Happy 2022! I hope you were able to take some time over the break to really put yourself first and re-energize for the new year.
The days leading up to and following the new year always bring a wave of various thoughts… reflecting on the year’s highlights, challenges, and lessons learned. I also consider the year ahead and try to anticipate what it might bring. For me, that includes setting some New Year’s resolutions.
I’m one of those people who get out the pen and paper to reflect and write it down. In many ways, this grounds me...and focuses me on the opportunities ahead in the New Year. Every year, I thematically focus on goals in the areas of mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Maybe it’s because I’m an educator, but I always use the SMART goals (once an educator, always an educator -- professionally and personally!). You know the acronym...Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Candidly, I can tell you that some of my resolutions stick more than others...but every year, the same reflective thoughts (good and tough) come back, and I pull out that pen and paper.
This year, I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than the opportunity we have this weekend to shine a spotlight on our state, our capital city, and most importantly…our educators during the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Weekend! In addition to the big game on Monday, the CFP Foundation is focused on elevating and celebrating educators – they have an entire weekend of events planned devoted to enhancing recognition, resources, professional development, and recruitment and retention of educators. From the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit, to the Taste of the Championship, to the Extra Yard 5K, and everything in between…thank you to the many Indiana educators who are joining some of these events!
And if I don’t get a chance to see you in person, know that I am wishing a blessed 2022 for our schools, our state, our students...and for each of you.
Happy New Year!
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NEW: Updated Guidance for Dyslexia Programming
Indiana Code 20-35.5 outlines requirements for schools navigating optimal support for students with learning characteristics related to dyslexia. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) published updated Dyslexia Programming Guidance for Schools to clarify requirements and support schools during implementation. Access the updated guidance and additional resources on IDOE’s Dyslexia webpage. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: WIDA ACCESS Assessment Window Opens Monday
The WIDA ACCESS assessment window is open from Monday, January 10, to Friday, February 25. The window is seven weeks long to ensure corporations and schools have ample time to assess 100% of identified English learners (ELs), as federally required. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: WIDA ACCESS Monitoring
IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment will conduct monitoring visits during the WIDA ACCESS assessment window beginning on Monday, January 10. Please ensure that school administrators and staff are aware that these onsite visits will be conducted. Click here for more details. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: E-Rate Match for Fiber Construction Now Available
IDOE is participating in the E-Rate Match Program for special construction projects. This is available to any Indiana public school for FY 2022 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023). This program will increase an applicant's discount rate for special construction charges for high-speed broadband that meets the FCC's long-term connectivity targets up to an additional 10 percent to match the state funding on a one-to-one dollar basis. Full application details are available here. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
UPDATE: Data Exchange - October Data Certification Now Closed
The October certification period has closed. IDOE is in the final stages of data correction with minor corrections taking place over the next few weeks. Schools that have not yet signed off should do so during the first half of January. Schools are still expected to sign off for each certification window and should use the sign-off documents as supporting evidence for any audit processes involving their data. More than 70% of schools have now certified their October counts. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted here.
UPDATE: Verifying Virtual Status for Period 1 Membership
This memo outlines the process for possible adjustments to Average Daily Membership (ADM) funding for the 2021-2022 school year in anticipation of potential action by the Indiana General Assembly, wherein IDOE may be directed to adjust the virtual status of students reported in Period 1 on Membership Counts for the 2021-2022 school year. In order to ensure the virtual status of students appropriately reflects the complete ratio of virtual attendance to all attendance for students certified for ADM in September of 2021, IDOE will use all of the available attendance data for the 2021-2022 school year through December 31, 2021 to revise the calculation of virtual attendance ratio. Questions about how potential funding changes will be handled can be directed to schoolfinance@doe.in.gov.
NEW: 20% Student Absentee Report
The following memo provides schools with guidance for submitting the 20% Student Absentee Report. Please contact State Attendance Officer Cathy Danyluk with any questions.
REMINDER: Request for Information (RFI) on Efficiency Opportunities for Noninstructional School Building and Transportation Services
The Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) has released RFI 22-68275, soliciting existing or potential opportunities to improve the efficiency of noninstructional school services associated with school buildings and transportation. This RFI has been issued pursuant to HEA 1266-2021. Due to technical issues with the supplier portal, the deadline for responding to the RFI has been extended to Tuesday, January 18. All questions pertaining to the RFI should be directed to IDOA’s Emily Cranfill.
NEW: Financial Transparency Portal
Remember to submit financial transparency data for the period of July to December 2021 through the financial transparency portal. The portal may be accessed from the Form 9 dashboard. Please visit Moodle Finance for additional guidance. If you have questions regarding Form 9, please email form9@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: July to December 2021 Form 9 Financial Data
The window to submit Form 9 financial data for the period of July to December 2021 is open through Monday, January 31. Please visit Moodle Finance for additional guidance. If you have questions regarding Form 9, please email form9@doe.in.gov.
NEW: Crossing the Finish Line - Accelerating Credential Completion for High School Students
This summer, thousands of Hoosier high school students will once again have the opportunity to accelerate the completion of a high-demand credential or one year of college credit through a continued partnership between IDOE, the Commission for Higher Education, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, and institutions of higher education. Later this semester, eligible students will receive emails and mailings directly from the higher education institution with additional registration details. Those who register will receive free tuition, fees, and books. The program will also cover the cost of obtaining transcripts and any required College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Stay tuned for additional details in the coming weeks!
REMINDER: Adopting an Approved Locally Created Pathway (LCP)
In order to utilize the State Board of Education-approved LCPs (ex. Civic Arts LCP) for Graduation Pathways, school districts must complete this form to indicate interest in adopting the LCP. When completing the adoption form, please include details of anything that deviates from the LCP as outlined in this guidance (i.e. courses, partnerships, or any other changes to the current LCP). Upon reviewing your submission, IDOE will determine if your request is approved as submitted, or if there are additional questions or feedback that may require further information. If you have any questions about Locally Created Pathways or Graduation Pathways, please contact DOEGradPathways@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: Indiana Special Education Assisted Licensure (I-SEAL) Enrollment
I-SEAL is still accepting applications for those seeking special education credentialing. I-SEAL, a partnership between IDOE and the University of Indianapolis’ Center of Excellence in Leadership and Learning (CELL), provides financial assistance and scholarships to educators as they complete special education licensure requirements. Additional information on this opportunity can be found here. Please share this opportunity with relevant staff interested in attaining certification. Contact Dana Jones, senior project coordinator with I-SEAL, with any questions.
NEW: Indiana’s Priorities for Early Literacy and STEM Education Now Available
In light of the academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, IDOE has released Indiana’s Priorities for Early Literacy and Indiana’s Priorities for STEM Education in an effort to accelerate student learning. These priorities include the implementation of a coaching model in addition to high-quality, professional development. To view the comprehensive research compiled in support of these priorities, click here for early literacy and here for STEM education. Please contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: STEM Acceleration Grant (Cohort 6) Application Available
The Indiana General Assembly appropriated funding to IDOE in Fiscal Year 2022 for STEM program alignment, designating a portion for grant distribution to high-need schools. Through the STEM Acceleration Grant, IDOE will help schools enhance student success by accelerating learning in STEM disciplines for programs impacting the 2022-2023 school year and beyond. Applications for the grant are now open and will close on Friday, February 4. See this memo for additional information including eligibility criteria. Please contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: January Professional Development (PD) Playbook
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning will release a monthly PD Playbook through the Indiana Learning Lab, with the first focusing on blended learning. The PD Playbook - Blended Learning provides articles and videos to support professional development and growth. These resources can be used in staff sessions, as a resource for teachers interested in this topic, or to further individual learning. Be sure to check back in February to explore our next PD Playbook on high-quality feedback! Please contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
UPDATE: Science Requirements for Core 40 Curriculum Model
IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning has created guidance on science requirement revisions for the Core 40 curriculum model. Information on new Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) courses can be found here. Please contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Learning Lab Community Spaces
As we begin 2022, IDOE is excited to announce that we have over 14,000 members of the Indiana Learning Lab! To take part in engaging professional conversations and share ideas with colleagues across the state, select ‘Community’ to join specialized groups where members of the IDOE team share valuable information and resources on specific topics, including digital learning, STEM, literacy, and special education. You will receive a welcome message that will allow you to choose any of the groups mentioned above. Please contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: January Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
Join IDOE’s Director of Teaching and Learning Karri Polk-Meek on Wednesday, January 12, for a PD with IDOE session, Framing a Love for Literacy: Science of Reading. Additional information on this session and more can be found here. To register for upcoming workshops, create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or the Learning Lab website directly and using your school email to log in. Please contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Virtual Voyagers: Microlearning in Support of Virtual and Hybrid Programs
Join IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning and guest speakers as they host a variety of 45-minute sessions in January and February 2022 on topics relevant to virtual and hybrid programs. See this flyer for more information and to register. Please contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Digital Learning Speaker List
The Indiana Digital Learning Speaker List was curated to identify and connect talented presenters who can provide local expertise for both the Summer of Learning conference series as well as state and district professional development sessions. Those interested in being added to the speaker list can apply here. Speakers are asked to provide references and evidence of expertise as part of a vetting process. Please contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM THE GOVERNOR’S WORKFORCE CABINET OFFICE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION: Teaching Computer Science for AP Credit
To help schools determine the best options for teaching computer science courses for AP credit, the Office of Career and Technical Education has developed the following guidance. For questions, please contact CTE@gov.IN.gov.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration
Save the date for Indiana’s 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration. The Day of Celebration will take place on Thursday, January 13 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Indiana Statehouse. To view a livestream of the event, click here. For more information, please contact MacKenzie Holden via email at MHolden@icrc.in.gov or via phone at 317-232-2614.
NEW FROM THE STARTED UP FOUNDATION: Innovate WithIN 2022 Pitch Competition
Innovate WithIN’s annual statewide pitch competition allows Indiana high schoolers to pitch their entrepreneurial idea for a chance at $25,000 and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class innovators to help turn their business from a dream into a reality. The Innovate WithIN Pitch Competition is open to everyone ages 14 through 18 who lives (or attends school) in Indiana. To apply, click here. Submissions are due Friday, February 4. Contact help@innovatewithin.org with questions.
NEW FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH: Webinar on School-Based Suicide Prevention
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will host an upcoming webinar on school-based suicide prevention titled Promising Approaches and Opportunities for Research. This webinar will provide an opportunity for diverse stakeholders, including school administrators, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders, to learn about new and innovative practices in school-based suicide prevention. The webinar will include a particular focus on identifying and supporting high-risk youth, as well as opportunities for evaluating these efforts. This virtual webinar will take place on Friday, January 14 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET. To register, click here. Contact Clare Stevens with questions.
All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find past issues here.
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