May is always an exciting time of year in the state of Indiana. Summer inches closer and the state comes alive with events surrounding the annual running of the Indianapolis 500. One of the best parts of May, though, are the high school graduations happening all over our state.
As our seniors walk through our halls and leave our school doors for the last time, they are likely reflecting on their past years…including experiences they had and the friendships they made. They also (even though they might not ever verbalize it!) will reflect on the people who impacted them the most. Sometimes it’s a parent or family member, sometimes it’s a coach or community mentor, but ALWAYS, there will be an educator who positively made a difference in their life.
The old saying that “it takes a village to raise a child” rings true – and throughout our state, we have over 70,000 students who are about to embark on their next life chapter as high school graduates…students who you prepared and empowered. Thank you for helping our students to be the best they can be.
And, happy graduation to the class of 2022! We’ve had some requests for a quick video message to be used at graduations, so we wanted to share with all schools! You’re welcome to use it (or not)...the video is short and has a quick congratulations message for the class of 2022…
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NEW: Mid-Year Graduate Report
Students who graduated between Friday, October 1, 2021, and Monday, January 31, 2022, should be reported in Data Exchange by Thursday, June 30, to be included in the Mid-Year Graduate Report due to the General Assembly by Thursday, September 1. Please see this memo for additional information.
REMINDER: Accountability for the 2021-2022 School Year
State Accountability: Pursuant to House Enrolled Act 1093 and Senate Enrolled Act 290, the state board may not assign A-F letter grades to schools or corporations, including adult high schools, for the 2021-2022 school year. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will not be calculating A-F grades for schools or corporations for the 2021-2022 school year.
Federal Accountability: As a condition of prior flexibility granted by the U.S. Department of Education, Indiana must issue federal accountability determinations for the 2021-2022 school year. IDOE will be calculating federal ratings for schools and publishing the information in fall 2022. Information on the federal accountability system may be found here. Contact schoolaccountability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Request for Public Comment on ESSA Addendum Submission
IDOE plans to submit an addendum to Indiana’s state ESSA plan regarding components of the federal accountability system and is currently seeking public comment on the draft addendum. The draft addendum is available for review here. Public comment should be submitted to IDOE via JotForm no later than Friday, June 10. Contact schoolaccountability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Summer 2022 IREAD-3 Retest Window Opens Monday, May 23
Students in grades three and above who still require a passing score for IREAD-3 should participate in the Summer 2022 IREAD-3 retest window, open Monday, May 23, through Friday, July 15. Schools are encouraged to work with parents when scheduling the retest for students. Corporation Test Coordinators (CTCs) must ensure that all Test Administrators (TAs) have the appropriate materials the day of testing, including the 2021-2022 IREAD-3 Test Administrator’s Manual (TAM) and Secure Segment 1 Script for all students. TAs must use the IREAD-3 Read Aloud Scripts for fixed-form paper-and-pencil assessments for any students whose formal plan requires a human reader and paper test. These scripts are available in CTC’s Secure Inbox in the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE). Review the IREAD-3 Frequently Asked Questions prior to administration and contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: Participation Requested for IREAD-3 Standard Setting Content Committee
IDOE invites general education teachers and special education teachers of K-3 schools to participate in the upcoming IREAD-3 ‘On-Track’ Cut Score Content Committee for grade two students. One meeting will be held virtually for this committee. A two-hour meeting, determined by participant availability, will be held on Tuesday, July 26. Interested applicants should complete this JotForm. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: Preliminary ILEARN Score Release & Rescore Request Window
Preliminary scores are now populating in ORS for students who have completed both components of the ILEARN testing. Review the Online Reporting System (ORS) User Guide, the ILEARN Individual Student Report (ISR) Interpretive Guide, and the Indiana Interpretive Guide for Statewide Assessments as you review student scores. The rescore request window continues through Friday, June 3. Reviews of student responses to consider a rescore request must be performed in person. Please review the following resources when finalizing plans for supporting this legislated process:
Contact the Office of Student Assessment with questions regarding policy guidance, and the Indiana Assessment Help Desk for technical assistance with rescore requests.
NEW: Applications Open for the SAT Standard Setting Cut Score Committee
The Office of Student Assessment is recruiting high school educators, administrators, and special education directors to participate in a committee to establish cut scores for classifying SAT proficiency levels. Volunteers should be available for all-day, in-person meetings in Indianapolis on Wednesday, July 13, and Thursday, July 14. Apply for this opportunity via this JotForm by Friday, June 10. Contact the Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: SAT Scores Available to Educators Today, Friday, May 20
Educators may now access students’ SAT School Day scores through College Board’s K-12 Reporting Portal. To access scores, users must have a College Board Professional Account and permission from their institution’s Data Access Manager. Please contact College Board with any questions regarding the upcoming educator score release.
NEW: Middle School Licenses and Grade Nine Science Courses
Recently, questions have arisen regarding what ninth grade-level science courses can be taught by a teacher holding a Middle School Science license for grades five through nine. The Office of Educator Licensing and the Office of Teaching and Learning have developed this guidance to clarify questions about what licensure is appropriate for ninth grade-level science courses. Contact the Office of Educator Licensing at 317-232-9010 with any questions or use this self-help JotForm.
REMINDER: Registration for Indiana’s Attract, Prepare, and Retain Connection Point Summer Summit Now Open
Indiana’s Connection Point Summits are interactive events that bring together PK-12 and higher education stakeholders to address the challenges of attracting, preparing, and retaining Indiana educators. The summits aim to foster comprehensive conversations and serve as a connection point to share promising practices and replicable models. Learn more and register for one of the three summits taking place this June. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
NEW: Data Exchange SIS Vendor Badging Update
ALMA and Synergy have been recently badged for March 2022. IDOE is continually working with SIS vendors toward Indiana Ed-Fi badging of specific data elements required for 2021-2022 reporting in Data Exchange. The 2022 Data Exchange Vendor Certification Status list is updated regularly for schools to check the status of SIS vendors.
Vendors who have obtained March 2022 badging are now certified for reporting all of staff and student data for ‘CP/CC’ reporting, and all year end programs associated to students (high ability, homeless, foster, military parent, title, alternative education, homebound, section 504, and unaccompanied youth).
NEW: Additional Data Exchange Data Sets Now Available
In preparation for the upcoming certifications of data sets in July 2022, IDOE has released updates to Data Exchange. Special Education Evaluation and Graduate validations are now available in the Data Exchange Validation Portal. Schools are encouraged to begin syncing, validating and reviewing this data in Data Exchange. To determine if your vendor has been certified on these data points, reference the Vendor Certification Status Sheet.
NEW: End-of-Year Reporting Information
Schools must ensure all end-of-year reporting is complete and ready for certification beginning Tuesday, July 5, and ending Friday, July 8. Data provided with dates through Thursday, June 30, will be included for certification. There are 12 ‘collections’ for July 2022 certification, and all 12 must be checked by the administration responsible for certification (or sign-off) even if the school had no data required or reported. The 'collections' for July 2022 certification are:
- Calendar
- Attendance
- Course Completion
- Certified Employee
- Additional Student Information
- Certified Position
- Homebound
- Special Education Termination
- Title I
- Alternative Education
- Special Education Evaluation
- Graduation
REMINDER: Annual Financial Report
Indiana Code 5-3-1-3 requires the secretary of each public school corporation to publish an Annual Financial Report (AFR). The AFR must be published annually during the publishing window which will open Monday, August 1, and close Monday, August 15. Guidelines are available here and can also be found in Moodle Finance. All AFRs must be submitted by Monday, August 15. Contact afr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Indirect Cost Rates
The Office of School Finance is accepting applications from local education agencies (LEAs) eligible to receive FY 2023 Indirect Cost Rates. Entities, including school corporations and charter schools, that provided Form 9 financial information for FY 2021 are eligible to receive a restricted and an unrestricted indirect cost rate in FY 2023. New charter schools are eligible to apply, but will be subject to the median rate. The following memo includes the application instructions. Contact icr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop
The Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop will be held virtually on Thursday, June 30. Staff will provide updates on the tuition support formula, data exchange, and other legislation affecting school finance. The agenda and registration process will be made available closer to the workshop. Contact schoolfinance@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Recipients of Next Generation School Improvement Grant Announced
The Office of School Support and Transformation recently announced the recipients of the inaugural Next Generation School Improvement Grant, a federally funded initiative to transform educational opportunities in schools identified for additional support under Indiana’s approved ESSA plan.
Grant recipients include:
- Indianapolis Public Schools
- Muncie Community Schools
- Randolph Eastern School Corporation
- New Castle Community Schools
- Whitley County Consolidated Schools
- Washington Community Schools
- Wes-Del Community School Corporation
- Western Wayne Schools
Grant recipients will receive one year’s worth of planning funds followed by funding for three years of implementation. More information can be found in the Next Generation School Improvement Grant Award Summary.
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.
NEW: Crossing the Finish Line – Top 10 High Schools for Enrollments
Through Indiana’s Crossing the Finish Line initiative, students who are just a few credits away from earning a high-value credential can cross the finish line by completing their credential for free this summer! More than 250 high schools across the state have enrolled more than 2,200 students through the initiative this year. Here are Indiana’s current top ten schools for Crossing the Finish Line enrollments:
1. Elkhart High School (89 students)
2. Munster High School (69 students)
3. East Central High School (65 students)
4. Penn High School (52 students)
5. Maconaquah High School (47 students)
6. Hobart Senior High School (46 students) (tied)
6. Batesville High School (46 students) (tied)
7. Floyd Central High School (43 students) (tied)
7. New Albany High School (43 students) (tied)
8. Jeffersonville High School (37 students)
9. Early College High School (Evansville) (33 students)
10. Madison Consolidated High School (31 students) (tied)
10. Forest Park High School (31 students) (tied)
10. Wayne High School (31 students) (tied)
There’s still time to help your qualified students register to complete their credentials this summer. Learn more about Crossing the Finish Line here.
NEW: Alternative Education Grant Full Time Equivalency (FTE) Student Report Submission
In order to distribute alternative education funds in a timely manner, Alternative Education Grant FTE Student Reports must be submitted to IDOE. FTE Student Reports must be submitted for all approved alternative education programs during the 2021-2022 school year. The reporting window is open now through Friday, July 29. Please review this memo which was previously sent to the alternative education listserv. Contact studentpathways_alted@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 High Ability Program Grant Allocations Released
The High Ability Program Grant allocations for the 2022-2023 school year (FY 2023) were sent to superintendents and high ability coordinators on Tuesday, May 17. These funds, per statute IC 20-36-1, are to support local educational agencies (LEA) in the identification of students who perform or show the potential to perform at an outstanding level in comparison to peers of the same age, experience, and environment. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Employability Skills Innovation & Implementation Grant Deadline Friday, May 27
IDOE is accepting applications for the Employability Skills Innovation and Implementation Grant which is designed to foster innovation in the development of students’ employability skills. Interested applicants can submit their online application here by Friday, May 27. For technical support or application clarity, applicants can contact Engagement@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: Aspiring Special Education Leaders Institute (ASELI) Cohort III Applications
ASELI is accepting Cohort III participant and mentor applications for a one-year leadership development program designed to improve outcomes for all students by preparing a diverse group of educators for leadership roles in special education. The collaborative program involves monthly meetings that aim to increase the capacity and network of aspiring diverse special education leaders at LEAs to serve children with disabilities and their families. Applications for this opportunity can be found here, and more information is available here. Contact the Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Upcoming Live Summer Leadership Series Events in the Indiana Learning Lab
Join IDOE’s Leadership Series for events throughout the summer to earn Professional Growth Plan (PGP) points by attending live sessions related to STEM and literacy. Two events are coming this week, including The Knowledge Gap: What It Is and How to Narrow It from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on Monday, May 23, and Leadership in Integrative STEM Education at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 26. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Mathematics Vertical Articulation Guides Revised
The Mathematics Standards Vertical Articulations on IDOE’s Mathematics Indiana Academic Standards webpage have been revised. These guides were revised to better reflect concept connections and learning progression threads across grade levels. Administrators and educators are strongly encouraged to use these documents to facilitate cross-grade level discussions and the identification of local needs and areas of focus. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana High Ability & STEM Day Events
Join IDOE’s STEM team, the Educational Service Centers of Indiana, along with schools that have recently experienced the STEM School Certification process for an in-depth look at STEM Certification and integration. During the morning session, IDOE will provide an overview of the STEM Certification process and the revised rubric and schools will share their certification journey. In the afternoon, school teams will be provided the opportunity to network with other schools and work on school-wide STEM goals and associated plans. Four dates will be held throughout June across Indiana for K-8 schools and information regarding each of these events can be found in this flyer. Schools may sign up for these events here. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Early Learning Resources Survey
IDOE is committed to providing support and resources for early educators and administrators to ensure the highest-quality early education is provided to young Hoosiers. The feedback from this survey will be used by IDOE’s early learning team to inform the development of new resources and professional development opportunities using the Indiana Learning Lab, as well as to understand the usefulness and effectiveness of current IDOE resources. Please complete this survey by Friday, May 20. Contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Virtual Voyagers for May and June
The Office of Digital Learning is continuing the Virtual Voyagers series with new topics throughout May and June to support leaders of virtual and blended learning programs. View this flyer for session and registration information. Join the first session, Providing Virtual Professional Development Opportunities from 10 to 10:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 12. View previous Virtual Voyagers sessions in the Learning Lab Collection. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Research Findings on Parent Engagement in Online Learning
IDOE has recently published the results of a research project investigating the most impactful strategies schools can use to develop meaningful parent engagement for students learning in virtual and blended environments. Printable tools for schools and parents are included. View the research findings or video preview of this research in the Indiana Learning Lab. For an even more in-depth look, join the live Professional Development (PD) with IDOE session, Supporting Online Learners & Family Engagement, at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 11. View the May PD with IDOE flyer for more information regarding upcoming sessions. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Parent and Family Resources in the Learning Lab
The Indiana Learning Lab is a fantastic tool for educators and now there are new resources for parents and families! This flyer can be sent to parents and families to support their students with literacy, mathematics, digital tools, and more. A Spanish version is also now available. Educators fielding questions from parents and families can also access vetted resources to share. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Federal Grants Ombudsman
The Title Grants and Support team is happy to announce that Eric McGuire has joined IDOE as Ombudsman. The Ombudsman serves as a resource and liaison between public schools and non-public schools, as needed. For more information on the role of the Ombudsman, and its resource page, please visit the IDOE Ombudsman website.
REMINDER: Coffee Chat with the Title Grants and Support Team
Join the IDOE Title Grants and Support team for a Coffee Chat at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 25, for a look at commonly found errors submitted on the Pre-Application and tips on how to avoid these errors. This will also be a time for LEAs to ask the Title Grants and Support team questions regarding the Pre-Application. Join this Coffee Chat on Microsoft Teams using this link.
REMINDER: 2022 Title I and ESSER I Applications Amendments Due Monday, May 30
All amendments to 2022 Title I and ESSER I (CARES) applications must be submitted no later than Monday, May 30. Contact your designated federal grants specialist with any questions or to open an ESSER I application amendment.
NEW FROM THE NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY AND DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA: Adult Summit - On the Road Conference Saturday, June 11
Join the National Down Syndrome Society and Down Syndrome Indiana on Saturday, June 11, for Adult Summit: On The Road! This one-day conference will be geared toward professionals and caregivers of teens and young adults to focus on the transitional years from pediatrics to adult services. Participants may attend in-person in Indianapolis or online. Tickets are available here, and educators may use their school email and the code ‘EDUCATE’ at checkout to received 25% off conference registration. Educators may also earn PGP points for attending. Contact adultsummit@ndss.org with any questions.
NEW FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Registration Open for Keep Indiana Learning STEM Synergy Summer Bootcamp
Keep Indiana Learning’s STEM Synergy is offering an intensive, three-part bootcamp to provide school-level STEM teams with support on identifying their STEM gaps, as defined by the Indiana STEM School Certification domains and Indiana AfterSchool STEM standards and support for STEM Certification application submissions. Teams will learn directly from STEM Certified Schools while sharing best practices and strategies for success to improve your approach as you work toward STEM Certification. More information and the registration link can be found here. Contact the Keep Indiana Learning team with any questions.
NEW FROM NEXTECH: Teacher Tech Connect 2022 Conference Thursday, July 21
Nextech is holding a one-day virtual conference on Thursday, July 21, for Indiana educators (open to all, but tailored to high school educators) to learn from the Indiana tech community and gather first-hand knowledge on techniques, skills, and cultures of innovative workplaces while exploring ways to add real-world experience into computer science classrooms statewide. Participants will select a breakout sessions across two topics: Classroom to Career: Bringing the Real-World into CS and What's Next and Preparing Your Students for Life After High School. Register for the conference here; eligible K-12 teachers in the state of Indiana will receive a $200 stipend in the form of a gift card for their attendance. Contact Nextech with any questions.
NEW FROM BRING CHANGE TO MIND (BC2M): Start a BC2M Mental Health Club
BC2M is a non-profit organization, founded by actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close that works to end the stigma and discrimination that surround mental illness. BC2M high school clubs empower and inspire teens to educate their peers on topics surrounding mental health in order to raise awareness and fight stigma. The club's focus is on advocacy and awareness. Starting a BC2M high school club is free of cost and BC2M provides all the resources, including a $500 annual grant, club resource portal, club merchandise, and a BC2M staff liaison. Contact engagement@doe.in.gov for more information.
REMINDER FROM BALL STATE UNIVERSITY: The Indiana School Counselor and Administrator Collaboration Institute (ISCACI)
School leaders, school counselors, and graduate students/alumni in school counseling and educational leadership programs are invited to join the inaugural ISCACI Conference, Monday, June 13, through Tuesday, June 14, at Ball State Alumni Center in Muncie. Breakout session presenters are from a variety of organizations including IDOE, Standard for Success, local Indiana school districts, Indiana Online, and others. Breakout session topics include student success, community engagement, college and career readiness, principal/counselor relationships and more. Additional information and registration information can be found here. Contact Dr. Rachel Geesa and Dr. Theresa Kruczek 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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