An Update From the Indiana Department of Education for May 26, 2023

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A Message from Dr. Katie Jenner

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For the vast majority of our Indiana schools, this week and next week are full of “last days of school” and graduation celebrations. As we’ve heard from our graduates on repeat, when asking about their top memories from their K-12 experience, it is often a special teacher who tops their list. As they describe it, this impactful teacher is someone who believed in them, pushed them to be their best selves, and encouraged them to pursue their dreams ahead.

This weekend we had another opportunity to celebrate Indiana’s teachers for the role they play in helping our students, at each grade level, to shape their future. Anytime we get the opportunity to uplift and encourage our teachers, we must…and we sure did do just that on Saturday night! Check out some of the highlights from the Get Your Teach On Celebration below!

 

GYTO Celebration


To help keep the celebration going for our students, our teachers, our schools, and our communities, I also want to remind you of the upcoming deadline on Friday, June 9, to nominate a school or individual for the 2023 Educational Excellence Awards. Award winners will be honored at the second annual Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala in Indianapolis on Friday, September 8, where up to $5 million in awards will be granted to schools to celebrate their progress and achievement in supporting student excellence and growth.

Award categories include:

  • Excellence in STEM Award
  • Excellence in Leading and Learning Award
  • Excellence in Early Literacy Award
  • Excellence in Student Pathways 
  • Excellence in Community Collaboration 
  • Excellence in Academic Gains 
  • Excellence in College Readiness 
  • Excellence in Next Level Educational Experiences and Opportunities 

More information about each of the award categories can be found here. Additionally, the event will spotlight the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Indiana’s 2022 Milken Educator Award recipients, and other dedicated educators from across the state. Again, nominations are due by Friday, June 9, so submit as many as you can before the deadline!

With today kicking off Memorial Day weekend, I encourage all of us to take some time to reflect on the men and women who have selflessly given their lives while serving in our U.S. military. As we reflect, likely some of our past students' faces and memories come to mind as those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country–I know they certainly do for me. This weekend, in addition to enjoying the festivities and excitement of Memorial Day…let’s also make sure to take time for remembrance and gratitude for our fallen soldiers. All gave some. Some gave all.

As always, thank you for all that you do to support our students! 

Important Legislative Guidance

NEW: Curricular Material Reimbursement Process

This frequently asked questions (FAQ) document addresses changes made to the curricular material reimbursement process and provides guidance on the adoption of curricular materials. This information supersedes any previous memorandum sent out regarding curricular material and is the most up-to-date version. For additional information regarding curricular material reimbursement, please email DOEtextbooks@doe.in.gov. For additional information regarding curricular material adoption, please email teachingandlearning@doe.in.gov.

Office of Accountability

REMINDER: 2023 Cohort Locking Soon

The 2023 cohort will lock on Friday, June 30. Please check cohort reports for accuracy and pay special attention to any students with an Unknown Cohort status. The Unknown Cohort status is a dropout status and counts against the graduation rate. Many Unknown Cohort statuses can be fixed by the school/corporation via data entries. Specific details about the causes of the Unknown Cohort status and what to do about it can be found in the Unknown Cohort Status webinar and the accompanying slides found on Moodle. The enrollment key for the Moodle community is “AccountabilityCommunity” case sensitive and one word. Contact the Indiana Department Education's (IDOE's) Office of Accountability with any questions.

Office of Student Assessment

NEW: 2022-2023 Formative (Interim) Assessment Grant Final Report Now Available 

Each corporation/non-public school that received a distribution from the 2022-2023 Formative (Interim) Assessment Grant is required to submit a final report to IDOE by Thursday, August 31, verifying their use of funds. Review this guidance for additional details and instructions. Access the 2022-2023 Formative Assessment Grant distribution list to review your district’s distribution amount. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.

 

NEW: 2023-2024 Formative (Interim) Assessment Grant Application Now Available

Eligible corporations/non-public schools may apply here for Formative (Interim) Assessment Grant funds for the 2023-2024 school year. Corporations must review the guidance document prior to submitting an application. All applications are due Friday, June 30. Only one 2023-2024 Formative Assessment Grant Application should be submitted per corporation or non-public school ID. Applications must be completed at the corporation level for public schools and the school level for non-public and Choice schools. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.

 

NEW: ILEARN Rescore Request Window Closes Tuesday, June 6

The Rescore Request Window for open-ended ILEARN 3-8 and ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) test items continues through Tuesday, June 6. Schools must manage this process locally, ensuring that parents are notified of student results and presented with this legislatively-required opportunity, noting that rescore requests may result in an increased, decreased, or unchanged scale score. More information and links to a sample parent letter and policy guidance can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions. 

 

NEW: Sign Up for June SAT Data Workshops

College Board and IDOE will host summer SAT Data Workshops to support schools and corporations with accessing and using their spring SAT data. Schools/corporations should bring a team of educators who will review their data from the recent SAT administration and develop a plan for utilizing data in the 2023-2024 school year. Participants will also receive an introduction to the Digital SAT School Day launching this fall. Register for the in-person sessions across the state here. Contact College Board with any questions. 

Office of Educator Preparation

REMINDER: Annual Principal Survey Regarding Initial Educator License Holders

Indiana Code 20-28-11.5-9 requires a principal at each school corporation, charter school, and virtual school to complete an annual survey for any teacher employed in the building who was initially licensed in Indiana during the previous two years. The purpose of the survey is to assess the quality of preparation provided by the Indiana educator preparation program the teacher completed for licensure. A survey is not required for those who completed an out-of-state program for initial licensure. More information and the 2023 survey can be accessed here. Select “Complete the Survey” and enter the access code provided via email. The survey will remain open until Monday, August 1. Contact Scott Bogan with any questions. 

Office of Educator Talent

NEW: Create Candidate Profiles in the Educator Supply and Demand Marketplace

The educator supply and demand marketplace is now accepting candidate profiles to display on the supply side of the marketplace, allowing candidates to access local career connections and schools to engage in strategic recruitment to find the best applicants for their roles. Educators, if you’re job searching, sign up and fill out your profile here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Indiana STEM Educator Expansion Program (I-STEM) Registration Now Available

IDOE is partnering with Educational Service Centers (ESCs) of Indiana to launch the I-STEM partnership. I-STEM provides support for both currently licensed teachers in non-STEM areas and prospective teachers who are not licensed and hold a bachelor’s degree to become licensed to teach in a STEM content area. IDOE has identified eligible STEM content areas as life science, chemistry, earth/space science, physics, physical science, computer science, technology education, and mathematics. Click here for more information and registration. Contact IDOE's Office of Educator Talent with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Nominations Now Open for the 2023 Educational Excellence Awards 

Up to $5 million will be awarded to schools across the state to celebrate their progress and achievement in supporting student excellence and growth. Award winners will be honored at the second annual Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala in Indianapolis on Friday, September 8. More information can be found here. To be considered for an award, schools and educators can complete a nomination form here by Friday, June 9. For more information, contact the Office of Educator Talent.

 

REMINDER: Nominate an Educator for Teacher of the Year

The Indiana Teacher of the Year Program works to inspire, rejuvenate, and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. Local schools are encouraged to participate in an annual selection process and local Teacher(s) of the Year are encouraged to complete the state application process by Friday, July 7. More Information on the 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year selection process can be found here. Contact intoy@doe.in.gov 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: 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: Gearing up for the 2023-2024 School Year – Participation Required to Receive Data Exchange Credentials

In the coming weeks, IDOE will send detailed communication to school data teams about required training sessions that must be completed by schools and student information system (SIS) vendors prior to the 2023-2024 school year. Schools will be expected to join training specific to their SIS. These sessions should be attended by at least two individuals from each school corporation – the individual in the lead data role and the superintendent, assistant superintendent, chief financial officer, chief information officer, or director/head of school. At the conclusion of the training, schools will be provided with their Data Exchange credentials for the year. Schools will only be able to get access to these credentials by attending the training. Contact the Data Exchange Team with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Fall Average Daily Membership (ADM) Count Set to Monday, October 2

House Bill 1001 moved the fall ADM count day to October 1, or a date determined by the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE), to align with the federal pupil enrollment count, eliminate redundant counting of students, and reduce administrative burden on schools. In response to this statutory change, SBOE has set the fall 2023 ADM count day to Monday, October 2. The Data Exchange system will begin to accept data at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. Schools should work to review and correct data prior to the October certification. Additionally, IDOE is moving all data certifications previously due in September to October to reduce annual data certifications to five instead of six. Contact the Office of School Finance with any questions.

 

REMINDER: School Financial Reports Now Available Through EdData

Schools can now access seven financial reports, including the Summary of Receipts and Expenditures and Expenditures by Object reports via IDOE’s EdData platform. The reports are available under the Finance Dashboard tile. Please note the content of these reports has not changed. Contact form9@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Student Academic Record Collection 

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.

Office of School Finance

NEW: Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop

Please read this memo regarding the Annual Office of School Finance Budget Workshop, which will be held on Wednesday, June 28, at the Pike Performing Arts Center, 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. Please register using this link. Contact the Office of School Finance with any questions.

 

REMINDER: 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.

Office of School Support and Transformation

REMINDER: School Improvement Plans

The submission window for Comprehensive Needs Assessment/School Improvement Plans (CNA/SIP) is now open. Use of the state CNA/SIP template fulfills all requirements under state law and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI),Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and/or Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ASTI). Submissions are due by Friday, October 6. This memo provides additional information, including links to the CNA/SIP Google doc and CNA/SIP template. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Student Learning Recovery Grant - Expanding What Works

The Expanding What Works program promotes regional partnerships between community organizations, local non-profits, municipal partners, and/or local school corporations to replicate the successful Indy Summer Learning Labs at a regional level. This competitive grant program will prioritize applicants that demonstrate a commitment to partnering with the Lavinia Group to implement a high-quality, research-based summer learning curriculum and fidelity to the core design principles of the Indy Summer Learning Labs. More information and applications are available hereContact  CommunityLearningGrant@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 the 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 the Flexibility Guide for Indiana's K-12 Schools document. Additionally, a recording of the informational 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

June

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: Crossing the Finish Line – Top 10 High Schools for Enrollments

For the third consecutive summer, high schools across the state are partnering with IDOE, the Commission for Higher Education (CHE), Governor's Workforce Cabinet (GWC), and higher education institutions to help more students earn a credential of value. Research shows that increased levels of educational attainment positively impact students’ future quality of life, health, living wage, employment, and sustained earning. Through the Crossing the Finish Line initiative, eligible students can receive free tuition and books at Ivy Tech or Vincennes University (fees are also covered). To date, over 2,500 students have registered for classes this summer…and this number continues to grow by the day! Here’s a look at the top 10 schools across the state with students participating, in proportion to their overall student population.

  1. Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Early College High School
  2. BELIEVE Circle City High School
  3. Batesville High School
  4. GEO Next Generation High School
  5. Rising Sun High School
  6. East Central High School
  7. Eastern High School
  8. Wapahani High School
  9. Silver Creek High School
  10. Madison-Grant Jr./Sr. High School

 

NEW: Alternative Education Grant Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) Report

In order to distribute alternative education funds in a timely manner, Alternative Education Grant FTE Student Reports must be submitted by Sunday, July 30. If your school corporation had an approved alternative education program during the 2022-2023 school year, an FTE Student Report must be submitted in DOE Online. Contact studentpathways_alted@doe.in.gov with any questions.

 

NEW: 2023-2024 School Year (FY24) High Ability Program (HAP) Grant Application Opens Thursday, June 1

The 2023-2024 HAP Grant application will be open from Thursday, June 1, to Saturday, July 1. The application must be completed in Jotform by the deadline. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.

Office of Student, School, and Family Engagement

NEW: SAT Scores and Transcript Guidance

IC 20-33-2-13(a) requires schools to include students’ latest statewide assessment program test results on their official high school transcript, which should include their highest SAT score in each content area. Students are not required to include the score from the SAT School Day statewide assessment if the student has a higher SAT score on file. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Youth Emerging Stronger (YES!) Summit

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, IDOE, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Mental Health and Addiction, North Central Health Services, and the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte will host the first YES! Summit on Wednesday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Noblesville. Mental health and substance use challenges are on the rise among young people, and their emotional well-being is on the decline. COVID-19 exacerbated these trends, which have developed over the last decade. The YES! Summit will address these challenges by bringing together hundreds of Indiana school leaders, education stakeholders, and funders to develop a roadmap for expanding evidence-based prevention and mental health support within K-12 schools. Find additional information and register to attend the YES! Summit here. Contact IDOE's Office of Student, School, and Family Engagement with any questions. 

Office of Student Support and Accessibility/Special Education

NEW: FY 2024 Special Education Grant Assurances Due Saturday, July 1

FY 2024 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Grant Assurances templates and instructions for using the Grant Management System are now available in the Office of Special Education Community in Moodle under Part B Grants for Special Education. To reserve the earliest reimbursement effective date for the FY 2024 Part B Grant period, school corporations, charter, and state schools must correctly submit FY 2024 Part B Grant Assurances in the Grant Management System on or before Saturday, July 1. Four new questions have been added to the Assurances to address Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1228a). Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions. 

 

NEW: Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Rubric

IDOE and a stakeholder group of special education administrators developed a framework to help corporations complete SEEC funding applications. The rubric outlines required information when responding to application questions and should be included in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). IDOE will use the rubric criteria during application reviews to determine if the standards for acceptance of excess cost funds have been met. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions.

 

NEW: SEEC Fund Office Hours

IDOE’s Office of Special Education will hold office hours to support schools that are applying for SEEC funds. This is an opportunity for school personnel to ask questions regarding recently released new information and district-specific cases. No registration is required. Join any upcoming session by clicking the corresponding link below.

Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions. 

 

NEW: U.S. Department of Education Public Comment for IDEA Part B Regulation Updates

On Thursday, May 18, the U.S. Department of Education published proposed IDEA Part B regulation changes to remove the requirement for public agencies to obtain parental consent prior to accessing a child’s public health coverage benefits or insurance to help pay for required IDEA Part B services. The public comment period is open through Tuesday, August 1. Comments may be submitted here. Those interested in providing comments who require additional accommodations or are otherwise unable to submit online comments should email Rebecca Walawender from the U.S. Department of Education. Commenters who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services to provide comments can dial 711. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions. 

 

NEW: June English Learner (EL) Leadership Meeting - EL Plan & Title III Walkthrough

IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education will host an additional, virtual EL Leadership meeting on Thursday, June 15, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET. This meeting will provide a walkthrough of the EL Plan portion of the Pre-Application, the Title III application process, and provide an update on Non-English Speaking Program (NESP) funding Access to the meeting can be found on the EL PD Opportunities Calendar. This meeting will be recorded. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Post-School Outcomes Survey

IDOE’s Office of Special Education is seeking corporations interested in obtaining new data to share IDOE’s Post-School Outcome Survey via phone and email with former students that meet this criteria. Participating corporations will be provided with contact information for students eligible to complete the survey. Survey responses returned to IDOE will be shared with schools as part of the 2023 Results Driven Accountability (RDA) release. Corporations with this technology interested in sharing the Post-School Outcomes Survey in June and July may contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education monitoring team for additional information.

 

REMINDER: Nominate Students with Disabilities for Student Transition Cadre

IDOE’s Office of Special Education is seeking youth with disabilities between 14 and 22 years old to join in providing feedback and improvement strategies for graduation, transition planning, and transition IEPs for the Student Transition Cadre. Students will meet once prior to the end of the 2022-2023 school year and throughout the 2023-2024 school year. To nominate a student for the Indiana Student Transition Cadre, please complete this Jotform by Friday, May 26. Students will be contacted directly by IDOE for next steps. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions. 

 

REMINDER: Upcoming Evaluation Roster (EV Roster) Office Hours

IDOE’s Office of Special Education will host office hours for local education agencies to receive assistance with ensuring that Data Exchange information for the upcoming EV submission is accurate. Select the link below to join a specific session. 

Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions. 

 

REMINDER: Elevating Education - Improving Outcomes for All Statewide Conference

Registration is now open for Elevating Education: Improving Outcomes for All, a new statewide conference from IDOE the IEP Technical Assistance (TA) Center. The conference is intended for general educators, special educators, and administrators and will take place at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis and the Indiana Convention Center on Tuesday, November 28, and Wednesday, November 29. Register here, as space is limited. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.

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

NEW: 2023-2024 STEM Certification Guidelines Now Available 

IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning has released updated guidance for the 2023-2024 STEM Certification application process for schools seeking STEM Certification for the first time or that wish to recertify. View guidance for K-8 STEM Certification here and Secondary STEM Certification here. Applications are due Friday, October 27. Schools interested in applying for STEM Certification are encouraged to review information regarding schools who have achieved STEM Certification. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions. 

 

NEW: Early Intervention Grant Updates

Corporations or schools that were awarded funds via the 2022-2023 Early Intervention Grant must submit their completed cash request document by Friday, June 30,  to access grant funds. Corporations and schools must encumber all distributed funds by Friday, September 29, and return any unused funds to IDOE by Friday, December 15. The 2022-2023 Early Intervention Grant end-of-year report will be released later this summer. The Early Intervention Grant will be discontinued after this school year, as it was not included in the biennial budget passed during the recent legislative session. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions. 

 

UPDATE: Upcoming May Professional Development (PD) with IDOE

May PD with IDOE concludes next week with Learning Lab Greatest Hits: 2022-2023 led by IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning. View a full list of the May 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: Computer Science Catalyst Grant Application Now Open

Completed applications for the 2023-2024 Computer Science Catalyst Grant may be submitted now through 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 2. This competitive grant opportunity for schools is funded through appropriations by the Indiana General Assembly in the Next Level Computer Science Fund. This grant aims to spark innovation in computer science education by accelerating pedagogical knowledge of educators, increasing the number of PK-12 students who have access to high-quality computer science learning experiences, and promoting the use of computer science in authentic problem solving. More information regarding the Computer Science Catalyst Grant application process can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.

 

REMINDER: Kindergarten Enrollment Guidance for Schools & Families

In Indiana, a school corporation is required to provide a kindergarten program for eligible students that are five years old on or before August 1 of the school year. However, a school corporation may enroll a student who is five by October 1, and still receive average daily membership (ADM) funding. IDOE provides the following school enrollment guidance and Kindergarten Entrance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information. Families are provided with additional Kindergarten Enrollment FAQs. All documents may be found on IDOE’s Kindergarten webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.

 

REMINDER: 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 the new 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, 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 through Friday, June 30. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with additional questions or for additional guidance.

Office of Title Grants and Support

REMINDER: Schoolwide Programs (SWP) Application

If your corporation has schools that are not currently operating as an SWP, please see this memo for additional information and the 2023-2024 school year application. A list of currently approved SWP schools can be reviewed here. Additional information and resources will be available in Moodle in the coming weeks. Applications are due Friday, June 23. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.

News From Our Partners

NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (IDHS): Get ShakIN' Video Contest

The Get ShakIN' video contest gives students in kindergarten through grade 12 the chance to win their class or group a Raspberry Shake® RS3D seismograph for a year to track seismic activity around the world! Groups can enter by submitting a student-produced video focused on earthquake preparedness and/or safety. A panel of judges from IDHS will select the top ten videos to win a seismograph, and an overall winner will be selected to receive a seismograph plus the grand prize: an "Indiana Earthquake Day" event with their school, including a visit by the Quake Cottage simulator (if available)! The deadline for submissions is Thursday, August 31, at 4:30 p.m. ET. Click here for more information. Contact pio@dhs.in.gov with any questions.

 

NEW FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (USDOT): $400 Million Available in the Second Round of Funding for the Clean School Bus Program

Funds are available and applications are now open for eligible entities to incentivize and accelerate the replacement of existing school buses with clean and Zero Emissions (ZE) school buses. Eligible activities include the replacement of existing internal-combustion engine (ICE) school buses with electric, propane, or compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses, as well as the purchase of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) infrastructure and EVSE installations. Here are some important dates to keep in mind: 

  • Final Date to Submit Questions - Wednesday, August 9, 2023
  • Application Deadline - Tuesday, August 22, 2023
  • Anticipated Notification of Selection - November 2023 to January 2024
  • Anticipated Awards - February to March 2024

More information can be found here.

 

NEW FROM PROJECT INDY: Summer Jobs

Do you know Indianapolis-area youth, age 16 to 24, looking for a job? Encourage them to sign up for Project Indy and gain access to nearby Indianapolis employers with great jobs! Youth can sign up here, and interested employers can sign up here. Contact Project Indy with any questions.

 

NEW FROM THE MADAM WALKER LEGACY CENTER: Summer Institute

Registration is now open for the Madam Walker Legacy Center Summer Institute. This STEAM workshop series will be held every Tuesday through Thursday from Thursday, July 6, through Thursday, July 27, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET each day. It’s free, virtual, and open to all students between the ages of six and 14. Learn more here.

 

NEW FROM THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB): Classroom Activities

The success of America’s young workers is important to the economy. Millions of young people enter the workforce every year. Youth employment presents an opportunity to help young people develop healthy financial habits early and to recommend services and products that can help them save, invest, and achieve their financial goals. The CFPB classroom activities can guide your discussion with students. Learn more here.

 

REMINDER FROM THE LILLY ENDOWMENT: Renewal Grants for Indiana K-12 Educators

The Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce the 37th round of its Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program (TCFP). This program supports educators throughout Indiana by providing resources for them to take time for meaningful renewal. The Endowment believes that through new experiences, exploration, and reflection educators can generate renewed energy in their careers, innovative approaches to teaching and educational leadership, and thoughtful ways to encourage students’ creative thinking. The Endowment expects to award approximately 100 grants, each totaling up to $15,000, in 2024. The application deadline is 5 p.m. ET on Monday, September 11. Three information sessions will be held on:

  • Wednesday, May 31
  • Tuesday, August 8
  • Thursday, August 10

To learn more or register for one of these sessions, visit the Lilly Endowment website. Contact Lilly Endowment staff at teachercreativity@lei.org with any questions. 

 

REMINDER FROM THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEACHER INVESTMENT PROGRAM (AP-TIP): Summer Institute

AP Teachers are invited to register for the AP Summer Institute sponsored by the University of Notre Dame’s AP-TIP. At AP-TIP’s Summer Institute, teachers will join a dynamic group as AP Consultants organize many sessions as hands-on workshops and labs designed to engage AP teachers in exemplary instructional strategies ready to be implemented in their own classrooms. The 2023 AP Summer Institute will be held Tuesday, July 11, through Friday, July 14, at Pike High School on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Sessions meet daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Click here to view the full list of sessions and register. Contact Karen Morris with any questions.


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