An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for August 2, 2019

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Back to School Message From Dr. McCormick

Dr. Mac

As the 2019-2020 school year begins, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick shares this message.

Legislative Updates and Guidance

2019 Legislative Session Outcomes for LEAs

The beginning of the school year coincides with the start of many new education mandates. As a reminder, please read this brief summary and action item document for all local education agencies resulting from the 2019 legislative session. This document is not the sole form of guidance for these passed bills. Please visit IDOE's Legislative Affairs webpage for in- depth guidance concerning each enrolled act of legislation.

UPDATED Required Trainings Guidance

This updated required training guidance provides schools with an understanding of what is required for school employees under state and federal law. This notification is offered for those who may have missed the original publication shared on June 28.

 

Applications for Teacher Leader Bootcamp Now Available

Bootcamp Applications Due August 16

IDOE's Office of Innovation and Office of School Improvement are committed to the recruitment, retention, and development of excellent educators across the state of Indiana. As such, we are pleased to announce the 2019-2020 Teacher Leaders Bootcamp.

The 2019-2020 Teacher Leaders Bootcamp is an opportunity for Indiana teachers to engage in innovative and relevant professional development in order to grow as teacher leaders. This experience will allow participating teachers to support teacher leadership development and implementation in their schools and districts. The Bootcamp offers the opportunity to become engaged in a statewide network of teacher leaders to promote and strengthen teacher leadership in Indiana. For more information, click here.

 

Office of Assessment

ILEARN Program Milestones for 2019-2020

Corporations and schools may reference this timeline of important events as they plan for the 2019-2020 ILEARN assessments.

I AM Program Milestones for 2019-2020

Corporations and schools may reference this timeline of important events as they plan for the 2020 administration of I AM.

ILEARN Updates for 2019-2020

IDOE conducted feedback surveys following the 2018-2019 ILEARN administration. IDOE reviewed the survey results with AIR in order to implement key ILEARN Updates for the 2019-2020 school year. Please contact the Office of Assessment if you have questions.

I AM Updates for 2019-2020

IDOE conducted a feedback survey following the 2019 I AM administration. The results of this survey were reviewed with AIR to make improvements for the 2019-2020 school year. AIR has confirmed the changes outlined in this memo will be implemented for the 2020 administration of I AM. Please contact Stephanie Thompson at with questions.

ILEARN Biology and U.S. Government ECAs Participation Guidance

IDOE defined participation guidance for the ILEARN Biology and U.S. Government End-of-Course Assessments (ECAs) continuing with the 2019-2020 school year. Schools and corporations should consider this guidance in advance of test administration for individual students completing Biology and/or U.S. Government coursework. Please contact the Office of Assessment with any questions.

Implementation of Accommodations to Interim/Formative Assessments

Schools should apply a systematic approach to the implementation of student accommodations to different assessments within their assessment system. This guidance offers considerations regarding the use of accommodations during formative/interim assessment.

 

Office of Special Education

Article 7 Updates and Guidance

Article 7 has been amended and is available in English and will be available soon in Spanish. “Navigating the Course: Finding Your Way through Indiana’s Special Education Rules” has been revised and is available in English and Spanish. The Notice of Procedural Safeguards is not being revised at this time.

 

Office of Accountability

Guidance on Instructional Day Waiver Policy

With the start of the 2019-2020 school year, the Office of Accountability and Accreditation wants to make schools aware of the Instructional Day Waiver Policy that will be in effect. Please see the attached memo.

 

Office of School Improvement

Upcoming School Improvement Conference: ”Sailing Toward Proficiency”

The Inaugural School Improvement Conference, “Sailing Toward Proficiency," will be held on Thursday, September 5, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Indianapolis. This conference will feature keynote speaker Gerry Brooks and numerous breakout sessions presented by the Office of School Improvement staff. Register here, as space is limited for this free event. There will be sessions on cultural competency, chronic absenteeism, dyslexia, literacy, math, alternative education, the Opportunity Myth, Root Cause Analysis, and much more. Contact Melissa Blossom with any questions.

Elementary Literacy Family Guides

IDOE's literacy team has created Literacy Family Guides for each elementary grade level K-5. These guides share grade level skills and ideas for how parents can get involved in their child's education. Spanish translations are coming soon.

Resources Available for the Required Naturalization Examination

In accordance with SEA 132, high schools are required to administer the naturalization examination provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Resources and links for teaching civics and for accessing the naturalization examination are listed at IDOE’s Civics Education page. The naturalization examination may be found in the “Classroom Resources” section of the Civics page.  Educators may access the naturalization examination directly by going to this link. Please contact Matt Walsh, IDOE Curriculum Specialist, if you have further questions.

Indiana Literacy Early Intervention Grant (EIG)

The 2019-2020 Indiana Literacy Early Intervention Grant (EIG) is focused on improving early literacy. This grant is open to all accredited public, charter, and non-public schools that include kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students. Grant funds are to be used to better equip teachers to meet the needs of students, to enhance student engagement, and to increase student literacy achievement. Please visit the EIG webpage for more information. All schools must complete the Request to Participate by August 30 in order to be eligible for funding.

Analytical Algebra II Consent Form Updated

Last year the State Board of Education (SBOE) created a consent form for Analytical Algebra II. SBOE has updated the consent form to more accurately reflect the graduation requirements for all diploma types. Please find the revised form here. The consent portion of the form and the process for obtaining consent has not changed. Student enrollment in Analytical Algebra II, in lieu of Algebra II, requires a signed consent form. Please contact Dr. Jennifer Jensen with any questions.

Revised Indiana Academic Standards for Heritage Language Learner Available for Review

The revised Indiana Academic Standards for Heritage Language Learner is now open for public comment. Please click here for the feedback form, which will close August 16.  

Dyslexia Professional Awareness

IC 20-35.5-6-2(B), as created by SEA 217 (2018), states IDOE will ensure all teachers working for school corporations and charter schools receive professional awareness on dyslexia. This professional awareness will include information on the characteristics of dyslexia, evidence-based interventions, and evidence-based accommodations for dyslexia. This information is offered through IDOE’s Moodle course website. Please visit IDOE’s dyslexia page under the “Dyslexia Professional Awareness” tab for a link to the professional awareness course, and directions on how to set up and log into IDOE’s Moodle website.

Additional Resources Available for the Arkansas Rapid Automatized Name Screener

IDOE has released new documents and videos to enhance schools’ knowledge and usability of the Arkansas Rapid Automatized Name Screener (AR-RAN). IDOE has released a revised version of the screener, a tutorial video on how to give the AR-RAN, and a frequently asked question (FAQ) document for the screener. IDOE has also created a section in the FAQ document providing sample cut scores and explaining how to calculate cut scores for the AR-RAN. For additional clarity, IDOE has created a video showing how to calculate AR-RAN cut scores in Excel. Visit IDOE’s dyslexia website to access these resources under the “Dyslexia Screeners” tab.

Dyslexia Resource Guide Available

IDOE is excited to announce the release of the dyslexia resource guide for IC 20-35.5, et seq., as created by SEA 217 (2018). This resource guide is a compendium of all reference materials, forms, and guidance documents needed for the successful implementation of IC 20-35.5, et seq. The dyslexia resource guide may be downloaded from IDOE’s dyslexia website.

 

Office of School Finance

Summer School

The window for public and charter schools to submit the Final Instructional Costs Report for Summer School 2019 opened on July 29.  Eligible schools are posted in this memo. The link to access the report is posted on our website or it can be accessed directly by clicking on this link. If you have additional questions about the Final Instructional Costs Report for Summer School 2019, please contact Kathryn Roth or Melissa Ambre.

Form 9 Financial Data 

Form 9 financial information is due for the period of January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019. Click here for Form 9 guidance, which includes the updated Chart of Accounts. Any questions should be directed to the Form 9 inbox.

Annual Financial Report

Each public school corporation, excluding charter schools, must submit a copy of the Annual Financial Report to IDOE. The report can be found in the Moodle Public Finance Community. The Annual Financial Report and proof of publication should be provided as a scanned document in a single PDF file on or before August 31 to this address. If you have questions regarding the report, please email Skii Ficklin.  

 

Office of Innovation

Updated STEM School Certification Process and Evaluation Rubric

Members of the IDOE’s Department of Workforce and Innovation have been working with the State’s STEM Leadership Cadre to update the STEM School Certification process, including the STEM School Evaluation Rubric. This work has been undertaken in order to more closely align the STEM Certification process with the Indiana STEM Six-Year Strategic Plan and to make the process more rigorous and objective. Access the 2019-2020 STEM School Certification Guide here and the updated rubric available in Google SheetsExcel. Contact Dr. Christy Hilton, STEM Specialist, with questions. A webinar explaining the application process is available here.

UPDATE: HEA 1008 Career Ladders Grant Application - Deadline Extended

Per House Enrollment Act (HEA) 1008, the Office of Leadership and Innovation has released the Career Ladders Grant Application. The application deadline originally set for August 23 has been extended to December 2. To assist districts with eligibility requirements, additional guidance for performance model implementation will be released next week.

Teacher Appreciation Grant

Teacher Appreciation Grant policies are due on September 13. For more information, click here.

Educators Rising

How do you cultivate student interest in the teaching profession? Consider integrating Educators Rising into your current Career and Technical Education course offerings or starting an Educators Rising club. IDOE, in partnership with the Indiana State Teachers Association, is hosting an informational webinar about Educators Rising on August 21, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Registration for the webinar can be found here.

Sports and STEM Fest

The Indianapolis Colts are hosting their first annual Sports and STEM Fest on October 12 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center! This event will have hands-on, STEM-related activities for students K-12 and their families to enjoy. Registration also includes a ticket to the Colts vs Titans game on December 1. Use this link to sign-up as a participant or as a vendor.

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellowship

Are you committed to improving equitable access and achievement in computer science? Do you want to work at the national level by sharing your expertise? If so, consider applying to become a CSTA Equity Fellow. Find more information here. The deadline to apply is August 5.

Computer Science Honor Society

Interested in encouraging secondary students’ enthusiasm for computer science, honoring academic excellence, and promoting service? Consider starting a Computer Science Honor Society at your school. Visit the Computer Science Teachers Association website for more information.

Registration is Now Open for Indiana’s Third Annual K-12 Computer Science Education Conference

Indiana’s Third Annual Flipping the Switch conference will take place on September 16-17. Register for the event here. Session proposals can be submitted here. Direct questions to Michele Roberts, Director of Computing Outreach for IU School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.

 

Office of Title Grants and Support

Webinar Outlines Funding Possibilities for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Designated Schools

A School Improvement Grants (SIG) webinar was held on Friday, July 19. The webinar contains information for CSI designated schools for 2019-2020 funding possibilities. The webinar and presentation documents are now available for review on IDOE’s School Improvement Grant website.

Resources for Children Who Are Homeless Available Through Webinar

LEAs interested in applying for additional funding supporting homeless children and youth may wish to review the webinar “McKinney-Vento: Homeless Youth Education Supplemental Support and Grant Process Review.” This presentation addresses updates to the 2019-2021 application process for McKinney-Vento funding due August 30. A summary of the grant requirements and a timeline for reviewing the grant and funding distribution are included. For additional information, please reach out to Gina Woodward.

 

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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  is distributed every Friday.