE) grant. The following schools and their health center partners have been selected for project implementation: 

  • Avon Community School Corporation and Cummins Behaviral Health Systems, Inc. 
  • Perry Central Community School Corporation and Southern Hills VirtualConsultMD
  • Vigo County School Corporation and Hamilton Center

Guidance on Students Displaced by Disasters

Guidance for Students Displaced by Disasters

For students and families that may be displaced due to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Florence, schools must be aware of the McKinney-Vento eligibility for these students for immediate enrollment. Please see the attached memorandum for further information.

 

Office of School Assessment

ISTEP+ Grade 10 Spring 2018 Data Media Re-release                                  

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will be releasing the updated Spring 2018 data to the media on Monday, September 24. This data will be shared with CTCs via listServ on Monday. All data remains embargoed until the State Board of Education meeting on October 3. 

NEW! Video Tour of the Indiana Assessment Portal – Share with Educators

Watch this video to learn more about AIR’s Indiana Assessment Portal for ILEARN, IREAD-3, and I AM. This tour provides a brief overview of each portal’s main features, how to search for information and resources, and the best ways to contact the AIR Help Desk.

NEW! Additional ILEARN Resources Available Monday, October 1

Another bundle of ILEARN resources will be released Monday, October 1. Final ILEARN Test Blueprints, Released Items Repository Scoring Guide, Timing Guidance, Practice Test Guidance, an updated ILEARN FAQ, and other resources will be posted to the ILEARN website and the Indiana Assessment Portal on October 1.

NEW! Additional I AM Resources Available Monday, October 1

Our office is preparing to release additional I AM resources on Monday, October 1. The I AM Released Items Repository and the I AM Item Specifications will be posted to the I AM Website and the Indiana Assessment Portal on October 1. 


Workforce and STEM Alliances

IDOE STEM Acceleration Grant Opportunity

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

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. 

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has approved a STEM certification process for schools that want to be recognized as STEM-certified. IDOE plans 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.

Office of Title Grants and Support

Title I Comparability Report

For school year 2018-2019, only those LEAs whose corporation number ends in five are required to submit comparability reports to the Indiana Department of Education. However, all LEAs must complete and retain comparability reports at the local level annually. Comparability reports are due no later than Tuesday, October 30. Every LEA will complete the comparability report online. General instructions are provided on the Comparability Online Application Guide. For further information regarding comparability, refer to this memo and the Comparability of Services Guidance.

Title I and SIG Liquidation Deadlines

For 2017-2018 school year funding, the Title I Part A, School Improvement Grant 1003a, and Title I Part D deadlines for liquidation have been extended to December 15. All activities still must be encumbered by September 30, 2018. Please see the attached memo for more information. Questions can be sent to Nathan Williamson.

Office of Special Education

Compassion Fatigue Short Share

In this video, introduced by Jeff Wittman of the Indiana Department of Education, Dr. Sandy Washburn from the IU Center for Education and Lifelong Learning, shares information for educators on compassion fatigue and self care. Understanding compassion fatigue, with emphasis on its impact and prevention, is vital to teacher health and well-being. When teachers are at their best, they can best support student learning and success. For more Short Share videos on various topics, visit our website.

Spread the Word-SHAPE Stories-Purdue Polytechnic High School

The School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System (SHAPE System) offers a virtual workspace for a school mental health team to document, track, and advance quality and sustainability improvement goals as well as assess trauma responsiveness. School districts are using the SHAPE System to obtain customized school and district level progress reports and useful resources. There is no limit to how many districts can participate in the SHAPE system. Districts can work in local teams to complete the assessments. This month, the Office of Special Education highlights the Purdue Polytechnic High School and their work with the SHAPE System

Office of School Finance

September 14 Membership Count

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) reminds public school corporations and charter schools the submission phase of the Average Daily Membership (ADM) count of students closes September 26. 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. Schools may submit student-level data and curricular material costs between October 1 and 31 in the STN Application Center. 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 during the collection window. If you have questions regarding the submission process, please email Sarah Henry. 

Common School Loan Applications 

School corporations and career and technical education schools may apply for a common school construction and/or technology loan. The application window opened on September 12, and closes October 5. 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 School Improvement

Indiana Resource Hub Now Available

As schools seek resources in support of continuous improvement, the Office of School Improvement has released an Indiana Resource Hub. The resource hub includes tools and toolkits organized by the University of Chicago’s 5Essentials for School Improvement framework. The framework provides high quality, vetted resources intended for educators to increase best practices. This applies within the domains of effective leaders, collaborative teachers, supportive environment, involved families, and ambitious instruction. Strategies for initiating each resource and background information on the resource’s field effectiveness are also included. 

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.  

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 today, Friday, September 21. Click here to learn more about the EIG. All questions can be sent to Rose Tomishima or Robin LeClaire.

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

Math Team September Newsletter

Read the math team's latest newsletterThis month you will find resources, inspiration, activities, and events to focus student and teacher learning.

Indiana Kids' Election

Students across Indiana will get a chance to “vote” for a U.S. Senator, Indiana Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Auditor on November 6th as part of the award-winning Indiana Kids’ Election (IKE). The mock election program for students in grades K-12 is sponsored by the Indiana State Bar Association, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Secretary of State, and the Indiana Bar Foundation. Indiana teachers can sign up to participate here.

Under Indiana law, schools must give instruction on the election process two weeks prior to a general election for grades 6-12. IKE helps Indiana schools meet this requirement by providing comprehensive curriculum guides, free of charge, to participating schools.

Office of Educator Effectiveness

Teachers-Teachers.com- New Resources Available

Three new screencast videos have been posted, 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 eLearning

Free Cybersecurity Training and Phishing Campaign Opportunity

The Indiana Department of Education is offering free training to assist schools with raising staff awareness regarding cybersecurity risks and threats. Learn more here. Register your school here.

 

National College Application Day Set for September 28.

Many Indiana Colleges Offering Free Applications on September 28

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has announced 17 Indiana colleges will waive their application fees on September 28 in recognition of College Application Day. Read more here.

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Weekly Updates

View previous weekly updates from Dr. McCormick here.  

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An Update from the Indiana Department of Education is created by the Office of Communications, and  will be sent every Friday.