An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for June 11, 2021

Indiana Department of Education. Dr. Katie Jenner. Secretary of Education. Working Together for Student Success.

A Message from Dr. Katie Jenner

Katie Jenner Headshot

Hoosier educators and students across our state are hard at work this summer strategically accelerating learning for students and preparing them for the grade level ahead. This even includes some of our recent graduating seniors!

In fact, this week marked the first week of classes for many students participating in Indiana’s Crossing the Finish Line Initiative, which is providing an opportunity for graduating seniors to accelerate the completion of a high-demand post-secondary credential or the Indiana College Core.

Data shows that almost 64% of Indiana’s students graduate with dual credit (taught by a high school teacher), dual enrollment (taught by a college instructor) or Advanced Placement courses (college-level credit earned by passing rigorous subject-matter assessments) under their belt. Given the educational disruptions experienced over the past two academic years, we know that some students, who may have otherwise earned these transportable, high-value credentials, may need a little extra help to...cross that finish line!

Through this partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University, more than 1,700 students, representing more than 270 Indiana high schools, have now registered and started classes! By the end of the summer, these students will have earned more than 9,600 credit hours and saved nearly $1.6 million on tuition and fees alone! Plus, upon completion, they will have developed invaluable skills and earned a post-secondary credential that they can then apply to their next step in life, whether that be employment, enlistment, or enrollment.

The progress our state made on this initiative in just seven weeks further emphasizes the shared impact we can make for kids when we work together. It is a testament to all of our dedicated partners and their commitment to helping Hoosier students achieve their greatest potential through education and training. This work would not have been possible without the assistance of our school leaders across the state who stepped up in a big way to help raise awareness amongst their students and families. A couple examples, and special shoutouts go to Audrey Fleck, School Counselor at Forest Park High School in Ferdinand and Jamie Rosfeld, Assistant Principal at East Central High School in St. Leon.

Audrey Fleck has gone above and beyond to promote this opportunity to students and help them register. As a result of Audrey’s efforts, Forest Park High School seniors represent 20 out of the 141 students participating at the Ivy Tech Evansville Campus, and many of them will be finishing up the Indiana College Core this summer!

Jamie Rosfeld also personally contacted eligible students to ensure they were aware of the opportunity and helped them sign up for classes. As a result of Jamie’s efforts, East Central High School has more students participating in the program than any other high school in the state!

As the saying goes “Team work makes the dream work,” and I am so proud of the work this team of partners is accomplishing together! Thank you to everyone who is helping make this opportunity a reality for our Hoosier students. And, congratulations to participating students for capitalizing on this seamless pathway opportunity to further their education. 

Office of Communications

REMINDER: IDOE Website Migration

IDOE is in the early stages of migrating our current website to the state’s host. The move will not only align our website to that of other state agencies but will also be more cost effective. We will also work diligently to improve overall navigation based on feedback received from stakeholders. In order to mitigate any potential impact to the field, this migration will occur during the summer months, but we also anticipate ongoing efforts to build and refine the site’s content throughout the remainder of the year. We appreciate your patience as we move toward a more user-friendly and cost-effective site.

Office of Student Assessment

NEW: IREAD-3 Summer Retest Results Available Beginning Monday, June 14

Results for students who completed the IREAD-3 Summer Retest will be available in the Online Reporting System (ORS) beginning Monday, June 14. For the remainder of the summer window, student results will be available in ORS within 24 hours of test completion. There is no rescore process, as IREAD-3 does not contain any open-ended items. Please share results and a copy of the IREAD-3 Interpretive Guide with parents/guardians as soon as possible. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk at 866-298-4256 for assistance.

 

NEW: Next Steps for Students Who Do Not Pass IREAD-3

Please review this guidance when determining appropriate next steps for students who do not obtain a passing score on IREAD-3. IDOE strongly encourages schools to make any student-level decisions (e.g., instructional plan, grade-level retention) on an individual basis. Schools may grant Good Cause Exemptions for any student who did not pass IREAD-3 and meets at least one of the eligibility criteria (see “Good Cause Exemptions” section of the IREAD-3 FAQ). Schools should report any Good Cause Exemptions for students via IDOE’s DOE-IR submission before the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Please contact the STN Application Center at 800-527-4931 for assistance reporting exemptions.

 

NEW: Designating Your Corporation Test Coordinator

Each school year, superintendents and nonpublic/charter/choice school principals must designate one person as the main point-of-contact to receive assessment-related information and updates. This staff member is known as the Corporation Test Coordinator (CTC). The CTC is the key to ensuring receipt of accurate, specific, and up-to-date details regarding Indiana assessment programs. Registration of a new CTC and/or verification of an existing CTC are due by Friday, July 30. Click here for more information on how to complete this designation. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with questions.

 

NEW: Formative Assessment Grant - Approved Assessment Programs 

The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) approved a preliminary list of assessment programs for use with the 2021-2022 Formative Assessment Grant. Additional programs may be approved during the Wednesday, July 14, SBOE meeting based on updates to Indiana Code in April 2021. Contact Michelle Kemper with questions.

 

REMINDER: IREAD-3 Remediation Toolkit Now Available

IDOE created an IREAD-3 Remediation Toolkit intended to provide high-level recommendations for schools working to create focused instruction for students who did not show proficiency on IREAD-3 this spring. This toolkit includes information on using data to form remediation groups, sample schedule ideas, exemplar lesson plans, considerations, and resources for schools and families. These recommendations and resources are intended to aid schools in the process of planning for and delivering effective, data-driven instruction to students who will retake IREAD-3 and need supplemental skill instruction to demonstrate reading proficiency. Questions regarding the toolkit may be directed to Robin LeClaire or Mary Williams.

Office of Information Technology

NEW: Skyward Qmlativ Becomes Ed-Fi Certified

IDOE is excited to announce Skyward Qmlativ as an Indiana Ed-Fi Certified SIS Vendor for Data Exchange in the 2020-2021 school year. Schools should contact their vendor for specific guidance regarding connecting the SIS to Data Exchange. Additional guidance is forthcoming. Schools may check the status of SIS Vendors currently working toward certification on the Vendor Certification Status document. Contact dataexchange@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

NEW: Data Collection Template for Summer Student Learning

IDOE will collect information about all summer learning programs facilitated by Indiana public schools. This data will be reported through the 2021-2022 school year Data Exchange, which will go live later this summer. A template for providing this information can be found here. Specifically, schools will be required to report which students are participating in summer learning, a general category for the program, and the number of days and minutes the student participated. If the program is funded through the 1008 Student Learning Recovery Grant Program, be sure to select one of the programs specific to that grant to help with reporting compliance. High school credit awarding courses, offered over the summer, should not be reported as part of this data collection. Contact dataexchange@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

REMINDER: School Actions to Complete Transition to Data Exchange

Schools with an Indiana Ed-Fi Certified SIS Vendor should have completed the onboarding and established their SIS connection to Data Exchange. Schools should work with their SIS Vendor for specific guidance. Once connected, schools should also be actively validating and reviewing data in Data Exchange for accuracy in preparation for certification of Calendar and Attendance data. It is important that schools address all conflicts prior to the certification window, which begins Thursday, July 1 and ends Friday, July 9. Changes to data cannot be made after Wednesday, June 30. This memo contains additional dates for all Indiana traditional public schools, public charter schools, and accredited non-public schools (choice and non-choice) in preparation for certification of school data in Data Exchange. Additional information on implementation of Data Exchange can be found on the Data Exchange website. Please contact dataexchange@doe.in.gov with questions about these dates or about the Data Exchange system.

 

REMINDER: Data Exchange Office Hours Available

IDOE’s Data Exchange Team is now hosting office hours. Data Exchange office hours will be held on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. ET and Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. These office hours are for school personnel to ask questions and troubleshoot support with Data Exchange implementation. To join the office hours, log in to the IDOE Moodle “Data Exchange Training and Community” course and select the page for Data Exchange Office Hours.

Office of School Building Physical Security and Safety

REMINDER: Student Safety Reporting

Indiana’s Student Safety Reporting Law (IC 20-34-6-1) requires school corporations to report student bullying and arrest data for each school to IDOE. The data collection period is now open and will close Friday, June 18. More information can be found here. Contact Stephen Balko with any questions.

Office of Special Education

NEW: Fiscal Year 2022 Part B Grants 

Assurance documents for the Fiscal Year 2022 Part B grants are now available on Moodle. One Assurance Document must be submitted for every local educational agency (LEA). Assurances must be printed, signed, and uploaded as a PDF to the Grant Management System. An electronic signature may be used. Assurances must be completed and submitted by Thursday, July 1 in order to receive a reimbursement date beginning with Thursday, July 1. Late or incorrect submissions will also impact Results Driven Accountability (RDA) determinations. Contact your assigned specialist with any questions.

 

NEW: LINK/Single Sign-On Transition Webinar #4 Slide Deck and Recording Now Available

The slide deck and recording from the Indiana (IEP) LINK/Single Sign-On Transition Webinar #4, held on Thursday, May 20, are now available. Please reach out to Colleen Pawlicki with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Indicators 11 and 12 - Child Find and Early Childhood Transition Stakeholder Meeting on Tuesday, June 22

IDOE is hosting two virtual stakeholder input sessions on Indicators 11 and 12: Child Find and Early Childhood Transition on Tuesday, June 22, at either 9 to 11 a.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is required and will close on Friday, June 18. For more information, please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer.

 

REMINDER: Indicator 7 - Preschool Skills Stakeholder Meeting on Tuesday, June 15

IDOE is hosting two virtual stakeholder input sessions on Indicator 7: Preschool Skills on Tuesday, June 15, at either 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is required and will close on Friday, June 11. For more information, please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer.

Office of Teaching and Learning

NEW: Content-Priority Considerations Guidance

IDOE developed guidance for educators as they consider and discuss prioritizing content in math and English/Language Arts in the 2021-2022 school year. These considerations are intended to support decisions about how best to prioritize instructional content to accelerate student learning and keep students on the path to college- and career-readiness. Contact Robin Conti with questions.

 

NEW: Breast Cancer and Testicular Cancer Instruction for High School Students

Indiana Code 20-30-5-15 requires high schools to include health education regarding breast and testicular cancer, including the use of self-examinations. IDOE and the Indiana Department of Health created resources to assist educators with this instruction. Please contact Matt Walsh with questions regarding this requirement.

 

REMINDER: Science Standard Revision Committee Recruitment

IDOE reviews Indiana Academic Standards on a six-year cycle. Science standards are the next to be reviewed. Educators in kindergarten through grade 12, higher education, and parents interested in joining these work groups are encouraged to complete this form. Please contact Matt Walsh with questions.

 

REMINDER: Continuous Learning Challenges - Summer Edition 

IDOE’s Continuous Learning Challenges (Summer Edition) are now available. Please share these resources with families to help accelerate learning over summer break in a fun and engaging way. Contact Emily Bruning with questions.

 

REMINDER: Registration Now Open - Productive Math Struggle Workshop

Discover how to implement and support student productive struggle in the math classroom during IDOE’s FREE workshop. This full-day training is for any K-12 educator, administrator, or instructional coach. Please register for only one workshop option as capacity is limited. An Eventbrite ticket is required to enter the workshop. Follow the links below to register and receive a ticket. Contact Emily Bruning with questions.

Office of Title Grants and Support

NEW: 2021-2022 Title Grants Pre-Application Now Available

The Title Grants Pre-Application for the 2021-2022 school year and all of fiscal year 2022 grants is now available. This Pre-Application will replace the prior INtelligrants Pre-Application submission. The process will mirror the submission process last year, with the Pre-Application being due first, followed by a simplified application for each specific grant. Pre-Applications are due Thursday, July 1. Please visit this website for additional training and resources. Contact your grant specialist or Cole Dietrich with questions.

 

NEW: Indiana ILP Access Transition to LINK

Access to Indiana ILP will transition from direct URL to the LINK Portal between Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27. English Learner Administrators and LINK Security Coordinators must take steps to prepare for this transition. Please view instructions for the transition here. Please contact Colleen Pawlicki with questions.

News From Our Partners

NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: Back to School Guidance

The Indiana Department of Health released preliminary fall guidance for K-12 schools. An overview of this guidance can be found here. All guidance is subject to change as CDC and other expert guidance changes. Contact back2school@isdh.in.gov with questions.

 

NEW FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: P-EBT Data Collection for 2021-2022 School Year

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Division of Family Resources (DFR) will be coordinating with IDOE for the collection of P-EBT related data through IDOE Data Exchange. This data will be used to distribute P-EBT support to students and eliminate the need for schools to manually enter data into a portal.

IDOE Data Exchange aims to modernize how data is transferred from schools to IDOE and allows schools to automatically transfer data using widely accepted data standards. Due to the automated nature of the data transfer, it is very important that student data is accurate and up-to-date within schools' Student Information Systems (SIS). In particular, P-EBT relies on accurate student attendance and address data, so please ensure that this information is correct within your schools’ SIS. More information about the P-EBT data collection via IDOE Data Exchange is coming soon. Questions regarding Data Exchange may be directed to dataexchange@doe.in.gov. Questions regarding the P-EBT program and eligibility may be directed to PEBTQ@fssa.in.gov.

 

NEW FROM THE INDIANA NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION: Vocational Scholarship Opportunities

Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission (INAIAC) offers vocational scholarships for Indiana residents. Additional details can be found on INAIAC’s website. Applications are due Sunday, August 15. Contact Lisa Welch at 317-234-4887 for more information.

 

UPDATE FROM ROSE-HULMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: Free Alternative Energies Summer Training

This summer, Rose-Hulman PRISM will be facilitating the Sustainable Alternative Energies Summer Boot Camp for Indiana STEM teachers in grades four through 12. The camp, rescheduled to accommodate summer school schedules, will now be held Sunday, July 18 through Friday, July 23. The purpose of this free program is to provide teachers a true “boot camp experience” in sustainable alternative energies, combining academic professional development with vocational site visits to alternative energy providers in Indiana. Teachers can also receive, upon completion of the institute, 45 Professional Growth Points (PGPs) to apply on their Indiana teacher’s license renewal. More information is available here. Please contact Bob Jackson with any questions.

IDOE Newsletters Centrally Located

All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find January updates and past issues here.


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