It’s pretty incredible the momentum at the community level to partner together to increase career exploration, engagement, and experiential opportunities for students. Regardless if a student plans to seek employment, enrollment, or enlistment leading to service, many Indiana schools are increasingly providing career exploration and engagement in elementary and middle school and experiences in high school. This focus in K-12 is supporting students in finding their purpose and developing their best path. Below are just a few examples (of many), just in the past couple weeks…
This momentum took center stage recently as the Indiana Chamber hosted their first-ever Work-Based Learning IMPACT Summit. I saw quite a few of you at this convening, as it brought together leaders in K-12, higher education, and the workforce to discuss best practices and how we can continue to increase opportunities allowing students to have relevant exposure to the world of work. This event sought to inspire local innovation in work-based learning and also spotlight examples of students, educators, and schools across Indiana who are already employing innovative solutions to meet demands.
Also, just last week Indiana hosted a convening of stakeholders from across the country, focused on providing direct pathways to credential completion and access to high-quality work-based learning in high school. Indiana’s Earn and Learn Convening, hosted by Ascend Indiana and the Brookings Institution, brought together leaders from Indiana, Alabama, and Colorado – states that are at the forefront of increasing work-based learning opportunities – to learn from one another about their challenges, successes, and the opportunity ahead.
One final example, you never know who you might run into at the Statehouse…and this was a happen-chance meeting that made my day! I happened to run into students and administrators from Daleville Community Schools recently during a job shadow experience for students interested in law and politics! Daleville is one district hard at work ensuring their 11th and 12th grade students have relevant work-based learning, job shadowing, and internship opportunities. In fact, they report 98% of these students were placed in work experiences last year! Under the direction of Superintendent Greg Roach and junior-senior high school Principal Eric Douglas, Daleville has secured partnerships with over 60 area employers!
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In addition, the district has formed relationships with three area higher education institutions, and next year will offer the Indiana College Core. Through the Indiana College Core, students will have an opportunity to earn the equivalent of one year of college before ever graduating high school.
In addition to the benefits shared above, we know that work-based learning allows students to develop a variety of skills (e.g., communication, collaboration, work ethic) within the work experience, and in some cases, can even help students understand that the path they originally chose may not be the best fit for them (...or maybe it is!). As educators, we see firsthand that when students are able to explore, engage, and experience careers, they begin to develop a sense of purpose and to understand what is possible.
Thank you to our educators and administrators who are hard at work to form relationships that keep paying dividends. By engaging community partners and blurring the lines between K-12, higher education, and the workforce, we can keep moving the needle for our students. As always, thank you for all that you do!
NEW: School and Corporation Profile Amendment Window
The school and corporation profile amendment submission window for the 2023-2024 school year opens Friday, March 31. In order to ensure the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) maintains accurate information, all schools and corporations must provide notice when changes are made that affect school openings, closures, and reconfigurations. Information on the submission process can be found here. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: IREAD-3 Spring 2023 Results Available in Centralized Reporting System (CRS)
Student results for the IREAD-3 Spring 2023 administration are available in CRS. Individual student scores may be shared immediately with students, families, and teachers. Letters to families for grade two and grade three students are available on the Indiana Assessment Portal. As a reminder, scores go through quality checks and will be considered final on Friday, April 21. Aggregate scores (e.g., total percent of students who passed) should not be shared publicly (e.g., on school websites) until IDOE releases this data. Results for students testing via paper-and-pencil will populate within CRS on a rolling basis as paper materials are received by the scoring vendor. Only grade three students enrolled during the IREAD-3 testing window are included in the pass rate calculation, which will become available following the summer retest. This calculation will include summer retesters and current grade three students who passed in grade two. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: IREAD-3 Paper Materials Return Deadline is Today, Friday, March 24
All paper test books must be shipped to Data Recognition Corporation by today, Friday, March 24, for responses to be scored. Large print and braille test books must be transcribed into regular print test books for scoring. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk with any questions regarding returning materials.
NEW: SAT School Day Primary Testing Window Results Now Available for Students
Students who participated in the SAT School Day primary testing window from Wednesday, March 1, through Friday, March 3, may access their scores through their individual College Board student account. To access results, students may create a College Board account if they do not already have one. Students who participate in April makeup testing may access results on Wednesday, May 3. Educators will receive access to scores for both test administrations on Friday, May 19. Note that some scores may be released later due to participation in the accommodated testing window or investigation of a testing irregularity that requires resolution. Additional scores will be released on a rolling basis. Contact College Board with any questions.
NEW: SAT School Day Makeup Testing Window Preparation
Students who were unable to test during the primary testing window or experienced a testing irregularity and are eligible to retest should participate in the makeup testing window.
- SAT Online Makeup Testing: Wednesday, April 12, through Friday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 19
- SAT Paper-and-Pencil Makeup Testing: Wednesday, April 12
Schools must print new student test tickets for the makeup testing window and conduct a new preadministration session before or immediately after testing. Accommodations must also be reconfigured within the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) for students, as applicable. IDOE has populated all cohort 2024 students within TIDE for the makeup testing window, and schools must determine locally which students are eligible for participation. Contact College Board with any additional questions.
UPDATED: ILEARN Educator Handscoring Application Deadline Extended Through Today, Friday, March 24
Applications for educators to apply to score open-ended student responses for ILEARN assessments this spring close today, Friday, March 24. Review this flier and frequently asked questions resource for additional information regarding this opportunity. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk with any questions regarding returning materials.
REMINDER: Moodle Maintenance - Thursday, March 30
IDOE's Moodle server will be down Thursday, March 30, from midnight to 6 a.m. ET for routine maintenance. Courses providing a Group View should not schedule events during the maintenance window. All Moodle users will not have access at that time. Contact Don Gilroy with any questions.
NEW: Webinar on Leveraging Social Media in K-12 Recruitment
Social media as a recruitment tool can often be underutilized in K-12 for a number of reasons—school systems may not always have the dedicated budget or staff to create a comprehensive strategy or the time needed to see that plan through. Join Nimble and school partners on Wednesday, April 12, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the markers of a successful campaign/brand and how to create engaging social media content despite these constraints. Register here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
REMINDER: Nominations Open for Distinguished Educators Recognition
IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent is looking for confidential recommendations of teachers 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 Friday, May 26. Contact Rebecca Estes 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 Sunday, April 30. 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.
UPDATE: Student Academic Record Collection Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Resource
Changes implemented for reporting course enrollments (student academic record replacing course completion collection) 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 and to support metrics on the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard and to monitor Graduation Pathways progress. The full memo is available here and the related FAQ document is available here. Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Annual Performance Reports (APRs) Now Available
The 2021-2022 APRs are available now for schools to review in DOE Online. The new report is currently available for download through DOE Online to corporation administrators under the "Annual Performance Report" menu item and publicly through INview. For more information on the report, including publication requirements, click here. Contact datarequests@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Graduation Report Now Released in EdData
An updated Graduation Report can now be found in the LINK Portal via IDOE’s EdData platform. This report contains the Four- and Five-Year Cohort Status reports as well as a Historical Graduation Report. The Graduation Report is available to key staff including superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, counselors, and data administrators. Each organization should only have one designated superintendent or principal. Security coordinators may designate the following additional roles to provide access: “School Administrator,” “LEA Administrator” (for public/charters), or “Data Viewer.” Contact your LINK Security Coordinators with questions regarding roles to access EdData reports. Security coordinators may contact link@doe.in.gov for assistance. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any data questions regarding the Graduation Cohort report.
REMINDER: Cybersecurity Resources Available
New cybersecurity education guides and resources available below are designed to help school leaders direct discussions and provide next steps to improve cybersecurity at their school(s):
Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: One Week Remaining for E-Rate Match for Fiber Construction
IDOE is participating in the E-Rate Match Program for special construction projects. Available to any Indiana public school for fiscal year (FY) 2023 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024), the program increases the discount rate for special construction charges for high-speed broadband that meets the FCC's long-term connectivity targets up to an additional 10% to match the state funding on a one-to-one dollar basis. Full application details are available here. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
NEW: Online Registration Process
This memo addresses required forms and guidance for online registration and enrollment of students. Contact Catherine Danyluk with any questions.
REMINDER: FY 2024 Funding Formula Count Estimates
The window for school officials to review and/or update Legislative Services Agency FY 2024 and FY 2025 formula data closes on Monday, March 27. Please read this memo for details. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Indirect Cost Rate Training
In partnership with Crowe, IDOE will host a virtual Indirect Cost Rate Training seminar at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 29. To attend this seminar, please register here by Tuesday, March 28. Contact icr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Common School Loan Applications
School corporations have the opportunity to apply for a common school construction and/or technology loan through Friday, April 14. Please read this memo for more details. Additional information can be found in Moodle Finance in the Common School folder. Contact commschofund@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Application for FY 2024 Indirect Cost Rates
The window to submit an application for FY 2024 Indirect Cost Rates closes Monday, May 1. School corporations and charter schools that provided Form 9 financial information for FY 2022 are eligible to apply for a restricted and an unrestricted rate for FY 2024. New charter schools are eligible to apply but will be subject to the median rate. This memo includes the application instructions. Contact icr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Summer School Estimates
The window to submit the Estimated Cost Report for Summer School 2023 closes Saturday, April 1. Please read this memo and FAQ document for information regarding eligible courses, important dates, and financial provisions. Detailed information about the summer school program and how to report is included in this presentation. Contact Teresa Hemmerle with any questions.
REMINDER: Formulaic School Improvement Planning/Implementation Grants
IDOE’s School Support and Transformation team is now accepting applications for Formulaic School Improvement Planning/Implementation Grants (SIG). A list of eligible schools can be found here. Schools must submit the SIG application and budget template to IDOE's Office of School Support and Transformation. All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the application closes on Friday, March 31, and the rolling review process will last approximately 10 business days. Project periods are listed below:
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Newly identified schools: Date of notification through Saturday, September 30
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Schools in year two and beyond: October 7, 2022, through Saturday, September 30
For information from the webinar, click here. Contact IDOE's Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.
REMINDER: Annual 1003 Flexibility Waivers
IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation is now accepting applications for 1003 flexibility waivers. Flexibility through waivers is offered to help support schools in their design efforts to improve student performance and outcomes, help to improve efficiency of school operations, and to help promote innovative educational approaches to student learning. Interested officials can read more about the opportunity in this memo and in the Flexibility Guide for Indiana's K-12 Schools document. Applications are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis through Friday, June 2.
Applications will be reviewed in three rounds:
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Review period
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Request for information timeline
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Recommendation sent to the State Board of Education
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Round One
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Friday, February 10 through Friday, March 17
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Monday, March 13, through Wednesday, March 29
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May
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Round Two
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Monday, March 20, through Friday, April 28
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Monday, April 24, through Wednesday, May 10
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June
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Round Three
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Monday, May 1, through Friday, June 2
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Tuesday, May 30, through Wednesday, June 14
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July
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Contact Georgia Watson with any questions.
NEW: McKinney-Vento Webinar Survey
IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team provides monthly McKinney-Vento Webinars that include guest speakers and monthly topics. To ensure topics, speakers, and timing for these webinars reflect the needs of McKinney-Vento liaisons and educators, please complete this survey. Contact McKinneyVentopoc@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: High Ability Webinar Survey
IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team provides monthly High Ability Webinars that include guest speakers and monthly topics. To ensure topics, speakers, and timing for these webinars reflect the needs of high ability coordinators and educators, please complete this survey. Contact StudentPathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Receives 1% Waiver Extension
Indiana was granted a one-year extension (school year 2022-2023) of the state’s waiver of Section 1111 (b)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to allow assessment of over 1% of the total number of students in the state who are assessed in reading and English/language arts, mathematics, and science using assessments based on alternate achievement standards. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions.
NEW: FY 2022 American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Funds
Grant funds provided under IDEA Part B Section 611 and 619 and ARP funds for FY 2022 must be encumbered by Saturday, September 30. Contact your special education fiscal specialist with questions regarding remaining balances. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education Part B monitoring team to request reimbursement.
REMINDER: English Learner (EL) Leadership Meeting - Secondary ELs
IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education will host an in-person EL Leadership Meeting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 20, at MSD Lawrence Township. For this meeting, EL leaders across the state are invited to attend alongside a secondary colleague to collaborate on key topics surrounding secondary ELs. Participants will discuss and develop action plans in areas such as course pathways, students with limited or interrupted formal education, providing EL services, and more. Registration is required via this JotForm by Friday, April 6. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: Indiana’s PRIME Math Course - A Roundtable with Current Teachers
Are you interested in teaching the PRIME Math course during the 2023-2024 school year and learning more about it from current teachers? Log in to the Indiana Learning Lab to view this flyer and on-demand session for more additional details. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: 2023 Summer of Learning Conferences
IDOE’s Summer of Learning Conferences offer educators opportunities to connect with technology-enhanced pedagogy related to supporting specialized populations, the science of reading, integrated STEM, designing virtual and blended learning experiences, community connection and support, and more. Twelve conference host sites were selected through the Summer of Learning Grant process. View the conference list on IDOE’s Digital Learning and Professional Development webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Tips from the Field - Digital Learning Leadership Cadre Sessions
Join classroom teachers as they share tips for intentionally preparing your digital environment. During the first phase of this series, hosted by the Digital Learning Leadership Cadre, panelists will explain their rationale for course navigation in blended in-person instruction, asynchronous instruction, and synchronous instruction. The first session, focusing on blended in-person instruction, will be held Thursday, March 30, at 4 p.m. ET. Register here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Unlocking the Transformative Role of School Librarians Series
Join the Indiana Library Federation to celebrate National Library Month with a three-part series geared toward building leaders and corporation administrators. Part one of this series, Indiana School Librarians: Positive Impact & Innovation, will be held from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 4. A full schedule can be found in the Indiana Learning Lab. All sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
UPDATED: Standards Prioritization Public Comment Open
Pursuant to IC 20-31-3-1, IDOE convened a variety of stakeholder committees (e.g., educators, parents, community members) to review recommended prioritizations of the Indiana Academic Standards for kindergarten through grade 12 with the goal of defining no more than 75% of these standards. Committees also defined recommendations for no more than 33% of the standards as “essential” for mastery by the end of each grade level or course. View the full public comment schedule here. Access this Jotform for more details and links to view and comment on the prioritized standards. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
UPDATED: Digital Learning Coach Grant Application Now Open
Applications for the 2023-2024 Digital Learning Coach Grant are now open. This grant supports the professional development of individuals who spend at least half of their contracted time in a digital learning coaching role. The grant application window will be open until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 26. See this memo for additional information and join the grant information session on Wednesday, April 12, at noon ET to learn more. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: March Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
PD Request Live for March finishes with our last session Our Youngest Authors and Illustrators. View information on the session here. To register for workshops, or to view on demand sessions, 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: #INLovesReading Through Purposeful Play Final Session
Join IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab for #INLovesReading Through Purposeful Play, a kindergarten readiness series continuing through March. The final session is Tuesday, March 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET. Dr. Patricia Edwards will present on the inclusion of families in early literacy. A full schedule can be found in the Indiana Learning Lab. All sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
NEW: Title Con 2023 Third Keynote Session Announced
The third keynote session for Title Con will be a moderated question and answer session with IDOE leadership including: Assistant Secretary of Student Pathways and Opportunities, Jason Callahan; Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Charity Flores; Chief Financial Officer, Tracy Brown; and Chief Information Officer, Dr. John Keller. Check the Title Con website or the conference app for updates and additional information. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (IDOH): Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Available for Order
IDOH has quantities of PPE available for order. The list below contains some of the items that are available for schools:
- Gowns
- Gloves
- Face masks
- Respirators
- Coolers
- Cold Packs
- Thermometers
Access the ordering portal here. First-time users will need to click “Register” and fill out the required information to be granted access. The registration key is ISDH21. Once logged in, the “Documents” section contains a link to a portal guide outlining the ordering process. Please be sure to select the correct registration code on your order. Contact Pam Blasdel with any questions or issues regarding the ordering process.
NEW FROM SCHOOLHOUSE.WORLD: May SAT Bootcamp
Registrations for the Schoolhouse.world May SAT Bootcamps in preparation for the Saturday, May 6, SAT administration open Monday, March 27. Sessions take place twice a week (75 minutes per session) and students have the flexibility to select the dates and times that best fit their schedule based on available sessions. Students and their parents can sign up at this link until Wednesday, April 5. Bootcamps are 100% free and have proven highly effective. Students who participated in previous bootcamps experienced a 50+ average score increase across both sections vs non-bootcamp participants. Contact Schoolhouse.world with any questions.
NEW FROM THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION: Go Teach Grow Your Own Kits for Future Educators
Are you a high school that supports future teachers through a Grow Your Own Program? The College Football Playoff Foundation would like to gift your students Go Teach Grow Your Own Kits as a thank you for pursuing a career in the world of education. Visit Go Teach College Football Playoff Foundation to request kits for your future educators. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
NEW FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER ON EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES (NCEO): Accommodations Brief
NCEO has released the Suggestions for Involving Students in Selecting and Implementing Accommodations brief to review suggested strategies for involving students in advocating for their daily accommodations needs. This resource provides research from student perceptions of accommodations, questions to guide the discussion between students and teachers, and more. Contact NCEO with any questions.
NEW FROM COMPTIA SPARK: Survey for Middle School Educators
CompTIA Spark requests input from middle school Career and Technical Education (CTE) staff, school administrators, teachers, and district-level administrators. This input is sought in the form of a survey. Please complete and share the survey with other middle school educators. Contact research@comptia.org with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE OFFICE OF CTE: COURSE UPDATE
For information about CTE courses being phased out after the 2023-2024 school year (SY), see the High School CTE Course Titles and Descriptions (this content is all included in the more comprehensive IDOE Course Titles and Descriptions document). Only the courses listed in Part II of the document are being phased out after the 2023-2024 SY. Preparing for College and Careers (PCC) is part of Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS), as well as other courses that are not part of a specific NLPS concentrator sequence. PCC will still receive credit as an elective on any diploma and we would encourage anyone offering it in the grade eight to continue doing so. To find PCC in the document linked above, go to the Table of Contents on Page 3. From the Table of Contents, click on "Career and Technical Education and Work-Based Learning", then scroll down to Preparing for College and Careers. Contact the Office of CTE with any questions.
REMINDER FROM ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD: Classroom Quarterbacks
The Indianapolis Colts have teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses, and staff members who go above and beyond for their students, schools, and communities. Ten finalists will be selected by a panel of educational professionals, the Indianapolis Colts, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. One finalist will be named the Classroom Quarterback of the year and receive a $2,500 donation for their school. Nominations for the 2023 Classroom Quarterbacks program are open though Wednesday, April 12, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Contact the Indianapolis Colts with any questions.
REMINDER FROM TEACH PLUS INDIANA: Policy Fellowship Application
Teach Plus Indiana is currently accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Indiana Policy Fellowship. Application deadline is Sunday, April 16. This highly selective leadership opportunity is a paid fellowship for outstanding Indiana teachers looking to expand their influence without leaving the classroom. It spans the 2023-2024 school year and offers selected teachers a generous stipend for their time and effort. Teach Plus Indiana will host three virtual information sessions prior to the application deadline:
Contact Kimberly Nguyen with any questions.
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