School Finance Newsletter from the Indiana Department of Education

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School Finance Newsletter

This monthly newsletter from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) combines new information, resources, and support for school finance professionals in a single location.


Office of School Finance

2023-2024 School Year Membership Count Dates

Please read this memo regarding the 2023-2024 school year membership count dates. Contact the Office of School Finance with any questions.


Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop

The annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 28, at the Pike Performing Arts Center in Indianapolis, beginning at 9 a.m. ET. The workshop should conclude by noon. Participants can attend the workshop in-person, watch it virtually, or view a recorded version at a later date. More information and a link to registration will be shared next week. 

Choice Scholarship Program

Choice Scholarship: Changes in Legislation

There were some changes made to the Choice Scholarship Program during the 2023 legislative session. Changes that go into effect Thursday, June 29, 2023, are as follows:

  • Age to qualify – Age eligibility changed from five to 22 years old as of August 1 to five to 22 years old as of October 1.
  • Removal of eligibility tracks – Students now must meet only Indiana residency, age, and income eligibility criteria.
  • Income criteria – Income eligibility changed from 300% to 400% income to qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The 400% income guidelines have been posted in the Non-Public School Community in Moodle.

The age requirement, eligibility tracks, and income guidelines will remain as validations in the student Choice application until Thursday, June 29. If a student applies between now and Wednesday, June 28, and does not meet the current requirements, their application will be denied. If the same student applies between Thursday, June 29, and Friday, September 1, and satisfies the new eligibility criteria, the application will be approved. If a student qualifies under the current criteria with provided documentation, it is advised that the school submit the application and not wait until Thursday, June 29. The Choice Scholarship team is working with programmers to retroactively update all submitted applications with the new changes.

The Fall Membership Count Date for the 2023-2024 school year is Monday, October 2. The only Choice document for the student’s application that will need to be reprinted is the student’s estimated award letter. The current letter reflects the previously established count date. An email will be sent to let all Choice schools know when the updated letters are available. All award letters can be printed at once using the “Print All Letters for School (PDF).”

Track Assurance Forms do not need to be printed and signed for applications submitted prior to Thursday, June 29. During school visits, there will be no check for assurance forms in student files due to the removal of the eligibility tracks. All other required forms must still be collected.

Documents reflecting the changes to the program will be posted in the Non-Public School Community in Moodle in the coming weeks. Documents will not be posted on IDOE's Choice webpage until Thursday, June 29, to prevent confusion with parents/guardians. 


Final 2022-2023 Choice Payment

The final 2022-2023 Choice payment was deposited today, Friday, May 19. The individual school letters with the list of payments and refunds have been placed in your school’s payment folder in the Google Drive: School Finance – Choice. Email ChoiceSchool@doe.in.gov to request access to the Google Drive. Questions regarding payment and refund information must be received by Friday, June 2. Final refunds will be requested at the end of the school year, after enrollment data has been certified.


Special Education Refund: Round 1

Choice awards for special education students with a Choice application who were withdrawn from the Choice school before the end of the school year have been pro-rated. The letters with the refund information were placed in your school’s refund folder in Google Drive. Schools affected were emailed with the information. Questions regarding the refunds must be received by Wednesday, May 31. Final special education refunds will be requested at the end of the school year, after enrollment data has been certified.


Choice Annual Conference

The Choice Annual Conference will be held on Wednesday, July 12, in the auditorium in the Indiana Government Center South. Registration will be available in the coming weeks.


Choice Certification

Certification for the Choice Scholarship Program will be offered on Wednesday, June 14, Thursday, June 15, and Tuesday, July 11. Certification is targeted for schools new to the Choice Program and to new staff at participating schools. Registration will be posted at the end of May. Each session is limited to 20 participants.

Upcoming Dates

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Friday, May 19

Final 2022-2023 Choice Payment deposit

Wednesday, June 14

Choice certification session

Thursday, June 15

Choice certification session

Wednesday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to noon ET

Annual School Budget Workshop

Thursday, June 29

Choice scholarship changes go into effect

Tuesday, July 11

Choice certification session

Wednesday, July 12

Choice Annual Conference

Friday, September 1

Deadline to Submit Choice School Application

Monday, October 2

2023-2024 Fall Membership Count Date

 

Additional Resources