The 2022 Winter Olympics officially ended on Sunday, with U.S. Olympic athletes bringing home 25 total medals. One of those athletes was Indiana’s own Justin Schoenefeld, a Lawrenceburg native who won gold in the mixed team aerials event.
Indiana is no stranger to the Olympic podium, and as we continue to shine a spotlight on the positive impact educators make on our students’ lives and on our state, today we launch another video in the Teachers Who Shaped Us series, featuring one of these world-class athletes!
Last month, to kick-off the new year, we sat down with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, who shared a message of appreciation and encouragement for all Indiana teachers, and specifically acknowledged how his high school art teacher Ms. Ransom inspired him to pursue his own career in education.
Today, we continue this series by sitting down with four-time Olympic medalist Lilly King!
Her roots are in southern Indiana…a native of Evansville and graduate of Indiana University Bloomington… but with one wag of her finger, Lilly King became a household name across America and the world. As a two-time Olympic swimmer, King has earned two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.
What you may not know about King is that not only did she grow up in a home where both her mom and dad were educators, but she too intends to follow in their footsteps as a physical education teacher! As a side note, I can only imagine all of Indiana’s principals out there lining up to get her hired in their school.
In the brief video below, King reflects on the group effort by teachers and coaches throughout her life who have guided her to where she is today. And while that list might be longer than a 200-meter breaststroke, she specifically mentions two fantastic educators who helped to impact her path the most, including Mike Chapman, now a special education assistant at Boonville High School, and Christi Adams, a German teacher at F.J. Reitz High School.
King also reflects on what draws her to the educator profession and shares a motivational message with Indiana’s rockstar educators to “just keep kicking butt!” View the video below to hear more!
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Video caption: This video is the fifth in a series, known as Teachers Who Shaped Us. In this video, Dr. Jenner sits down with Lilly King to learn more about the teachers who made a lasting impact on her life.
NEW: SAT School Day Opens Wednesday, March 2, and Closes Friday, March 4
Beginning Wednesday, March 2, high schools across Indiana will be administering the digital SAT School Day to their juniors/cohort 2023 students. Corporation Test Coordinators (CTCs) and appropriate School Test Coordinators (STCs) should expect notices from College Board with additional guidance. CTCs and STCs should review and complete the Digital SAT School Day Coordinator Checklist. Contact College Board with any questions regarding their systems, or the Office of Student Assessment with policy or participation questions.
NEW: ISTEP+ Retest Spring 2022 Online Test Window Closes Friday, March 4
Students taking the ISTEP+ Retest Spring 2022 online must complete testing by Friday, March 4. The paper test window closes today, Friday, February 25, and all paper test materials must be shipped back to the vendor by Wednesday, March 2, for scoring. Please review this guidance provided by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) for managing materials after testing. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk with any questions.
NEW: WIDA ACCESS Online Test Window Closes Friday, March 4
The extended WIDA ACCESS online test window closes Friday, March 4. Today, Friday, February 25, is the final day to administer paper tests. All used and unused secure test materials must be shipped to Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) no later than Wednesday, March 2, to be processed for scoring. Please contact the Office of Student Assessment with questions.
NEW: IREAD-3 Updated Frequently Asked Questions Now Available
The IREAD-3 Frequently Asked Questions document has been updated with information regarding the opt-in grade two administration of the IREAD-3 assessment. Please refer to this guidance as you prepare for testing. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
UPDATE: Naturalization Examination Requirement Begins This School Year
Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, public school corporations must provide the naturalization examination to students completing a U.S. government course and report the results to IDOE, in addition to posting them on their public website. Non-public high schools may administer the naturalization examination and publish the results on their school website, but are not required to report the results to IDOE. More information regarding IC 20-30-5-7(d), naturalization examination materials, and reporting of results can be found here. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with questions.
REMINDER: Opt-In - Early Indicator of Student Reading Proficiency
When it comes to the fundamentals, data shows that the roadmap of opportunity is endless for students who are literate by the end of grade three. IDOE is committed to supporting early literacy by providing reading proficiency information earlier, allowing schools to respond quickly and provide targeted support for students who need it most. IDOE is offering the opportunity for schools to administer IREAD-3 to grade two students, beginning with the Spring 2022 IREAD-3 administration, as an optional administration by schools.
- Early indicator of proficiency means earlier intervention and support for students.
- Early reading support leads to higher rates of reading success at grade three.
- Early reading support may lead to reduced numbers of Good Cause Exemptions needed at grade three.
- Students who pass IREAD-3 in grade two have reduced testing requirements at grade three.
Additional details on this exciting opportunity can be found here. Submit this JotForm by Tuesday, March 1, to officially opt in. Schools are invited (not required) to participate, and currently, more than 350 schools have opted in. IDOE may reach out to additional schools to participate to ensure that there is a representative sample of student data for the “On Track'' cut score. Grade two teachers should review the Test Administrator (TA) Certification Course and be included in similar IREAD-3 test administration, test security refresher, and accommodations training, as applicable. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
*Beginning next week, updates from the Office of Leadership and Innovation will appear under the Office of Educator Talent.
REMINDER: IDOE's New Educator Talent Acquisition Platform
Today is the final day for schools to post jobs on IDOE's existing job bank. All Indiana superintendents and/or HR directors are encouraged to review this information related to the transition from IDOE’s current job bank to the Educator Talent Acquisition Platform in partnership with Nimble. This strategic investment by the state of Indiana is one step in a larger systemic shift to build capacity at the state and local level to staff Indiana districts with high-quality and diverse talent. Additional information regarding this partnership can be found here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
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 elementary-level teachers and building 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. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
NEW: Fall 2022 Membership Estimates
IDOE will be collecting a fall 2022 average daily membership (ADM) estimate from school corporations and charter school officials beginning Wednesday, March 2, through Wednesday, March 23. Please read this memo for additional information. Contact schoolfinance@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Curricular Material Reimbursement Final Payment Amounts
The Office of School Finance has calculated the finalized 2021-2022 curricular material reimbursement payment to be distributed to qualifying schools. Schools will begin receiving these reimbursement distributions Monday, February 28. Please read this memo for additional information regarding the calculation of curricular material reimbursement funds. Contact doetextbooks@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: FY 2023 Indirect Cost Rates
Beginning Tuesday, March 1, local educational agencies (LEAs) are eligible to apply for FY 2023 Indirect Cost Rates. Please read the following memo, which includes application instructions. Contact icr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Application for New Locally Created Pathways Opens Tuesday, March 1
The application for submitting new locally created pathways (LCP) for the 2022-2023 school year will open on Tuesday, March 1, and close on Saturday, April 30. The LCP Scoring Rubric can be a helpful resource as schools design an LCP for submission to the State Board of Education. The 2022-2023 application will be available beginning Tuesday, March 1, on IDOE's Graduation Pathways webpage. Schools that have questions about LCPs should contact DOEGradpathways@doe.in.gov.
NEW: Indiana Medicaid Administrative Claiming (Indiana MAC) Updates
Beginning Tuesday, March 1, any communications sent from Indiana MAC, the statewide school-based Medicaid administrative claiming contractor, will now be sent from the email address inmac@pcgclaimingsystem.zendesk.com rather than inmac@pcgus.com. The customer service contact information remains unchanged. Additional customer service improvements in March include:
- A built-in support widget allowing Indiana MAC coordinators to submit questions directly from the PCG Claiming System, which will receive an email reply from inmac@pcgclaimingsystem.zendesk.com; and
- Elimination of automated menu prompts and connection directly to available PCG staff when calling Indiana MAC customer service.
Contact the Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Indiana’s Early Literacy and STEM Initiatives - Question and Answer Sessions for Opt-In Schools
Indiana schools may apply to opt in to the voluntary coalition with IDOE to implement evidence-based early literacy practices in alignment with the Science of Reading or integrate high-quality STEM instruction. Implementation of both programs will involve the use of a locally-managed coaching model. IDOE will provide collaboration and training opportunities at no cost for participating schools. Interested schools should join one of the question and answer (Q&A) sessions for opt-in schools scheduled for early March, as noted in this flyer. Review more opt-in implementation details related to Indiana’s Priorities for Early Literacy and Indiana’s Priorities for STEM Education, and formally indicate your school’s interest via the appropriate form (Literacy, STEM) by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, April 8. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: March Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
IDOE has a new series of Wednesday PD opportunities in the Indiana Learning Lab beginning at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 2, with the topic Test Security in a Digital World. More information on these PD live sessions can be found in this March flyer. To register for workshops, create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or use your school credentials to log into the Indiana Learning Lab website directly. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: On-Demand Workshop - Introduction to the Science of Reading
On Thursday, February 24, a live presentation by Dr. Kelly Jean Williams from Indiana University’s School of Education was held on the Science of Reading. For those unable to attend the live session, the on-demand recording is now available through the Indiana Learning Lab here. You may log in using your school credentials to earn Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points for viewing this resource. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Kickstarting Kindergarten Resource and Upcoming Webinar
The Kickstarting Kindergarten Collection offers schools a number of resources related to kindergarten readiness and enrollment, linked all in one place. The collection offers support for all stakeholders, including kindergarten enrollment dates, resources schools can share with families and early learning programs, as well as considerations for students with IEPs. Elementary principals and administrators can register here for a webinar at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, March 2, to take a deeper look at the collection, as well as ideas for implementing these resources. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 2022 Digital Learning Grant
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning is proud to announce the release of the 2022 Digital Learning Grant. This competitive grant opportunity is available to all public school corporations in the state of Indiana for the 2022-2023 school year. The grant application window will be open until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 16. Please see this memo for more information on this grant opportunity. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Register Now for Coach Edcamp on Monday, March 14
Digital Learning coaches - it’s time to reunite our coach family! Join us for an in-person Coach Edcamp on Monday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, at the Center Grove Innovation Center. This professional learning opportunity, specifically for those in educational technology coaching and leadership roles, is a roundtable style, one-day conference. Register for this opportunity here. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Annual 1003 Flexibility Waivers
IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation is now accepting applications for 1003 flexibility waivers. The following revised guidance was developed to help local school districts promote innovative approaches to transform student learning. Interested officials can read more about the opportunity on the State Board of Education’s website. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through Sunday, June 5. Contact schoolimprovement@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Transition from DUNS Number to Unique Entity Identifier
Beginning Monday, April 4, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) will join other federal agencies and transition to utilizing new Unique Entity Identifiers (UEIs) for grant recipient and applicant organizations, rather than the previously utilized DUNS numbers. The UEI is administered through SAM.gov. Organizations that have already registered a DUNS with SAM.gov have now been assigned a UEI in that system. Entities that do not have a registered DUNS in SAM.gov should ensure that they are registered prior to the switch taking place. USDOE recommends that organizations initiate the process in SAM.gov no later than Tuesday, March 1, as it may take some time for registration to be completed. For detailed information about this change, please refer to the Fact Sheet found here.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF MATHEMATICS (ICTM): Registration Now Open for ICTM State Mathematics Contest
Registration for the ICTM State Mathematics Contest is now open through Thursday, March 31. Local site winners will be awarded first, second, and third place, and those in the top 25% will be recognized with certificates. The state awards ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, June 3, in the Indiana Statehouse atrium. State winners will be awarded plaques for first, second, and third place, and those in the top 5% will be recognized with medals. For more information and to register for the contest, click here. Contact Leigh Britt with any questions.
NEW FROM TEACH INDY: Virtual Hiring Event and Education Conference
School leaders and hiring managers from across Indianapolis are looking for outstanding educators to teach and lead Indy’s amazing students for the 2022-2023 school year. Whether you’re applying for your first teaching job or in search of a new opportunity, Teach Indy’s upcoming virtual hiring events can help connect you to the role that is right for you. Find detailed schedules, learn tips to prepare, and register here.
Teach Indy will also host an Educators Conference on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. This free virtual event is designed to elevate and support the work of Indianapolis’ exceptional educators, with opportunities to network and share best practices, learn and develop professionally, and celebrate the recognition of fellow teachers. Learn more and register here.
REMINDER FROM THE INDIANA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: College Goal Sunday
College Goal Sunday, Indiana’s largest FAFSA filing event, will be held Sunday, February 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. (local time). Experts will be available at 40+ locations across Indiana to provide free help with filing the FAFSA. Students and families can reference this checklist to determine what information they’ll need to bring with them. Contact Barbie Martin with any questions.
All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find past issues here.
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