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

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

Championing Public Education Cannot Be Just a Moment; It Must Be a Movement.

 

Kids deserve more. Thank you to the more than 15,000 educators from across the state of Indiana who participated in Tuesday's Red for Ed Day of Action.

 

Responsible citizenship is not easy and often requires difficult decisions. Kids deserve purposeful inclusion of educator's voices into our states's decision making. Without a doubt, educators and supporters will continue to advocate for Hoosier students, as our kids deserve nothing less. Championing public education cannot be just a moment; it must be a movement.

Dr. Mac

Holiday Closing

IDOE offices will be closed November 28 and 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Office of Information Technology

New Public Corporation Transfer Reports Now Available

In accordance with the requirements of IC 20-51-4-12, the Indiana Department of Education is issuing both the Spring 2018-2019 Public Corporation Transfer Report and the Fall 2019-2020 Transfer Report. These reports show how many students within the school corporation’s boundaries are attending schools within the corporation. Additionally, the reports indicate the destination of students transferring out of the school corporation as well as the source corporations for students transferring into a school corporation.

 

Office of Assessment

ILEARN Results Temporarily Unavailable in the Online Reporting System (ORS) Early Next Week

ILEARN student test scores will be temporarily inaccessible in ORS Monday and Tuesday, November 25 and 26. ILEARN scores will be available again on Wednesday, November 27, pending quality control completion. IREAD-3, I AM, and ISTEP+ student test score reports will continue to be available during this time. Please contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk if you have any questions. The Help Desk can be reached by phone at 866-298-4256 or via email

Fall 2019 ILEARN Biology ECA - Additional Order Window Continues

The American Institutes for Research (AIR)’s Additional Order (AO) window is open through Thursday, December 5, in anticipation of next month’s ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) test administration. CTCs must manage this process in TIDE for any paper assessments requested. Contact the AIR Help Desk at 866-298-4256 with any questions.

Systems Readiness Test (SRT) for Spring 2020 Assessments - Window Closes Wednesday

The SRT window continues through Wednesday, November 27. Schools can select any date and time within the window to conduct an SRT. All schools participating in Spring ILEARN assessments are required to complete an SRT to ensure student testing devices and local school networks are correctly configured to support online testing. Please note the following:

  • Test coordinators and technology coordinators must review the Systems Readiness Test Guide for assistance with planning, implementing, and resolving issues found in the SRT.

  • Test Administrators (TAs) must review the SRT Test Administrator’s Script prior to administration of the SRT and utilize the script during administration.  

  • Completion of the TA Certification Course is required in order to access the TA Interface and initiate a test session for the SRT.

  • Schools that participated in the early window (high school) SRT (September 30-October 4) are not required to participate again.

  • Schools and corporations experiencing scheduling issues should contact the Office of School Assessment to request an adjusted SRT window.

  • Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk by phone at 866-298-4256 or email to report and troubleshoot technical issues.

Confirmation Requested!  I AM Print Accommodations Update

Print and large print accommodations must be noted in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) by December 20 in order for the corporation to receive these materials before the operational window opens on April 6, 2020. 

IDOE made a change regarding the printing and shipping of these materials for the 2020 administration of I AM. This change was made in an effort to reduce the costs associated with the printing and shipping of unwanted materials. 

Each school will now only receive one set of print materials per grade level rather than one set of print materials per student. Additional print materials can be ordered as needed during the Additional Materials Orders (AMO) Window if a print accommodation is required. The AMO can be used to request additional copies or for any changes after December 20. Additional orders must be approved by IDOE.

Questions regarding print accommodations for I AM can be emailed to Stephanie Thompson or via phone call at 317-234-2377.

IIEP/TIDE Updates

A video tutorial is available to assist Teachers of Record in ensuring accommodations will correctly populate in TIDE. ILEARN science accommodations are now posted in TIDE via the nightly feed and available for confirmation prior to the upcoming test window.

 

Office of Title Grants and Support

Migrant Education Funding Utilization

IDOE’s Migrant Education Program is requesting more time from the federal government to utilize funding to support migrant students, families, and educators. If you have feedback regarding this request, please enter it here.

El Programa de Educación para Migrantes del Departamento de Educación de Indiana está solicitando más tiempo al gobierno federal para utilizar fondos para apoyar a los estudiantes migrantes, familias y educadores. Si tiene comentarios con respecto a esta solicitud, introdúzcalo aquí.

Federal Grants Newsletter Available

The December issue of #INspirEDgrants, a newsletter created by the Office of Federal Grants and Support, is now available. The newsletter contains helpful information, resources and ideas to consider in thinking about Title Grants. We invite you to take a moment to review and subscribe at #INspirEDgrants.

 

Office of School Improvement

Math Transition Course Capacity Building Funding Available

Grants up to $10,000 are available for high schools to build the capacity to offer the Indiana PRIME Math Transition Course. This course has been designed in collaboration with the Commission for Higher Education to prepare high school students for credit-bearing coursework at post-secondary institutions. The application, due December 6, can be found here. Questions may be sent to Jennifer Jensen.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports Conference 

Please join The Indiana Department of Education MTSS team at the MTSS Leadership Academy conference on April 1, 2020, at Purdue University. Please register here.

Monthly Math Newsletter Available

The November issue of the #INspirEDmath newsletter is now available.  Find research and resources surrounding the second math process standard: reason abstractly and quantitatively. 

Monthly Newsletter Highlights Variety of Resources 

The Office of Special Education monthly newsletter provides an introduction to the new Assistant Director of Special Education, and a preview of the Preschool Roadshow. Learn more here.

Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness (SEBW) November Newsletter Now Available

SEBW Monthly covers information on SEL, Project AWARE, school social work, chronic absenteeism, and more. Click here to read the newsletter.

 

Office of Innovation

HEA 1008 Career Ladders Grant Application Deadline Approaching

The deadline for public and charter schools to apply for the Career Ladders Grant, supporting career pathways and high-performing educators, is December 2. To learn more, please click here.

Equitable Computer Science District Learning Cohort

The Equitable Computer Science District Learning Cohort is a new initiative by CSforALL to support districts to share best practices around scaling equitable computer science education. Click here for more information and to apply to participate in the cohort.

Sphero and CodeFWD Partner to Bring Sphero Robots into Classrooms

Sphero has partnered with CodeFWD by Facebook to bring free Sphero Bolt robots to classrooms. Click here to learn more information and to apply.

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) of Indiana Regional Meetings

Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) of Indiana is hosting regional hub meetings on the evening of Wednesday, December 4, in five locations around the state. Anyone in education interested in learning more about CS or promoting CS is welcome to attend. Additional information, including how to RSVP, is available here. Unable to attend? Look for additional meetings coming in the spring. Contact Julie Alano with questions.

Fifth-Annual Indiana STEM Education Conference 

Registration is open for the fifth annual Indiana STEM Education Conference at Purdue University in West Lafayette on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. This year’s theme will focus on Indiana’s STEM Education Strategic Plan. The conference is an opportunity for STEM teachers and STEM schools to present effective lessons, policies, partnerships, assessments, and STEM education strategies. Conference registration information is available here

Phishing and Awareness Campaign

IDOE is offering a second opportunity for districts to participate in an initiative to improve cybersecurity awareness among staff. District IT leadership must commit to managing phishing campaigns and delivering an hour of awareness training via the learning management system. Additional details and the application can be found here.

Upcoming Webinar - Growing Your Computer Science Program, Including CSEd Week and Worlwide Hour of Code Activities

Plan to join us at 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 3, for the next eLearning Lab webinar. Computer science teachers from across all grade-levels will share their experiences related to expanding computer science programs in their districts. Topics include:

  • Recruitment strategies for broadening participation in computer science

  • CSEdWeek/Hour of Code (December 9-13) plans/activities designed to generate excitement/interest in computer science

  • Particular catalysts that impacted the expansion of computer science in their districts 

Register for the webinar here.

 

Office of School Finance

Form 9 Financial Data Submission- January 2020

As part of the July to December 2019 Form 9 financial data submission process in January, IDOE will implement additional steps in the Form 9 upload process to comply with federal reporting and documentation and state transparency requirements. Three additional steps added to the Form 9 financial data submission process are expected to provide sufficient documentation of the appropriate use of object codes for federal reporting purposes and the calculation of indirect cost rates. Additional information is available in this memo.

 

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  is distributed every Friday.