An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for June 28, 2019

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Dr. Mac

REMINDER: Transition of CTE from IDOE to GWC

 

Pursuant to the legislative mandates found in HEA 1001 (2019) and HEA 1002 (2019) – Career and Technical Education (CTE) - require substantial changes to Indiana’s Career and Technical Education programming and funding. These changes include transitioning programming and funding from IDOE to the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet (GWC). As a result of this new law, IDOE CTE staffing positions will be transferred to GWC effective July 1, 2019. This transfer also includes relevant content, documents, links, or webpages regarding CTE and Perkins materials on IDOE's website. The responsibility for licensing remains with IDOE.

 

Updated Information on Required Training for School Employees

Updated Required Training Guidance Now Available

This updated required training guidance provides schools with an understanding of what is required for school employees under state and federal law.

 

Legislative Updates and Guidance

NEW Legislative Guidance Documents

  • Please read this important information regarding the transition to a national licensing exam.

  • Please read this important information regarding education finance.

  • Please read this important information regarding language development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

  • Please read this important information regarding CTE center changes.

  • Please read this important information regarding student mental health.

  • Please read this important information regarding academic credits for religious instruction.

 

Funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Performance Grants Not Renewed

CTE Performance Grants Not Funded for 2020-2021

The Career and Technical Education Performance Grants, which have been awarded by the Department of Workforce Development during the last four years to recognize and reward school efforts in the area of CTE, did not receive an appropriation in the FY 2020-2021 Biennial Budget. Therefore, those funds will no longer be distributed to school corporations around the state. If you have any questions, please contact Beth Meguschar

 

Office of Assessment

New! Recruitment for Educator Committees – I AM

Educators are needed for participation in the I AM Content and Fairness meetings on August 26 and 27 in Indianapolis. Participants will review new I AM items for content and accessibility. All participants will receive a daily stipend and professional growth points for license renewal. Interested educators should complete the survey found here. Administrator approval is required to participate. 

 

Office of School Finance

School Technology Advancement Account Applications (STAA)

The Office of School Finance will accept School Technology Advancement Account applications through July 12. School officials interested in submitting a STAA application can complete an online application at the following link. Please note the application must be completed in one sitting, as no applications can be saved and revisited on the website. Please email all questions here.

Form 9 Financial Data

Between July 1 and July 31, local education agencies must electronically submit January through June 2019 Form 9 Financial Report data through the DOE Online upload program. The Form 9 memo can be found in the Finance Community of the Learning Connection. Please email all questions to this email. 

 

Office of School Improvement

Revised List of Approved Dyslexia Screeners

IC 20-35.5, et seq., as created by SEA 217 (2018), requires schools universally screen all kindergarten, first, and second-grade students annually to identify students who may be “at some risk” or “at risk” for the characteristics of dyslexia. The law requires IDOE release a list of approved screeners for schools. IDOE has revised the approved list of universal Level I and Level II screeners. Please note the additions or changes to these lists are in red text. The revised list of screeners may be found on the IDOE Dyslexia page here, under the Dyslexia Screener tab.

World Languages Webinar

On July 17, IDOE will host a webinar for the new Indiana Academic Standards for World Languages. Suggested guidance for implementation of curriculum, lessons, and units will be featured. This session is open to all world language educators, curriculum leaders, and administrators. Educators will be provided time to work and have access to IDOE’s curriculum specialist and world languages committee members. To register for this free webinar, please sign up here. Connection information for the webinar will be sent once the registration has been submitted.

Alternative Education Date Submission Deadline is July 12

Reminder to school corporations with alternative education programs that the DOE-AL data submission is due Friday, July 12. Please see the attached memo for information about submitting the DOE-AL and other year-end deadlines. 

Summer PD Offered by School Improvement Staff

IDOE's School Improvement staff is offering summer PD titled Planning for Proficiency. This opportunity is for school leaders, coaches, and teachers in grades K-12 working to move all students towards proficiency. The one-day training will include identifying and unpacking high-priority standards, creating instructional calendars, creating common formative assessments, and planning for interventions. Click here to register - seats are limited!

School Improvement Plans for 2019-2020 Can Now Be Submitted

2019-2020 School Improvement Plans are due October 11. Additional information is available here. Contact Robin LeClaire or Melissa Blossom with any questions. 

Reading Plans and Reporting Requirements of IC 20-35.5, et seq., as created by SEA 217 (2018)

IC 20-35.5, et seq., as created by SEA 217 (2018), requires all schools submitting a reading plan to include the following information:

  • Number of students who were administered an initial dyslexia screening during the school year

  • Number of students determined to be at risk or at some risk for dyslexia

This data submitted should be from the previous year. Schools are reporting data from the 2018-2019 school year in this reading plan (written for the 2019-2020 school year). Dyslexia screening was not mandated for the 2018-2019 school year, but still must be reported. IDOE understands the 2018-2019 data (reported this year) may be significantly different from the coming years, when the mandated screening is in place. Please contact Joe Risch with any questions.

Elementary Reading Plan Window Closing June 30

All State Board of Education accredited schools with a section of kindergarten, first, second, or third-grade are required to submit an Elementary Reading Plan. The 2019-2020 Reading Plan submission window is open now and will close June 30. Please find updated guidance for the Reading Plan submission here. Questions may be directed to Rose Tomishima.

High Ability and Advanced Placement Monthly Newsletter

Reflect, refresh, and rejuvenate by reading the Aspire Higher Newsletter. This month, you will find information about Advanced Placement, grant  processes, resources, inspiration, and incredible FREE professional development opportunities.

 

Office of Innovation

2019 IDOE Superintendent Summit Produces New Guidance Document

IDOE’s inaugural Superintendent Summit was held on Friday, June 14, in Indianapolis. More than 220 district-level leaders from across the state attended this highly successful event. IDOE provided important updates in several areas, and attendees were asked to provide feedback on each presentation. Based upon the feedback and questions from attendees, IDOE produced a Frequently Asked Questions document attached here.

Teacher Licensure Options for 2019-2020 

Please read the following guidance related to staffing and licensure options for the upcoming school year.

Career Awareness and Career Development Requirement

By November 1, 2019 each school is required to complete the appropriate grade level form linked below. Additional information can be found in this memo.  

Local Career Coaching Grant

The Governor’s Workforce Cabinet has launched the Local Career Coaching Grant opportunity. This is available to groups of employers, educators, and community leaders to plan or implement a sustainable system for the delivery of: 

  • Local, state, and national career information; 

  • The educational attainment levels needed for those careers; and

  • Experiential learning and training for students and adults. 

Additional information can be found here. Grants are due by August 2. Grant submissions and questions should be directed to Nathan Storm.

 

Office of Title Grants and Support

Dual Language Immersion Awardees

The Office of Title Grants and Support is proud to announce that in the fifth year of the Dual Language Immersion Pilot Program, three schools have received grants to continue existing programs, and two schools will be receiving funding for the first time. Dual Language Immersion (DLI) supports bilingualism and biliteracy, high academic achievement, and sociocultural competence. The DLI Program grant distributes financial assistance to school corporations or charter schools for either the establishment of new DLI programs or the introduction of new languages in existing DLI programs. The Dual Immersion website has additional information, including links to the pilot program.

Title I Grant Submission Due July 1

As a reminder, Title I grants for the 2019-2020 school year are due July 1, in order for LEAs to revert costs back to this date. LEAs who need additional assistance in submitting their grants in substantially approvable form may reach out to their assigned grants specialist, which can be found here.

 

Office of School Technology

In the near future, Indiana educators will be able to use their G-Suite for Education or Microsoft Office 365 username/password to login to Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) systems. Schools that do not have one of these products should consider using one or the other to streamline access to IDOE systems. The first phase is to connect to the domains of public/charter corporations. Technology contacts listed on the corporation’s technology plan were emailed last week, requesting domain information and requesting the corporation specify between Google and MS 365. IDOE has received information from half of the public corps/charters. If you are a tech plan contact and believe you should have received this, please email IDOE here

 

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