This week has been busy and yet, compared to usual, also a bit quieter around the office as some people are currently taking or are gearing up for a summer vacation (or staycation!). My social media channels are lighting up with families at various Indiana lakes or somewhere on a beach…or just sitting outside on their deck drinking a cup of coffee. Taking some “refresh” time is such a good thing…resting up, clearing the mind, to be ready for what’s ahead.
For many of us, Independence Day marks the “middle of summer”...that point when we’ve been out of school for about a month, and we have about a month before we are back in full force (some a little sooner in late July; some a little later in August). Even back to my days playing soccer in high school, I was always grateful for the “pause” that this week or so allowed before things kicked into full gear (basically, it was about 10 days before our soccer conditioning and an unknown number of sprints started)! Not much has changed since then, and soon our school athletic fields and high school parking lots will once again come alive with students practicing their sport of choice and/or marching band.
In addition to this welcome reprieve, Independence Day weekend is also about celebrations…and like many communities across our state, I can tell you there is no shortage of celebrations where I live, in Madison. Just to name a few, there will be a Friday night parade down Main Street, the Regatta hydroplane boat race on the Ohio River (trials on Saturday, race day is Sunday!), and a huge fireworks display and music festival on Saturday night. Not to mention it’s like “old home week” with people coming back home from out of town or just taking some time to come together. While this is not a tourism plug for Madison, you are welcome to come down! It is truly Americana on full display, right in Indiana.
And while this weekend means so many things for so many people, for me, it is also about reflecting on our nation’s past and present, and considering how each of us might contribute to an even brighter future. As educators in particular, we are uniquely positioned to ensure the next generation of America’s leaders have not only the knowledge and skills they need to be successful, but also the opportunity to follow their dreams and chart a path even greater than what seems possible today.
So whether you have a jam-packed weekend of fireworks, cookouts, and pool-time…or you’re floating on a pontoon on an Indiana lake…or you’re just taking it easy on your back deck, I hope you have a restful long weekend and take a moment to celebrate America’s birthday…as well as the impact you have and continue to make on our great nation.
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NEW: Final ILEARN and I AM Results Now Available
Permissioned corporation staff can access final I AM and ILEARN results and reports in the Online Reporting System (ORS). Results may be shared with parents, students, and teachers as appropriate. Final results for ILEARN are under public embargo (e.g., community and media release) and may not be shared until Indiana State Board of Education approval on Wednesday, July 13. Schools should use the following resources for interpreting results:
Please contact the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE’s) Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: Confirm or Update Corporation Test Coordinator (CTC) DOE Online Information
Corporations and non-public schools must confirm or revise their current test coordinator contact information for the 2022-2023 school year in DOE Online by Friday, July 1. Use this resource for assistance with updating the CTC designation. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with questions or if changes occur after the deadline.
REMINDER: Updated Required Trainings for School Employees
IDOE has updated its guidance on state- and federally-required trainings for school employees. This guidance does not include trainings that are optional for schools, and additional trainings may be required by the school corporation or governing body. Contact Emily Black with any questions.
NEW: Attract, Prepare, Retain (APR) Grant - Expanding and Diversifying Indiana's Educator Pipeline
IDOE is now accepting applications for the new Attract, Prepare, and Retain Grant. The grant is available for Indiana’s schools and local partners as they work to expand and diversify Indiana’s educator pipeline and retain high-quality educators. A total of $5 million is available through this grant to support local plans. This funding is allocated as part of the state’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Interested applicants can submit their online application here. Applications are due by Friday, August 5. Please contact eel@doe.in.gov with any questions.
UPDATE: Today is the Final Day to Nominate an Educator for Teacher of the Year
The Indiana Teacher of the Year Program works to inspire, rejuvenate, and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. Local schools are encouraged to participate in an annual selection process, and local Teachers of the Year are encouraged to complete the state application process by Friday, July 1. More information on the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year selection process can be found here. For more information, contact Rebecca Estes.
REMINDER: Staff Performance Evaluation Plan Submission
Legal Standard 12 requires each public school corporation to provide a copy of its staff performance evaluation plan to IDOE. School corporations must also submit their staff performance evaluation plan to IDOE for approval in order to qualify for any grant funding related to IC 20-28-11.5-8(d). This includes the Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG). Staff performance evaluation plans must be submitted via JotForm by Friday, September 16. For more information, click here. Contact Rebecca Estes with questions.
REMINDER: TAG Policy Submission Required
Information regarding the TAG Policy Submission can be found here. Local educational agencies (including charter and virtual charter schools) must submit the TAG policy for approval via JotForm by Friday, September 16, to be eligible to receive TAG funding. Contact Rebecca Estes with questions.
UPDATE: Final Sign-off for Course Completion
IDOE is aware that schools may have experienced significant issues regarding the July course completion sign off, with many schools ending this collection period with unresolvable errors. Schools are encouraged to submit course completion data as best as possible as IDOE is not expecting all errors to be resolved prior to sign-off. Moving forward, as a best practice, IDOE recommends allowing sign-off on individual data collections. While certifying the entirety of data for the July certification due to the unresolved errors may not be ideal, IDOE is looking at the course completion collection as a “best effort.”
Note 1: IDOE will utilize all valid individual course transcript records even if the student status is 'excluded' due to some individual records with an error or missing completion data. If the school chooses to ignore the error messages triggered by these records rather than making corrections or excluding the course(s) from sending to Data Exchange, the student will have an excluded status on the course completion certification count. However, the valid course data will be available for IDOE use.
Note 2: IDOE is expecting July sign-off/certification even if all data concerns have not been resolved on course completion because the July certification includes the funding datasets (AD, Alt-Ed, Graduate, Homebound, Title) which require certification. Again, IDOE realizes that signing off with errors on course completion is not ideal, but this is something that will need to be addressed over the next few years–this data will not be pristine this year.
REMINDER: SIS Vendor Changes
IDOE maintains a list of each school’s SIS vendor. If your corporation will be changing or adding a SIS vendor for the 2022/2023 School Year, please email link@doe.in.gov with these changes.
REMINDER: Data Exchange End of Year Reporting Information
Schools need to be sure all their end of year reporting is complete and ready for certification beginning on Tuesday, July 5, and ending Friday, July 8. Data provided with dates through Thursday, June 30, will be included for certification. There are twelve ‘collections’ for July 2022 certification, and all twelve 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
NEW: Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop Materials
Materials from the annual Budget Workshop held on Thursday, June 30, are now available here. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Teacher Salary Data Reporting
Please read this memo and teacher salary frequently asked questions (FAQ) document for updates regarding a teacher benefits survey, reporting cooperative expenditures, and January 2023 changes to the Chart of Accounts. An overview of the changes was presented at the Thursday, June 30, School Finance Budget Workshop. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: School Technology Advancement Account Applications
School corporations may file an application for a School Technology Advancement Account (STAA) now through Friday, July 15. The STAA application can be completed online and must be completed in one sitting. A sample application and certification page can be found in Moodle. Contact commonschoolfund@doe.in.gov with any questions.
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: School Improvement Plans
IDOE is accepting Comprehensive Needs Assessment/School Improvement Plans (CNA/SIP) Monday, June 27, through Friday, October 7. Use of the template fulfills all school improvement plan requirements under state law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as well as requirements for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), Additional Targeted Support schools (ASTI), and CNA requirements for Title I Schoolwide Programs. This memo provides additional information. The SIP template can be downloaded here. Please contact IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.
NEW: Professional Development (PD) Opportunities with the Indiana IEP Resource Center
IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility is continuing its partnership with Indiana IEP Resource Center to provide PD for corporation leadership teams. These opportunities are designed to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. These sessions will provide support on policies, programs, and practices directly affecting students eligible to receive special education services. Additional information on upcoming opportunities and registration can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: Alternative Special Education License
The Alternative Special Education License is available as of today, Friday, July 1, for initial special education licensure or for a special education addition to an existing license. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and must be enrolled in a post-baccalaureate approved alternative preparation program. Review this guidance for additional information and requirements. Please submit any additional questions via this JotForm.
NEW: Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Part B Grant Proportionate Share Waiver Request Form Available
The FY 2021 Part B 611 and 619 grant proportionate share waiver request form is now available. Completed requests with supporting documentation must be submitted to partbgrants@doe.in.gov by Tuesday, August 16. Following waiver approval, a Part B grant budget modification request is required to transfer funds among budget scopes and must be submitted by Thursday, September 15. Download the waiver request form and instructions from the Office of Special Education Community in Moodle. Please direct questions to partbgrants@doe.in.gov.
NEW: U.S. Department of Education’s (USDOE) 2022 Determination Under Section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
USDOE has determined that Indiana meets the requirements and purposes of Part B of IDEA. This determination is based on the totality of the state’s data and information, including the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other state-reported data, and other publicly-available information. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Register for Get Your Teach On Opportunities
IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility is excited to announce a partnership with Get Your Teach On to provide additional professional development opportunities to Indiana educators through participation in free conferences, workshops, and training sessions. These opportunities are designed to ignite educators' passion for teaching and education, expand on current IDOE initiatives to support and elevate the educator profession, and make students want to come to school and learn while developing relationships. These opportunities promote positive educational outcomes to develop the whole learner. Additional information on upcoming opportunities and registration can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions, and keep an eye out for information regarding additional opportunities later this summer!
REMINDER: FY 2023 Special Education Grant Assurances Due Today, Friday, July 1
To receive the earliest FY 2023 Part B Grants reimbursement date of Friday, July 1, schools must correctly submit FY 2023 Part B Grants Assurances form in the Grant Management System by midnight tonight, Friday, July 1. The Assurances status indicator will change to "pending" when submitted successfully, and the system will issue an email confirmation. The FY 2023 Part B Grants Assurances form is available to download at the Office of Special Education Community in Moodle, under Part B Grants for Special Education. Schools that do not correctly submit a completed form by the deadline will receive their reimbursement based on the date of receipt. Please contact IDOE's partbgrants@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Aspiring Special Education Leadership Institute (ASELI) Cohort III Applications Due Today, Friday, July 1
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. Applications for this opportunity can be found here and are due today, Friday, July 1. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Register for the ASSET Transition to Teaching Program
ASSET is a new transition to teaching program led by the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE) as a solution to the current special educator shortage. ASSET is approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for anyone with an active Indiana teaching license in any content area who is interested in adding mild interventions, intense interventions, or both to their existing teaching credentials.
The no-cost, 11-month program is aligned with the standards from the Council for Exceptional Children and leverages field expertise to ensure candidates are well-prepared to meet the needs of students with disabilities and to pass the state licensure exam after completion of the program. Participants are required to maintain a small caseload of students with disabilities to meet ASSET program requirements. Summer training will be held Tuesday, July 19, through Thursday, July 21, at Franklin High School in Franklin. Online sessions will occur the first Tuesday of each month from August through May of the 2022-2023 school year. Contact Dr. Jay Arthur, director of the Indiana ASSET program, via email or phone (317-759-2895) with any questions.
REMINDER: Early Intervention Grant Application Window Closes Friday, July 1
The application window for the 2022-2023 Early Intervention Grant is open through Friday, July 1. This grant is open to all accredited public, charter, and non-public schools serving kindergarten, first, and/or second grade students that seek funds to support early intervention programming. The Early Intervention Grant application can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Learning Lab STEM Week - Monday, July 11, Through Friday, July 15
IDOE’s STEM team will be hosting a week of live sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab from Monday, July 11, through Friday, July 15. Presentations from leaders in education and IDOE content specialists will address 2022 science and computer science standards, their frameworks, and new STEM Certification. Additional information and the full list of STEM Week opportunities can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: July Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
Summer PD with IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab continues in July. This one-day event will include 25-minute presentations from 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 14. Each session will be hosted by an IDOE team member. Wednesday evening PD with IDOE will return in August. To register for workshops, create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or the Indiana Learning Lab website directly, and use your school email to log in. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Secondary STEM Certification Guidance
The Secondary STEM School Certification process for junior/senior high schools and career centers will utilize a separate rubric and evaluation process beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. Guidance materials are currently under development by IDOE in collaboration with critical stakeholders. The first kick-off regarding new guidance will be held at 9:30 a.m. ET on Friday, July 15. Registration information can be found here. This memo provides additional information and an opportunity for schools to provide contact information via this JotForm for future communication. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Earn Professional Growth Points (PGPs) with On-Demand Leadership Series
IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning is hosting a leadership series throughout the summer in the Indiana Learning Lab! Educators can earn PGPs by attending live or recorded events from engaging presenters in the STEM and literacy field. View the Leadership Series Collection to access previous events and register for upcoming sessions here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Save the Date - Quarterly Program Administrator Meeting
The first Title Grants and Support Quarterly Program Administrator Meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, August 3, from 10 a.m. to noon ET. This informational and collaborative meeting will be open to any Indiana administrator or staff member who works with federal grants. Click here to join. For more information, please contact Nicole Leach.
NEW FROM THE KNOT TODAY FOUNDATION: Training Opportunity
The kNot Today Foundation, founded by Colts Head Coach Frank Reich, is rolling out a new prevention program to provide proper training on sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking to K-12 faculty and students across Indiana. To learn more about this new program and sign up to partner with kNot Today, click here. Please contact partner@knottoday.org with any questions.
NEW FROM JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT (JA) OF CENTRAL INDIANA: JA EduSpark Industry Tours
Join us for a JA EduSpark experience from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, and Wednesday, July 20. Learn about trends and skills needed for future career opportunities in workforce development, government and nonprofit, and senior care and skilled nursing while taking a behind the scenes tour of local companies. These industry tours are designed to strengthen and enrich instruction that will bring relevance to student learning while connecting careers and academics in the classroom. Each visit will include a facility tour, networking with peers and professionals, panels of speakers from a variety of careers within each industry, and lunch. This event is free of charge and open to administrative staff, counselors, and educators from any subject/grade.
- Direct exposure to in-demand careers, learn about careers in various industry clusters
- Receive eight professional growth plan (PGP) points and a certificate of completion
- Receive a stipend
- Tour of facility, interact with industry professionals, and hear from panels of experts
- Lunch provided both days
- This event is FREE for educators - teachers, counselors, school administrators
- You must attend both tours in order to receive the PGPs, certificate, and stipend
Please register here no later than Wednesday, July 13.
REMINDER FROM LILLY ENDOWMENT EDUCATION DIVISION: Renewal Grants for K-12 Educators
Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce its 36th Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program (TCFP). This renewal program supports Indiana educators to take intentional time to pursue their dreams and passions, explore new areas of interest and expand existing or develop new talents. Renewal projects encourage new experiences, exploration and reflection to generate renewed energy and enthusiasm, spark innovative approaches to teaching and leading, and reveal thoughtful ways to enhance creativity in students and classrooms. Approximately 100 grants, each up to $12,000, will be awarded in 2023. Learn more about TCFP here. The application deadline is Monday, October 3. Contact teachercreativity@lei.org with any questions.
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