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Three-Year Department Accomplishments Highlighted
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is dedicated to serving Hoosier K-12 students and educators, as evidenced by our accomplishments during Dr. McCormick’s administration (2017-present). View progress toward IDOE’s strategic plan goals and accomplishments here.
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IDOE has Announced Additional Recipients of K-12 STEM Acceleration Grants
IDOE has announced an additional 24 school districts will be receiving Indiana's STEM Acceleration Grant. Learn more here.
Notice Regarding Upcoming 2019 Homeschool Exits Report
IDOE will publish a “Homeschool Exit Report” for the 2019 cohort including data and information on students who were removed from any public or nonpublic school to attend homeschool. This report will be published on January 24. Additional details are available here.
Graduation Rate and the Graduation Rate Audit Training Resources Now Available
As part of IDOE’s continuing effort to assist schools in ensuring their graduation rate is accurate, a new series, Managing Your Graduation Rate is launching today. This multi-part series, which will be published in upcoming issues of this publication and in the Accountability Moodle Community, will provide information to educate schools about cohorts and the calculation of graduation rates. This week’s installment is titled “Graduation Rate and the Graduation Rate Audit – How We Got Here.” Please forward any questions here.
Share with Educators and Parents! Indiana’s Alternate Assessment Stakeholder Feedback Survey
Indiana is considering making changes to the alternate assessment beginning with the 2021-2022 school year for students with significant intellectual disabilities. The changes are being made to better meet the needs of this population of students. Potential considerations would be to include a small number of observation ratings (e.g., three-five per quarter) and allow for educators to submit other evidence to support the mastery of skills. Indiana would like to elicit stakeholder feedback as we consider this new design. Please complete this survey by January 17 to submit feedback.
Spring 2020 ILEARN Initial Order Deadline Approaching
Corporations and schools must report any paper accommodations via the DOE-TA, Indiana IEP, and/or Indiana ILP by January 30 to generate an initial order shipment of paper materials ahead of the Spring 2020 test windows (ILEARN 3-8 and ECAs). Corporations and schools requesting paper tests for students with accommodations after this date must do so during the additional orders window for the appropriate assessment. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk via email, or by phone call at 866-298-4256.
WIDA ACCESS Test Window Opens January 13
The WIDA ACCESS test window is open January 13 to February 28. Per ESSA, all identified English learners are required to participate in the annual English language proficiency assessment.
WIDA ACCESS Onsite Monitoring
The Office of School Assessment will conduct unannounced onsite monitoring visits during the WIDA ACCESS testing window beginning January 13. Please ensure school administrators and staff are aware these onsite visits will be conducted. Click here for more details.
Indiana’s 1 Percent Cap Waiver Extension Request Submitted to USED on Monday, January 6
Thank you to all who submitted feedback to IDOE’s proposed 1 Percent Waiver Extension Request. This feedback was addressed and included in the submission to USED. The final document can be found here on our website.
1 Percent Cap on Alternate Assessment Participation Justification Survey
Superintendents, Special Education Directors, and Corporation Test Coordinators from those corporations who assessment more than 1% of students on the alternate assessment will be contacted on Monday, January 13 via email with directions for completing a justification survey. Additional information about this requirement can be found in this memo. Questions should be communicated to Stephanie Thompson and Sarah Mohr.
Accommodations Training
Accommodations Pretest Workshops are almost complete. Schools must review the accessibility features and accommodations on assessments by viewing the individual trainings for ISTEP+, ILEARN, I AM, and WIDA. If you have questions about accommodations please contact Karen Davies, Accessibility Specialist at 317-232-2079.
School Immunization Data
On December 20, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) distributed a Vaccination Coverage Report Card to all Indiana school corporations regarding the data each school has submitted into the Children and Hoosier Immunization Registry Program (CHIRP) for students in grades K, 6, and 12. For a variety of reasons, there may be instances where the school immunization data does not match the data sent to schools in the Vaccination Coverage Report Card. To learn more about this report and why a discrepancy might exist, please click here.
Summer School Estimates
The window to submit the Estimated Instructional Costs Report and List of Courses for Summer School 2020 will open on February 5. Please see this memo for information regarding eligible courses, important dates, and financial provisions. Detailed information about the summer school program and how to report is included in Summer School 101. If you have questions, please contact Kathryn Roth or Melissa Ambre.
February 3 Membership Count
The second membership count date for the 2019-2020 school year is February 3. This is a required count for all public school corporations and charter schools. The data will be used to calculate January to June Basic Grant funds. Specific information regarding the layout can be found here. Please read the following memo for additional information regarding the count. If you have questions, please contact either Amy Pattison, or Melissa Ambre.
Expanded Medicaid Coverage
Indiana Medicaid just received approval of a Healthy Indiana Plan (“HIP 2.0”) demonstration waiver expanding coverage to include residential treatment services for beneficiaries age 19 through 64 who are (1) diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness and (2) short-term residents in freestanding psychiatric hospitals known as “Institutions for Mental Diseases.” Although schools cannot provide or claim Medicaid reimbursement for these services, this change may increase local options for schools working with community partners to address the needs of adult students with Serious Mental Illness. It is also expected to help improve coordination and continuity of care following episodes of acute inpatient hospital care and reduce inappropriate emergency department and inpatient hospital use by HIP beneficiaries with Serious Mental Illness.
Results Driven Accountability Roadshow Schedule Announced
The Office of Special Education is excited to announce the 2020 Special Education RDA Roadshow. The six roadshows are designed to assist LEAs in understanding their new RDA matrices, changes from last year’s matrices, the RDA Planning Tool, and data that LEAs receive based on special education indicators. LEAs are encouraged to bring staff members such as: building administrators, special education directors, data coaches, and/or data analysts. Each participant will need to register separately. There is no cost to attend. General questions about RDA should be sent here. Please use “RDA Questions” in the subject line.
Update: RDA Planning Tool
On January 7, the Results Driven Accountability (RDA) Planning Tool was sent out to special education directors. A separate email with the password to the Tool was sent out shortly afterwards. The RDA Planning Tool needs to be completed and submitted by Friday, February 21.
As a reminder, the 2018-2019 RDA matrices were sent to special education directors on November 26, 2019. A formal letter and in depth guidebook followed in a separate email the week of December 2, 2019. A formal written letter was also sent to superintendents the week of December 9, 2019.
Cultural Competency Professional Learning for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) Schools
Building and district leaders are encouraged to join IDOE and IUPUI for an introductory webinar on January 28 to support identified TSI schools in the upcoming year. The webinar will discuss free in-person and virtual technical assistance and coaching for TSI schools with underperforming student groups to enact change regarding equity, pedagogy, curriculum, and family-community-school engagement. Additional information is available here.
School Counselor News You Can Use-January Newsletter Now Available
The School Counselor News You Can Use newsletter covers information for school counselors highlighting academics, social-emotional learning, college and career, and more. Please access the newsletter here.
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Professional Development Opportunity
On April 1, Purdue University is hosting a one-day MTSS Leadership Academy. Please register for the conference here.
Suicide Prevention Webinar
A newly-released webinar focusing on suicide prevention and what local Indiana schools are doing for prevention can be found here.
PRIME Math Transition Course Capacity Building Funding Available
Grants are available for public and charter schools to build the capacity to offer the Indiana PRIME Math Transition Course, including reimbursement for graduate level mathematics coursework of PRIME instructors. 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 January 31, can be found here. Questions may be sent to Jennifer Jensen or Robin Conti.
Public Comment for High School Standards
All Indiana Academic Standards for English/language arts, mathematics, and social studies have been reviewed by Indiana educators. IDOE is committed to the stability of learning, teaching, and assessment for Indiana students and educators. The high school courses that have proposed changes are available for public comment from January 10 through January 24. Please click on this link to provide comment on the standards.
Early Learning Newsletter
The January edition of #INspirEDearly, IDOE’s Early Learning Newsletter, is now available here. To receive future edition, please subscribe on IDOE’s Early Learning Website.
January #INspirEDlit Newsletter
In January’s edition of #INspirEDlit, read about how to be further inspired to create classroom literacy goals through data-driven decisions and culturally-responsive texts. Click here to view the newsletter.
Disciplinary Literacy Book Study
IDOE’s literacy team is excited to announce a great professional learning opportunity for all K-12 educators of any subject! The literacy team is hosting a book study over The Writing Revolution. The purpose of the book study is to provide educators with strategies that, when explicitly taught, improve students’ writing abilities across all subjects and grades. The study will last from January through March. Sign up for the course at Moodle using the enrollment TWR2020. Please email Kelly Waller with questions.
Analytical Algebra II Support
Register for the Analytical Algebra II spring learning and collaboration meeting in Indianapolis, Jasper, or Warsaw by clicking on the location. Participants will engage in model lessons, discuss resources/strategies, develop lessons and activities collaboratively, and continue to build community. Contact Robin Conti with questions.
Feedback Needed on Positive Partnerships Between School Districts and Nonpublic Schools
IDOE wants to hear about the positive partnerships being established between school districts (Local Education Agency) and nonpublic schools (NPSs) during Spring Consultation in regards to Equitable Services. The previous Affirmation Letters have been consolidated into one document, while adding a Letter of Intent. The full file must be sent by LEAs to eligible NPSs. The editable forms and instructions can be found here, under the Initial Consultation Meeting tab. If you have any questions, please contact Title Grants Specialist Andrew Mazur, or call him at 317-232-9150.
State STEM Project-Based Learning Training
IDOE is pleased to open nominations for the second cohort of State STEM Project-Based Learning Training. This yearlong program will kick off with an initial three-day summer session from June 16-18, 2020. Please read this memo for additional information and to access the nomination form.
STEM Acceleration Grant Awardees
Congratulations to STEM Acceleration Grantees! Fifty-eight districts were awarded funds to accelerate, scale, or implement a STEM curricula grounded in problem/project-based or inquiry-based pedagogy, and incorporating teacher training and support. More information can be found here.
Save the Date for a Summer of eLearning Reboot
Join IDOE this summer for one of seven regional Reboot conferences. Reboot conferences are serving as an iteration of the Summer of eLearning conference series, as needs have evolved. These conferences are designed to provide high-quality professional development in technology integration through six strands, including: STEM+Computer Science, Blended Learning, Innovative Leadership, Social-Emotional Learning, INspirED Instruction, and #TrendingNow. Content will be delivered by IDOE specialists and Indiana leaders in the Ed Tech community. Additional information can be found here.
Career and Technical Education Funding Memo
The State Board of Education recently approved funding amounts for student enrollments in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses for the 2020-2021 school year. Instructions for how to appeal the categorization for advanced CTE courses will be available after February 1, and will be shared in this newsletter. The memo can be found here.
CodeHS Curriculum and Professional Development
Through funding from IDOE, CodeHS will be offering free professional development for Indiana public and charter high school teachers during the summer of 2020. Opportunities will be available for teachers who are new to computer science, as well as those preparing to teach CS I, CS II, CS III: Cybersecurity, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A. To learn more and indicate your interest in participating, click here. For questions, contact Jake Koressel.
Girls Go CyberStart
Girls Go CyberStart is a fun and interactive online program composed of digital challenges to introduce high school girls to cybersecurity. More than 10,000 high school girls have taken part in the Girls Go CyberStart program so far and loved it. Registration for this year’s program is now open. Click here for more information.
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.
Call for K-12 Science Teachers
IDOE is continuing Phase II of the Science Framework. In cooperation with the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc., IDOE will focus on the Engineering Process Standards. If you are a K-12 science teacher, interested in sharing your expertise, please complete the registration form linked here by January 31. Educators can earn up to six PGP points for participating. There will be three separate work groups, with all meeting held at the Indiana State Museum on the following dates:
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Grades K-five will meet February 25
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Grades six through eight will meet March 2
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Grades nine through 12 will meet March 3.
Upcoming Webinar - Is Gen Z Workforce Ready? Free Tools to Teach SEL, Employability Skills, Career Exploration, and More
What does it take to equip students with the critical life skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom? EVERFI's digital resources focus on essential skills, including financial literacy, college and career readiness, social skills, mental wellness, and more. The free, online lessons are aligned to Indiana's employability skills, SEL, and counseling competencies. In the next eLearning Lab Webinar at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 21, join EVERFI and Indiana teachers sharing how to incorporate the courses into classroom instruction. Attendees will have access to resources they can use with students, plus ongoing technical and curriculum support. Click here to register for this webinar.
Indiana Pacers STEM Fest
The Pacers STEM Fest presented by The Lilly Foundation is on February 1, 2020 at Bankers LIfe Fieldhouse. During STEM Fest, families will have fun discovering STEM through hands-on activities with local Indiana corporations, universities, and non-profit organizations. Get a glimpse into how the Indiana Pacers use STEM in sports. Find more information, including how to register, here.
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