As we inch closer to the “official” start of summer (June 20), the temperature is not the only thing heating up across the Hoosier State. Efforts to accelerate student learning are also heating up, thanks in large part to your leadership locally and the multitude of organizations that have stepped up in a big way to help improve outcomes for the communities, and ultimately, the students, we serve.
This week, I’d like to continue our practice of elevating local success stories and providing real examples of impactful models...this time in northern Indiana. In a partnership supported through the state’s Student Learning Recovery Grant Program, the Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph County (BGCSJC) is working with three local school districts to accelerate learning through a two-year after-school learning program known as STRIVE.
STRIVE will serve 1,700 K-12 students throughout South Bend Community School Corporation, School City of Mishawaka, and Career and Success Academies. These students will be identified for targeted support based on multiple data points. This includes research-based screener results from spring 2021, teacher input, and other student-level information.
STRIVE will be a three-hour, in-person learning program, with students splitting their time between remediation and enrichment. Students will benefit from individualized literacy and math instruction, aligned to Indiana Academic Standards. Students will also participate in an entrepreneurship program aligned to Indiana’s Employability Standards. This approach seeks to ensure that students are prepared with both knowledge-developing and skill-building interactive lessons.
As part of this collaboration, the BGCSJC, in partnership with local schools, will measure progress toward a defined set of SMART goals in order to ensure the greatest impact. IDOE will also work with them, and other grant recipients, to track student outcomes and understand the return on investment in order to best serve our Hoosier students today and in the future. This will also allow us to continue to elevate local success stories!
This example is one of the more than 110 partnerships formed between schools and community organizations across Indiana (over 350 unique partners representing over 90% of Indiana counties!), all seeking to accelerate student learning this summer and in the years to come. These partnerships will be critical to Indiana’s long-term recovery and ensuring our students continue to have access to the skills and opportunities necessary for lifelong success.
To quote the American industrialist Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Thank you for your willingness to be bold…to seek opportunities to come together toward a shared goal…to think strategically about how this collaborative work can be sustained…and to execute this important work together.
Keep up the great work, and stay tuned for additional spotlights in the coming weeks!
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NEW: Updated ESSER II and III FAQ Regarding Pre-Approval
FAQs have been updated to reflect information regarding pre-approval for construction and capital projects. Please see updated FAQs on the ESSER II and III webpage. Contact Cole Dietrich with any questions.
NEW: Learn More About Indiana’s Bridging the Gap Initiative
Students, parents, and educators are invited to learn more about Indiana’s Bridging the Gap Initiative. This partnership, forged between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and Ivy Tech Community College, provides Indiana’s senior class of 2021 a free college-readiness course, as well as the opportunity to round out their English and/or math skills as they prepare to take the next step in their education. Students can also earn up to $300 in additional financial incentives by completing certain success initiatives. Join Ivy Tech Community College President Dr. Sue Ellspermann for a virtual Q&A on Monday, June 21 at 6 p.m. ET to learn more. Registration is required and can be completed here.
COMING SOON: ILEARN Results and Additional Data
Prior to the Wednesday, July 14 State Board of Education meeting, IDOE will release ISTEP+ and ILEARN summary data to schools and corporations, including disaggregated data. In an effort to help schools and corporations analyze this data, IDOE will include rates of attendance, chronic absenteeism, primary mode of instruction, and performance and participation levels. Attendance rates and mode of instruction data will be collected through Data Exchange via the Attendance and Calendar submission. Schools and corporations must submit this data by Wednesday, June 30, in order for it to be included in the report. Reports for those who submit after Wednesday, June 30, will be marked as “N/A” for those columns. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: IREAD-3 Summer Retest Results Availability
Results for students who completed the IREAD-3 Summer Retest became available to schools in the Online Reporting System (ORS) on Monday, June 14. For the remainder of the summer window, schools can access student results from ORS within 24 hours of test completion. There is no rescore process since IREAD-3 does not contain any open-ended items. Schools are responsible for sharing student results 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
Schools should 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 should report any Good Cause Exemptions granted for students via IDOE’s DOE-IR submission before the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year (see “Good Cause Exemptions” section of the IREAD-3 FAQ). Please contact the STN Application Center at 800-527-4931 for assistance reporting exemptions.
NEW: MetaMetrics Summer Office Hours for Educators
ILEARN English/Language Arts and Mathematics reports reflect Lexile® and Quantile® measures for students. Schools interested in how to use the Lexile® Framework for Reading and Quantile® Framework for Mathematics can contact MetaMetrics’ Jane Scott and Matt Copeland with any questions during the following office hours: Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. ET and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.
NEW: Alma, FastDirect, Rediker Become Ed-Fi Certified
IDOE is excited to announce Alma, FastDirect, and Rediker as Indiana Ed-Fi Certified SIS Vendors 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: 2021 Attendance Data Due Wednesday, June 30
The deadline for schools to complete their attendance reporting through Data Exchange is fast approaching. This data will be used to calculate the 162 day enrollment threshold used to calculate proficiency rates on ILEARN. Schools should submit their attendance data through Data Exchange as soon as possible, as these proficiency rates are slated for approval by the State Board of Education on Wednesday, July 14. Any school corporation which does not complete the submission of their attendance data will have proficiency rates on ILEARN reported based on all students with valid scores.
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 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: 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.
NEW: Teacher Leaders Bootcamp Application Open through Friday, July 16
The application is now open to participate in the 2021 Teacher Leaders Bootcamp Cohort 3. IDOE's partnership with the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters, KI Binford Group of Indiana, Newk’s, and Gibraltar Design, will allow the department to engage participants in innovative professional development in order to grow as teacher leaders. To learn more information, or to apply, click here. Questions can be directed to Rebecca Estes.
REMINDER: Indiana Teacher of the Year Application Due Friday, July 2
IDOE is proud to kick off another year of the Teacher of the Year Program. Each year, this program works to elevate the teaching profession and celebrate the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping Hoosier youth achieve their greatest potential. Each Indiana District Teacher of the Year is eligible to apply. The Indiana Teacher of the Year selection process and application can be found here. For more information, contact Rebecca Estes.
REMINDER: Superintendents and Principals Encouraged to Nominate Educators for Emerging Leaders Recognition
IDOE’s Office of Leadership and Innovation is looking for confidential recommendations of secondary-level leaders representing the very best educators in Indiana. These emerging leaders must have between five and 15 years of experience, demonstrate leadership beyond the classroom, and positively affect school culture and student achievement. Superintendents and principals may submit recommendations here. Recommendations will be accepted through Friday, July 16. Please contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
NEW: Question, Persuade, and Refer - Suicide Prevention Training
IDOE is offering suicide prevention training to educators and administrators who need to complete this training for license renewal. A 2.5 hour training is available for groups of 10 to 40 educators and/or administrators. For more information or to schedule a training, contact IDOE Prevention Specialist Jason Murrey.
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 will close today, Friday, June 18. More information can be found here. Contact Stephen Balko with any questions.
NEW: Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop
IDOE’s Office of School Finance will hold a virtual School Budget Workshop on Wednesday, June 30, at 9 a.m. ET. Registration is required and can be completed here.
NEW: School Technology Advancement Applications
IDOE’s Office of School Finance will accept School Technology Advancement Account (STAA) applications from Monday, June 21 through Friday, July 16. The STAA application can be completed online and must be completed in one sitting. A sample application and certification page can be found in Moodle. If you have questions, please email commonschoolfund@doe.in.gov.
NEW: School Medicaid Provider Enrollment Required for All Public School Corporations and Charter Schools
Indiana Code 12-15-1-16, enacted in 1994, requires all public school corporations and public charter schools to enroll as an Indiana Medicaid medical service provider, regardless of whether the school corporation or charter school elects to participate in Medicaid claiming for covered IEP-required services. To remain compliant with state law, school corporations must revalidate their enrollment every five years. Additional information regarding the revalidation process can be found on the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration website by clicking here. Tips for completing Indiana’s Provider Enrollment Application, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions document, are also available in the Medicaid folder, under Fiscal, in the IDOE Office of Special Education Moodle Community. Contact Tracy Brunner with any questions.
NEW: Indicator 4 - Discipline Stakeholder Meeting on Tuesday, June 29
IDOE is hosting two virtual stakeholder input sessions on Indicator 4: Discipline on Tuesday, June 29, at either 9 to 11 a.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is required and will close on Friday, June 25. For more information, please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer.
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 today, Friday, June 18. For more information, please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer.
NEW: Webinar Supporting Virtual and Hybrid Options
Is your school corporation planning a virtual or hybrid option for this coming school year? Join IDOE on Wednesday, June 30, at 10 a.m. ET to learn about accountability guidelines and data from the most recent Virtual/Hybrid Option Survey. This webinar gives digital learning leaders an opportunity to connect with others and engage in conversation about how IDOE can best support schools. Register for the webinar here. Please contact Meri Carnahan with any questions.
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: 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.
REMINDER: 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.
NEW FROM DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (DWD): Indiana Career Explorer Update
Indiana Career Explorer (INCE) is transitioning to a new vendor, Futures, Inc., on Thursday, July 1, which will provide users with an enhanced tool to explore career and educational opportunities. As part of the transition, the online INCE platform will experience downtime before going live with the new vendor. Following the transition, INCE will remain a free tool for all Hoosiers, including all K-12 students. Please contact DWD’s Pam Warner with questions.
NEW FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: Early Education Scholarships Available
The Family and Social Services Administration announced its new Build, Learn, Grow initiative, which is making 50,000 scholarships available to help connect Hoosier children ages 12 and younger to high-quality early education and out-of-school-time programs. The program will cover up to 80% of early care and education, summer learning, or out-of-school program costs for Hoosier families in essential industries that meet income requirements. Learn more about the initiative and apply here.
NEW FROM THE PEACE LEARNING CENTER AND DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION: Restorative Practices Train-the-Trainer
The Peace Learning Center and Division of Mental Health and Addiction are partnering to provide a free training opportunity. This opportunity will provide an interdisciplinary group of four to five people with comprehensive training on restorative practices that they will be able to take back to their building and implement. Schools are encouraged to apply and should submit one application per group. More than one school per school district may also apply. Applications are due Wednesday, June 30 and can be completed by clicking here. To learn more, click here.
REMINDER FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: P-EBT Data Collection for 2021-2022 School Year via Data Exchange
The Family and Social Services Administration and the Division of Family Resources 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, such as address and attendance, is accurate and up-to-date within schools' Student Information Systems.
In particular, P-EBT relies on accurate student attendance and address data, so please ensure that this information is correct within your school systems. 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.
All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find past issues here.
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