Last week, I embarked on an incredible, whirlwind tour of southwest Indiana, where over three days, I traveled to nearly 20 different schools (in seven counties!) and visited with countless administrators, staff, educators, and students. As educators, we take great pride in the work that we do, as well as the achievements of our students, and this tour provided an opportunity for our schools to showcase some of the quality work happening daily in our classrooms.
If I told you about everything our team saw last week, it would be extensive…and frankly, too many excellent examples to fit in one message! So today, I want to dive into the visits to elementary schools in Posey, Vanderburg, Perry, Spencer, and Harrison counties.
In each of the elementary schools we visited on the tour, all had their kindergarten, first, and second grade students engaged in small group literacy instruction, focused on intentional reading skills development. Thirty-two-year veteran teacher Mrs. JoEllen Dausmann at West Elementary School in Mount Vernon (Posey County), had her students working in pairs to practice fluency with a new text. She warned me that this was a brand new activity and the students were just getting warmed up, but each student jumped right in, ready to participate, and unafraid to try something new.
Down the road at West Terrace Elementary in Vanderburgh County, first-year-teacher Miss Riley DeWeese’s third grade students were engaged in an enthusiastic conversation about Rain School, a book that emphasizes the importance of learning. Each student used their own copy of the book to search for answers in the text. All of the students were eager to chime in with a response, even with a few unfamiliar observers present!
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Nancy Hanks Elementary School in Spencer County has an impressive early literacy program where students are evaluated in competency mastery and their IREAD-3 scores prove it’s working. Jen Jazyk, director of learning, looked at me and stated, “we used Science of Reading strategies before it was even a thing!” And, it shows. Nancy Hanks had 100% of their students pass IREAD-3 in 2022 and though Principal Jody Schmitt was humble while speaking about this accomplishment, it is something to celebrate! They also were quick to share that the other elementaries in North Spencer performed cumulatively at nearly 94% passage on IREAD-3 in 2022. The small group literacy instruction is rooted in meeting students where they are with reevaluation happening often so students receive instruction that matches their level of competency (students in kindergarten through grade two are in mixed groups depending on the skill they need to further develop).
Early literacy instruction was only one of the many things on display throughout the school visits…Warrick County, North Spencer County, and South Harrison schools are all leaning-in when it comes to early learning, with several housing pre-k programs within their elementary schools. Corydon Elementary School has a full-day pre-k with 20 energetic students learning fundamentals mixed between small group instruction and play-based learning.
STEM integration was also on display at Perry Central Elementary School, where a fourth grade class demonstrated their knowledge in summarizing a book while using a Sphero to walk me through the story (and they did an amazing job!), and at East Crawford Elementary, where students worked to build a structure strong enough to hold a cup while also withstanding a simulated earthquake…I even let them test one of their structures with my full cup of coffee and walked away with not a drop of coffee lost!
To wrap up the elementary school recap, I’ll leave you with some words of wisdom from one of the kindergarten students. While observing Mrs. De’Shea Kuber’s STEM class at West Elementary School, I watched as students learned about growth mindset (in a grade-level appropriate way, of course) and the importance of trying new things, even if that means making mistakes. This lesson is an important one for our youngest students (and for adults!)…the idea that failure is not a bad thing and that it allows us to continue trying, learning, and growing! In the words of a kindergarten student, who summed it up well, “Always don’t give up!”
Across Indiana, there are examples of students, educators, and administrators who aren’t afraid to try something new and different, if it means positively impacting the life of a child. We must continue to step outside of our comfort zones, measure the impact, and continuously reevaluate in order to improve student outcomes.
Thank you to each and every student, teacher, and administrator I had the pleasure of visiting with last week… I look forward to sharing more about the middle and high schools we visited in the coming weeks. Thanks for all you do!
NEW: 2022 Graduation Rate Audit Information
The schools selected for the 2022 mandatory graduation rate audit were notified in late August. A list of schools selected can be found in the Cohort & Graduation Rate/Audits folder in the Accountability & Accreditation Community in Moodle (Enrollment Key: AccountabilityCommunity). Guidance is also available in this folder for schools needing to submit a voluntary graduation rate audit. The audit window will be open Thursday, October 6, through Friday, October 28. Contact the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE's) Office of Accountability with any questions.
REMINDER: 2022 Preliminary Federal Accountability Report Cards Now Available
The 2021-2022 federal accountability report cards are now available in the Accountability Portal for all public schools. These ratings are embargoed to give schools an opportunity to review the ratings and underlying data and to request an audit if necessary. The audit window will close on Friday, September 16, at 11:59 p.m. ET. More information regarding the Federal Accountability Rating calculation can be found in the Federal Accountability System folder in the Accountability & Accreditation Community in Moodle (Enrollment Key: AccountabilityCommunity). More information regarding submitting an audit can be found in the audit guidance document. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: Accessibility Advisory Group Participation Requested
IDOE invites participation in the Accessibility Advisory Group for the 2022-2023 school year. The purpose of this cooperative is to provide input regarding accommodations and accessibility features for students requiring additional support on statewide assessments. The advisory group consists of expert consultants and educators with distinct knowledge of specific student populations utilizing accommodations. Interested educators should submit this JotForm to apply by Thursday, September 29. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: PSAT/NMSQT Bulk Registration and Materials Order
Schools should monitor upcoming deadlines using the milestones for the fall PSAT/NMSQT paper-and-pencil administration in October.
- Material orders for school-level paper test materials via College Board’s Test Ordering System (TOS) will close on Wednesday, September 14.
- The deadline for bulk registration for schools registered for the PSAT/NMSQT is Thursday, September 22.
Contact College Board or IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: Educators Needed for the Indiana SAT Alignment Workshop
IDOE and the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) are recruiting Indiana educators to serve as panelists for a two-day, virtual workshop to evaluate the degree of alignment between the SAT and Indiana Academic Standards for English/language arts and mathematics. This workshop will be held Monday, October 17, and Tuesday, October 18. More information can be found here, and educators can apply here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
UPDATE: Webinar on Educator Recruitment and Applicant Tracking System
Indiana superintendents and/or human resources directors are invited to register for one of two Q&A webinars to learn more about the next opportunity to opt-in to the full Nimble Applicant Tracking System. This free upgrade for schools currently utilizing the job posting only feature is designed to significantly enhance local capabilities around educator recruitment.
Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
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 any 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 any questions.
REMINDER: Average Daily Membership (ADM) Fall Count Date
The ADM fall count date for the 2022-2023 school year is Friday, September 16. All schools should ensure the accuracy of student data provided within Data Exchange prior to the count date as there will be minimal time to make any final additions or corrections to the data before moving into the certification cycle on Wednesday, September 21. The final date for school administrators and finance administrators to complete certification will be Wednesday, September 28. In addition to certifying membership data, schools will also certify their initial 2022-2023 school calendar data. Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Student Information System (SIS) Vendor Status Update
A complete list of vendors working to become Indiana Ed-Fi certified can be found on the Data Exchange webpage.
REMINDER: Date Exchange Upgrade Planned for 2024
Data Exchange (DEX) will be moving to Ed-Fi ODS/API for Suite 3 v6.0 for the 2023-2024 school year. This upgrade includes the latest technical updates provided by Ed-Fi, including enhanced data standards and security advancements. This will result in minimal changes to the Data Exchange portal user interface. Additional information regarding project timelines, deliverables, and vendor certification will be provided at a later date. Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Designation of Key Contacts
Security coordinators for all traditional public, charter, and accredited non-public schools are responsible for making sure that their organization’s key contacts for the 2022-2023 school year are set. Key contacts (staff types) including superintendent, financial contact, special education director, principal, and Data Exchange contact, among others are needed for the current 2022-2023 school year even if those contacts were provided in the 2021-2022 school year. Contact information will need to be provided annually. Key contacts are utilized for communication purposes and do not allow access to Data Exchange validation portal. Key contacts are also utilized for INview and I-Champ.
IDOE recommends staff types be entered and managed in their local SIS. However, all three options below are available:
- Provide staff classifications in the local SIS following the recommended way to roll-over data from year to year per vendor’s instructions,
- Add a staff type manually for the 2023 school year via the Security Portal, or
- Upload template 011_StaffAssociation_StaffEdOrgAssignmentAssociation into Data Exchange, found here.
Schools utilizing options two and three may cause overriding or loss of data. Schools should connect with their SIS vendors to better understand how to avoid data loss when providing data via multiple methods. Security coordinator instructions can be found here. Contact link@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: School Office Hours Schedule
Below is a list of topics that will be covered during School Office Hours and the corresponding dates. This list is also posted on Moodle in the mid-week announcements:
- Tuesday, September 13, and Thursday, September 15, focus: Curricular Materials Assistance
- Tuesday, September 20, and Thursday, September 22, focus: TBD
- Tuesday, September 27, and Thursday, September 29, focus: Special Education
REMINDER: Cybersecurity Resources Available for 2022-2023 School Year
Cybersecurity attacks against schools have risen by over 16% in the past year. In Indiana, the top two categories of attacks have been business email compromise and ransomware attacks. Both of these threats are best mitigated by training users to recognize threat attempts and by adding validation checks. IDOE has free resources available to schools to assist with improving their cybersecurity in these areas. Licenses of KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training, Diamond-Level, and PhishER are free and available to all traditional public and non-public schools. This platform allows your team to create training campaigns using the included video content, allows for the creation of artificial phishing campaigns, and provides spot training based on end-user performance. Current subscriptions may be used this school year. If your school does not have a subscription, licenses may be requested in the School Cybersecurity Moodle Community. Invitations to join were sent out to the lead technology leader in each school and additional access may be requested by emailing Brad Hagg.
REMINDER: Data Exchange - The Data Reporting Source of Truth
The 2022-2023 school year establishes Data Exchange as the source of truth for all data reporting. IDOE will transition identities as the source of truth to Data Exchange in late fall/early winter. At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, all school personnel numbers (SPN) and student test numbers (STN) will continue to be created in the STN Application Center and will be available in Data Exchange the following day. Data Exchange resources:
- Data Exchange webpage
- Data Exchange training can be found in the Data Exchange Training and Community course in Moodle (no enrollment key required).
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Data Exchange Knowledge Hub is for those completing manual upload templates, rather than connecting via a student information system (SIS).
Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted here.
REMINDER: School Actions to Complete SIS Setup for 2022-2023
Schools with an Indiana Ed-Fi Certified SIS Vendor will need to establish a connection between their SIS and Data Exchange. At the beginning of the school year, schools should be actively validating and reviewing data in Data Exchange for accuracy in preparation for the first September certification window.
- A SIS vendor certification status list can be found here.
- Schools changing SIS vendors should send vendor changes to link@doe.in.gov.
Additional information on implementation of Data Exchange can be found on the Data Exchange webpage. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted here.
REMINDER: Designation of Security Coordinators
The LINK Portal is able to recognize all public, charter, and accredited non-public schools’ local Google G-Suite or Microsoft 365 accounts. IDOE configures the organization’s leader as the first account, and then this person logs in to designate up to two security coordinators, who are responsible for overseeing the setup of roles for others in the organization. All superintendents and leaders of non-public schools should log in to the LINK Portal and review/update their security coordinator information.
- Instructions for organization leaders on how to designate/update the security coordinators can be found here.
- New public and Choice schools setup of the LINK Portal can be found here.
- If you are a new superintendent or the organization leader of a non-public school and need the first account configured, please email link@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: Graduation Rate
As a reminder, graduation rates for the 2022 school year will be based on data certified by schools in July 2022 and October 2022. Some schools expressed concern about the graduation data in the Data Exchange July certification window, which just closed. The graduation rate will be compiled from the graduate data submitted through Data Exchange for the 2021-2022 school year (July 2022 certification) and the graduate data submitted through Data Exchange for the October 2022 certification. Schools will be able to update their graduation records through the end of September 2022. This means any students who were not submitted as graduates by the July 2022 certification can be submitted in the 2023 school year (October 2022). IDOE understands the critical nature of a school’s graduation rate and is offering this as an additional clarification. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted here.
NEW: International Youth Exchange Frequently Asked Questions
IDOE has updated its frequently asked questions that schools may face regarding Indiana students studying abroad and international students studying in Indiana. Contact Cathy Danyluk with any questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 Fall Membership Count
Please read this memo regarding the Friday, September 16, fall membership count. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 Residency Requirements
Please read this guidance regarding residency requirements for the 2022-2023 school year. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: Form 9 Financial Data July to December 2022
Please read the following memo regarding updates for the July to December 2022 Form 9 financial data submission. The due date for the financial data is January 31, 2023. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions. Please include the school’s four-digit school corporation number in the subject line of the email.
REMINDER: Summer School Final Cost Report
The Summer School Final Cost Report submission window is now open. Information regarding the summer school program can be found in Moodle. Contact Teresa Hemmerle or Joe Engelstad with any questions.
REMINDER: Feedback Request - 1003 School Improvement Grant
IDOE is requesting feedback from administrators and families on the request to extend the period of allowable use of fiscal year (FY) 2019 and FY 2020 School Improvement Grants. Please complete this JotForm by Tuesday, September 20. Contact IDOE’s School Support and Transformation team with any questions.
REMINDER: School Improvement Plans
IDOE is accepting Comprehensive Needs Assessment/School Improvement Plans (CNA/SIP) 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. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 Graduation Pathways Approved Certification List
The updated list of industry certifications eligible for Graduation Pathways for the 2022-2023 school year has been published by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development in partnership with IDOE, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, and Indiana Commission for Higher Education. This approved list can be found here. Contact DOEGradPathways@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 2022-2023 McKinney-Vento District Liaison Identification and Certification
As a part of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, every school district is required to identify a point of contact for families and students experiencing homelessness to assist with identification, enrollment, and coordinating services. This point of contact, also called the McKinney-Vento district liaison, must complete required training for certification by Friday, December 16. The contact must be updated annually and must be listed on your district website. Please visit the IDOE McKinney-Vento District Liaison Contact List to confirm that the contact person currently listed is correct. Contact Mckinneyventopoc@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: McKinney-Vento Liaison Monthly Webinar
The first McKinney-Vento liaison monthly webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 13, from 11 a.m. to noon ET via Microsoft Teams. During the September session, IDOE's Student Pathways team will share important homeless education updates and calendar dates for webinars in the 2022-2023 school year. Contact McKinneyVentoPOC@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Graduation Pathways Monthly Webinar
The first graduation pathways monthly webinar will be held on Thursday, September 22, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET via Microsoft Teams. During the September session, IDOE's Student Pathways team will share important graduation pathways updates and calendar dates for webinars in the 2022-2023 school year. Contact DOEGradPathways@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: September Training on Special Education Child Count and Other Data Collections
Data personnel and special education directors are invited to join the below data training sessions for assistance with the special education (SE) program record and the 2022 Special Education December 1 Child Count.
SE, Special Education Initial Evaluation (EV), and Special Education Termination (TR) collections will all be collected through the SE program record and used to populate information in the statewide Indiana IEP system. Training materials for the SE program record are available under “Reporting Special Education” in IDOE's Data Exchange Training and Community in Moodle. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Results Driven Accountability (RDA) Feedback Due Friday, September 16
IDOE’s Office of Special Education is working with the National Center for Systemic Improvement to examine Indiana's RDA system and implement the Leveraging General Supervision Systems to Improve Student Outcomes process. As this process progresses, stakeholder feedback regarding the current RDA system is requested. IDOE asks that all special education stakeholders, including educators, administrators, and families, complete this survey by Friday, September 16. Please share the survey link with other interested stakeholders and encourage them to share their thoughts. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Time and Effort Reporting Requirements for All Personnel Paid with Part B Funds
For information regarding time and effort reporting requirements for personnel whose salary and benefits are funded, in whole or in part, with federal Part B 611 and 619 grant funding, select "Part B Grants for Special Education" under “Guidance Documents'' in the Office of Special Education Community in Moodle to access the descriptions and examples. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Indicator 8 Parent Involvement Survey Now Available
IDOE is required to solicit feedback from parents and families on their involvement in the IEP process each year. For the 2022-2023 school year, the parent survey and letter explaining the survey purpose are now available. Burmese, English, and Spanish versions of the survey are available. Survey materials are available in the Office of Special Education Community in Moodle as well as on IDOE’s Indicator 8 - Parent Involvement webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Learns Seeking Partner Organizations to Provide High-dosage Tutoring
Indiana Learns is looking for partner organizations to provide reading and math tutoring to fourth and fifth students through in-person, virtual, or hybrid methods. To learn more about the requirements and application process, please visit www.indianalearns.org. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: Get Your Teach On (GYTO) Collaboration - September Sessions Now Available
GYTO was pleased to host their September virtual professional development sessions supporting teachers and leaders. Recorded sessions are now available in the Indiana Learning Lab, including:
Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Part B Grant Period Closes Friday, September 30
All FY 2021 Part B grant funds must be encumbered by the close of the grant period on Friday, September 30. All FY 2021 Part B grant reimbursement requests must be submitted by Thursday, December 15. The last day to submit completed FY 2021 Part B Grant Proportionate Share Waiver Requests is Tuesday, August 16. Contact partbgrants@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Part B Office Hours
The Office of Special Education’s Part B fiscal team will be hosting office hours to assist schools with questions or issues concerning reimbursements, modifications, reports, etc. for any Part B grants. Because each session is structured as a time for individual questions, there will be no formal presentation. Join at any time during the 60-minute sessions. The following dates and times (Eastern Daylight Time) are scheduled for Part B Office Hours (click to join):
- Wednesday, September 14, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Friday, September 23, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 28, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Contact partbgrants@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Upcoming Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Office Hours
IDOE’s Office of Special Education will continue to hold office hours once a week throughout September to support schools in navigating changes to the SECC fund. This is an opportunity for schools to ask questions regarding new information recently released or situations specific to their district. No registration is needed, and you may join any of the sessions below from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET.
Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Educator Series - 2022 Grade Three Science Standards and Frameworks
The fourth presentation in the NGSS series will be held at noon ET on Friday, September 16, in the Indiana Learning Lab. Join IDOE’s STEM team and expert educator Amanda Fox to learn more about the 2022 Grade Three Science Standards and Frameworks. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Summer of Learning Encore LIVE
IDOE’s Summer of Learning conferences may have ended, but the learning has not. Throughout September and October, each conference will share favorite sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab during Summer of Learning Encore LIVE. View this flyer for more details. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: September Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
September PD with IDOE continues next week with Science of Reading Supporting English Learners led by IDOE Literacy Specialists Tara Bohn and Kathleen Schuckel and IDOE English Learner Specialist Erica Sponberg. View the September flyer for a complete list of sessions for the month. 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. If you have missed any previous PD with IDOE sessions, they are available on demand in the Learning Lab as well. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 2022-2023 STEM Integration Grant Round Two
Applications for round two of the 2022-2023 STEM Integration Grant are now available with updated eligibility requirements. All public school corporations and public charters are encouraged to apply. The application window closes at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 21. Please review the eligibility requirements in the grant memo. Contact IDOE's Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: INLearning Partnership: August Sessions Now Available
The INLearning Partnership was pleased to host their August event, Parent Picnic: A Basket of Support for Parents and Families. Sessions supporting parents and families are now available on demand in the Indiana Learning Lab, including sessions titled Supporting Families in the Transition to Kindergarten, Successful Strategies: Engaging Families and Students, What’s Available at Your Library?, and Cybersafe: Staying Safe in an Online World. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 2022-2023 Digital Learning Coach Mini Grant
Applications for the 2022-2023 Digital Learning Coach Mini Grant are now open. This competitive grant opportunity is available to anyone who spends at least half of their contracted time in the role of a digital learning coach at an Indiana public school. The grant application window will be open until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 14. See this memo for additional information. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Constitution Day Educational Programming
Constitution Day serves as a reminder and celebration of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. In accordance with federal law and IC 20-30-5-1 it is required that any educational institution that receives federal funds must hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution for their students. Helpful information and resources can be found here as educators prepare for Constitution Day. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Health and Physical Education Standards Review
Pursuant to IC 20-31-3, IDOE reviews Indiana Academic Standards every six years. The Health and Physical Education standards were last reviewed in 2017 and are once again ready for review. IDOE is seeking K-12 Health and Physical Education educators to take part in these standards review committees. Any educators interested in being part of the standards committee must complete this JotForm by Monday, September 12. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Updated Budget Application Deadlines
Please note the deadlines to submit the budget applications for Titles I-A, II-A, and IV have been changed to Friday, September 30. Please contact your respective federal grants specialist for assistance. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Charter Coffee Chat - Quality Counts Cohort 6 Applications
Please join IDOE’s Charter School Team on Thursday, September 15, at 10 a.m. ET for the monthly coffee chat. This month’s chat will focus on the upcoming applications for cohort 6 of the Quality Counts grant. Please use this link to join. Contact charterprograms@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: Expanding access to the Indiana College Core
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) in partnership with IDOE announced this week a nearly 70% increase in the number of high schools which provide the Indiana College Core (the Core), bringing the total to 141 high schools, or over one in four high schools statewide. Since 2012, more than 10,000 students have earned essentially a full year of college for little to no cost by completing the Core while in high school, saving students nearly $225 million. Resources for educators and school counselors, school corporations, colleges and universities include a comprehensive digital guide and toolkit and a downloadable social media kit. The materials are designed to equip educators, especially school counselors, with the information and tools needed to help students make knowledgeable decisions about earning the Indiana College Core and to help build awareness and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Core. For more information, visit TransferIN.net. Contact Dr. Ken Sauer with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA STATE LIBRARY: Talking Book and Braille Library Now Serving Hoosiers with Reading Disabilities
In addition to serving Hoosiers with a visual or physical disability, the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library now has the ability to send large print books or audiobooks to those with a reading disability through the U.S. Postal Service. Applications are available here. More information is also available here. Contact Abby Chumin or call 800-622-4970 with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA OFFICE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE): Join the Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education (IACTE) and Vincennes University for the 2022 CTE Conference
Join IACTE and Vincennes University for the 2022 CTE Conference Thursday, October 6, through Saturday, October 8, at the Indianapolis Marriott East. This conference will provide networking and professional development opportunities, covering high-quality secondary and postsecondary CTE. To register for the 2022 CTE Conference or view the schedule here. This year’s event includes 3 pre-conference workshops on Thursday, October 6, which have been designed based upon different roles most commonly involved in CTE – instructors, work-based learning coordinators, school counselors, etc. Additional information on the pre-conference workshops can be found here. Contact CTE@gov.IN.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS (OSEP): Smart Beginnings Now Available
The U.S. Department of Education’s OSEP held its first ever “Smart Beginnings 2022: A Review of Key OSEP Presentations” event in August. This event covered topics that will help families, providers, and leaders support children with disabilities ages birth through secondary transition. Each day focused on a different audience (i.e., families, providers, and leaders) and showcased videos and resources that can help improve results for children with disabilities. View the Smart Beginnings 2022 webpage for event recordings, topical videos, and additional resources!
NEW FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER ON DEAF-BLINDNESS (NCDM): Professional Development Module
The Impact of Deaf-blindness on Learning and Development is the first in a new series designed for practitioners who want to improve their knowledge of deaf-blindness and gain practical information that can be put to use right away in the home or classroom. Participants will learn foundational information that is essential for working with children who are deafblind. Access this free module here, and contact NCDM with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA CENTER FOR ACCESSIBLE MATERIALS (ICAM): Update Regarding Accessible Educational Materials Qualifications
A doctor’s signature is no longer required to qualify for accessible educational materials (AEM) from ICAM. A student must have a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and a print disability that is certified by a competent authority to receive the full range of ICAM support. Due to changes in the Marrakesh Treaty, educators, school psychologists, and certified reading specialists are now among the professionals authorized to certify students with reading disabilities. Eligibility and Certification for AEM ICAM/IERC NIMAS Form 4 has been updated to reflect this change. Contact ICAM with any questions.
NEW FROM THE PATINS PROJECT: Opportunities and Resources for Indiana Educators
The PATINS Project offers the below opportunities and resources for educators across the state.
- The Access to Education 2022 Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 2, and Thursday, November 3 at the Historic Crowne Plaza in Indianapolis. Sessions will be designed around accessibility, Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), Assistive Technology, and/or the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. The registration deadline is Tuesday, October 25.
- View the PATINS Training Calendar for a full list of no-cost offerings, including the return of #PatinsIcam Twitter Chats every other Tuesday, beginning Tuesday, September 13, at 8:30 p.m. ET.
- Indiana educators may borrow assistive technology devices from the PATINS Project Lending Library at no-cost. Three items that may help improve educational access for students are the NadPen Stylus, Double 3 Telepresence Robot, and Califone 10 Person Assistive Listening System. Implementation assistance is also available at no-cost.
Contact the PATINS Project with any questions.
NEW FROM THE NATIONAL COALITION ON EDUCATION EQUITY: National Equity 2022 Conference
The National Coalition On Education Equity will take place on October 5-7, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis. This conference brings together education stakeholders from throughout the country to identify equitable practices, and provide strategies for moving our nation’s schools toward systems that honor our students’ hopes, dreams, and potential. Attendees will learn about and share transformational programs and practices to improve outcomes for students of color, marginalized students, and students with disabilities. The goal of the conference is to form a cohesive network of stakeholders who will, over time, develop a national action plan on educational equity. Click here for more details about the conference and register now here. Contact NCoEDEquity@gmail.com with any questions.
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