An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for August 23, 2019

indiana department of education - doctor jennifer mccormick - superintendent of public instruction
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ILEARN Scores Released Publicly September 4

Dr. Mac

During the past two weeks, districts and schools received embargoed ILEARN scores. When compared to past ISTEP+ scores, the scores for Indiana’s new assessment, ILEARN, indicated lower achievement levels across the state in both English/language arts and mathematics. The combination of the rigors associated with this newly aligned college and career readiness assessment, national normative data, and the defined established performance cuts all contributed to the lower performance levels. While frustrating, performance dips at some level were expected. ILEARN scores will be made public at the September 4 State Board of Education meeting. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will advocate for legislative action addressing the negative impact on educators, schools, districts, and communities. In addition, IDOE will continue to advocate for a new, modernized, state-legislated accountability system that is fair, accurate, and transparent. 

Please Share This Important Information

Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission will be holding public input sessions, and educator voice is critical. Dates, times, and locations are listed below. Additionally, there is an opportunity for public comments to be made online

Saturday, August 24, 10:00 a.m. CT

Central High School Auditorium

5400 First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710  

 

Tuesday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m. ET

Concord Jr. High Cafeteria

59397 County Road 11, Elkhart, IN 46517

 

Legislative Guidance and Updates

HEA 1008 Career Ladders Regional Meetings

The Office of Leadership and Innovation is hosting three convenings to provide additional guidance on HEA 1008. During each session, Dr. Andrew Melin, Chief Innovation Officer, will discuss the legislative context, application timeline, eligibility, allocation determinations, and the application process. Each session will also allot time for questions to be asked.

Please register below:

  • August 28 from 9:00 a.m. EST – 11:00 a.m. EST at MSD of Lawrence Township, 6501 Sunnyside Road Indianapolis, IN, 46236. Register here.

  • September 3 from 9:00 a.m. EST – 11:00 a.m. EST at Warsaw Schools, 1 Administration Drive, Warsaw, IN, 46580. Register here.

  • September 5 from 9:00 a.m. EST – 11:00 a.m. EST at Monroe County School, Co-Lab, 553 E. Miller Drive, Bloomington, IN, 47401. Register here.

Stop the Bleed Questionnaire

IDOE is working with stakeholders to develop guidance materials regarding the implementation of House Enrolled Act 1063 (School Safety Equipment). In order to develop a process that will direct school corporations and charter schools to resources for obtaining bleeding control kits and/or staff training, IDOE and its community partners are asking schools to provide data regarding the current status of these items in their schools via a short questionnaire. Please see the attached memo for more information.

 

Top 10 Teacher of the Year Finalists Named

Congratulations to the 10 finalists for Indiana Teacher of the Year. Please see the list here.

 

Students and Educators Needed for Advisory Roles

Student Advisory Council – Seeking New Members

Dr. McCormick is looking for high school juniors from congressional districts 3, 4, and 9 who would be interested in serving a two-year term on the Student Advisory Council. The student must be recommended by the high school principal and approved by the superintendent. This student would be expected to miss school to attend two meetings per school year. The student should be in good academic standing, actively involved, a positive role model for others, and able to travel to Indianapolis. Interested principals should submit the student's name, school name, school corporation, school address, and school phone number to Bailey Walker, along with a short description on why the IDOE should choose this student. Only students from the three congressional districts will be chosen. Submissions are due September 6 by 12:00 p.m.. 

Teacher Advisory Council – Seeking New Members

Dr. McCormick is looking for educators of all grade levels from congressional districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 who would be interested in serving a two-year term on the Teacher Advisory Council. The educator must be recommended by their principal and approved by the superintendent. This educator would be expected to miss school to attend two meetings per school year. The educator should be actively involved in various school committees/sports/clubs, etc., a positive role model for others, and able to travel to Indianapolis. Interested principals should submit the educator’s name, grade level and subject currently teaching, school name, school corporation, school address, and school phone number to Bailey Walker, along with a short description on why the IDOE should choose this educator. One educator per congressional district will be chosen. Submissions are due September 6 by 12:00 p.m.. 

Office of Accountability

Shift Coming for Public Reporting of Proficiency Rates

IDOE has historically published statewide assessment performance rates for all students enrolled in schools. Beginning with the public release of assessment data in 2019, IDOE platforms for public reporting of data (INview and Compass) will publish statewide assessment rates for schools based only on students enrolled for at least 162 days during the school year. This change has been made to align all data points to the business rules and metrics of the accountability system. Questions regarding this change may be directed to the Office of Accountability.

 

Office of Assessment

ISPROUT Training for Data Managers and Training of Trainers

IDOE has scheduled training for ISPROUT, the early learning assessment tool for all preschool students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), for data managers and training of trainers. Each corporation or site must have a data manager. Data managers will be responsible for creating ISPROUT accounts and importing students for their corporation or site. Trainer of Trainers will become certified to prepare other teachers at their sites to administer ISPROUT. For some schools or sites, the data manager and the trainer of trainers may be the same individual. For more information about ISPROUT, please view this informational webinar or visit the Office of Student Assessment website. Please contact Felecia Jordan with any questions. 

2019-2020 AIR Systems Training Schedule Now Available

IDOE and American Institutes for Research (AIR) strongly recommends educators involved in ILEARN, I AM, IREAD-3, and/or ISTEP+ test administration(s) attend one or more optional training sessions to become familiar with AIR’s online systems and processes. The scheduled trainings will also highlight any systems updates and enhancements available for the 2019-2020 school year. Registration is required for all live sessions. Recordings of live sessions and other pre-recorded modules will be posted on the Indiana Assessment Portal, as noted on the schedule.

IDOE / AIR Nightly File Upload Temporarily Suspended

IDOE’s nightly file upload to AIR’s systems has been suspended until the week of September 16. Consequently, any new updates to student enrollment and/or accommodations cannot be added to AIR’s Test Information and Distribution Engine (TIDE) during this period. Thus, the radial button in ORS may not reflect all current students. Any changes reported during this time will reflect in TIDE on September 23 when the system resets for the 2019-2020 school year. This short break will still allow schools to access student results in ORS.

 

Office of School Improvement

Additional Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTTS) Training Session Added to Indianapolis

An additional day of training on how MTSS can be implemented in your school and/or district has been added to the list of regional trainings. Please register at this link for the date and location that works for your team. If you have any questions please contact Christy Berger.

New Social-Emotional Resource Now Available

Make sure to check out the new feature on the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness page. Educators can schedule technical assistance calls with IDOE staff for social-emotional learning and/or mental health supports. Please email Lisa Truitt with any questions.

Elementary Literacy Family Guides - Spanish Translation

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. Click here to view the Spanish translation!

Educators Needed for One-Day Collaboration on Math Framework

Math teachers in grades 9-12, along with EL and SPED teachers who support high school math teachers and students are needed for a one-day collaboration on content for Phase Two of the Math Framework. Sign up here.

Expulsion Officer Training Opportunities Scheduled

IDOE will host three training opportunities for expulsion officers. This training will include important information for those who are already serving in this capacity and for those who may be new to the role. An opportunity for questions, scenarios, and information on new and longstanding laws and protocols will be covered in this four-hour training. Sessions will be held in South Bend and Jasper. Click on each city for registration dates, times, and locations.

New Professional Development Opportunities Set for Math Educators

Math specialists from the Office of School Improvement are organizing another professional development series to continue supporting IDOE’s vision for ambitious instruction in the K-12 math classroom. Click here for additional information and registration links.

School Improvement Newsletter

The Office of School Improvement is ready to help in any way needed. Access the latest newsletter here for tips in completing your CNA/SIP, ramping up ambitious instruction, responding with culturally-responsive teaching, and more. 

Math Newsletter

Access the August edition of the #INspirEDmath newsletter here. This month’s focus is increasing number sense in students from kindergarten through calculus.

 

Office of Special Education

Indiana Medicaid Administrative Claiming Program Services Available

In addition to Medicaid billing for Individualized Education Program (IEP)- related services, Indiana schools may also participate in the school-based Indiana Medicaid Administrative Claiming (Indiana MAC) program to recover some of their state and local costs to provide administrative support activities to help any student with unmet health needs.  Schools interested in beginning the Indiana MAC program in the October-December quarter need to sign up no later than September 6. Sign-up and additional information is available here.

Updated Resources Available for Accommodations

Indiana IEP, the web-based individualized education program (IEP) system, recently released a major update to the State Assessment and Other Participations page. This section has been renamed Accommodations and first asks users for daily accommodations to be entered into the student’s IEP based on his or her individualized needs. From there, the user will be asked a series of questions prior to reviewing assessment accommodations. For a short video summarizing the recent update, click here. For a more detailed walkthrough of the accommodations page, click here.

Please see the Accommodations Page Helpful Tips document, as well as the Accommodations Crosswalk, for additional information related to the accommodations page update in Indiana IEP.

 

Office of School Finance

Fall and Spring Membership Count Dates

The Indiana Department of Education will collect an average daily membership (ADM) count of students in the fall on September 13, and in the spring on February 3, 2020. Both counts will be used to determine funding for the Basic Tuition Support Grant. Please read the Membership (DOE-ME) layout which can be found in Data Layouts at the following link. For questions regarding membership, please email Melissa Ambre. Fall count date:  September 13.

Fall and Spring Full-Time Equivalency Count Dates for Adult Learner Charter Schools 

IDOE will collect a full-time equivalency (FTE) count of students participating in charter school Adult Learner programs in the fall on September 13, 2019 and in the spring on February 3, 2020. Both counts will be used to determine Adult Learner distributions to qualifying charter schools. Please read the Membership (DOE-MA) layout which can be found in Data Layouts at the following link. For questions regarding the FTE count, please email Melissa Ambre. Fall count date:  September 13. 

Summer School

The deadline for public and charter schools to submit the Final Instructional Costs Report for Summer School 2019 is September 13. Eligible schools are posted in this memo. Access to the report is posted here or 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. Reports are due by September 13.

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 here. If you have questions regarding the report, please email Skii Ficklin. Reports are due by August 31.

 

Office of Title Grants and Support

Grant Deadline Reminders

Title II, III, and IV applications are due August 30, 2019. Allocations and application materials can be found on the respective websites. Visit the Grants website and then click on the appropriate grant. Need support? Contact your assigned federal grants specialist, which can be found at the bottom of the same website.

Updated Supplement Not Supplant Methodology Requirements

Due to recently released final non-regulatory guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, additional LEAs are now exempt from the Title I supplement not supplant methodology requirements due to certain grade spans having all or no Title I schools. Please see the updated guidance for further information for the specific exemptions. LEAs who are now exempt will not be required to demonstrate compliance of previously drafted methodologies. All resources are located here. Questions may be sent to Nathan Williamson.

Comparability of Services under Title I

LEAs who accept Title I funds, including traditional public schools and charter schools, must annually determine comparability of services under Title I. The comparability form is now open and due October 31. Please see the attached memo, guidance, and application guide.

2019-2020 Non-English Speaking Program Applications

The 2019-2020 Non-English Speaking Program (NESP) grant application is available in the IDOE IntelliGrants system and is due August 30 at 4 p.m. EDT. The NESP application is the first to be piloted in the new streamlined grants management system, and IDOE has provided a memo and video walkthrough with additional information and support for access and use of the system.

2019-2020 English Learner Plans

All Indiana LEAs are required to annually submit their plan to identify, assess, and provide additional English language services for English learners. LEAs applying for Title III complete the English Learner Plan as part of their application and do not need to submit anything further to meet this requirement. For those LEAs who choose not to apply for Title III, the English Learner Plan must be submitted by email to the assigned IDOE EL Specialist by September 27 at 4 p.m. EDT. A video walk-through has been provided to assist LEAs as they complete and submit their plans.

McKinney-Vento 2019-2022 Request for Proposals

The 2019-2022 McKinney-Vento request for proposals (RFP) is now available. The competitive grant proposals are due August 30 at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Please see the McKinney-Vento page of IDOE's website for the RFP, rubric, budget, and required templates. In order to adjust to ESSA requirements, the structure of the McKinney-Vento grant has changed to promote coordination within regions and improve services for homeless children and youth.

 

Office of Innovation

Indiana K-12 Work-Based Learning Manual

In partnership with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship, and educators from around the state, IDOE is publishing the 2019-2020 Indiana K-12 Work-Based Learning Manual. The manual provides an overview of the 11 program criteria providing a baseline for developing and further defining high-quality, work-based learning. The manual also includes important resources and templates to help in launching your own work-based learning experiences for students.

ASVAB Career Exploration Program Event

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) is a Graduation Pathway option in Indiana. The ASVAB CEP helps students (sophomore and above) identify potentially satisfying career fields and all options to career field entry, and gives them the tools to make actionable, informed post-secondary plans.

On September 12, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. EST in the Ben Davis High School Auditorium, IDOE will host an ASVAB Career Exploration Program orientation event. This presentation will be the first in a series hosted by IDOE to help interested parties use all available ASVAB CEP tools.

IDOE encourages each high school in Indiana to send their ASVAB point of contact. Please register here.

Employability Skills Implementation Guide

According to I.C. 20-30-5-14, schools need to include employability skills into their curriculum. The State Board of Education recently approved K-12 Employability Skills Standards. IDOE has published the second of a series of resources related to Employability Skills Standards through the Employability Skills Implementation Guide. The guide is designed to provide ideas to help you plan district, school, and classroom-based strategies to infuse employability skills into the daily routine and lessons of students in your community.

Computer Science Implementation Toolkit

Is your district at the beginning of its computer science journey? Do you need assistance in developing your strategy? Check out this newly developed Computer Science Implementation Toolkit for assistance. Contact Jake Koressel, Computer Science Specialist, with questions or additional assistance.

Registration is 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. Direct questions to Michele Roberts, Director of Computing Outreach for IU School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering.

IU Adds Computer Science to Dual-Credit Offerings

Click here for information on new computer science dual-credit offerings through Indiana University’s Advance College Project.

PLTW Computer Science Grant

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has a computer science grant available to Indiana schools! Learn more by attending an informational session RSVP here or visit the PLTW grants page. Contact Theresa Hall with questions.

 

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