An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for April 7, 2023

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A Message from Dr. Katie Jenner

Katie Jenner Headshot

As we continue to elevate the impactful work of Indiana’s educators, today we launch another video in the Teachers Who Shaped Us series, designed to shine a spotlight on the positive impact educators make on our students’ lives and on our state.

For this edition, I had the opportunity to sit down with Indiana Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush in the Law Library of the Indiana Statehouse to learn more about her path and the teachers who supported her along the way. Appointed Indiana’s 108th Supreme Court Justice in 2012, Chief Justice Rush is only the second woman to ever serve on the Indiana Supreme Court and is Indiana’s first woman Chief Justice. 

As a child, Chief Justice Rush moved often, as required by her father’s job with the railroad. In third grade in particular, she moved three times. During our conversation, she reflected on the challenges of being the “new kid,” but also how one special teacher – Ms. Muth – helped to make her feel comfortable and welcome.  

CJR


Despite her current role, Chief Justice Rush had never met a lawyer or judge before attending law school and had never been inside of a courtroom. In fact, she originally dreamed of being an engineer, but one person who helped inspire her love of the law was Professor Jon Teaford of Purdue University. The two have kept in touch over the years, and she describes him as someone who not only taught his students Constitutional Law but also truly cared about them academically and personally.  

In the video below, Chief Justice Rush also talks about her one wish for children in Indiana…that every child earns their high school diploma and unlocks the opportunity that comes along with that...a wish that implores us all to build up and support the noble teaching profession

Thank you, Chief Justice Rush for your work to support students through the juvenile justice system as well as your volunteer work in our schools. You said it best when you said, our teachers and our schools cannot do this important work alone. Also, I appreciate you for being such a strong role model for young women today and an example that women can achieve anything they set their minds to…even becoming the leader of our state’s highest court! 

As always, thank you to all Indiana teachers for making a difference in our students’ lives each and every day!

TWSU

This video is the eleventh in a series, known as Teachers Who Shaped Us. In this video, Dr. Jenner sits down with Indiana Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush to learn more about the teachers who made a lasting impact on her life.

Office of Accountability

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 is open through 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. The notice of intent does not need to be submitted by schools transitioning from freeway school accreditation or schools that already hold state accreditation. A notice of intent may be found here. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.

Office of Student Assessment

NEW: ILEARN Question and Answer (Q&A) Sessions

IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment is hosting a series of ILEARN Q&A sessions related to upcoming testing windows. Use the following links to join the webinar at the designated date and time.

Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions. 

 

NEW: ILEARN Spring 2023 Testing Windows Open Monday, April 17

Schools should be preparing for the upcoming ILEARN testing windows:

  • ILEARN 3-8 Spring 2023: Monday, April 17, through Friday, May 12*
  • ILEARN Biology & U.S. Government End-of-Course Assessments Spring 2023: Monday, April 17, through Friday, May 19*

*Paper-and-pencil testing closes five school days earlier to ensure on-time reporting occurs.

Practice tests must be administered to students at least once prior to operational testing, and instructions and scripts can be found on the Indiana Assessment Portal. Refer to the ILEARN 3-8 Test Window Checklist and ILEARN Biology ECA Test Window Checklist for additional tasks prior to testing. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions. 

 

REMINDER: SAT School Day Makeup Testing Window Opens Wednesday, April 12

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, through 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.

 

REMINDER: I AM Testing Window Continues

The I AM Spring 2023 testing window is open through Friday, May 12. Preliminary scores are now populating within the Centralized Reporting System (CRS) beginning Tuesday, April 4. Prior to testing, Corporation Test Coordinators (CTCs) and School Test Coordinators (STCs) should:

IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment will conduct unannounced onsite monitoring visits during the I AM testing window. Please ensure that school administrators and staff are aware that these onsite visits will be conducted. More details can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Alternate Assessment Survey Now Available

IDOE and WestEd have developed a survey to gather input from educators regarding the structure and administration of I AM. Survey feedback will be considered as IDOE moves toward the potential redesign of Indiana’s alternate assessment. Please complete this 20-minute survey to provide valuable feedback through Monday, April 17. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions. 

Office of Educator Talent

REMINDER: 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.

Office of Information Technology

NEW: Learning Connection to Be Retired 

IDOE’s new EdData platform (available through the LINK Portal) is now online and replaces the functionality offered by the Learning Connection. The Learning Connection will be retired and taken offline on or after Wednesday, June 7. Contact link@doe.in.gov with any questions. 

 

NEW: 2023 School Tech Plan Survey Now Open

The 2023 School Tech Plan Survey is now open through Friday, May 5, to be completed by all Indiana school corporations, charter schools, and optionally for non-public schools. Completion of this survey is a requirement for all public schools to qualify for the connectivity formula grant, the common school fund, and grants from IDOE's Office of Academics. While not required, non-public schools are encouraged to complete the survey to help other schools identify best practices. The survey can be found here. Previous year public data may be found in the Digital Readiness Dashboard or through EdData. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.

 

NEW: EdData Releases New Student-level Reports

IDOE presents additional student-level reports available behind the LINK Portal via the IDOE’s new EdData platform. These reports are available to superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, counselors, and data administrators. In addition, security coordinators may assign the following roles to provide access: “School Administrator,” “LEA Administrator,” or “Data Viewer.”   

  • IREAD-3 and ILEARN Report - This report displays IREAD-3 and ILEARN data for currently enrolled students.
  • WIDA Report - This report displays WIDA data for currently enrolled students.
  • PSAT Report - This report displays PSAT data for currently enrolled students.

The EdData platform is available for all authenticated users and also contains some publicly available reports as those that require secure authorization. Additional EdData reports will be released in the future. Contact your LINK Security Coordinator with questions regarding roles to access EdData reports.  Security coordinators may email link@doe.in.gov for assistance. Contact IDOE's Office of Student Assessment with any questions regarding assessments.

 

REMINDER: 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, 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: 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.

Office of School Building Physical Security and Safety

REMINDER: Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy Spring Advanced Training

Registration for spring Advanced Training is now open. The training will be held on Monday, May 15, and Tuesday, May 16, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Additional information and registration can be found here. Contact Steve Balko with any questions.

Office of School Finance

NEW: April State Tuition Support Payment

Please read this memo regarding the April tuition support payment. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance 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 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.

Office of School Support and Transformation

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. Additionally, a recording of the Wednesday, March 1, webinar can be found here, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here. Applications are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis through Friday, June 2. 

Applications will be reviewed in three rounds:

 

Review period

Request for information timeline

Recommendation sent to the State Board of Education

Round One

Friday, February 10, through Friday, March 17

Monday, March 13, through Wednesday, March 29

May

Round Two

Monday, March 20, through Friday, April 28

Monday, April 24, through Wednesday, May 10

June

Round Three

Monday, May 1, through Friday, June 2

Tuesday, May 30, through Wednesday, June 14

July


Contact Georgia Watson with any questions.

Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities

NEW: Indiana Alternate Diploma 

The Indiana Alternate Diploma is a diploma available to a student with the most significant cognitive disability (pursuant to 511 IAC 7-32-93.5 Sec. 93.5) who participates in alternate assessments and satisfies graduation requirements. Eligible students in cohort 2023 may earn the Indiana Alternate Diploma beginning in the spring semester of the 2022-2023 school year. IDOE has provided answers to frequently asked questions regarding this new diploma here. Contact DOEGradPathways@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

NEW: Tornado Aid Resources

The Student Pathways and Opportunities Team strives to support families impacted by natural disasters. Recently, more than a dozen tornadoes hit the state of Indiana. Tornado aid resources can be found here. Please contact McKinneyVentoPOC@doe.in.gov for support.

 

UPDATE: April McKinney-Vento Liaison Webinar Canceled

The monthly McKinney-Vento Webinar will be canceled next week due to TitleCon 2023. Information from the April webinar will be included in the May webinar. IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team will host the May McKinney-Vento webinar on Tuesday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to noon ET via Microsoft Teams. Please use this link to join. Contact Mckinneyventopoc@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

UPDATE: April High Ability Webinar Canceled

The monthly High Ability Webinar will be canceled next week due to TitleCon 2023. Information from the April webinar will be included in the May webinar. IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team will host the May High Ability webinar on Wednesday, May 10, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET via Microsoft Teams. Please use this link to join. Contact Studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

UPDATE: April Alternative Education Webinar Canceled

The Monthly High Ability Webinar will be canceled next week due to TitleCon 2023. Information from the April webinar will be included in the May webinar. IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team will host the May Alternative Education webinar on Thursday, May 11, 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: Alternate Diploma Seals

Eligible students in cohort 2023 may earn the Indiana Alternate Diploma beginning this spring. Schools should provide the number of students in need of the Alternate Diploma Seal for graduation in 2023 using this form. Contact DOEGradPathways@doe.in.gov with any questions.

Office of Student Support and Accessibility/Special Education

NEW: Register for Get Your Teach On Summer Teacher and Leader Conferences

IDOE's Office of Student Support and Accessibility, in partnership with Get Your Teach On, is offering four free conferences at locations throughout Indiana this summer! Conferences will take place at the following locations:

  • Monday, July 10, through Tuesday, July 11 - Jasper High School, Jasper
  • Thursday, July 13, through Friday, July 14 - Decatur Central High School, Indianapolis
  • Monday, July 17, through Tuesday, July 18 - Southside Middle School, Muncie
  • Thursday, July 20, through Friday, July 21 - Washington High School, South Bend

This year, the professional development experiences for teachers and administrators will occur at the same time and location. Educators will attend a Two-Day Teacher Experience from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Leaders will attend a One-Day Administrator Experience from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first day of the conference. All locations have a maximum capacity of 500 educators and 250 administrators. Register before they fill up. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with questions.

 

NEW: Aspiring Special Education Leadership Institute (ASELI)

ASELI is a one-year leadership development program that prepares a diverse group of educators for special education leadership roles in order to improve outcomes for all students. ASELI is currently accepting applications for Cohort 4. Teachers, school psychologists, school counselors, and principals from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds who aspire to be special education administrators, are committed to a career in special education leadership, and value access, excellence, and success for diverse student populations are encouraged to apply. Contact Pam Bell or Dr. Nancy Holsapple with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Fiscal Year (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: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Annual State Application

All states applying for funding under IDEA Part B are required to allow public review and comment on the application and proposed budget. The application packet, developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), includes a summary of assurances, certifications, and fund usage descriptions that the state will use to fulfill IDEA Part B requirements. Upon OSEP's approval of Indiana's Part B application, the state will receive a federal grant award to implement necessary services for students with disabilities from July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2025. The application and its components are available for public review on IDOE’s Special Education webpage through Tuesday, May 23. Comments may be submitted here through Sunday, April 23. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions. 

 

REMINDER: Call for Proposals for Elevating Education - Improving Outcomes for All

IDOE is collaborating with IEP Technical Assistance (TA) Center to provide a statewide conference for all Indiana educators. IDOE is seeking educators to showcase their knowledge and success in presenting at Elevating Education 2023: Improving Outcomes for All on Tuesday, November 28, and Wednesday, November 29, at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis and the Indiana Convention Center. Submit proposals via this form by Thursday, April 27. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.

 

REMINDER: PATINS Project Opportunities and Resources for Indiana Educators

The PATINS Project offers opportunities and resources for educators across the state. A list can be found here. Contact the PATINS Project or IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Funding Updates

IDOE will be unable to submit new requests for SEEC funding contracts between Monday, April 3, and the start of the 2024 fiscal year on Friday, June 30. Applications submitted during this period will not be processed until after Friday, July 1. Local educational agencies (LEAs) should continue to pay all vendor invoices. Expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with the approved contract following execution. LEAs will be notified of contract execution and may then submit invoices for reimbursement. Specific guidance for the 2023-2024 school year is forthcoming. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions. 

 

REMINDER: IEP TA Center Upcoming Live Workshops

The IEP TA Center provides in-person training monthly. April workshops are now available via the training catalog. Register here for upcoming workshops. Contact Felicia Houston from the IEP TA Center or IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.

Offices of Teaching and Learning, Digital Learning, and Kindergarten Readiness

NEW: Tips from the Field - Digital Learning Leadership Cadre Sessions

The Digital Learning Leadership Cadre’s series Tips from the Field continues this month, featuring educators across the state. On Tuesday, April 11, at 4 p.m. ET, teachers will present ideas for improving instructional design in digital spaces. Then, on Thursday, April 13, at 4 p.m. ET, join teachers as they share tips for intentionally setting up asynchronous virtual environments. Register here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.

 

NEW: 2023-2024 Public and Accredited Non-Public School Reading Plan and Dyslexia Reporting Submissions Open Friday, April 14 

Indiana Administrative Code 511 IAC 6.2-3.1 requires all public schools and accredited non-public schools with students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three to complete and submit an elementary reading plan by close of business on Friday, June 30. In addition to the reading plan, Indiana Code 20-35.5 requires all public schools to report dyslexia screening data from the current 2022-2023 school year. Accredited non-public schools are not required to submit data but have the option to report. The submission window is open Friday, April 14, through Friday, June 30. Additional guidance can be found here. Please contact the Literacy Center with additional questions or additional guidance.

 

REMINDER: April Professional Development (PD) with IDOE

There will be new sessions throughout April for PD with IDOE beginning with Fill the Gap Using iCAP. View the list of upcoming sessions here. To register for workshops, or 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: Standards Public Comment Now Open for English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Standards

Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-31-3-1, IDOE convened stakeholder committees to review recommended prioritizations of the Indiana Academic Standards with the goal of prioritization and designation as essential for kindergarten through grade 12. In further consideration, IDOE convened committees (e.g. educators, higher education representatives, family members with developmental and subject matter expertise) to review the Early Learning Standards for children birth to age five. These standards were reviewed to ensure that 1) student proficiency is a reasonable expectation and 2) all are essential by the end of the age level. Public comment is currently open for all content standards. Access this Jotform for more details and links to view the prioritized standards. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.

 

REMINDER: 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 and registration instructions for each on IDOE’s Digital Learning and Professional Development webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions. 

 

REMINDER: 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: Register Now for Coach Edcamp on Friday, May 5

Digital learning coaches are invited to join IDOE for Coach Edcamp on Friday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET at the Center Grove Innovation Center. This professional learning opportunity, specifically for those in educational technology coaching and leadership roles, is a round-table style, one-day conference. This event is free, and participants will be released for a break at lunch. Register for this opportunity here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.

Office of Title Grants and Support

REMINDER: Title Grants Calendar

The Title Grants and Support team has created a new Title Grants and Support calendar for the field. This calendar will feature Title I-IV and ESSER deadlines, Title Grants events, and other key dates. This link will automatically update as changes occur and is a great resource to bookmark. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Year 3 ESSER Data Collection

Year 3 ESSER Data sheets are due no later than Friday, April 7, via this JotForm. Necessary documents may be accessed here. Please contact esser@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Title Grants and Support Monthly Coffee Chats 

Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join the Title Grants and Support team for monthly Coffee Chats. Chats have moved to the last Thursday of every month at 10 a.m. ET. The link will always be the same. Join via Teams here. This month’s topic will surround the pre-application and methods to qualify. As always, there will be a live Q&A section at the end of the session. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.

News From Our Partners

NEW FROM THE INDIANA BAR FOUNDATION: Indiana Civics Summit

The Indiana Bar Foundation invites members of the Indiana educational community to the inaugural Indiana Civics Summit on Thursday, April 13, at the Ivy Tech Downtown Indianapolis Conference Center. The one-day event features Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner, and other business, non-profit, legal, education, political, and governmental leaders discussing how civics impacts all Hoosiers. Additional information and registration are available here.

 

NEW FROM THE NATIONAL LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION (NLGA): Indiana Schools Invited to Apply for Lt. Governors’ STEM Education Scholarship Program

The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) has opened the application period for the annual Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program. Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch encourages pre-K-12 public and private schools to apply for up to $1,000 to support STEM-related activities for students. Applications will be accepted through Monday, May 1, with award recipients announced and funded in summer 2023. Additional information on the STEM Scholarship Program, including instructions for applying, can be found here.

 

NEW FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (FSSA): Child Care Expansion Grants Applications Now Open

FSSA child care expansion grants are available to early education providers to expand access to high-quality early education for Hoosier families. This opportunity extends to all school districts, with priority consideration given to those that serve children on child care and development funds (CCDFs), or that plan to do so. A currently licensed or regulated CCDF program may apply for “existing program expansion.” Any district wishing to create a program may apply for “new program creation,” with the expectation that the early learning program will be on Paths to Quality level 3 in 18 months or sooner. This grant opportunity includes intensive support to achieve the goals of the application upon receiving the funds. This is a competitive grant, and not all who apply will receive funding. Applications are open through Friday, May 12. An overview of the grant opportunity, including supporting resources and a link to the application and the upcoming informational webinar, is available here. For questions or support, contact the SPARK Help Desk at (800) 299-1627 or by email

 

NEW FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR TODD YOUNG: Virtual Academy Day

Senator Todd Young will be hosting a virtual Academy Day on Monday, April 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m via Zoom. This virtual event is for high school students who are interested in learning more about attending one of our nation’s service academies. This meeting is an opportunity for students to learn more about the admissions process and what life is like at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Students interested in attending the virtual Academy Day should RSVP to Academy_Nominations@young.senate.gov.

 

NEW FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Fast Facts on Traumatic Brain Injury for Students Served Under IDEA

The Office of Special Education Programs provided information about students with Traumatic Brain Injury served under IDEA. For more information, see the Fast Facts here.

 

NEW FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: STEM School Certification Bootcamp

Is your school or program working toward STEM Certification or Recertification? Do you need help unpacking the process, rubric, and related expectations? This bootcamp is the place for you! During this five-part training, school-level STEM leadership teams will receive ongoing, comprehensive support to identify STEM gaps, support the development of a plan for improvement, and assist teams in preparing a successful certification application! Register here.

 

REMINDER FROM THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEACHER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM (AP-TIP): Teacher Collaboratives

AP-TIP at the University of Notre Dame invites AP teachers to mark their calendars and join us for the next round of Remote Teacher Collaboratives held on Tuesday, April 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 about the event here.


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Weekly Updates

View previous weekly updates from Dr. Katie Jenner here.

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The Weekly Update from the Indiana Department of Education is created by the Office of Communications, and is distributed every Friday morning.