What incredible weather we had last Saturday (and for some in the state, Sunday, too)...I sure hope you got a chance to get outside and enjoy it, because, boy, do we have a frigid one ahead!
As many would say, welcome to spring in Indiana! Although the season of spring officially begins March 20, we are well underway with the “school spring season.” Third quarter grades are being entered, spring break is right around the corner, our spring academic and athletic teams are preparing to suit-up for the final push before the end of the year, and we are actively gearing up to assess end-of-year student knowledge and skills.
This time of year often showcases the culmination of all the hard work put in by our students and educators, and that includes in our co-curricular activities! Our buildings are buzzing with upcoming theatrical performances (my daughter was in one just this week!) and competitions highlighting the diverse skill sets of our students. This weekend, the VEX State Robotics Championship will be taking place in Indianapolis where 274 elementary, middle, and high school teams with over 3,000 students from across the state will be competing at Lucas Oil Stadium. I look forward to attending and seeing our future innovators and leaders in action! Not to mention, IHSAA boys basketball regionals kick off this weekend. Best of luck to all!
This week was also the opening of the IREAD-3 window. And, this year, in addition to our third grade students taking this assessment, second grade students at nearly 400 elementary schools across the state are now voluntarily taking IREAD-3 as part of an “early indicator initiative.” Through this initiative, lead-data will be utilized to best assist students as they continue developing foundational knowledge and skills in literacy. More information on IREAD-3 as an early literacy indicator can be found here.
And I know the Indiana General Assembly was at the forefront of many minds this week as the legislative session came to a close. Sine Die, which symbolically marks the conclusion of the legislative session, occurred in the wee hours on Wednesday - around 1 a.m.! These bills now head to the Governor’s desk for further review and action. Our legislative team is currently working to outline any legislative implications and updates that may help you with potential implementation in schools. Stay tuned for additional guidance and information in the coming days and weeks (depending on the bill’s implementation timeline).
These next few months will undoubtedly be incredibly busy as we work to close out this school year strong. Thank you, as always, for the work you lead and for making a positive impact in the lives of our students.
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NEW: Non-Public School State Accreditation Application Window
The Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE's) Office of Accountability is now accepting initial accreditation applications for non-public schools seeking accreditation for the 2022-2023 school year. Non-accredited non-public schools interested in obtaining accreditation should complete a notice of intent form and submit to SchoolAccountability@doe.in.gov by Saturday, April 30. Please note that schools are not considered accredited during the application process. Schools are only eligible to accept Indiana’s Choice Scholarship student applications once the petition for accreditation has been approved. Please contact the Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: ISTEP+ to Transition to SAT for 2022-2023 School Year
Students in the 2020-2022 graduation cohorts who have not yet met graduation requirements may complete Graduation Pathways components. If these students require a Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE) attempt during the 2022-2023 school year, they may participate in the spring 2023 SAT School Day, as outlined in this memo. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: ILEARN Spring 2022 Educator Scoring Application Window Open
Interested Indiana educators may now submit an online application to score open-ended ILEARN items. The link to apply can be found on the ILEARN Indiana Assessment Portal. This flyer and the SY21-22 ILEARN Indiana Educator Hand-Scoring Frequently Asked Questions contain additional information for potential applicants. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk with any questions.
NEW: Nominate an Educator for Indiana History Teacher of the Year
In partnership with IDOE, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History annually awards the Indiana History Teacher of the Year title in an effort to promote the study and love of American history. State winners are then considered for the National History Teacher of the Year award. More information about the process can be found here. The deadline for nominations is Saturday, April 30. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
REMINDER: Applications for Spanish Visiting Teacher Program
Details for the school year 2022-2023 Spanish Visiting Teacher Program can be found here. Districts may also express interest by completing the following JotForm. The application deadline is Friday, March 18. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
NEW: Data Exchange Additional Data Sets Now Available
In preparation for the upcoming certifications of data sets in July 2022, IDOE has released updates to Data Exchange. Additional Student (AD) and Certified Position (CP) validations are now available in the Data Exchange Validation Portal. Additional data sets will continue to be released on a weekly basis over the next month. Schools are encouraged to begin syncing, validating, and reviewing this data in Data Exchange. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted here.
REMINDER: Nomination Form for 2022 School Food Service Employee of the Year Award Now Open
The Office of School and Community Nutrition is looking to recognize exemplary school food service employees who significantly contribute to their schools by supporting the health and learning capabilities of their students. Superintendents and principals are encouraged to nominate food service employees from their schools who impact their students in the cafeteria and beyond. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 18. Click here to access the nomination form. Contact Suzette Hartmann with any questions.
NEW: Common School Advancements
The Office of School Finance is now accepting applications for construction and technology loans from school corporations and school corporation career and technical education schools through Wednesday, April 13. Petitions must be received by 4:30 p.m. on this date in order to be considered. Applications can be found in the Public School Finance Community in Moodle under Common School Funds > Spring. Please read this memo for additional information. Questions can be directed here.
REMINDER: Fall 2022 Membership Estimates
IDOE will be collecting a fall 2022 average daily membership (ADM) estimate from school corporations and charter school officials through Wednesday, March 23. Please read this memo for additional information. Contact schoolfinance@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Summer School Estimates
The window to submit the Estimated Cost Report for Summer School 2022 is open through Friday, April 1. Please read this memo and FAQ for information regarding eligible courses, important dates, and financial provisions. Detailed information about the summer school program and how to report is included in the presentation Summer School 101. Contact Teresa Hemmerle or Joe Engelstad with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: Crossing the Finish Line - Accelerating Credential Completion for High School Students
For the second consecutive summer, thousands of Indiana high school students will have the opportunity to accelerate the completion of a high-quality credential, including the Indiana College Core, an associate degree, or a Career and Technical Education (CTE) postsecondary credential, for free through Crossing the Finish Line, a partnership between IDOE, the Commission for Higher Education, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, Ivy Tech Community College, and Vincennes University. All Indiana superintendents, principals, and counselors should have received an initial email from IDOE explaining the program and outlining next steps. School counselors will also receive a follow-up communication from Ivy Tech and/or Vincennes with a list of eligible students at each school. Counselors can review this list, ask questions directly of team members at each institution, and develop local plans to best support students during this process. In early March, eligible students will also be contacted directly by either Ivy Tech or Vincennes via email and postcard, alerting them of their eligibility. To learn more, click here. Contact Ivy Tech/Vincennes directly with any questions.
NEW: English Learner (EL) Office Hours – EL Program Models
IDOE’s Office of English Learners and Migrant Education is hosting its fourth EL Office Hours on Wednesday, March 16, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. Join IDOE virtually for next week’s topic, EL Program Models, where EL educators can come together, ask questions, and share ideas. Submit any questions regarding this topic 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.
NEW: Special Education (SE) Collection in Data Exchange
This year, the spring child count, required by IC 20-43-7-1, will be collected on Friday, April 1, via Data Exchange. IDOE’s Office of Special Education and Office of Data Reporting will conduct a joint training on how to submit data using Data Exchange and the submission differences between the STN Application Center and Data Exchange. Contact the Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Office Hours with IDOE’s Office of Special Education and IN*SOURCE
Please join the Office of Special Education and IN*SOURCE for office hours to discuss The Components of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) on Tuesday, March 15, from noon to 1 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m. ET. Join the office hours for both sessions here. Contact the Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: IEP Stakeholder Committee Members Announced
The Office of Special Education is excited to announce the 2022-2023 IEP stakeholder committee members. A full list of members can be found here. Contact the Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Transition Portfolio Trainings in April
Join IDOE’s Office of Special Education and the Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center for three, half-hour sessions on Wednesday, April 6, Thursday, April 7, and Friday, April 8. During this three-part series, educators working with students who are earning a Certificate of Completion will learn the components of the transition portfolio, receive tips for creating artifacts, and learn how to create portfolios using Google. Those interested in attending these sessions can register here. Contact the Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: March Professional Development (PD) Playbook – Social Presence in the Virtual Classroom
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning’s third installment of the PD Playbook is now available in the Indiana Learning Lab. March’s PD Playbook: Social Presence in the Virtual Classroom focuses on the importance of social presence and the different ways teachers can build it into their virtual practice. These resources can be used in staff sessions or as a resource to teachers interested in the topic. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Virtual Voyagers March and April Dates
The Office of Digital Learning is continuing the Virtual Voyagers series with new topics throughout the months of March and April. Join us for the second March session at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 24, with Universal Design for Learning and Blended Learning. More information on this session and links to register for additional sessions can be found on this flyer. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Training Camp with Alfreeda Goff Live in the Learning Lab
A new session for the Extra Yard for Teachers Training Camp series in the Indiana Learning Lab will be held at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 24. Join Alfreeda Goff, senior leader of the Horizon League and member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, for her session titled Women in Leadership. Register for the session here. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 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. Kindergarten and preschool educators can register here for a webinar at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 16, to explore the collection. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 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 each Wednesday in March. 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.
REMINDER: 2022 Digital Learning Grant Applications Closing Wednesday, March 16
The 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.
NEW FROM THE GOVERNOR’S WORKFORCE CABINET (GWC): Grant Program Available for High Schools to Purchase Advanced Manufacturing Equipment
The GWC and Conexus Indiana have launched a $500,000 grant program to support Indiana high schools and career centers in preparing students for careers in the advanced manufacturing industry. Education Readiness Grants will specifically assist schools in implementing two Next Level Programs of Study, Industry 4.0 – Smart Manufacturing and Industrial Automation and Robotics. Learn more about the grant and apply at this link. The full press release can be found here.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: Healthy Schools Grant Opportunity
The Indiana Department of Health Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity is providing funding for local educational agencies (LEAs) that participate in the National School Lunch Program to create supportive nutrition and physical activity environments for all students, while also engaging staff and the greater community. Depending on total student enrollment, LEAs will be eligible to receive up to $5,000 or $10,000 in funding per year for up to three years. Those interested in applying are encouraged to attend a virtual information session on Tuesday, March 15, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET. Applications are due by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 14. For more information, click here. Contact Jenna Sperry with any questions.
NEW FROM THE PATINS PROJECT: New Alliance with Indiana Center for Accessible Materials (ICAM) and Bookshare
ICAM announces its new alliance with Bookshare, which enables a Digital Rights Manager (DRM) to request Bookshare titles through the ICAM Web Ordering System. For more details, visit the PATINS/ICAM website. Contact the ICAM staff with any questions on the new Bookshare ordering process.
NEW FROM TOYOTA USA FOUNDATION: Driving Possibilities - Career Readiness and Community Engagement Initiative
Toyota recently launched Driving Possibilities, a new $110 million career readiness and community engagement initiative creating access to innovative STEM education programs and opportunities in preK-8 schools nationwide. More information on this initiative is available here.
All Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) newsletters are located in one convenient location. Please find past issues here.
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