With fall break and Halloween in the rearview mirror, the holiday season is fast approaching. This is a busy time both inside and outside of the classroom, as another semester and another year draw to a close.
For many of our older students, this is a busy, but exciting, time for another reason…it’s college application season! And events like College Goal Sunday (which is happening this Sunday!) help our students get a leg up on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and start to solidify what their next step beyond high school might look like.
As educators, we are committed to preparing our students for a dynamic future whether they choose employment, enrollment, or enlistment leading to service. And regardless of the path they chose, we know that a quality education – particularly some form of education beyond a high school diploma – provides the best shot for students to overcome poverty and improve their future. Fortunately, through a collaboration between local schools and our partners in higher education, the state of Indiana is removing barriers and helping to make this a reality for more students through the Indiana College Core.
Indiana high schools that offer the Indiana College Core are opening doors for their students through an opportunity to earn the equivalent of one year of college before ever graduating high school. For those who are not familiar with the Indiana College Core, state law requires this 30-credit hour block of general education courses to transfer to any Indiana public university upon completion. Several private universities accept the Indiana College Core as well. This year, the number of high schools offering the Indiana College Core has grown by nearly 70%, making it more accessible to Indiana high school students than ever before.
One of the key benefits of the Indiana College Core is the cost savings to families and students. In fact, affordability is often cited as the number one factor for students who are considering college. Through the Indiana College Core, students can earn their first year of college at a cost of no more than $750, compared to $22,000 (the average cost of a full year of college at a public institution), making the Indiana College Core one of Indiana’s best tools for saving students and families money while also preparing students for college. Since the Indiana College Core debuted in 2012, over 10,000 students have completed the Core, equating to a savings of nearly $225 million for Hoosier students and families.
In addition to the significant cost savings, data shows us that students who complete the Indiana College Core are more likely to continue their postsecondary education – about 94% of high school students who earned the Indiana College Core went on to attend college – and are also more likely to graduate on time or early, allowing them to move forward with their selected career and/or pursue additional education opportunities, and more!
In the recap of our team’s recent visits to schools across southern Indiana, I mentioned Crawford County High School, one of the 141 high schools across the state that is saving their students time and money by offering the Indiana College Core. As a small, rural district – with many students living in poverty – they are committed to providing access to postsecondary credentials of value while students are still in high school…thus, opening as many doors as possible for their students.
As the Indiana College Core celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, there is no better time to think about offering the Indiana College Core at your school. If you are a high school counselor or administrator who is interested in offering the Indiana College Core to your students, check out the Indiana College Core educator guide and toolkit, which includes information on the future of work and learning in Indiana and also offers interactive student activities.
As always, thank you to our educators at every grade level whose work is preparing students for life beyond graduation. Your work truly matters, from early learning through grade 12, and together, we can continue to lift more students to better lives through education.
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REMINDER: Nominations Open for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
PAEMST is the highest honor bestowed to educators by the U.S. government specifically for those teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to students grades seven through 12. PAEMST was established by Congress in 1983 and the president may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers each year. More information about the process can be found here. Nominations must be submitted by January 9, 2023. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with any questions.
REMINDER: Nominations Open for the Indiana History Teacher of the Year Award
In partnership with IDOE, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History awards the Indiana History Teacher of the Year title each year in its effort to promote the study and love of American history. State winners are then considered for the National History Teacher of the Year award. For more information about the nomination process and to nominate an Indiana history teacher, click here. Nominations must be submitted by April 30, 2023. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with any questions.
REMINDER: Nominations Open for Emerging Leaders Recognition
IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent is looking for confidential recommendations of leaders representing the very best educators in Indiana. These emerging leaders must have between five and 15 years of experience, demonstrate leadership beyond the classroom, and positively impact school culture and student achievement. Superintendents and principals may submit recommendations here. Nominations must be submitted by May 26, 2023. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
REMINDER: Additional Opportunities to Recognize Indiana Educators
Throughout the year, numerous opportunities arise nationwide to acknowledge the incredible work of Indiana educators. The Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE’s) Office of Educator Talent has developed this document which will be updated periodically with external opportunities to recognize educators. To submit an educator recognition opportunity not listed, contact Anne Marie Milligan.
UPDATE: Student Information System (SIS) Vendor Status
A complete list of vendors working to become Indiana Ed-Fi certified can be found on the Data Exchange webpage.
The following vendors are now certified for October 2022:
- Harmony
- Sycamore
- Skyward (SMS)
- Skyward (Qmlative)
- RDS
- One:Ten Communications
- Gradelink
Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Student Test Numbers (STN) and School Personnel Numbers (SPN) Transition to State Ed-ID Portal
IDOE is excited to announce Ed-ID, a new system for generating IDs for students and educators. Ed-ID will provide IDs to educators from early childhood settings through secondary settings. This new approach will allow more versatility for the generation and use of IDs across a variety of state agencies involved in student learning and will improve the management of these IDs through a centralized service. The transition will begin on Wednesday, December 14, with the new Ed-ID portal up and running shortly afterwards. IDOE expects the upgrade to take one week to 10 days and will communicate when the new Ed-ID portal is available for use. More information may be found in this memo. Contact link@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: October Certification
Certification concluded at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12. IDOE will continue to work with schools that had identified data concerns prior to noon on Wednesday, October 12. For those schools with data concerns, certification can be completed once data is considered valid. Data certified for October includes:
- Pupil Enrollment
- Staff Employment (CE)
- Other Staff Personnel (NE)
- Multilingual Learners
- Curricular Materials Assistance
- Graduate ticket concerns have been reviewed and assistance provided from IDOE support specialists. Any remaining GR records not resolved via Data Exchange are to be submitted to schoolaccountability@doe.in.gov through the voluntary audit process. Voluntary audit submissions were due Friday, October 28.
Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Data Exchange Upgrade Planned for 2024
Data Exchange (DEX) will be moving to Ed-Fi ODS/API for Suite 3 v6.0 (Data Standard for Suite 3 v4.0a) for the 2023-2024 school year. This upgrade includes the latest technical updates provided by Ed-Fi, including enhanced data standards and security advancements. There will be 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: Data Exchange - The Data Reporting Source of Truth
Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, Data Exchange is now 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. Until Wednesday, December 14, all SPNs and STNs will continue to be created in the STN Application Center and will be available in Data Exchange the following day. Data Exchange resources include:
Contact the Data Exchange Team with any questions.
NEW: Form 9 Financial Data Reporting System
IDOE has modernized the Form 9 Financial Data system utilizing newer technologies. Please read this memo regarding the update. As a part of this upgrade, IDOE will release the new Form 9 system within the IDOE LINK Portal, which recognizes all local schools' Google G-Suite or Microsoft credentials. This increased security means that financial staff will no longer need an IDOE username/password for this site. Chief financial officers and business managers are encouraged to work with the local LINK security coordinator to make sure that the financial administrator LINK role is configured appropriately. Please note that most financial staff already have this role set, as it was used in conjunction with Data Certification for sign-off within the Data Exchange system. Upon login to LINK, a new tile entitled Form 9 Financial Data will be available on Wednesday, December 28. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: November Tuition Support Payment Update
On Tuesday, November 15, the Office of School Finance will release an updated Form 54 Basic Grant monthly distribution payment detail in state aid. Updated state tuition support worksheets are currently available. Please read this memo regarding the November payment update. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: Estimated 2022 Summer School Reimbursement
IDOE's Office of School Finance has determined the estimate for reimbursement of summer school costs based on the 2022 Summer School Final Cost Reports submitted by eligible school corporations and charter schools. The payment for 2022 summer school programs will occur the week of Monday, November 21. Additional information and the detailed list of distributions can be found here. Please contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions before Thursday, November 10.
REMINDER: Common School Loans
IDOE is accepting applications for common school construction and/or technology loans through Thursday, November 10. Applications can be found in Moodle Finance under Common School. Contact commschofund@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Next Generation School Improvement Planning Grants
The Office of School Support and Transformation is now accepting applications for planning grants as part of the Next Generation School Improvement Grant (SIG) program. This is a competitive grant to aid in school transformation and eligibility extends to all schools currently identified as Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) and Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) under Indiana’s ESSA Plan. View the grant overview here and a list of eligible schools here. The Title 1 SIG Application will remain open through Monday, December 5. The scoring rubric that will be used to evaluate the application can be found here. Contact IDOE's Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.
NEW: High Ability Program Grant Final Report
The 2021-2022 (fiscal year 2022) High Ability Program (HAP) Final Report is due Saturday, December 31. All schools that received FY22 High Ability funds must complete this report via JotForm. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: November Alternative Education Webinar
IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team will host the Alternative Education November webinar on Thursday, November 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. ET via Microsoft Teams. Please use this link to join. Contact studentpathways_alted@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: November McKinney-Vento Liaison Webinar
IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team will host the McKinney-Vento November webinar on Tuesday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to noon ET via Microsoft Teams. Please use this link to join. Contact Mckinneyventopoc@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Comprehensive School Counseling Grant Informational Session
The Office of Student, School, and Family Engagement recently announced the Comprehensive School Counseling grant to provide up to $5 million in competitive grants to schools, corporations, and education service centers to support efforts in the development of a comprehensive school counseling program. The grant is due Friday, December 16. IDOE will host an informational and technical support session on the grant opportunity on Thursday, November 10, at noon ET. Interested schools should register here. Contact engagement@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Results Driven Accountability (RDA) Release Tuesday, November 29
IDOE’s Office of Special Education will release the 2022 RDA Determinations through the LINK Portal. View this information for information about the RDA determination process. Specific information related to the application, staff types (roles), and resources will be shared prior to release. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Training Session on Parentally-Placed Students in Non-Public Schools
IDOE, in conjunction with Accountability, Delivery, Access, and Community (ADAC) and the Indiana Non-Public Education Association, will conduct a training session regarding the provision of special education to students with disabilities parentally-placed in non-public schools in Indiana. Sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon ET on Thursday, November 10, and from 2 to 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 14. The intended audience for these sessions are public and non-public education leaders, as well as homeschools families across the state. Topics will include overviews of child find and educational evaluations requirements, the consultation process and service plans, and the expenditure of federal and state proportionate share. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: IDOE Requests Public Comment for the 1% Waiver
IDOE is seeking public comment on the requested waiver extension for the number of students tested using an Indiana’s alternate assessment, I AM. For each subject for which assessments are administered, the total number of students assessed using an alternate assessment may not exceed 1% of the total number of students in the state assessed in that subject. If the state anticipates exceeding the 1% cap, a waiver request must be submitted to the federal government. Any individual or organization may submit comments on the proposed waiver extension pursuant to 34 C.F.R.§200.6(c)(4) through Friday, November 18. Please contact specialedpartb@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Guidance for Requesting Indiana IEP Technical Assistance
Administrators and special education directors can submit questions regarding technical assistance for Indiana IEP via the Zendesk ticket system. View this guidance for an overview of the process. Users are encouraged to utilize this ticket system for requesting assistance and refrain from submitting requests directly to Public Consulting Group (PCG) representatives, as this could prolong the request resolution time. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with questions regarding this method of assistance.
REMINDER: Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Office Hours
IDOE’s Office of Special Education will continue to hold office hours once a week throughout November to support schools in navigating changes to the SEEC fund. This is an opportunity for schools to ask questions regarding new information or situations specific to their district. No registration is needed, and you may join any of the sessions below.
Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Register for Get Your Teach On Virtual Sessions - November
IDOE continues to partner with Get Your Teach On to provide additional professional development opportunities to Indiana educators through free virtual workshop sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab. Register and select from various sessions by clicking "Learning" and selecting "Live" to access the calendar of events. This month’s sessions are:
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Elementary Educators: Evaluating Student Interactions & Student Relationships on Thursday, November 10, at 4 p.m. ET
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Lower Elementary Educators: Evaluating Student Interactions & Student Relationships on Thursday, November 10, at 4 p.m. ET
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Middle Educators: Evaluating Student Interactions & Student Relationships on Thursday, November 10, at 4 p.m. ET
Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: Appeal Non-Compliant Transition Individualized Education Program (IEP) Findings by Friday, November 25
IDOE allows for an appeal process related to Transition IEPs that may have been found noncompliant and/or were unable to be corrected as part of the technical assistance process to ensure that RDA determinations accurately represent performance and compliance under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B. This appeal process is open through Friday, November 25. Submit appeal requests here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education monitoring team with any questions.
REMINDER: FY 2021 Part B Reimbursement Requests Due Thursday, December 15
The last day to submit FY 2021 611 and 619 Part B grant reimbursement requests is Thursday, December 15. Reimbursement requests will be honored for approved expenditures that occurred through Friday, September 30. Contact specialedpartb@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: STEM and Literacy Cadres - Year Two Recruitment Information Session
Join IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab on Monday, November 14, at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET for an informational session on joining the second cohort of the Indiana Literacy Cadre and Indiana STEM Cadre. More information and links to sessions can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Postsecondary Ready Investigative Mathematics Experience (PRIME) Math Cohort Five Interest Form Now Available
PRIME Math, a fourth year mathematics course that includes and reinforces the Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Statistics skills necessary for postsecondary success, is looking for schools that are interested in joining the fifth year of this course’s implementation. In order to offer this course, the instructor must receive free training provided by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and IDOE. Additionally, the school and instructor must commit to teaching the PRIME Math curriculum with fidelity. Complete this JotForm to indicate interest in implementing the course or to learn more. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 Digital Learning Parent and Family Support Grant
Applications for the 2022-2023 Digital Learning Parent and Family Support Grant are now open. The grant allows a school or corporation to design a plan to support parents with topics related to educational technology and blended/virtual learning environments. The grant application window will be open until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, December 2. A grant support session will take place on Tuesday, November 15, at noon ET. See this memo for additional information. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: #INLovesReading Through Purposeful Play Leadership Series in the Learning Lab
Discover how the science of reading plays an important role in early childhood and how these principles can be emphasized through play with the #INLoves Reading Through Purposeful Play Indiana Learning Lab collection. Live sessions will take place from January to March 2023. More information will be available soon. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
UPDATE: November Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
November PD with IDOE sessions are all focused on user feedback submitted through the Indiana Learning Lab! The second session, Mathematics Learning Recovery: An Overview for Administrators, will be held at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 9. View a full list of November sessions on this flyer. 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. All previous PD sessions are available for on-demand viewing. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Application Window Open Through Next Friday, November 11 - Participants Needed for Standards Prioritization Committees
IDOE seeks qualified educators, families, and community members to participate in advisory committees to support the statutorily-required prioritization of Indiana Academic Standards for kindergarten through grade 12. This work will align Indiana's standards with the skills and traits necessary for students to be successful after high school. These committees will hold monthly virtual meetings from February to May 2023 to complete this work. Interested educators and families/community members are encouraged to apply. Educators serving special education and English learner populations are especially needed for K-12 mathematics, science, and social studies committees. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: IDOE Accepting Applications for U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools’ Nomination
IDOE is accepting applications for nomination to the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) program for 2023. The ED-GRS program is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Interested corporations and schools are encouraged to review this memo for additional information and submit their applications no later than Friday, December 2. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 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 online from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, December 2, and registration can be found here. For those not able to attend live, please register, and a link to a recording will be sent after. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
NEW: Title Con 2023 Hotel Reservations
Title Con 2023: Drafting a Blueprint for the Unknown will be held April 11-12, 2023 in Plainfield. Hotel reservations are now available at the Embassy Suites-Plainfield. In making your reservation, please use the code IDOE. The room block is limited, so attendees requiring a room should book soon. Contact titlei@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Annual Survey Count
The annual survey count was released to the field last week and is due by Monday, December 12. All schools should complete this form. Please see the guidance document for how to complete the survey. The survey form and other resources can be found on the Title I-D website under Data Reporting. Contact Meg Richert with any questions.
REMINDER: Title IV Annual Performance Report (APR)
The Title IV APR due date has been extended to Wednesday, November 30. The report can be accessed here. Contact Lacey Bohlen with any questions.
REMINDER: Title Con 2023 Call for Proposals
Title Con seeks dynamic presentations on topics related to Title grants and federal funding that align with the theme of “Drafting a Blueprint for the Unknown.” Please review the call for proposal form for more information. All submissions are due by Friday, December 16. Contact Brittany Kronmiller with any questions.
REMINDER: Risk Assessment Rubric
After seeking comments and feedback from the Federal Programs Advisory Board, the Title Grants and Support team has revised the Risk Assessment Rubric for the 2022-2023 school year. You may view the draft rubric at this link. There will be four risk levels: low risk, moderate low risk, moderate high risk, and high risk. Schools will receive a copy of their risk assessment results no later than Friday, November 4. Contact titlei@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Title I-A Staffing Report
The Title I-A Staffing Report is no longer required to be submitted. Please contact titlei@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Late Liquidation Extension Request Template
The U.S. Department of Education announced the release of a Liquidation Extension Request template for grantee use for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Please view this process flowchart for information on how to apply for a late liquidation approval. Use this JotForm to submit necessary information. Contact esser@doe.in.gov or geersupport@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK AND THE METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP: Black Men in White Coats
Community Health Network in conjunction with the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township invites educators, parents, and students to attend Indiana’s Inaugural Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit on Saturday, November 12. Black Men In White Coats started in 2013 in response to an alarming report that highlighted the decreasing number of black men applying to medical school. The goal of this summit is to inspire youth to consider careers in healthcare while laying the foundation for success via mentorship and networking. To learn more or to register, click here to register or to contact the event organizer.
NEW FROM THE UNIVERISTY OF NOTRE DAME: Advanced Placement Teacher Investment Program (AP-TIP) Remote Teacher Collaboratives
AP-TIP at the University of Notre Dame invites AP teachers to attend the next Remote Teacher Collaborative meetings on Tuesday, November 29, (humanities) and Thursday, December 1, (math, science, computer science, and English) at 7:30 p.m. ET. These one-hour, online sessions offer a convenient space for teachers to connect, share, and learn from AP leaders. Learn more, see the full schedule, and register online here. Contact University of Notre Dame’s Center for STEM Education with any questions.
UPDATE FROM INLEARNING PARTNERSHIP: National STEM Day
Join the INLearning Partnership in the Indiana Learning Lab on Tuesday, November 8, for the November partnership event! Become a #INLearningPartner through an exciting early afternoon of events focused on a variety of STEM topics. View this flier for a full list of sessions. Refer to IDOE’s INLearning Partnership webpage for more information. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
UPDATE FROM THE INDIANA OFFICE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE): 2021-2022 Industry Certification Funding Amounts
School corporations will soon receive funding allotment for industry certification exams taken during the 2021-2022 school year. Schools can find the amount they are slated to receive in this spreadsheet. Funds were made available through a new line item provided to the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet in the current state budget and have been evenly allotted to all eligible entities based on data submitted prior to Friday, September 2. These funds will be distributed by IDOE, and school corporations can anticipate receiving the funding amount listed in the spreadsheet in the coming weeks. Schools that receive this funding will utilize Fund 3749 with the receipt account number of 3293. There are no specific restrictions on usage of the funds. Contact CTE@gov.IN.gov with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD: Advanced Placement Exam Order Deadline
Tuesday, November 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline to submit 2023 AP® Exam orders. Additional fees apply after the deadline, with some exceptions. AP coordinators can still make changes to their school's order until Tuesday, November 15, without incurring additional fees. To organize exam orders for final submission, AP coordinators should:
- Make sure the AP Participation Form has been signed and submitted in AP Registration and Ordering.
- Make sure all AP students have enrolled in their class or exam only section(s) using the join codes provided by their teachers or AP coordinator.
- Check that students who should be included in the exam order have an Order Exam? status of "Yes" in AP Registration and Ordering.
See the 2022-2023 AP Coordinator's Manual, Part 1 for information about specific ordering scenarios, including exams for second-semester courses, students testing at another school updating existing orders after the deadline, etc.
Learn more about managing the exam order:
Contact College Board with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN (NAGC): 69th Annual Convention
Have you made your plans to join NAGC in Indianapolis this year? From Thursday, November 17, through Sunday, November 20, educators, parents, and supporters will gather to share ideas for innovation, strengthening connections, and celebrating success. Explore the full schedule for NAGC22 here. Learn more and register here. Contact nagc@nagc.org with any questions.
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