An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for February 22, 2019

indiana department of education - doctor jennifer mccormick - superintendent of public instruction
dgh

Dr. Mac

 

 

 

Increases Reported in AP Exams Offered, Taken and Passed

 

The Indiana Department of Education is proud to share great news concerning Advanced Placement testing. Please take a moment to read about our continued growth in AP here.

 

 

Office of School Accountability

Instructional Time and Performance-Qualified Districts/Schools

Please see the following memo for information and guidance on adjusting instructional time for performance qualified schools. Please contact the Office of School Accountability with any questions.

Office of Assessment

ISTEP+ Grade 10 FTA, Part 1 Window Opens Monday, February 25

The 2019 Spring ISTEP+ Grade 10 First Time Administration (FTA) Part 1 window will be open Monday, February 25, through Friday, March 22. Please ensure that all students have participated in the Practice Test: Part 1 before the operational test. Results from the assessment will be available mid-June. As a reminder, the ISTEP+ Timeline of Important Events and materials checklists are available here 

ISTEP+ Spring Retest Paper Testing Windows Close Friday

The ISTEP+ Grade 10 and ECA Spring Retest paper testing windows close on Friday, March 1, to accommodate shipping, processing, and scoring in order to meet reporting timelines. The last day to ship materials to Pearson is Monday, March 4, in order to receive results. 

2018-2019 ILEARN Breach Form Availability

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has developed breach forms for limited use to minimize undetermined results for groups of students with a compromised test administration. In the rare event that a corporation or school experiences a large-scale testing irregularity, IDOE may determine the affected student population (e.g., classroom, grade, school) should be administered a breach test form. Review this memo and share with other corporation and school administrators.

ILEARN Biology ECA: February Window Closes Thursday, February 28 – Post-Test Activities

Students must complete both the Non-Performance Task and Performance Task segments by this Thursday, February 28, and ship any paper-and-pencil materials to the scoring vendor (Measurement, Inc.) no later than Thursday, March 7 (student tests shipped after this date will not be scored). Directions for transcribing, packing, and shipping all secure test materials are outlined in the ILEARN Test Coordinator Manual. Schools should review IDOE’s guidance for details about the appropriate processing, return, and/or disposal of test materials. Contact our office, email the AIR Help Desk, or call AIR at 866-298-4256 with any questions.

Current Indiana Educators Needed to Score ILEARN Assessment Items – Share with Educators!

IDOE encourages current Indiana educators from all school corporations to apply to score open-ended items appearing on ILEARN assessments through March 15. Compensation for current Indiana educators is now $16/hour for this opportunity. Interested educators should complete this application after carefully reviewing the entire job posting. Please share this updated flyer with educators, and contact AIR with any questions.

IDOE Policy Regarding Weekend Testing

The Office of Student Assessment defined guidance for schools who plan to administer any Indiana statewide assessments (e.g., ILEARN, IREAD-3, I AM, ISTEP+) to students on weekends during established assessment windows. Please review this guidance and share with your building administrators and others involved in creating local test schedules.

Office of School Improvement

High Ability/AP Summer Institute Opportunities

Attention AP Calculus and AB and AP Language and Composition teachers. If you have been teaching these courses three years or less, you are eligible to attend the AP Summer Institute for free. This offer is available for the first 25 teachers for each course. Please click here for details.

Literacy Framework Phase II: Social Studies and ELA Educators Needed

IDOE’s Literacy Team invites passionate social studies and English language arts educators to participate in the development of the Literacy Framework’s Phase II.

Please note that specific grade spans are requested for the upcoming dates:

  • Wednesday, March 13:  6-8 grade social studies & ELA educators

  • Thursday, March 14:      9-12 grade social studies & ELA educators

If interested, please complete this JotForm. A confirmation email will be sent by Friday, March 8, to educators selected to participate.

To Help Frame Your Thinking:

  • The work group sessions are designed to involve Indiana’s 6-12 grade social studies and English language arts educators utilizing a disciplinary literacy approach to develop practical examples for the Literacy Framework - Phase II.

  • Educators are the primary audience for this document.

  • While parents/family members are welcome to utilize the information, the Literacy Framework is written specifically for educators.

  • Our guidance will span from birth to grade 12.

  • The goal is to create a tool to support educators in the implementation of the Indiana Academic Standards.  

High School Math Teachers Needed!

High school math teachers are needed to continue the development of practical examples and digital resources for every standard in every high school math course. For more information and to sign up, use this link.

Monthly Math Newsletter Now Available

The Math Team has published the February newsletter. Read the latest mathematics information here.

Social Service Program Funds Available

FSSA/Division of Mental Health and Addiction is proud to announce a funding opportunity to support evidence-based program models that partners with elementary, middle, and high schools. This opportunity provides social services to children, parents, caregivers, teachers, and the community. The request for funding (RFF), with requirements and expectations that outline the program activities, can be found here. All inquiries regarding the RFF must be sent here

March Celebrates Social Workers

March 3-9 is National School Social Work Week. Please read this information to learn more, or contact Jeff Wittman.

 

Office of Innovation

CTE Concentrator Resources

Be sure to visit the CTE Pathways page for recently added resources that provide clear guidance on transitioning from the Perkins IV to the Perkins V CTE Concentrator option for Graduation Pathways purposes. You will find the Perkins Concentrator Guidance memo, a recorded CTE Concentrator Webinar, and a FAQ document.

Webex Series Continues March 5

The Office of Innovation will host its second Innovation Webex as part of a monthly series focusing on innovation in career preparation and work-based learning programs. On March 5, a one-hour Webex highlighting work-based learning strategies through the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (PTECH) model. PTECH is a four to six year program (grades 9-14) focused on engaging students in hands-on, project-based learning to be successful in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Students successfully completing the program earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree at no cost. Graduates are first in line for a job with industry partners in the growing STEM career fields. This Webex will take place Tuesday, March 5, from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST. The registration form is available here. Please contact Ben Carter for additional information.

Request for CTE Funding Review Deadline Is March 15

The deadline to submit a Request for Review of Local Funding is March 15. A Request for Review must be completed for each course and from each school corporation. Use the link above to access the form. If you have any questions, contact Beth Meguschar.

 

Office of Title Grants and Support

Quality Counts Charter School Program Funding

IDOE is hosting two informational sessions regarding access to Quality Counts Grant funding. The grant emphasizes the opening, expansion, or replication of high-quality charter schools to ensure all students, particularly those from underserved populations, have the opportunity to meet Indiana’s challenging academic standards.Click here for more information.

2019-2020 Title I Schoolwide Program Guidance Available

2019-2020 Schoolwide Program Guidance is now available. Under ESSA, LEAs have greater flexibility regarding schoolwide programs. Increased flexibility under ESSA has allowed all schools regardless of poverty to have access to a schoolwide program as long as it meets the needs of the lowest achieving students in the school. To be approved for schoolwide status, schools must submit an electronic Assurance of Schoolwide Plan (click here to access). The assurance must be completed by Friday, June 14, prior to submission of the 2019-2020 Title I Application. For additional information, please click here.

 

facebookinstagramtwitteryoutuber s s feedflickr

Weekly Updates

View previous weekly updates from Dr. McCormick here.  

Stay Informed

Did you miss a message? View previous weekly emails here. Want daily updates? Be sure to follow the Department on Twitter and Facebook.

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