A lot of celebrations are happening across the state as most graduations were held last weekend or over the next couple of days. I’ve also enjoyed seeing many “last day of school” photos posted online. All that being said, while the calendar hasn’t officially declared summer (that’s on Wednesday, June 21), nearly all of our schools have completed the school year and have kicked off summer break.
While rest, relaxation, and certainly some fun, are all important during the summer, these months also provide an opportunity for parents, families, and educators to continue supporting students who need it most, as well as prevent the summer slide in key areas such as reading, math, and college and career readiness.
Our local leadership in Indiana…YOUR leadership…in the area of college and career readiness was on full display this week, as educators, employers, and other community leaders came together at Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus for Ascend Indiana’s Youth Apprenticeship Community of Practice Summer Convening. While there, I heard multiple conversations about how local Indiana communities are continuing to increase work-based learning and postsecondary credential (educational attainment!) opportunities for students. As we continue to rethink high school, your local leadership is key as the push forward continues.
A couple of the districts that I saw in action in this space, prior to the school year ending, include Washington Community Schools (WCS) and North Gibson School Corporation (NGSC). I really appreciate WCS Assistant Superintendent Steve Peterson and NGSC Superintendent Dr. Eric Goggins, who reached out to share the good work they are leading in the college and career readiness space and how their focus on community partnerships is opening doors for students.
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We started the day off at Washington High School (WHS), where Superintendent Kevin Frank, Mayor David Rhoads, and I missed more free throws than we made on their historic basketball court…but the day only went up from there! We made a quick stop by their wall of fame that displays “College and Career Ready Hatchets,” which is a wall full of nearly 100 students and their future enrollment, employment, or enlistment plans and aspirations.
One of the highlights of the visit was a stop by Mr. Matt Riney’s computer science class, where I received a lesson on the history of cybersecurity and encryption, and a demonstration from members of their First Robotics team. They also shared something that I have not yet seen in person, only on video…the past two years, Mr. Riney and students from the school’s Project Lead the Way computer science courses programmed a Christmas music and light show at the high school. You can check it out here and here. It is a true community effort and project-based learning experience, with students designing wood frames for the lights and Mayor Rhoads working with the city’s electrical crew to hang the lights.
Just a short drive southwest to Princeton, three school districts are hard at work creating a partnership that is paying dividends for their students. Though NGSC’s Princeton Community High School hosted us for the day, students from South Gibson School Corporation and East Gibson School Corporation all benefit from a partnership with Toyota, known as the 4T Academy.
Three students who are enrolled in the 4T Academy spoke about their experience, which couples on-the-job training with hands-on learning in advanced manufacturing production during their junior and senior years. The second semester of their senior year, the students spend two hours a day, four days a week at the Toyota Manufacturing facility, and are paid for their training hours throughout the entirety of their senior year. For these students, not only does the program offer them a conduit to a job after graduation, right in their own community, but the experience also enhances key skills that local industry leaders need, in addition to helping students build the confidence needed to enter directly into their local workforce.
Thank you to these local leaders for sharing your success stories...it was a pleasure to see them in action! As we plan additional school visits this fall, please continue to share the positive work happening in your communities. And as always, thank you for all that you do for students! Have a great summer!
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: ILEARN Rescore Request & Discrepancy Resolution Windows Close Tuesday, June 6
The Rescore Request Window for open-ended ILEARN 3-8 and ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) test items closes Tuesday, June 6. Schools must ensure that parents have been 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. Schools should also ensure that discrepant records within the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) are resolved by Tuesday, June 6. Contact the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE’s) Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
NEW: Educator Supply and Demand Marketplace - Supply Side Launching Soon
Current and emerging educators across Indiana can now create talent profiles to match with schools that meet their job search criteria. Candidate profiles will be accessible to all schools that opted into the full Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Indiana superintendents and/or HR directors interested in the next opportunity to opt-in to the full Nimble ATS are invited to complete this JotForm. Additional information about the statewide partnership with Nimble can be found 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.
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. IDOE is continuing to work on high-quality reports via the new EdData system, including access to student-level reports. Contact link@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: 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.
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 here. Contact 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 today, 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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June
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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: 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.
- Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation Early College High School
- BELIEVE Circle City High School
- Batesville High School
- GEO Next Generation High School
- Rising Sun High School
- East Central High School
- Silver Creek High School
- Eastern High School
- Wapahani High School
- Madison-Grant Jr./Sr. High School
NEW: 2023-2024 School Year Alternative Education Program Renewal Application Now Open
The 2023-2024 Alternative Education Program Renewal application is open through Saturday, September 30. The application must be completed in Jotform. Contact studentpathways_alted@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Explore, Engage, Experience (3E) Grant Year One Report Due Thursday, June 15
All 3E Grant Recipients must complete the Year One Report in Jotform by Thursday, June 15. Contact studentpathways@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: 2023-2024 School Year (FY24) High Ability Program (HAP) Grant Application Now Open
The 2023-2024 HAP Grant application will be open until Saturday, July 1. The application must be completed in Jotform by the deadline. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
NEW: American Rescue Plan (ARP) Grant Office Hours
IDOE’s Office of Special Education Part B fiscal team will host office hours to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) with questions related to the ARP Grant. Attendees may ask IDOE questions or discuss issues concerning remaining balances. Sessions will not include a presentation, as each session serves as structured time for individual discussion.
Additional information concerning use of funds for non-tech and tech-related categories can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: FY 2022 ARP Part B Grant Period Deadlines
Refer to the following deadlines regarding the FY 2022 ARP Part B Grant:
- The form to request a FY 2022 ARP Part B Grant Proportionate Share Waivers will become available on Saturday, July 1. The deadline for the next round of Part B monitoring reports is due Monday, July 31.
- LEAs must submit all FY 2022/ARP Part B Grant budget modification requests by Friday, September 30, to ensure sufficient time for modification, review, and approval by IDOE.
- All FY 2022 ARP Part B Grant reimbursement requests must be submitted by Friday, December 15.
All Part B grant forms and related guidance are available under Part B Grants for Special Education in the Office of Special Education Moodle Community. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions.
NEW: Dyslexia Reporting Requirements
School corporations and charter schools must report dyslexia information for the previous school year on their school website before Saturday, July 15. This information must include:
- The dyslexia intervention programs used during the previous school year to assist students with dyslexia;
- The number of students during the school year who received dyslexia intervention; and
- The total number of students identified with dyslexia.
Reporting criteria can be found on page seven of the 2022-2023 Dyslexia Guidance for Schools. Please contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW: June Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
Join us in the Indiana Learning Lab for June PD with IDOE with Rounding the Bases of Literacy for two sessions on Wednesday, June 7 at 10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET. View the full list of June PD opportunities 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.
NEW: 2023 Digital Learning Grant Award Recipients
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning is pleased to announce the 45 awardees for the 2023 Digital Learning Grant. This competitive grant opportunity supports work around high-quality blended and online teaching practices. For more information and the list of recipients, view this memo. Thank you to all corporations who submitted applications and congratulations to the awardees. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Required STEM Curriculum Survey Available Now
Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-20-5.5-2(h), IDOE is conducting a statewide survey to determine what curricular materials have been adopted for teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in each state-accredited school. This legislature requires a designee from each public school corporation, public charter school, and state-accredited non-public school to complete this survey by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, June 16. If a school corporation maintains consistent curriculum adoption across grade levels and schools within the corporation, then only a single submission for the corporation is required. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
NEW: Return to In-Person Instruction Plans
U.S. Department of Education regulations require that a local education agency's (LEA’s) return to in-person instruction plans must be reviewed and revised as needed every six months, must include public comment, and be posted on the LEA’s public website. This will be required of ESSER III recipients for the statutory life of ESSER III, meaning plans will need to be updated every six months until September 30, 2023. Please note that the encumbrance deadline for ESSER III remains September 30, 2024; this does not extend the need to review plans as it only applies to encumbrance. The following schedule will apply to the return to in-person plans at the local level. IDOE is required to monitor return to in-person instruction plans.
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Initial Posting Deadline
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No later than June 24, 2021
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Second Review and Posting Deadline
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December 24, 2021
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Third Review and Posting Deadline
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June 24, 2022
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Fourth Review and Posting Deadline
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December 24, 2022
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Fifth and Final Review and Posting Deadline
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Saturday, June 24, 2023
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Please submit any new links to your in-person learning plan via this JotForm no later than Saturday, June 24. Please send any questions to esser@doe.in.gov.
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.
NEW FROM CODEHS: Computer Science (CS) Teachers - Register for Free CodeHS Coding Bootcamps and Workshops
CodeHS is partnering with IDOE to offer month-long online bootcamps, one-day workshops, and a Praxis CS exam prep course.
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Online Coding Bootcamps are a month-long and teachers meet virtually every week for class. Choose a Java, JavaScript, Python, or Cybersecurity bootcamp today!
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One-Day Virtual Workshops include a wide range of topics from teaching K-5 CS to Indiana Computer Science I.
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The Praxis CS Prep Course is designed to help teachers prepare for the Praxis CS exam. It includes a 50-hour asynchronous online course, exam prep, and optional live sessions.
These PD opportunities are free for any Indiana public and public charter high school CS teachers. Learn more and register here. Contact CodeHS with any questions.
REMINDER 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.
REMINDER 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.
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:
- 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.
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