As young children, the first time we recognize, and later name, our colors is an important milestone in our early development. The red of an apple, the white of the clouds, or the blue of the ocean…
But as we grow older, these colors…red, white, and blue in particular…begin to take on a much deeper meaning, symbolic of a nation built on the principles of liberty and justice, defended by the men and women who have dedicated their lives to safeguarding our freedom.
This weekend, I am reminded of the promise of America…that regardless of who you are or where you come from, there is no limit to what you can achieve. We, in the K-12 space, play such an integral role in keeping that hope alive, creating brighter futures each and every day for our students...through education.
We provide opportunity and access to knowledge, skills, and experiences that can influence a child’s entire lifelong trajectory, helping them to achieve their own American Dream. Thank you for leading this incredibly important work and for keeping this dream alive for every student who comes through your door.
Take some time to rest, and enjoy the holiday weekend! Happy (early) Independence Day!
|
NEW: IREAD-3 Summer Retest Additional Order Window Closes Today, IREAD-3 Paper Test Window Closing Soon
Corporations and schools may place orders for any paper tests (e.g., regular print, large print, braille) via the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) through today, Friday, July 2. All students testing paper-and-pencil must finish testing no later than next Friday, July 9. As paper testing concludes, corporations and schools must follow “After Testing” instructions outlined in the 2020-2021 IREAD-3 Test Administrator’s Manual and IDOE’s guidance regarding test material return and destruction for the 2020-2021 school year. Contact the Indiana Assessment Helpdesk at 866-298-4256 with any questions.
NEW: Video: SAT as Indiana’s High School Accountability Assessment
IDOE encourages teachers, students, parents, and administrators to watch this new video, which provides information regarding why Indiana is transitioning to the SAT and what to expect moving forward. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with questions.
NEW: ISPROUT Summer Training
Summer training for data managers and trainers of teachers is right around the corner! IDOE will hold training sessions for new and returning data managers and trainers of teachers. Review the summer training schedule, and register for the session that is most appropriate for your ISPROUT role(s). The teacher refresher training will be available in the professional development dashboard on Friday, July 9. This module must be completed prior to rating students. Corporations needing to update or add a data manager for ISPROUT enrollment should contact Felecia Jordan.
REMINDER: Indiana Teacher of the Year Application Due Today
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: 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: 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.
REMINDER: Updated Object Codes
As a result of legislation passed during the 2021 Indiana legislative session, some updates are required for the 100 series object codes relating to salaries in Chart of Accounts administered by the State Board of Accounts. The changes took effect Thursday, July 1 and will be part of the July to December 2021 Form 9 financial data submission reported in January 2022. Object codes 200 and higher remain the same as the previous reporting period. Please read this memo for additional information. If you have any questions, please email form9@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: Teacher Salary FAQ
House Enrolled Act 1001, passed during the 2021 Indiana legislative session, included provisions pertaining to teacher salary requirements. A new teacher salary FAQ document provides guidance to assist school corporations on review and implementation of the provisions regarding teacher salaries, funding floor, and minimum expenditures. If you have questions, please email us at form9@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: School Technology Advancement Applications
IDOE’s Office of School Finance will accept School Technology Advancement Account (STAA) applications from now 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: Indicator 3 - Assessment Stakeholder Meeting on Tuesday, July 20
IDOE is hosting two virtual stakeholder input sessions on Indicator 3: Assessment on Tuesday, July 20, at either 9 to 11 a.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is required and will close on Friday, July 16. For more information, please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer.
UPDATED: Indicator 17 - State Systemic Improvement Plan Stakeholder Meeting on Thursday, July 8
IDOE is hosting a virtual stakeholder input session on Indicator 17: State Systemic Improvement Plan on Thursday, July 8, at 9 to 11 a.m. only. Registration is required and will close today, Friday, July 2. For more information, please contact Kristan Sievers-Coffer.
REMINDER: Emergency Permits for Special Education
The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) prohibits the issuance of emergency permits in special education. IDOE is proposing a number of steps, which can be found in this memo, to bring special education licensure into compliance with these regulations. These proposed steps have been developed in consultation with multiple education and special education stakeholders. A frequently asked questions document is also available here. IDOE will continue to share additional guidance and information in the coming weeks and months. We encourage you to share solution ideas with our team as we work to achieve compliance. Please email your comments or questions to licensinghelp@doe.in.gov or specialeducation@doe.in.gov and include “EP/T2T Alternative Route to Teaching” in the subject of your email.
NEW: New Indiana Course Network Offerings Coming Soon
Indiana teachers created over 20 new courses as part of Indiana University's Course Design Academy. These courses, designed to align with Indiana standards, will be available for use in July. Be on the lookout for more information about how to access and use the courses.
NEW: Free Project Based Learning Professional Development Workshops
IDOE is partnering with Magnify Learning to provide four upcoming professional development workshops for local educational agencies interested in implementing project based learning in the classroom and beyond. To learn more about these free workshops, and to register, click here. Contact Erin Busk with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: School Resource Officer Reporting
By law, school corporations and charter schools are required to annually report the number of school resource officers employed by a school corporation or charter school. The portal is now open to report this data for the 2020-2021 school year. Data must be submitted by Wednesday, September 1. For safety purposes, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security is required to keep this data confidential, and not release it for public disclosure. To begin reporting this data, please click here. If you have any questions, contact Rusty Goodpaster.
All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find past issues here.
|
