If you have been reading this newsletter for the past nearly two years, you know this already… this week officially marks the beginning of my favorite season, and it looks like the fall temperatures are rolling in too! As I have shared before, I love everything about fall…from the chili and the apple cider to the sports and the weather!
While my night tonight will include a high school homecoming football game (many of you may have a similar night ahead), earlier this week, I had the chance to spend time with middle school students who were getting a jump start on planning for high school and beyond.
On Wednesday, our team attended JA JobSpark at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Junior Achievement’s two-day career expo that connects over 11,000 eighth grade students with hands-on career exploration and engagement opportunities in a wide range of industries.
Our JA JobSpark visit began with a convening of business, education, and workforce development leaders to discuss how we can maximize our collective impact for students. When it comes to preparing students for a dynamic future, we know we can increase the opportunities available to them by bringing all potential partners to the table. This is particularly important as our state places an increased emphasis on both the important knowledge students gain throughout their K-12 experience, as well as the skills they develop through career exploration, engagement, and experiences.
This discussion about the knowledge and skills every child needs as they prepare for life beyond high school continued later that morning at the September State Board of Education meeting. The meeting provided a first look at some of the behind-the-scenes work that has been happening over the past several months as we prepare to launch the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed (Indiana GPS) school performance dashboard later this fall.
The Indiana GPS demonstration, which can be viewed here, showcased a view of the dashboard’s main landing page, as well as draft designs for the state, district, and school data summary pages. The dashboard’s main landing page tells the story of why specific knowledge and skill development matters throughout the entire early-learning-to-postsecondary continuum. This will help ensure a student’s long-term success and help us better understand where Indiana students are today. District- and school-level summary pages show local progress in these areas.
As noted during the presentation, none of the current indicators that appear on the district- and school-level summary pages will require any new data collections from schools. In fact, while we have not always measured these data points in a meaningful way, all of the data that will be incorporated in the initial launch is already maintained by IDOE, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, or Indiana’s Management Performance Hub (MPH)...we’ve just pulled them together in one place!
Just as your feedback was central to the development of the five characteristics and associated indicators, what was presented this week was a direct result of feedback from YOU - our educators, families, communities, employers, and school leaders! Throughout the design process, we heard feedback about the importance of:
- telling the data story;
- setting goals and targets that we can all work towards together;
- being able to see the data and easily understand the trends; and
- quickly locating longitudinal and disaggregated student population data.
Each of these recommendations has been prioritized in the dashboard, with additional feedback to be incorporated in future iterations – including the ability to compare data from one district or school to another, as well as the ability to track progress by cohort.
IDOE will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to refine the dashboard and support schools and families as the launch date approaches. Prior to the public launch later this year, schools will receive a password-protected link to view their pages on the dashboard, get a feel for the user experience, and review their data.
From the beginning, our work on Indiana GPS has been based on the fundamental belief that students are so much more than a single test score – and that a student’s entire educational journey shapes their lifelong path. Thank you for your ongoing collaboration to make this dashboard as meaningful, relevant, and transparent as possible, and for your daily work to prepare our youngest Hoosiers for a lifetime of success!
Enjoy this nice fall weekend!
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NEW: SAT School Day Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Test Preparation Bootcamp Now Available
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and College Board released SAT School Day FAQs to address frequent questions that high school assessment staff have for the spring Indiana SAT for grade 11 students. This resource addresses questions ranging from accommodations to testing deadlines and more. Schoolhouse.world from Khan Academy is also offering two free online tutoring bootcamps in November and December for students taking the spring SAT. Schools should share this opportunity with students. Registration for the November bootcamp closes on Thursday, October 6. Contact College Board or IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: IDOE Membership (ADM) Fall Count Date
The fall count day for the 2022-2023 school year occurred on Friday, September 16. Schools have minimal time remaining to make any final additions or corrections to the data before moving into the Certification phase, which begins today, Friday, September 23. Currently, our target final date for administrators with the Data Certification role to complete Certification (or sign-off) will be Wednesday, September 28. Any changes to this date will be communicated widely over available channels. Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: School Office Hours Schedule
Below is the final topic that will be covered during School Office Hours and the corresponding date. This is also posted on Moodle in the mid-week announcements:
- Tuesday, September 27, and Thursday, September 29, focus: Special Education
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: 2022-2023 Curricular Material Memo
Please read this memo regarding the 2022-2023 curricular material process for submission of costs and student level data. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Teacher Salary Data Reporting
Please read this memo regarding upcoming updates to the Chart of Accounts. The guidance takes effect January 1, 2023, for expenditures reported by July 31, 2023. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: 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: 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: Graduation Pathways Eligible Certification Update
The 2022-2023 Industry Certifications Eligible for Graduation Pathways was released earlier this month by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Due to the timing of the release of this year’s list, certifications that were on the Graduation Pathways approved list for the 2021-2022 school year, but were removed for the 2022-2023 school year will be honored for high school seniors and adults who are currently in pursuit of one of these credentials for the current school year. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
REMINDER: Approved Alternative Education Program Renewal Form Due Friday, September 30
All IDOE-approved alternative education programs must submit the annual renewal form for the 2022-2023 school year via JotForm by Friday, September 30, in order to remain an approved program, eligible for alternative education funding. Contact studentpathways_alted@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Apply for the Indiana Learns Review Committee
Indiana Learns is a statewide grant program that will provide qualifying families with up to $1,000 to spend on math and English/language arts high-dosage tutoring and approved out-of-school academic programs for their students. All learning partners will go through an application and approval process before being listed as eligible providers in the Indiana Learns platform. Indiana Learns is seeking interested stakeholders to serve on the review committee, which will meet bi-monthly to review and score learning partner applications virtually, as needed. A detailed description of the committee can be found here. The first meeting will be held on Monday, October 3, from 9 to 11 a.m. ET. Contact Seana Murphy with The Mind Trust if you are interested in serving on this committee. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: Get Your Teach On: On-Demand Sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab
IDOE has partnered with Get Your Teach On to host workshops throughout the state for administrators and teachers to celebrate education and discuss the important work happening in our schools. Recordings of the workshops and training opportunities can be accessed in the Indiana Learning Lab. View this resource for more information on available sessions, and contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) System Training on Thursday, September 29
A virtual training for Indiana ILP users, both new and experienced, will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 29. The training will consist of an introductory overview of the system, followed by an in-depth review of tools for experienced users and a question and answer session. No registration is required, and access to the training can be found on the Indiana English Learner PD Calendar. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Students with any questions.
NEW: Changes to Results Driven Accountability (RDA) System
IDOE’s Office of Special Education, in partnership with a stakeholder group, is reviewing the current RDA process. The project is being facilitated by the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) and includes review of the system’s vision, the current IDOE communication system, and the indicators included within the determination. The 2021-2022 RDA determinations will be provided to school corporations in November. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education Monitoring and Compliance team with any questions.
REMINDER: Requesting Technical Assistance
IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility is dedicated to effectively and efficiently responding to the needs of schools, and you may now request free technical assistance directly from IDOE for targeted support for a need or issue. Review IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility webpage and find additional information on technical assistance here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: Update from the Indiana Center for Accessible Materials (ICAM)
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 IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Part B Grant Period Closes Friday, September 30
All FY 2021 IDEA Part B grant budget modification requests are due on Friday, September 30. Please note that all FY 2021 Part B funds must be encumbered by this date, and all FY 2021 Part B grant reimbursement requests must be submitted by Thursday, December 15. Contact partbgrants@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Special Education Excess Cost 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 Special Education Excess Cost 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 the session on Wednesday, September 28, from 10:30 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 Five Science Standards and Frameworks
The fourth presentation in the NGSS series will be held at 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, October 4, in the Indiana Learning Lab. Join IDOE’s STEM team and science educator Ryan Mitchell to learn more about the 2022 Grade Five Science Standards and Frameworks. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: Public Comment Now Open for Indiana Academic Standards for Health and Physical Education (PE)
The Indiana Academic Standards for Health and PE are available for public comment now through Monday, October 17. Please click here to access links to the public comment forms for specific grade levels, grade bands, and content areas. IDOE invites all stakeholders to share their feedback during this time. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: #INLovesReading Resource Collection
IDOE created a collection in the Indiana Learning Lab for families and educators to use as they support students in their love of reading. These resources have been curated to highlight best practices and outline Science of Reading skills and strategies to grow literacy achievement. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Resources for New Indiana Learning Lab Participants
If you are seeking to join over 28,000 educators in the Indiana Learning Lab, be sure to review the following resources for new members. This on-demand workshop provides a complete overview of the platform, and this video collection can also assist you with getting started. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Register Now for the Transition to Kindergarten Virtual Summit
IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness and the Family and Social Services Administration's (FSSA's) Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning invite administrators from elementary schools, community-based preschools, and Head Start programs to attend a virtual summit dedicated to the success of early transition experiences. The Transition to Kindergarten Virtual Summit will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, December 2, and registration can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
UPDATE: Synchronous Virtual Learning Research Findings
Pursuant to Indiana Code 20-30-2-2, 50% of a student virtual learning day is required to consist of synchronous learning beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning and Office of Teaching and Learning collaborated to provide research and guidance on finding the most intentional balance between synchronous and asynchronous virtual instruction. The research document can be accessed here in the Indiana Learning Lab, and the on-demand workshop highlighting key points can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
UPDATE: September PD with IDOE
September PD with IDOE concludes next week with A Gift of Reading. 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: Indiana Academic Standards for Fine Arts: Educators Needed for Review Committees
Pursuant to Indiana Code 20-31-3, IDOE reviews the Indiana Academic Standards every six years. The standards for fine arts were last reviewed in 2017 and are once again ready for review. IDOE is seeking K-12 arts educators to take part in upcoming standards review committees. Any interested educators must complete this JotForm application by Friday, October 7. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Professional Development (PD) with IDOE - Authentic Literacy Sessions
Join IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab for a two-part series focused on helping students produce reading-and-writing projects for real audiences. The first session, A Gift of Reading, will focus on how students can utilize their reading skills and will be held at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 28. The second session, The Great Thanksgiving List, will focus on how students and their families can participate in a national interviewing project and will be held at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 26. Review this resource for more information regarding the sessions. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Learning Lab District Administrator Feature
IDOE is excited to announce the opportunity for schools and corporations to utilize the Learning Lab's District Administrator features. Send notifications to teachers, create private resources and collections, and run reports to track resource completion. To learn more, join IDOE’s information session at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, September 26. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital 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.
NEW: Charter School Program - Quality Counts Grant Request for Proposal (RFP) Now Available
IDOE’s Office of Charter Schools and Special Programs is pleased to announce the release of the RFP for Cohort 6 of the Charter School Program - Quality Counts Grant. Please visit IDOE’s Charter School Program webpage and navigate to the Quality Counts Grant dropdown menu for grant materials and guidance documents. Applications are due by Monday, October 31, at 12:30 p.m. ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Charter Schools and Special Programs with any questions.
NEW FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: Hoosier Holidays Program
The annual Hoosier Holidays program will take place from 11 a.m. to noon ET on Tuesday, December 6, at the Indiana Statehouse. The theme for this year’s program is Holiday Harvest from Your Hoosier Homestead. Educators of second, third, and fifth grade students and their respective classes are invited to participate in decorating ornaments for the Statehouse trees. Additional details, including ornament requirements can be found here. Contact Marianne Molony with any questions.
NEW FROM THE OFFICE OF THE LT. GOVERNOR: My Community, My Vision
Last month, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) announced a revamp to the My Community, My Vision (MCMV) program, which connects high school students across Indiana to each other and their neighborhoods, towns and cities. Local units of government and community foundations interested in having their youth council participate in the My Community, My Vision program should apply here. Applications are due to IHCDA by Monday, November 7, with selected teams to be announced Wednesday, November 30. The selected teams will officially kick off with a workshop event in Indianapolis on January 21, 2023. IHCDA will host an informational webinar on Tuesday, October 4, at 1 p.m. EST. Contact IHCDA’s Placemaking Manager Meagan Heber to RSVP to the webinar, or with any questions.
NEW FROM HOLIDAY CARDS 4 OUR MILITARY CHALLENGE: Send in Your Holiday Cards
Schools and students across Indiana are encouraged to submit holiday cards for our active duty military service members. Please address the card to “Dear Warrior,” and write a holiday greeting or personal note while signing your first name and hometown. All cards must be mailed by Friday, November 18. More information is available here. Contact Laura Landerman-Garber at holidaycardsnh@gmail.com with any questions.
NEW FROM THE PERRY TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS: School Resource Officer Training
Interested in becoming a school resource officer? Perry Township Schools is offering training beginning Monday, October 10, through Friday, October 14, at the Perry Township Academic Center. This training will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, and registration is $300 per person. To register, click here. For additional information, click here. Contact Tammy Woodruff with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA STATE LITERACY ASSOCIATION: INDIANA STATE LITERACY CONFERENCE
Celebrating Diverse Voices is the theme of the Saturday, October 8, Indiana State Literacy Conference at Noblesville High School. The keynote speaker will be Matt De La Peňa, Newbery Medal-winning author of seven young adult novels and six picture books. Find more information and register for this opportunity here. Contact the Indiana State Literacy Association with any questions.
REMINDER 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.
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