An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for November 30, 2018

indiana department of education - doctor jennifer mccormick - superintendent of public instruction
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Next week, December 3-9, we celebrate Computer Science Education Week. Schools are encouraged to engage students, staff, and families in activities promoting the development of computer science skills, including world-wide Hour of Code activities. Find more information here.

Dr. Mac

Office of Information Technology

Fall 2018-2019 Corporation Transfer Report

In accordance with the requirements of IC 20-51-4-12, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is issuing the Fall 2018-2019 Public Corporation Transfer Report. Additional information is available here. The file is available for download here.

Cybersecurity Course Grant Applications Due December 7

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and IDOE are partnering to provide Indiana high schools a grant opportunity to implement PLTW’s high school cybersecurity course. These grant awards, in the amount of $8,000 per school, will assist in offsetting costs associated with implementation of the PLTW computer science program, specifically the PLTW Cybersecurity course, during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

Schools with existing PLTW programs and schools with no existing PLTW programs are all eligible to apply and can do so by completing this brief application by December 7. Details are available here.

 

Office of School Assessment

New! 2018-2019 Assessment Administration Flexibility for Recently Arrived English Learners Memo

Please review this memo detailing the 2018-2019 statewide assessment guidance for recently arrived English Learners.

New! Early Childhood and Interim K-2 Assessments RFP

The Office of Student Assessment released a request for proposal (RFP) to select a vendor for required early childhood assessments and voluntary interim K-2 assessments on November 26. IDOE plans to administer federally mandatory summative assessments for early childhood, beginning at age three. The assessments must align to the Indiana Early Learning Development Framework and Foundations aligned to the Indiana Academic Standards. In addition, IDOE plans to administer optional Interim kindergarten through grade two assessments aligned to Indiana Academic Standards in English/language arts and mathematics. Details can be found here.

New! Share with Educators! Paper Response Options

IDOE requested your feedback earlier this year concerning the use of paper response options. Several corporations preferred the test booklets similar to those provided with ISTAR. IDOE will transition to these options during the next few years. More information regarding this change can be found in this memo.

Winter ILEARN Biology ECA Window Opens Tuesday

The ILEARN Biology ECA window opens Tuesday (December 4 – 20) for students completing the course at the end of this semester. CTCs must ensure that each licensed educator serving as a Test Administrator (TA) has completed the Test Administrator Certification Course and has access to the ILEARN Biology TAM. Schools must consider the roles and responsibilities for school personnel involved in testing. 

ILEARN Scheduling and Timing Guidance – Addendum Now Available

This new addendum contains responses to the most common questions and scenarios our office received from corporations and schools related to the October 1 release of the ILEARN Scheduling & Timing Guidance.

ILEARN U.S. Government ECA Participation – Survey Open Through December 7

Building administrators may complete a brief survey by next Friday, December 7, to indicate plans for students who will participate in the upcoming optional ILEARN U.S. Government ECA (Spring 2019). Survey results gauge interest and help inform reporting, while schools will use a more formal process to indicate specific students in the coming weeks. 

Updated I AM FAQ to Share with Educators

The I AM FAQ has been updated and posted to the Office of School Assessment website here.

 

Graduation Pathways Updates and Guidance

On November 14, the State Board of Education (SBOE) voted unanimously to update the Grad Pathways policy. The changes include:

1.       CTE Concentrator Definition: Under the previous definition of a CTE Concentrator, a student must earn a C average or higher in at least 6 high school credits in a career sequence. The updated definition is a student must earn a C average in at least two non-duplicative advanced courses (courses beyond an introductory course) within a particular program or program of study. This new definition will begin with the 2023 graduating cohort (freshmen beginning in 2019-20); current high schoolers are grandfathered under the 6 credits definition.

2.       AP/IB/Dual Credit/Cambridge International Courses or CLEP Exams: Students pursuing this pathway for the liberal arts had to have one course be in a core content area (e.g., English, math, science, or social studies). The SBOE updated the policy to further define ‘core content’ as at least one course corresponding with the Core Transfer Library.

Please find links to the updated versions of the policy documents for reference: 

Additionally, SBOE reviewed the following clarifications:

     Project-based, Service-based, and Work-based Learning Experiences

In the Policy Guidance document, courses lending themselves to executing the design principles of each experience are listed, though completion of the courses alone does not fulfill this requirement. However, these experiences are not limited to these courses alone. If a student’s experience or a course curriculum aligns with the design principles of any of the employability skills experiences, then that experience will qualify for this requirement.

     Locally Created Pathways Adoption Guidance

The Board has approved two Locally Created Pathways (LCPs) thus far. As demonstrated in the 2018 graduation data, schools are beginning to adopt these pathways to suit their students’ needs. To help clarify and simplify the components of each LCP, SBOE, and IDOE staff developed guidance for schools and districts to follow. IDOE will be posting this guidance to their website, and SBOE staff will send this guidance as schools submit the required notification of adopting an LCP.

 

Office of School Accountability

ESSA Amendment to Federal Accountability

IDOE has published a proposed amendment draft to the ESSA plan affecting the federal accountability system. The draft amendment is available for review and submission of public comment here. For a summary of the proposed changes to the federal accountability system, please review the proposed ESSA amendment overview. Please send any questions here

LEA Annual Report Cards

Beginning with 2017-2018 data, ESSA requires each local educational agency (LEA) that receives Title I assistance to prepare and disseminate an annual LEA report card. An LEA report card must be concise and presented in an understandable and uniform format for parents. ESSA requires each LEA to share its report card on its website, or if the LEA does not have a website, in another public manner determined by the LEA.

In order to comply with this requirement, the LEA may develop its own report card in compliance with all reporting requirements, or provide on its website a link to IDOE's accountability data for the LEA. All required data points for LEAs and schools will be included on IDOE's Compass site. Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, LEAs will be required to provide IDOE the URL location where the LEA has provided its report card for the district and school levels to the public.The submission of this information will be provided through the LEA’s Title I application.

Information on the required data points may be found here. Please email all all questions here.

 

Office of Workforce and STEM Alliances

WebEx on Swiss CTE and Apprenticeship Model Coming December 11

IDOE is hosting a WebEx with CareerWise Colorado CEO Noel Ginsburg. Mr. Ginsburg will be presenting on Colorado’s implementation of the Swiss CTE and Apprenticeship Model. This WebEx continues IDOE’s sharing of best practices of CTE/Apprenticeship models, including the presentation by Dr. Katie Caves on “Exploring the Swiss Model for Indiana Pathways” from August 9. Schools and corporations with established or developing business partnerships are encouraged to share this opportunity with their workforce partners. Click here for registration and more 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 are equipped with 21st Century skills, preparing future generations of Hoosiers to thrive in STEM-related businesses and industries.

An IDOE-approved STEM Certification process and application for schools that want to be recognized as STEM Certified School is in place. IDOE will continue to create 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.

Computer Science Education Week 

Computer Science Education Week is December 3-7. Join the movement and host an Hour of Code in your classroom, school, or community. Click here to learn more about CS Ed Week and Hour of Code. Contact Jake Koressel with questions. 

Counselors for Computing

See this flyer for information about a FREE opportunity for middle and high school counselors. Attendees will receive information and resources to set students on a path toward stable, rewarding, and flexible computing careers that change the world! 

Girls Who Code

IDOE 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. 

Elementary CS Fundamentals Workshops

These one- or two-day Computer Science Fundamentals workshops provide participants with an intro to computer science and pedagogy, an overview of quality elementary CS curriculum, and strategies for teaching “unplugged” classroom activities. This is a FREE opportunity and sub reimbursement is available. Please refer to this information for dates, locations, and to register. Contact Jake Koressel with questions. 

Middle School Integrating CS Workshops

Designed for middle school educators teaching across all subjects, the Integrating Computer Science professional development workshop is designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and instructional strategies to integrate computer science into existing coursework. This is a FREE opportunity and sub reimbursement is available. See this informational page for dates, locations, and to sign-up. Contact Jake Koressel with questions. 

SCRIPT Computer Science Strategic Planning Workshops

The Strategic CSforALL Resource and Implementation Planning Tool (SCRIPT) is an initiative of the CSforALL Consortium. This tool serves as a framework and platform to guide school district staff in the creation of a K-12 computer science implementation plan reflecting the unique goals and needs of their students. Participation in a SCRIPT workshop is a great way to start planning how your district will meet the requirements of SEA 172 by 2021 (click here for more details on SEA 172). 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.

 

Office of Finance

Guidance on Changes to Chart of Accounts

The attached memo provides guidance regarding changes associated with the updated Chart of Accounts. School officials may not make the required transfers until after December 31, when the new Chart of Accounts takes effect. The required transfers and updated fund numbers will be reflected in the January to June 2019 Form 9 financial information submitted on or before July 31, 2019.

 

Office of Title Grants and Support

English Learner Program Evaluation Toolkit Release

The implementation of ESSA has increased accountability for local education agencies as they provide English Learners with evidence-based English language development programs. IDOE's EL team has developed the English Learner Program Evaluation Toolkit to support LEAs as they conduct comprehensive, collaborative evaluations of their EL programs to identify areas of needed improvement and effectively enact revisions to strengthen EL achievement. Additional supporting resources for the toolkit, including in-person and virtual training materials, will be released in the coming months.

Webinars Offered to Support Charter School Enrollment, Recruitment, and Retention

IDOE, through the Quality Counts Charter School Program grant, is hosting a series of webinars to provide support in the area of charter school student enrollment, supported through marketing and communications. Bright Minds Marketing, a consulting company with Hoosier ties, will host the webinars to support charters schools in their student enrollment, recruitment, and retention. Please access this information for the webinar schedule.

December Edition of Title Talk Newsletter Available

This month’s Title Talk newsletter features important information about the 2019 ESEA Conference, TransAct updates, and guidance regarding how to make fiscal changes to federal grants.

 

Office of School Improvement

Guidance on Administering the Universal Screener to Special Education and English Language Learner Students

IDOE has created guidance documents to address administering the universal dyslexia screener to special education and English Language learner populations.This information will serve to support schools’ decisions on how and when to give the universal screener to these specific populations. Please note these guidance documents are in draft form and may change based on SBOE regulations that will be issued at a later date. These documents are located on the Resources page of the IDOE dyslexia website.

Schools Asked to Designate Dyslexia Contact Person 

IDOE is creating a list of educators who are leading the implementation of Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 217, or “the dyslexia law.” This contact person does NOT have to be the school corporation or charter schools’ “authorized reading specialist trained in dyslexia,” as this person does not have to be in place until July 2019. The designated contact person will receive direct updates and guidance from IDOE on the implementation of SEA 217. Please complete this form and submit the required information no later than December 21. The contact person may be changed at a later date if needed. The guidance and updates will be sent directly to this individual. The information will also be included in Dr. McCormick’s Weekly Update. Contact Joe Risch with any questions.

Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and School Improvement Plan (SIP) Roadshow

The Office of School Improvement will be offering technical assistance in completing a Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and School Improvement plan (SIP). All schools identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) in the fall of 2018 will be required to complete a unified CNA/SIP for the 2019-2020 school year. Schools identified as CSI and TSI are strongly encouraged to attend one of these informational sessions. View this flyer for more information and to register. Please contact Robin LeClaire for questions.

Educating the Whole Child Summit

In collaboration with the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions (DMHA) and the Indiana School Mental Health Initiative (ISMHI) at Indiana University, IDOE is honored to host Indiana’s first Educating the Whole Child Summit. The Summit will be held from 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, through 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, at the Monroe County Convention Center in Bloomington. As IDOE strives to support districts in addressing the whole child, we are providing the funds for two people (one administrator and one school-based personnel) from each Title IV district to attend. Please see attached memo for further information.

2018 Additional Target Support and Improvement Schools (ATSI)

On November 14, the State Board of Education confirmed school accountability grades and identified comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) and ATSI schools. The list of CSI/ATSI can be found here. These schools are required by Indiana’s ESSA plan to complete a Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and School Improvement Plan (SIP). The Office of School Improvement will provide technical assistance to schools on completing a CNA/SIP during the regional roadshow. Additional technical assistance and information on requirements for CSI/ATSI schools will be forthcoming. Please contact Robin Leclaire with any questions.

New! #INspirEDmath – Increasing Engagement in the K-12 Math Classroom: Help Needed!

IDOE is organizing a math extravaganza to develop a vision for ambitious instruction in the K-12 math classroom! This learning day will walk participants through The Eight Effective Teaching Practices as outlined in the National Council for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM) publication, "Principles to Action," (2014) in the morning. This will be followed by guided implementation and collaboration time in the afternoon. Click here to volunteer to be a host site. Please contact Robin Conti for more details.

Math Team Monthly Newsletter

Please read the #INspirEDmath newsletter here. This month, you will find resources, inspiration, and activities to use and connect mathematics representations in order to engage all learners.

 

Office of eLearning

Summer of eLearning Host Sites Announced

Continuing a tradition of supporting technology-rich professional development focused on student-centered teaching and learning, the IDOE Office of eLearning is pleased to announce the 21 recipients of the 2019 Summer of eLearning Grant.

Last Call for Free Cybersecurity Training and Phishing Campaign Opportunity

Schools interested in participating in the free cybersecurity training platform offered by IDOE should sign up by December 21. IDOE is offering free training to assist schools with raising staff awareness regarding cybersecurity risks and threats. Many schools have already signed up and approximately 30,000 school staff will have access to this important training. Learn more here. Register your school here.

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Weekly Updates

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