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As schools and districts prepare for the 2020-2021 school year, students, educators, and families are faced with a variety of emotions and stressors. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is proud of how Hoosier communities are coming together during this unprecedented time. We have confidence these efforts will continue.
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Dr. McCormick will host her next live webinar on Tuesday, July 28. The webinar will be available here at 10 a.m. (EDT). Please plan to join Dr. McCormick as she shares updates regarding re-entry for the 2020-2021 school year. Contact Holly Stachler with questions.
Important Information for Schools from the Indiana State Department of Health
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has developed and released this document for schools. IDOE has been asked to share. Please direct questions to ISDH.
New! Clarification on Indiana Mask Mandate
IDOE is seeking clarification regarding the details of the mask mandate issued by Governor Holcomb. We will provide guidance as soon as the Executive Order becomes available.
New! Additional COVID-19 Resources for Schools
IDOE has created a video that can be shared with students to educate them on the basics of COVID-19. The presentation can be accessed here.
Update: COVID-19 Communications
As a reminder, IDOE’s COVID-19 FAQ document is updated regularly and available here. Please contact Holly Stachler with questions.
Update: Important IN-CLASS Information
IDOE is committed to continuously updating the IN-CLASS Considerations as the fluid nature of COVID-19 influences guidance. Updates are highlighted with a change log in the back of the document located here. Please contact Holly Stachler with questions.
Reminder: Back to School and COVID-19 Webinars
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is offering “Back to School and COVID-19” webinars every Friday at 10 a.m. These webcasts can be accessed here. Previous recordings can be found here. COVID-19 resources for schools that have been developed by ISDH can be found here.
Reminder: Face Covering Guidance for Parents in English and Spanish
IDOE has created this Face Coverings English language guidance and this Spanish language guidance for schools to share with families. This guidance provides information on acclimating students to wearing face coverings and guidance regarding face covering maintenance.
Reminder: Important School Safety Re-Entry Guidance
As this school year begins, there are important reminders concerning beginning of year activities including drills and emergency plan certification. Information can be found here. Please contact Robin LeClaire with any questions.
Reminder: COVID-19 Educational Video for Staff
IDOE has created a general informational presentation for school staff regarding the basics of COVID-19. The video presentation can be found here.
IDOE continues to provide clear and timely guidance related to bills passed during the 2020 legislative session. Find a curation of all 2020 legislative guidance here.
New! Census Reply Deadline Extended
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau will extend the self-response window to October 31. IDOE has collated a list of census resources for superintendents, school leaders, families, and educators. Click here to access the IDOE 2020 Census website. #INCensus2020
New! Identifying Key Contacts via the LINK Portal
IDOE is requesting all traditional public,schools, charter schools, and any accredited non-public schools complete the listing of Key Contacts within the LINK Portal. This can be accomplished via the Security Coordinator, who was designated by the superintendent or the organization’s leader. IDOE encourages every Security Coordinator and organization leader to watch this training video for Security Coordinators. Read the full memo here.
Reminder: Five-Year Graduation Rate Audit Window Closes Today
The 2018 five-year graduation rate audit window closes TODAY, July 24. Please read the attached memo for additional information.
New! Remote Proctoring Guidance and Webinars
Due to current circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools and corporations are offering an at-home learning option. Schools and corporations developing plans to assess at-home learners should work through the implications of remote proctoring for each type of assessment. Guidance related to remote proctoring is available in this memo and this flyer. Educators may also attend one of the following webinars:
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Tuesday, August 11, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (EDT) Register
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Monday, August 17, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (EDT) Register
During the sessions, Office of School Assessment staff will provide details about remote proctoring implications, considerations, and guidance.
New! ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) Rescore Request Window
The rescore request window for students who participated in the ILEARN Biology ECA in February 2020 will take place August 17-28. Please contact OSA if there are significant concerns with the timing of this scheduled rescore window. Review of secure information cannot be conducted remotely per Indiana policy guidance.
Reminder: Resource Allocation Reviews
IDOE will be facilitating Resource Allocation Reviews this fall with LEAs that have one or more schools identified as CSI or TSI. School Improvement Specialists will send guiding questions, data, and a memo explaining the process to identified districts by July 24. A webinar further explaining the Resource Allocation Review process with school finance expert Larry DeBoer, will take place on August 4, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (EDT). Interested district leaders are encouraged to attend the webinar, but the primary focus is to inform and answer questions for those participating in the Resource Allocation Review. Please read this memo for additional details Complete the JotForm to participate.
New! Educator Wellness Guide Now Available
The educator wellness infographic has been updated to reflect current challenges facing schools as teaching resumes. Please reach out to Michelle Clarke with additional questions.
Reminder: SEL and Race Bibilotherapy
As school re-entry begins, please reference this resource as social-emotional learning and diversity are incorporated into K-12 classrooms. The Bibliotherapy is organized by The Seven Indiana Social-Emotional Learning Competencies and books about race. Each book title has the correlating lexile band, appropriate grade level, and author. Please contact Christy Berger with any questions.
Reminder: Public School Transfers Date Collection Due
IC 20-26-11-32 requires public school corporations to report to IDOE the date by which requests to transfer must be received by the school corporation. If your school corporation accepts out of district students, please use this link to report School Corporation Name, Corporation Number, date by which requests to transfer must be received, and name and email of the person submitting the report. Please submit your information now if you have not already done so. IDOE will post the information on the Public School Transfer website. Please contact Lisa Truitt for additional information or to answer any questions.
Reminder: Youth Engagement Summit Opportunity
The Children's Commission encourages youth to become involved in public policy and make their voices heard. Applications are now being accepted for the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) Fellowship. Open to youth ages 14-23, with preference given to those who have personal experience with any state system (mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, disability, social services). Additional information is available in this flyer. Please read the role description, and apply here. Applications are due August 9.
New! Guidance on IDEA/Article 7 Timelines
Guidance on meeting IDEA/Article 7 Timelines During eLearning Days, Expanded Learning Opportunities, or School Closures Due to COVID-19. Please learn more here. Please direct any questions to Dana Long.
New! Guidance Offered on Disinfecting Student Personal Equipment
The Office of Special Education has released guidance on the Disinfecting of Student Personal Equipment. Please read the guidance here. For further questions, contact Dr. Nancy Holsapple.
Updated: Guidance on Student Use of Assistive Technology While Learning Remotely
The Office of Special Education has issued a new memo regarding student use of technology and assistive devices while working remotely.
Reminder: Altered Face Covering Guidance Available
This Altered Face Mask guidance document contains information on purchasing or making face masks for anyone who may need to be able to see the mouth and/or facial expressions to effectively communicate. It includes a list of retailers who can provide products designed to fit comfortably around hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Reminder: Office of Special Education Releases Guidance on Recovery Services
New! Guidance for Onboarding New Students
Onboarding new families during COVID takes on a completely different tone. It is more important than ever to provide positive and thorough information that ensures families are coached on school policies and procedures. These elementary and secondary checklists are intended to help schools design more comprehensive onboarding for families during these unique circumstances. Please contact Robin LeClaire with questions.
Reminder: The Happiness Class for Secondary Students Still Available
IDOE has created an elective course for secondary students focused on social-emotional well-being. The Happiness Class for Secondary Students, created in Google Slides, can be embedded in any learning management system for easy use. Additional information is available in this memo.
Reminder: Curation of Re-entry Resources for Schools Now Available
IDOE’s Office of Academics Teaching and Learning Division is proud to release this webpage, filled with resources to assist schools with re-entry, regardless of the instructional format being implemented.
Reminder: Upcoming Digital Learning Webinar – Accessibility for All Learners: In-Person and Virtual
Join IDOE at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, August 4, as we partner with PATINS for the next digital learning webinar. The webinar will cover key elements of making materials accessible, and underscore the importance of access to the curriculum for ALL learners, whether face-to-face or virtual. This webinar is intended for teachers of all grade levels. Click here to register.
Reminder: Digital Learning Toolkit
The Office of Teaching and Learning launched a continuously evolving Digital Learning Toolkit. This toolkit provides resources for educators to utilize as they seek support across the three Pillars of Digital Learning - Leadership, Teaching and Learning, and Community Engagement, and work toward a robust and highly-effective digital learning program. The Digital Learning Toolkit can be found here. Contact Jennifer Watson with questions or for additional assistance.
Reminder: A Few Spaces Remain for the Upcoming Webinar on How to Discuss Race in the Classroom
Join IDOE for an interactive webinar on how to facilitate classroom conversations on race. The webinar will take place on July 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (EDT). This presentation will provide a foundation and vocabulary allowing teachers and administrators to familiarize themselves with topics involving race. Participants will be provided with specific teaching strategies to utilize in classrooms where reading and discussions of current events or literature take place. Please complete the JotForm to participate. Please contact Kelly Waller with any questions.
New! Advanced Placement (AP) Teacher Week on YouTube
Beginning July 27, the AP Program will be hosting free, live, discipline-specific sessions on the Advanced Placement YouTube Channel. The sessions will provide insights into best practices for using digital AP Classroom resources. Sessions will be 20–30 minutes in length, and no registration is required. View the schedule and topics here.
New! Summer School
The window to submit the Final Instructional Costs Report for Summer School 2020 is open. In order to be eligible to receive a summer school payment, the report must be submitted, or re-submitted as often as necessary, on or before the submission deadline of September 11. The link to access the report is posted in the Summer School folder in Moodle Finance and on IDOE's website. If you have additional questions about the Final Instructional Costs Report for Summer School 2020, please contact Kathryn Roth or Teresa Hemmerle. The submission deadline is September 11.
Update: Excessive Education Fund Transfer List
Please read the updated memo regarding the Excessive Education Fund Transfer List based on Form 9 financial data filed by school corporations. Please send questions here. The deadline is July 31.
Reminder: Form 9 Information Available
Form 9 financial data for the period of January to June 2020 is due on or before July 31. For the most recent Form 9 information, please review the OSF- Form 9 Special Edition of S’more. For assistance with Form 9 Steps 5-7, please see the summary at Supplemental Schedules. If you have any questions or are having issues with data submission, please include your school corporation number in the subject line and send the email here. The submission deadline is July 31.
Reminder: FY 2021 Appropriation Update
IDOE has worked with the State Budget Agency regarding FY 2021 state appropriations. Please read this memo for additional details.
Reminder: CARES Act Fund Numbers
The Office of School Finance has added new fund numbers for reporting CARES Act expenditures. Please read this memo for details, and send any questions here.
Reminder: Annual Financial Report
I.C. 5-3-1-3 requires the secretary of each public school corporation to publish an Annual Financial Report (AFR). The Report must be published one time annually, not earlier than August 1 or later than August 15 of each year. The statute also requires IDOE to develop guidelines for the preparation of and format of the AFR. The guidelines can be found in MOODLE Finance. The report submission deadline is August 15.
New! Office of CTE Fall Guidance
The Office of CTE has released updated guidance for schools and career centers to use in running CTE programs during the upcoming school year. An earlier version of the document was released in June for the purposes of the CTE Summer Bridge Program that 22 sites have participated in during the month of July. All school officials are encouraged to review the guidance released this week to ensure districts are implementing safe and effective CTE programs this fall. The full document can be found here.
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