The holiday season is officially here! While I know many of you are looking forward to a few days off to relax and recharge...if you’re like me, you probably also have quite a few last minute preparations to take care of before the holiday festivities.
Even through the hustle and bustle, and especially as we pause for Thanksgiving Day, I always try to take time to make a “grateful list.” For me, this list grounds me and serves as a reminder that despite all of the challenges we each face, there are also so many reasons to be thankful. Here are a few things that top my list...
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Faith - My faith is what I lean on every day...it’s the very thing that keeps me going - in good times and in challenging times. In the moments of celebration or in the moments where it feels like we’re climbing up a steep, rocky mountain, it’s faith that provides the strength, courage, love for others, and purpose needed to keep moving forward.
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Family - Like many families, mine too, has moments that require a huge amount of patience and sometimes some “wait time” before responding (remember, my husband and I have two pre-teen girls right now!) -- and yet they bring me so much joy, many laughs, deep gratitude, and love. We come together on Thanksgiving with our extended family by taking an annual walk/run in the morning (I choose to walk!) and having a potluck turkey dinner in the evening -- I’m always in charge of bringing the sweet potato casserole! So, while I may have to use some “wait time” strategies when we’re all together...all day...in one place, I sure do love each of them and intend to make sure they know it.
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Friends - New friends...old friends…“work family” friends -- some who I connected with just last week or even those who I haven’t spoken with in years, this short life we live is really all about the people we surround ourselves with. There’s a sign that hangs in my house, quoting wisdom from Abraham Lincoln, “Live a good life. And, in the end, it’s not the years in a life, it’s the life in the years.” And, I’ve found the “life in the years” starts and ends with people -- I am thankful to know many good people who I consider a friend.
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Student-Focused Team - Serving on a mission to positively impact as many students as possible requires an army of people working together. I am very thankful for the team of people, including educators and school staff, families, and community partners, across Indiana who are part of this team -- working together every day to positively impact our students and help light the fire for them to live their best life.
And while this list could go on, I also wanted to take a moment to thank you for the vital role you play in the “team” I mentioned above. Thank you for your partnership and the work you continue to lead for Indiana students.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoy the time resting, recharging, and spending time with family and loved ones!
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A Thanksgiving message from Dr. Jenner.
REMINDER: Fall 2021 ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment Test Window Opens Monday, November 29
Students who complete the high school biology course this fall should participate in the ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) during the upcoming test window from Monday, November 29, through Thursday, December 16. Schools must reference local course completion records to identify participating students, finalize local testing schedules, and prepare testing administrators and devices ahead of testing. Contact IDOE's Office of Student Assessment with questions.
REMINDER: Accessibility and Accommodations Information and Resources
The IDOE Office of Student Assessment (OSA) and the IDOE Office of Special Education (OSE) created the 2021-2022 Accessibility & Accommodations Information and Resources document outlining resources and guidance for accessibility and accommodations on statewide assessments. This document references training, webinars, and manuals for use to ensure that appropriate data is reflected for all students requiring accommodations. Please review the 2021-2022 Accessibility and Accommodations Information for Statewide Assessments document for more information. Contact IDOE's Office of Student Assessment with additional questions.
UPDATE: Data Exchange - October Data Certification Extended
The October certification period has been extended and includes the following data: Pupil Enrollment, Curricular Materials Reimbursement, Certified Employee (CE), English Learner, and Non-Certified Employee (NE). The certification window opened Monday, November 15 and will close Tuesday, November 30 at 5 p.m. Schools should verify if their Student Information System (SIS) vendor is equipped to sync staff information; otherwise, schools should plan to utilize the templates for reporting CE and NE. Guidance is available on the Knowledge Hub and is consistent with guidance provided for the 2020-2021 school year. Training is also available in the IDOE Moodle Data Exchange course. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted through https://help.doe.in.gov/.
REMINDER: Accurate Daily Attendance Data for Each Student Needed at Least Weekly
Please remember that accurate daily attendance is key to reducing data errors and ensuring your funding is aligned with the type of instruction students receive. Additionally, accurate attendance data influences direct benefits your students may receive from the state, such as payments for missed school meals through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program administered by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). Please note, students without attendance data are excluded from counts. Please also note that complete attendance data will be required for the first semester of the 2021 school year in order to make any adjustments to student-level funding around the percentage of virtual instruction received. Complete attendance data for the entire year will be required in June for the final data certification of the 2021-2022 school year. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted through https://help.doe.in.gov/.
REMINDER: School Year 2021-2022 Teacher Appreciation Grant Allocations
School Year 2021-2022 Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) allocations have been finalized. Additional information, including allocation amounts, can be found here. Questions may be directed to Rebecca Estes.
REMINDER: Extra Yard for Teachers Summit
In partnership with the College Football Playoff Indianapolis Host Committee, IDOE invites Indiana teachers to sign up for an exclusive opportunity to participate in the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit on January 8, 2022. This annual event is designed to empower and inspire educators with guest speakers, giveaways, networking experiences, and professional development. Attendees will also enjoy food, music, drink, a prize bag, and a post-summit reception. Attendance is limited, so register early while tickets are still available! Questions may be directed to Rebecca Estes.
REMINDER: Deadline to Complete Nimble Applicant Tracking System Opt-In Form
All Indiana superintendents and/or HR directors are encouraged to review the information related to the Nimble Applicant Tracking System and statewide job board enhancements here. The deadline to complete the opt-in form is Wednesday, December 1. Questions may be directed to Rebecca Estes.
NEW: English Learning (EL) Office Hours Wednesday, December 1
The IDOE Office of English Learning (EL) and Migrant Education is hosting their second EL Office Hours on Wednesday, December 1, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. Join the EL team virtually for a casual, welcoming environment where EL educators can ask questions and share ideas. This week’s topic is EL Teacher of Record (ToR) requirements and responsibilities. If you have questions regarding this topic, submit them through the IDOE EL Office Hours Interest Survey. For more information about how to join the virtual meeting, visit the Indiana EL Professional Development Opportunities Calendar. No registration is required. Please contact Adam Pitt with any questions.
NEW: RDA Data Retreat Updates
For those who have registered for an in-person session of the Results Driven Accountability (RDA) Data Retreats on Tuesday, November 30, or Wednesday, December 1, a Microsoft Teams link will be sent the day before the session date. The links for in-person participants for Monday, November 29, will be sent today. The link provides you with the option to attend remotely, should circumstances arise which prevent you from being able to attend in-person. To register for the in-person data retreats, please see this memo. Please contact IDOE's Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: DOE-SE Child Count Begins Wednesday, December 1
The DOE-SE child count for students with disabilities opens on Wednesday, December 1, and closes on Wednesday, December 15. This year’s count will be officially submitted in the STN Application Center with parallel submission in Data Exchange for comparison. Please refer to the Data Exchange Training and Community and Office of Special Education Community in Moodle with any questions and for more information.
REMINDER: FY 2019 and FY 2020 Part B Deadlines
The deadline to submit a reimbursement request for the FY 2019 and FY 2020 Part B 611 and 619 grants is Wednesday, December 15. Reimbursement templates are located in Moodle by grant year. Reimbursement requests should be submitted to specialedpartb@doe.in.gov. Final Expenditure Reports for all FY 2019 and FY 2020 grants, along with a copy of the final reimbursement request, should be submitted to partbgrants@doe.in.gov on or before Wednesday, December 15. Final Expenditure Report templates are also located in Moodle by grant year. Please contact your assigned fiscal specialist or IDOE’s Office of Special Education with questions. A list of fiscal specialists assigned to each local educational agency can be found on Moodle (Office of Special Education Community>Fiscal>Part B Grants for Special Education>LEA Assigned Specialists).
NEW: PRIME Grant Recipients Announced
This week, 22 schools across the state were awarded with grants to support the launch of the Indiana Postsecondary Ready Investigative Mathematics Experience (PRIME) math transitions course. The PRIME grants, which are in their fourth round, are awarded in collaboration with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. To learn more about the recipients and grant information, click here. Please contact the IDOE Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: December Wednesday Professional Development with IDOE
Join us for a wide range of sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab on Wednesdays throughout December from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET. More information on these sessions, led by members of the IDOE team, can be found here. All past workshops are also available on-demand in the Learning Lab. To access this on-demand content, visit the Learning Lab resources here. To register for upcoming workshops, be sure to create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or by visiting the Learning Lab website directly and using your school email to log in. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Computer Science Course Requirements
IC 20-30-5-23 requires that, after June 30, 2021, all public and public charter schools include computer science in the curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade 12. This involves standards-based instruction for all students in kindergarten through grade eight. For high schools to be in compliance, at least one computer science course must be offered as an elective each year. See the Computer Science Legislation, Requirements, and Standards webpage for more information. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Digital Learning Speaker List
The Office of Digital Learning is creating a Digital Learning Speaker List to identify and connect talented presenters who can provide local expertise, primarily for the Summer of Learning conference series, but also for state and district professional development sessions. If you would like to be added to the speaker list, please complete this form before Wednesday, December 1. Contact IDOE's Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Learning Lab Guest Presenter Submissions Open
Are you an educator with an interesting idea or engaging strategy that you would like to share with other educators? The Indiana Learning Lab is looking for guest presenters, and applications to share a 30-minute live workshop are now open! Please submit your idea using this form by Wednesday, December 1. Contact IDOE's Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: American Rescue Plan Act - Maintenance of Equity Webinar
Join us on Thursday, December 9 to learn more about the Maintenance of Equity requirement instituted under the American Rescue Plan Act. This free training will cover everything we know so far about the new requirement – the state’s own obligation, how the test works for districts, what expenditures and data to use to make the required calculations, how to receive an exemption, and what enforcement is anticipated to look like. The 90-minute presentation will be conducted by partners at federal education law firm Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC and will include time for districts to pose their own questions on the topic. Please register here no later than Tuesday, December 7. For questions, please contact Frank Chiki.
REMINDER FROM THE 2022 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF INDIANAPOLIS HOST COMMITTEE: Survey for Indiana Teachers
The 2022 College Football Playoff Indianapolis Host Committee wants to hear from you about your needs for effective and accessible professional learning and resources. Please complete this short survey to provide input on the future direction of the Indiana Learning Lab, a platform created to help educators navigate the world of digital learning. As a bonus, everyone who completes this survey will be entered to win College Football Playoff gear. Responses will remain confidential.
All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find past issues here.
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