|
While some Indiana schools have a few days next week, for many of our schools, today is the last day before winter break. As this semester ends, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to you and also wish you a restful, yet fun holiday season.
I’m a big believer in high expectations and working hard, yet I have learned over time that to be at our very best, we must absolutely take time to rest in order to be ready for what’s ahead…in this case, a new semester and a new year! I hope that over the next couple of weeks you take time for yourself, including having some quality time with the people you love the most.
A holiday message from Dr. Katie Jenner.
Our team looks forward to welcoming you back in 2023 with the next edition of the weekly newsletter coming on January 6.
So, until then…Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa. Whatever you celebrate…I sure hope it’s a good one.
And one more bit of cheer before we close it out, check out Beth Hoeing, principal of Southwestern Elementary School and Dr. Brian Allred, assistant superintendent of Clarksville Community School Corporation, who have transformed into real-life elves on the shelves this holiday season!
REMINDER: 2022-2023 Notice of Intent to Seek Performance Based Accreditation Submission Window
The submission window for non-public schools to submit a notice of intent to seek performance-based (state) accreditation will open on Monday, January 2, and end on Sunday, April 30. A notice of intent must be submitted prior to the school year for which accreditation would begin. This document serves as a notice of intent to seek state accreditation but does not constitute the final petition to be submitted. Once the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) receives this notice and verifies the applicant’s eligibility for accreditation, the applicant will be provided with a petition template, which must be completed and submitted to IDOE. A notice of intent may be found here. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
REMINDER: Non-Public Schools Interested in Applying for the National Blue Ribbon Award
Assessment percentiles that can be used to assist non-public schools in the application process for the 2023 Blue Ribbon awards are available in the IDOE School Accountability & Accreditation Moodle Community (Awards > Blue Ribbon), using enrollment key “AccountabilityCommunity.” The Blue Ribbon award application process for non-public schools is administered through the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), and the deadline for application is Friday, January 13. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: Centralized Reporting System (CRS) and Preliminary ILEARN Biology ECA Results Now Available
Preliminary scores for the ILEARN Biology ECA are now available, and the Rescore Request Window is open through Tuesday, December 27. CRS is now available via the Indiana Assessment Portal for schools to access assessment data for ILEARN, IREAD-3, and I AM assessments. Student scores and reporting information will be available exclusively in CRS after Saturday, December 31, at which time the Online Reporting System (ORS) will retire. Users may refer to the CRS User Guide for an overview and step-by-step instructions on how to obtain individual student reports and school data. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk for assistance regarding CRS navigation.
NEW: SAT Preparation Workshops in January
College Board is offering free virtual workshops aimed at preparing students for the SAT using the Official SAT Practice resources through Khan Academy. These workshops are recommended for counselors, teachers, instructional coaches, and staff who will be helping students prepare for the SAT this spring.
College Board will also host a virtual workshop at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, January 31, on BigFuture Scholarship opportunities, which students may qualify for through their SAT results. Contact College Board with any questions on these workshops.
UPDATE: New Reporting Requirements for IREAD-3 Good Cause Exemptions (GCEs)
IDOE updated the GCE Intervention Plan JotForm to streamline data entry for corporations with large numbers of GCEs. An Excel template is provided here and within the form for a data upload option. Schools can download the template, add entries, and submit through the form when finished. The single student entry process previously released remains available. Schools will have access to submitted data upon submission. More information regarding accessing data submissions will be included in future IREAD-3 listservs.
- IREAD-3 Spring and Summer Retest 2022 GCEs must be reported by Monday, March 6, for all students.
- Schools must plan to report all IREAD-3 Spring and Summer Retest 2023 GCEs by Friday, September 1, of the 2023-2024 school year.
Review the Process and Considerations for Issuing a Good Cause Exemption for guidance on the GCE process. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: 2023-2024 Assessment Windows and IREAD-3 Summer Retest 2023 Updates
Following approval from the Indiana State Board of Education, IDOE has shared the approved 2023-2024 Indiana Assessment Windows. Dates for the PSAT/NMSQT will be finalized and updated next week. Additionally, changes to the IREAD-3 Summer Retest 2023 assessment window are reflected in the updated 2022-2023 Indiana Assessment Windows. The IREAD-3 Summer Retest 2023 will begin on Monday, May 22, and close on Friday, June 30. Schools should notify staff of the shortened testing window. Both documents are housed on IDOE’s Assessment webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: Apply Now for ILEARN Committees
IDOE is seeking educators for two current ILEARN assessment committees.
-
ILEARN Computer Science Item Specification Committee: Advise on computer science item specifications for the ILEARN assessment with updated Indiana Academic Standards for science. The committee will meet in-person near Indianapolis from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 28. Apply here by Friday, January 13.
-
ILEARN Science Item Acceptance Review Committee: Determine ILEARN assessment item alignment to the new Indiana Academic Standards for science. The committee will meet virtually from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET from Tuesday, February 7, through Thursday, February 9. Apply here by Friday, January 13.
Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: Educator Recruitment and Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Indiana superintendents or human resources directors interested in the next opportunity to opt-in to the full Nimble ATS may complete this JotForm by Friday, January 27. This free upgrade for schools currently utilizing the job posting only feature is designed to significantly enhance local capabilities around educator recruitment. The initialization for new ATS users will take place in late February. Additional information about the statewide partnership with Nimble can be found here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
REMINDER: School Year 2022-2023 Teacher Appreciation Grant Allocations
School Year 2022-2023 Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) allocations can be found here. Recipients can anticipate distribution of funds on Friday, December 2. To collect accurate information about the use of TAG funds, please complete this quick questionnaire by Monday, January 16. Contact TAG@doe.in.gov with any questions.
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 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 Monday, January 9. Contact Anne Marie Milligan 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. 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.
NEW: Student Test Numbers (STN) and School Personnel Numbers (SPN) Transition to State Ed-ID Portal
The transition to the new Ed-ID portal began on Wednesday, December 14. SPNs and Ed-IDs (formerly STNs) are created through the portal which allows more versatility for the generation and use of IDs involved in student learning. It will also improve the management of these IDs through a centralized service. Background on this change is available in this memo, and project status will be updated next week. Contact link@doe.in.gov with any questions.
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 vendor(s) are now badged for October of 2022:
Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Important Data Reporting Change - Student Academic Record Collection to Replace Course Completion Collection
These changes being implemented for reporting course enrollments and outcomes will impact all schools that report course level data to IDOE. These updates are occurring to improve the completeness of academic records for each student, to support metrics on the Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard, and to monitor progress on Graduation Pathways. The full memo is available here and the related frequently asked questions (FAQ) document is available here. Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: IDOE Releases K-12 Enrollment and Public Corporation Transfer Report
This week, IDOE released data on K-12 enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year, as well as data on public corporation transfers during the 2022 spring and fall semesters. Statewide, enrollment in Indiana’s public and accredited non-public schools was stable at 1.12 million students. Enrollment and transfer data at the district and school level are posted here. Contact datarequests@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: December Certification for Special Education Data
The count date for special education reporting was Thursday, December 1. Schools should ensure all students receiving special education services for which they are managing are reported without error via Data Exchange. Certification for special education is Tuesday, December 6, through Tuesday, December 13, at 4 p.m. ET. The last auto-validation for special education data was completed on Tuesday, November 29. Wednesday, November 30, through Monday, December 5, schools have the ability to run validations by selecting the "Re-run Rules" button on the December validation tab. Tuesday, December 6, through Tuesday, December 13, at noon ET, validation runs will need to be requested by selecting the "Data Correction Request" button on the December certification tab. 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.
NEW: Full-Time Teacher Benefit Survey
Please read this memo regarding collection of full-time teacher benefit data between Friday, December 16, and Friday, February 17, for inclusion in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Full-Time Teacher Salary and Benefits Report. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: FY 2022 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Report
The FY 2022 ESSA reports for all school corporations and charter schools are available here. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: High Ability Program Grant Final Report
The 2021-2022 (fiscal year 22) 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.
NEW: School Medicaid Technical Assistance Resources Available
For corporations, charter schools, and state schools participating in Medicaid claiming for medical services required by an individualized education program (IEP) and/or school-based Medicaid Administrative Claiming (IndianaMAC), a variety of school technical assistance resources are available online via IDOE’s School Medicaid Claiming webpage and the Office of Special Education Community on Moodle. Resources include the Medicaid Billing Tool Kit, school Medicaid claiming information for parents and Medicaid consent form examples, resources for school business officers, and more. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Facilitated Individual Education Program (FIEP) Now Available
Schools may now request FIEPs directly from IDOE for targeted support surrounding a need or issue. Review IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility webpage and the FIEP Process and Overview for additional information. Request an FIEP via this form. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: Assurances Survey for Indiana Alternate Assessment (I AM) Participation 1% Cap and Disproportionality Closes Monday, December 19
Please complete the 1% Cap on the Alternate Assessment Participation Survey 2022-2023 for I AM participation cap and disproportionality. The notification of disproportionality was sent directly to districts on Tuesday, December 6, for those identified. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education monitoring team with any questions.
REMINDER: Results Driven Accountability (RDA) Dashboard Feedback Survey
IDOE’s Office of Special Education recently released the Special Education RDA Dashboard within EdData. IDOE is requesting feedback from dashboard users on this new system. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education monitoring team with any questions.
REMINDER: Stakeholders Needed for Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Fund Approval Process
IDOE is seeking superintendents, special education administrators, and school business officers/treasurers to participate in a stakeholder group to share feedback concerning changes that were made to the SEEC fund approval process in July. The group will discuss potential updates to the current processes as well as review allowable costs and a scoring rubric. Interested parties should complete this form by Friday, December 16. Participants will be selected and contacted in January with details for the initial meeting. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education 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 local educational agencies (LEAs), 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. Submit a Technical Assistance Request here. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: #INLovesReading Through Purposeful Play
Join IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab for #INLovesReading Through Purposeful Play, a kindergarten readiness series from January through March. This series will explore principles for the science of reading through purposeful play in early learning environments. A full schedule can be found in the Indiana Learning Lab. Please plan to join us live to learn more about the brain, comprehension, phonics, vocabulary, writing, and diverse learners and their families. All sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
NEW: K-12 Mathematics Process Standards Now Available
IDOE is excited to share the Mathematics Process Standards support documentation for kindergarten through grade 12. These documents highlight key connections throughout K-12 mathematics that educators can leverage in their classrooms to promote mathematical proficiency. The Mathematics Process Standards are a critical part of effective mathematics instruction and content connection. Contact IDOE's Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Applications Open for Governor’s 2023 STEM Team
Indiana high school students are invited to apply for the 2023 Governor’s STEM Team. This program honors four outstanding high school students for their exceptional efforts and accomplishments in one or more of the STEM disciplines. Winning students each receive a $1,000 deposit into an Indiana CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings plan and letterman jackets identifying them as members of the Governor’s STEM Team. Applications may be submitted via this JotForm through Friday, February 3, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: November On-Demand Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
Join IDOE every Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET in the Indiana Learning Lab for PD with IDOE, live sessions over a variety of educational topics. View November’s workshops on-demand:
Attend future live sessions and view other on-demand content in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Digital Learning Speaker List
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning curates a list of speakers specializing in digital learning to identify talented presenters who can provide local expertise, primarily for the Summer of Learning conference series, but also for state- and district-level professional development. To be put on the list, please complete this application. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: December PD with IDOE
There are new sessions scheduled for PD with IDOE in the month of December that will take a deeper look at the recent synchronous virtual learning research that was released to support high-quality virtual instruction specific to asynchronous and synchronous strategies. Sessions begin with Beyond Consuming: Interaction in Synchronous and Asynchronous Environments. View a full list of the December sessions for more details. To register for workshops, create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or the Indiana Learning Lab website directly and use your school email to log in. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Public Comment for Indiana Academic Standards for Fine Arts Closes Today, Friday, December 16
The Indiana Academic Standards for Fine Arts are available for public comment now through today, Friday, December 16. 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 any questions.
NEW: Final Expenditure Reports (FER) - ESSER I (CARES)
The FER for ESSER I and GEER I may be found on the Title I App Center under “Corp Reports.” On the App Center, the FER is entitled "Annual Expenditure Report." For reference, the report year is 2020, and the Title I Fiscal Report selection for ESSER I is 18003 Education Stabilization Relief Fund, and GEER I is 18002 Governor Emergency Education Relief Fund. Both are due by Friday, December 30. Contact esser@doe.in.gov or geer@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant (CFIG) Cohort 3 Applications Now Available
Applications for Cohort 3 of CFIG funding are now available on the Charter School website under the CFIG drop down. Applications are due Friday, February 3. Contact charterprograms@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Return to In-Person Instruction Plans
Return to in-person instruction plan reviews are due no later than Saturday, December 24. Any changes must be posted on school websites and if a new URL is used, it must be submitted to your federal grants specialist. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Title Con 2023 Hotel Reservations
Title Con 2023: Drafting a Blueprint for the Unknown will be held Tuesday, April 11, to Wednesday, April 12, in Plainfield. Hotel reservations are available at the Embassy Suites-Plainfield. The information used to reserve a room in the hotel block has been updated. If booking a reservation online, please use the room block code: CESDOE. If booking a reservation via a phone call, please state that the reservation is for the conference with the Indiana Department of Education (not IDOE). The room block is limited, so attendees requiring a room should book soon. Contact titlei@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: Health Officials Encourage Hoosiers to Get Vaccinated Against Flu Amid Rising Cases, Hospitalizations
Indiana health and hospital officials are encouraging eligible Hoosiers to get vaccinated against influenza (flu) as soon as possible, as high levels of transmission are significantly impacting hospitals across the state. To learn more, click here. Contact Lorrie Ramsey at the Indiana Department of Health with any questions.
NEW FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (DWD): 2023-2024 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Funding
The 2023-2024 CTE Funding Recommendations were approved at the Wednesday, December 7 Indiana State Board of Education meeting. The list is available here and is also posted on the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet webpage under Career Pathways-Programs of Study. CTE funding recommendations are based on the averaged statewide demand of the occupations associated with each NLPS pathway. If a school corporation believes the regional demand associated with a pathway to be higher than the statewide demand, the corporation may submit an appeal to DWD for increased funding. The appeal window will be opened in March. CTE directors will receive further instructions on appeals at that time. Contact CTE@gov.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE 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 round of Remote Teacher Collaboratives on Wednesday, January 11, at 7:30 p.m. ET. These one-hour, online sessions offer a convenient space for AP math, science, computer science, English, and history teachers to connect, share, and learn from AP leaders. Learn more, see the full schedule, and register online here. Contact AP-TIP with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE PATINS Project: Opportunities and Resources for Indiana Educators
The PATINS Project offers opportunities and resources for educators across the state listed here. Contact the PATINS Project with any questions.
|
