We know that a child’s window of opportunity for learning begins long before they set foot in a kindergarten classroom. This makes high-quality early learning a game changer for our students, families, and communities, and last week was all about celebrating Indiana’s early childhood opportunities and the educators who make them possible!
Saturday, April 1, through Friday, April 7, was Week of the Young Child, a nationally-recognized celebration of early childhood education, focused on supporting quality early learning opportunities across our state…whether that is school-based, church-based, in-home, or another early learning environment. Throughout last week, I had the opportunity to visit three unique early childhood centers to experience how they are moving the needle for our youngest students.
Thank you Indianapolis Public Schools Center for Inquiry (CFI) #27 (school-based), East Tenth United Methodist Children and Youth Center (church-based), and Day Early Learning at the Indiana Government Center (employer-based), for opening your doors last week. Check out the video below to see some of the great work these early childhood centers are leading to ensure their students are kindergarten ready!
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By continuing to work together, we can improve outcomes for Indiana’s youngest learners. Thank you for being a part of the solution…and thank you for your commitment to ensuring the best possible start for Hoosier students!
REMINDER: School and Corporation Profile Amendment Window
The school and corporation profile amendment submission window for the 2023-2024 school year opened on 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.
REMINDER: 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
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 Closes Wednesday, April 19
Students participating in the SAT School Day makeup testing window should complete testing by Wednesday, April 19. There is no testing available on Monday, April 17. If a testing issue occurs during the SAT School Day administration that disrupts or halts testing, contact the SAT School Day Helpline at (855) 373-6387 immediately for guidance on how to proceed. Contact College Board with any non-urgent questions regarding system functionality and IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with questions regarding students not populating for testing.
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.
REMINDER: Register Now to Attend Indiana’s Educator Pipeline Collaboratives
Indiana’s Education Pipeline Collaboratives are interactive events that bring together PK-12 and higher education stakeholders for presentations and discussions focused on expanding and diversifying the PK-12 educator pipeline through Grow Your Own Programs and Registered Teacher Apprenticeships. Register now for one of three events taking place this May. 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.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: 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.”
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IREAD-3 and ILEARN Report - This report displays IREAD-3 and ILEARN data for currently enrolled students.
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WIDA Report - This report displays WIDA data for currently enrolled students.
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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.
NEW: Student Safety Reporting
Indiana’s Student Safety Reporting Law (IC 20-34-6-1) requires school corporations to report student bullying, arrest, and gang data for each school to IDOE. These submissions are now included on the DOE-ES Report (discipline report) via the STN Application Center data transfer function. This data collection is now open, and submissions must be complete by Friday, June 30. Questions related to the submission of this data can be directed to the STN administrator for your school corporation. More information can also be found here. Additionally, Indiana Code 20-34-6-1 requires each school corporation to submit data to IDOE related to law enforcement presence in schools. This data collection is open now and will close Thursday, June 30. To complete this data collection, please use this link. Contact Steve Balko with any questions.
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.
REMINDER: April State Tuition Support Payment
Please read this memo regarding the April tuition support payment distributed today, Friday, April 14. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Common School Loan Applications Due Today, Friday, April 14
Today, Friday, April 14, is the last day for school corporations to apply for a common school construction and/or technology loan. 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.
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:
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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: April Graduation Pathways Webinar
IDOE’s Student Pathways and Opportunities team will host the April Graduation Pathways webinar on Thursday, April 27, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET via Microsoft Teams. Please use this link to join. Contact DOEGradpathways@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: 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.
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.
NEW: April Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Office Hours
IDOE’s Office of Special Education will hold office hours from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 19, to support schools in navigating the SEEC fund. This is an opportunity for schools to ask questions regarding new SEEC information or situations specific to their district. Registration is not required. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Stakeholder Group
SSIP is a federally required multi-year plan intended to increase the capacity of school districts to improve outcomes for children with disabilities and their families, and IDOE’s Office of Special Education is seeking participants. Indiana's SSIP includes a State-identified Measurable Result (SiMR) focused on preschool outcomes. The SSIP stakeholder group guides the implementation and evaluation of the plan and will meet virtually three times throughout the remainder of 2023 and provide feedback virtually. Submit this JotForm to apply for this opportunity. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Aspiring Special Education Leadership Institute (ASELI) Applications Now Open
The Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE) developed ASELI, 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. ASELI is teachers, school psychologists and counselors, and principals from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds who aspire to be special education administrators and are committed to a career in special education leadership. ASELI is not available for currently-licensed special education directors. Contact ICASE or IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any additional questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 English Learner (EL) Student Counts Now Available
EL student counts for the 2022-2023 school year, based on the annual Multilingual Learner data collection in Data Exchange (DEX-LM), have been finalized. EL counts for corporations and non-public schools can be found on IDOE’s English Learning and Migrant Education webpage under the EL Programs and Grants section. These counts will be utilized for next school year’s Title III grant allocations. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: June EL Leadership Meeting - EL Plan and Title III Review
IDOE will host an additional virtual EL Leadership meeting on Thursday, June 16, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET to provide an update on state EL funding and a walkthrough of the EL Plan of the pre-application and the Title III application process. Access to the meeting can be found on the EL PD Opportunities Calendar, and the meeting will be recorded. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: Annual EL Directors’ Meetings on Wednesday, August 9, and Thursday, August 10
The dates for the annual EL Directors’ Meetings for the 2023-2024 school year have been set. A meeting for new EL directors will be held on Wednesday, August 9. A meeting for all directors, both new and returning, will be held on Thursday, August 10. The meetings will be held virtually, and additional details such as timing and agenda items will be shared in the coming weeks. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
REMINDER: 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: 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.
NEW: 2023-2024 Reading Plan and Dyslexia Reporting Submissions Due Friday, June 30
511 Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) 6.2-3.1 requires all public and accredited non-public schools with students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three to complete and submit an elementary reading plan to IDOE by close of business on Friday, June 30. IDOE’s Literacy Center released Reading Plan Guidance to assist with this requirement.
- Public schools will use this form.
- Accredited non-public schools will use this form.
In addition to the reading plan, Indiana Code (IC) 20-35.5 requires all public schools to report dyslexia screening data from the 2022-2023 school year. Accredited non-public schools are not required to submit data, but have the option to report. Charter schools will use this form for dyslexia reporting dyslexia screening data. The submission window is open today, Friday, April 14, through Friday, June 30. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with additional questions or for additional guidance.
NEW: On-Demand Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
Join PD with IDOE every Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET in the Indiana Learning Lab. March workshops are all available 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.
UPDATED: April PD with IDOE
April PD with IDOE continues with Introduction to Specialized Populations. View the list of April sessions here. To register for workshops, create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or the Indiana Learning Lab and use your school email to log in. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital 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 application window closes at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 26. See this memo for additional information. 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.
NEW FROM AUTISM FOCUSED INTERVENTION RESOURCES AND MODULES (AFIRM): Modules for Toddlers Now Available
A Prompting for Toddlers module, developed by AFIRM for Toddlers in collaboration with the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA), is now available. Prompting procedures are the verbal, gestural, and/or physical assistance given to learners to help them in acquiring or engaging in a targeted behavior or skill. Specifically designed for early interventionists working with families and early care providers, AFIRM for Toddlers currently has four other modules: Naturalistic Intervention for Toddlers in the Childcare Settings; Parent-Implemented Intervention; Reinforcement for Toddlers; and Visual Supports for Toddlers. Users must sign up to access the free modules. Contact AFIRM with additional questions
NEW FROM THE INLEARNING PARTNERSHIP: Teacher Appreciation Week Celebration Submissions Requested
Indiana students are invited to record a short audio clip and submit it using this form for a chance to share it with the INLearning Partnership’s upcoming monthly event. Submissions are due by Tuesday, April 25. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA (USI): Quantitative Reasoning Conference
USI will host its sixth annual Quantitative Reasoning Conference on Tuesday, June 13, and Wednesday, June 14, on the USI campus in Evansville. The conference is sponsored by a grant from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund and is intended for Indiana public high school teachers who offer a quantitative reasoning course or are planning to offer it in the future. Participating teachers will receive a $240 stipend to attend, and hotel accommodations will be provided for two nights for individuals who live more than 60 miles from Evansville. Applications are due Monday, May 8. More information and applications can be found here. Contact USI’s Dr. Rick Hudson with questions.
NEW FROM THE PRISM PROJECT AT ROSE-HULMAN: Summer and Fall Computer Science Workshops
PRISM Project at Rose-Hulman is offering workshops to integrate traditional standards with core computer science concepts and practices to create dynamic learning units based on inquiry and problem-solving. Review workshop details here and register for free professional development via this application. Contact Rose-Hulman’s Nicki Manion with questions regarding these computer science learning opportunities.
REMINDER 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.
REMINDER FROM COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK (CSPD): Indiana CSPD Week Held Monday, June 26, through Friday, June 30
Indiana’s second annual CSPD Week, brought to you by the National Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), the Indiana CSTA Chapter, Nextech, and IDOE, has openings for middle and high school teachers. Review more information about professional development opportunities at Indiana CSPD Week here. Contact in.cspdweek@gmail.com with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION: Support 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. For more information, contact Rebecca Estes.
REMINDER FROM TEACH PLUS INDIANA: Policy Fellowship Application
Teach Plus Indiana is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Indiana Policy Fellowship through Sunday, April 23. 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. For more information, contact Kimberly Nguyen
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