An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for July 31, 2020

indiana department of education - doctor jennifer mccormick - superintendent of public instruction
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Dr. Mac

 

The Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE’s) Digital Learning Toolkit is focused on the pillars of Leadership, Teaching and Learning, and Community Engagement. This Toolkit is full of resources for schools offering in-person, remote, or hybrid models.

 

On August 4, at 7 p.m. (EDT), join IDOE for the webinar “Get to Know the New Digital Learning Toolkit.” The presentation will offer an in-depth look at the newly-created digital toolkit which provides resources for educators to utilize as they work to implement a highly-effective digital learning program. Click here to register. Contact Jennifer Watson with any questions.


COVID-19 Updates and Guidance

Reminder: IDOE Re-entry and COVID-19 Resources Available Now

IDOE has created two webpages hosting resources focused on re-entry to the 2020-2021 school year and providing supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. The re-entry resource webpage can be found here. The COVID-19 resource page can be found here.

Reminder: Executive Order Language Regarding Indiana Mask Mandate

This link provides you with Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order regarding Indiana’s mask mandate. Schools should review as they plan for re-entry.  

Reminder: 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.

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.

 

Office of School Building Physical Security and Safety

New! Technical Assistance for COVID-19 FEMA Public Assistance

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) has announced additional resources to assist school districts as they request reimbursement through COVID-19 funding currently available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). IDHS is working with DCMC Partners to provide technical assistance, answer questions, and help school districts with the process of applying for and submitting required documentation to substantiate funding requests. Additional information is available here.

New! FDA Issues Warnings For Certain Hand Sanitizers

The Food and Drug Administration is warning that the agency has seen an increase in the number of hand sanitizer products that contain methanol. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested. Additional information and a list of known methanol containing products can be found here.

Reminder: Important School Safety Guidance

As students return to school, there are important reminders concerning the beginning of year activities, including drills and emergency plan certification.  Additional information can be found here. Please contact Stephen Balko with any questions.

 

Legislative Updates and Guidance

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! Guidance on House Enrolled Act 1003 (3 of 3) – Teacher Trainings

Please read this memo for information regarding future changes to certain training requirements.

 

Office of Information Technology

Reminder: 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 memo here.

Reminder: Guidance for Collecting Data on Home Internet Access

Indiana schools are urged to move forward with efforts to collect information about home Internet access through your student information system (SIS) during the registration process as students return to school this fall. Read this memo for guidance about what data elements to collect and Indiana’s alignment with national data collection efforts.

 

Office of Accountability

New! 2020 Graduation Rate Audits Notice

Schools subject to either the Mandatory Graduation Rate Audit or the Excessive Homeschool Exit Audit for the 2020 cohort were notified by email on Tuesday, July 29. A list of the schools to be audited and the 2020 Graduation Rate Audit Guidance can be found in the Graduation Rate section of the Accountability and Accreditation Community in Moodle. To enroll in the community, go to Moodle, create an account if you don’t already have one, search for “Accountability” and enter the enrollment key “AccountabilityCommunity.”

All high schools should be reviewing their 2020 cohorts for accuracy. These can be found in Learning Connection (Reports->Accountability Reports). If you are missing graduates, then submit graduation rate records for those students. If there are any other errors, please read the 2020 Graduation Rate Audit Guidance and submit a voluntary audit when the window opens on October 7.

 

Office of Student Assessment

New! Cambium’s Updated Secure Browser Releases August 5

Cambium’s (formerly AIR) Secure Browser is used to administer ILEARN, I AM, IREAD-3, and ISTEP+ assessments. Cambium updates the Secure Browser annually. This year’s updated version will be available beginning August 5 via the Secure Browsers page of the Indiana Assessment Portal. Please contact Cambium’s Indiana Assessment Help Desk by email or by phone at 866-298-4256.

New! WIDA Screener Guidance

IDOE has released guidance regarding remote delivery of assessments.  The WIDA Screener is not available for remote delivery. For schools offering virtual access only, please contact IDOE for additional considerations to fulfill this federal requirement. Please send all inquiries here.

Reminder: 2020-2021 Formative Assessment Grant Applications Due August 7

Corporations may submit applications to participate in the 2020-2021 Formative Assessment Grant through August 7. Late applications will not be accepted, so be sure to submit applications by the deadline. Access these application instructions for directions. Contact Mary Williams (phone: 317-234-5602) or Jennifer Woo, (phone: 317-234-4231) for support.  

Lexile® and Quantile® Professional Development Resources - Share with Educators!

Thanks to everyone who joined the MetaMetrics sessions last month! Please share the links for the recorded sessions and all three PowerPoint presentations with your educators (below). Be sure to also share this overview of hub resources available for use by Indiana schools as well as this flyer for details about the projected measure session scheduled for mid-August. Please contact OSA with any questions.

MetaMetrics Session

Recording 

PowerPoint (PDF)

An Introduction to The Lexile Framework® for Reading

Session Recording

PowerPoint 

An Introduction to The Quantile Framework® for Mathematics

Session Recording

PowerPoint  

An Introduction to the Lexile® and Quantile® Hub

Session Recording

PowerPoint 

 

 

Office of Academics / School Improvement

New! Continuous Learning Plans

School district superintendents, charter school leaders, and choice eligible school leaders are not required to submit a new Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) for the 2020-2021 school year. These plans are intended to be living documents and must be updated with new information prior to the beginning of school. CLPs must be posted on the district or school’s website for easy access by parents, community members, and IDOE. Please contact Melissa Blossom with any questions.

Updated: 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 sent guiding questions, data, and a memo explaining the process to identified districts on 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.

 

Office of Academics / Special Education

New! Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in the Wake of COVID-19

The Office of Special Education and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) have developed two new resources on the topic of LRE. The COVID-19 pandemic has not changed the individual student’s right to LRE - it has changed how the general education system works. Examples of how schools might maintain an individual student’s LRE in the context of in-person, blended/hybrid, and remote/virtual are included in these companion resources. Please share this LRE Brief from NASDSE and this LRE slide presentation.

New! Additional Re-entry Guidance Available

The Indiana Resource Network for Autism (IRCA) has created resources to assist LEAs with re-entry:·     

·         Preparing for the School Year: Post COVID Handout

·        Preparing for the School Year: Post COVID Resources and Websites

New! EdPlan Connect Teacher of Record (TOR) Alerts

Beginning today, July 31, TORs will receive alerts anytime an event (e.g. an IEP) is finalized in the EdPlan Connect Parent Portal. When a parent/guardian provides a response to a document, a TOR will receive an alert via the Message Board in IIEP. For additional information, please read the EdPlan Connect FAQ for additional information.

 

Office of Academics / Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness

New! Virtual Safety Protocol Reminders

As we return to school, please view this information to ensure that student safety protocols are in place.

New! Middle School Alignment of Social-Emotional Learning Competencies with Academic Standards

Indiana’s Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies are meant to be embedded in the delivery instruction as well as may be taught within specific SEL lessons. IDOE and numerous stakeholders have worked together to create a crosswalk of academic standards and SEL competencies. Contact Lisa Truitt with any questions.

 

Office of Academics / Teaching and Learning

New! Building Capacity in Digital Learning

IDOE recognizes the need to build the capacity of teachers to deliver highly-effective digital learning. Utilizing a unique micro-credentialing program with built in coaching, Digital Learning Capacity Building grants will be released in the next few weeks. To find out more about the intended program, please visit this website and sign up to attend one of the free live webinars. The first webinars will be held next week on Tuesday and Thursday. Please contact Jennifer Watson with any questions.

New! Integrating Social Justice Standards

IDOE recommends that educators and schools reflect on social justice education in the context of Indiana’s Academic Standards (IAS) and student instruction. IDOE has identified key places where social justice education and IAS intersect for intentional instruction in this memo. Please direct questions about the Indiana Academic Standards and the National Social Justice Standards to J. Matthew Walsh.

New! Guidance on Indiana Tutoring Fellowship

IDOE has developed the Indiana Tutoring Fellowship, a unique opportunity for qualified high school juniors and seniors to support learning opportunities in math and ELA for children in kindergarten through eighth grade to help prevent or slow the academic regression caused by COVID-19. Additional details are available here.

New! Upcoming Webinar - Digital Course Design

On August 6, at 10 a.m., (EDT), Orbis Education is offering a free session open to all Indiana teachers on designing a digital learning environment that removes technology as a barrier so students can focus on learning. In this session, strategies around organized development and best practices for online courses will be discussed. The goal is to facilitate creating a course in the most straightforward way possible. Click here to register. Contact Jennifer Watson with any questions.

Reminder: Best Practice for Instructional Re-Entry Video

Please watch this short video which provides an overview of best practices for instructional re-entry in student assessment, curriculum, instruction, and student grouping/differentiation. The video outlines the need for schools to provide all students with data-driven, grade-level instruction upon re-entry and supports teachers and administrators with action steps needed for effective implementation of best practices at each stage.

Reminder: STEM School Certification and Recertification Process and Evaluation Rubric

A webinar explaining the STEM School Certification application process is available here. Applications for certification or recertification are due October 30, 2020. Access the 2020-2021 STEM School Certification Guide here and updated rubric here. Contact Shannon Dick with any questions.

Update: Upcoming Digital Learning Webinar – Accessibility for All Learners: In-Person and Virtual (note date change)

Join IDOE on Thursday, August 13, at 4 p.m. (EDT), as we partner with PATINS for the next digital learning webinar. The webinar will cover key elements of making materials accessible and 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.

 

Office of Academics / Title Grants

New! Schoolwide Plan Template    

A Title I schoolwide program must have a schoolwide plan that is comprehensively developed, reviewed, and revised with parents annually. During LEA grant monitoring, the LEA must provide evidence that the schoolwide program addresses statutory purposes and meets requirements. To assist LEAs with the development and/or revision of their schoolwide plan, IDOE has released a schoolwide plan example, which can be found here. There is also a schoolwide plan template, which can be found here.

New! Consolidated Application Budget Example 

To assist LEAs as they work on the Consolidated Application (due August 31), IDOE has released a Consolidated Application Budget example which can be found here.

New! INtelligrants Consolidated App, Non-Public School Student Data Collection Tool

Title Grants and Support is looking for LEAs with fewer than five NPS to pilot the INtelligrants Student Data Collection Tool in conjunction with INtelligrants. If you are interested in this pilot, please review this memo and reach out to Andrew Mazur.

Update: EL and Title III Directors’ Meetings Details

The annual EL Directors’ Meetings are being held virtually this year on August 11, for new directors, and August 12 for both new and returning directors. The schedule for both days will start with a morning session from 9:30-12:00 p.m. (EDT), and an afternoon session from 2:00-3:30 p.m. (EDT). WebEx links, meeting contents, recorded sessions, and more will be housed in Moodle courses. Participants must first have a Moodle account, and should use these codes for access:

August 11 – New Directors: elnewdir2020

August 12 – All Directors: eldir2020

See the Directors’ Meetings dropdown on the IDOE EL Professional Learning and Resources page for additional details.

 

Office of Academics / Leadership and Innovation

New! Evaluation Guidance Memo and Best Practices for Conducting Observations and Evaluations in Remote and Hybrid Learning Environments Webinar

Please see the Evaluation Guidance memo here. Building and district leaders are invited to register here for a webinar on August 10, from 4-5:30 p.m. (EDT), covering HEA 1002 updates for evaluation and guidance for conducting evaluations during remote/hybrid teaching and learning. 

New! Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) Policy Submission Required

Please see the TAG Policy Submission Memo here. LEAs (including charter and virtual charter schools) must submit the TAG policy for approval here by September 15. Once policy approval is received, LEAs will upload it to INtelligrants through the LINK portal to initiate the TAG distribution process prior to September 25.

 

Office of School Finance

Important! Form 9 Deadline TODAY (July 31)

Today is the deadline to submit Form 9 financial data for the period of January to June 2020. For the most recent Form 9 information, please review our OSF- Form 9 Special Edition of S’more. For assistance with Form 9 Steps five through seven, 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 to this email.  

Important Update: Excessive Education Fund Transfer List Deadline TODAY (July 31)

Today is the deadline to submit Form 9 Step 4 Transfer Report. The data will be used to populate the Excessive Education Fund Transfer List in January 2021. Please read the updated memo regarding the Excessive Education Fund Transfer List. Please send all questions here

Reminder: 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.

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.

 

News From Other Agencies

Reminder: Secured School Safety Grant Application Closing Today at 5 p.m. (EDT)

The FY21 Indiana Secured School Safety Grant application period will be closing today, July 31, at 5 p.m. (EDT). Please ensure applications are submitted prior to the deadline. Additional information can be found here.

Reminder: 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.

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.

 


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