My favorite days are always those spent in and around school buildings. Often, what makes these school visits so special is seeing the innovative ways educators are helping students prepare for their lives and future career opportunities. This important work requires collaboration with a variety of community partners to maximize impact…which is why I want to share more about a recent visit I had to Delaware County.
Visiting Muncie and greater Delaware County a few weeks ago with the team from the Ball Brothers Foundation served as an important reminder of why community partnerships are key to creating lasting experiences for our students. This Foundation, especially in the past several years, has really leaned into making sure their most important community asset (their students!) are set up for the best possible opportunities ahead. The Ball Brothers Foundation knows that in order to make this happen for students, having quality education in their Delaware County schools is essential. Each of the highlights shared below is made possible through this incredible partnership.
We kicked off our day with an in-depth look at one of the flagship programs in Muncie Community Schools, the dual language immersion program at West View Elementary School. Beginning in kindergarten and continuing through first grade, students experience 80% Spanish instruction, facilitating early Spanish language acquisition and literacy development. In second through fifth grades, students split their time evenly between Spanish and English instruction as they master grade-level content in both languages.
While observing a classroom full of second grade students present about Central and South American countries in Spanish, Muncie Community Schools Director of English Learners Kelsey Pavelka shared that not only do the students love the dual language immersion, the second graders in particular take their Spanish speaking time very seriously…often “gently” correcting one another if speaking English during their Spanish instructional time. In Mrs. Kira Zick’s fourth grade class, students spent time this semester making their own business plan for a local food truck, with a financial forecast done entirely in Spanish– utilizing project-based learning to connect learning objectives across a number of content areas. Mrs. Zick was also the winner of the Ball Brothers Foundation’s 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award, which I’ll share more about shortly.
Our next stop of the day was Burris Laboratory School, one of only about 100 laboratory schools in the world that is associated with a college or university. Burris sits right on the edge of Ball State University’s campus and when we arrived, we discovered an impromptu student welcoming committee on the playground, all clamoring to share why they loved their school. Some of the answers include: the traditions, community, classes, and, of course, teachers!
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As I soon found out, one of the many traditions that makes Burris so special is May Term, which allows students to have a little fun, but still learn important knowledge and skills. Each year, at the beginning of May, students are given the opportunity to rank order topics, subjects, and activities of interest. The result is a month-long schedule full of experiential learning, where students can take trips and connect what they have learned in the classroom to the outside world. This includes everything from creating podcasts, to incorporating calculus into chess, to creating a mural to celebrate the many facets of the school’s rich history, just to name a few.
Next, we traveled just outside Muncie to Daleville Community Schools, where we toured their innovative Outdoor Learning Lab and spoke to a group of students about their work-based learning experiences. Back in March, I happened to run into several Daleville students and administrators at the Statehouse while on a job shadow experience for students interested in law and politics. As some students reflected on this Statehouse visit, several other students indicated an interest in healthcare and advanced manufacturing, demonstrating how work-based learning opportunities can help shape a student’s plans following graduation, and ultimately find their right path.
The Outdoor Learning Lab was the brainchild of Daleville Junior/Senior High School Teacher Mr. Julian Ravenscroft, with help from the funding he received from the Excellence in Teaching Award, which he won in 2014. This unique space allows students to take their learning outdoors, providing spaces for students to learn and practice everything from communication, to math skills, to science concepts, and so much more.
The day culminated with a reception for the Excellence in Teaching Awards, where the 2023 winner and finalists were recognized for their work in preparing their students with 21st-century skills, including problem-solving and collaboration. The winner, Mrs. Zick, received a $5,000 award for her classroom, $5,000 for her school, $5,000 for her district, and another $2,500 for professional development opportunities. Additionally, Mr. Rob Jones, a middle school social studies and high school media teacher from Burris, and Mrs. Heather Rogers, a Russian and German Language teacher from the Indiana Academy, were recognized as finalists, taking home $1,000 for their classrooms and $500 for professional development.
What an example this is, showing how a community partner can elevate the learning happening in their local schools!
*For any community partner reading this newsletter, please lean in to support our schools and increase the quality of learning happening in your local community.
**And for any educator reading, please consider how you can leverage your community partners to maximize our collective impact.
Thank you to these and all of the school and community partners across our state who are working together to move the needle for students. Have a great weekend!
NEW: Legislatively-Required and Other Guidance Surrounding Newly-Enacted Legislation
Following the close of each legislative session, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) immediately begins working to implement newly-enacted legislation impacting K-12 education, which includes compiling guidance for educators. Guidance is a product of robust cross-agency collaboration and partnership with countless stakeholders. Any future updates will be added to this comprehensive guidance document and shared via the weekly newsletter.
REMINDER: Corporation Amendments
The school and corporation profile amendment submission window for the 2023-2024 school year is now open. In order to ensure IDOE maintains accurate information, all schools and school corporations must provide notice when changes are made that affect school openings, closures, and reconfigurations. Information on the submission process may be found on Moodle in the Corporation Amendment section of the School Accountability & Accreditation Community. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: ISPROUT 2022-2023 Window 4 Closing & KReady System Updates
The ISPROUT Window 4 for the 2022-2023 school year closes today, Friday, June 16. The KReady System will be unavailable for scheduled maintenance from Tuesday, June 20, through Friday, June 30. Staff must enter data and download/request corporation and/or school reports (Early Learning Assessment Skills, Knowledge, and Behavior) for 2022-2023 ISPROUT assessments by the end of today, Friday, June 16, as this data will be archived during the maintenance period. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with additional questions.
REMINDER: IDOE and Roadtrip Nation Announce Fall 2023 Indiana Road Trip
This September, IDOE and Roadtrip Nation will send three young people, ages 18-24, on a free road trip across Indiana in the RoadTrip RV to find their fit in the workforce. Roadtrippers will get to sit down with professionals working in various industries and discuss interests, strengths, and values in professions related to STEM, education, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and much more. Participants will make valuable connections, explore job opportunities throughout Indiana, and learn beneficial job skills through the process. Applications are open through Sunday, July 2. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways with any questions.
NEW: Staff Performance Evaluation Plan Submission
Senate Enrolled Act 486 (2023) requires each school corporation to develop or adopt a plan for annual performance evaluations for each certified employee. Staff performance evaluation plans must be submitted via JotForm by Friday, September 15. For more information, click here. Contact eel@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) Policy Submission Required
Information regarding the TAG policy submission can be found here. Local educational agencies (including charter and virtual charter schools) must submit the TAG policy for approval via JotForm by Friday, September 16, to be eligible to receive TAG funding. Contact tag@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace is Live
The Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace is now live. Current and emerging educators 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). The average Indiana district currently has over 300 new candidates visible in the marketplace. Indiana superintendents and/or HR directors interested in the next opportunity to opt-in to the full Nimble ATS are invited to complete the following JotForm. Additional information about the statewide partnership with Nimble can be found here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
UPDATE: Nominations for the 2023 Educational Excellence Awards Due Today, Friday, June 16
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 today, Friday, June 16. For more information, contact the Office of Educator Talent.
REMINDER: Indiana STEM (I-STEM) Educator Expansion Program 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 on IDOE’s website. 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: 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: Next Generation School Improvement Grants (NextGen SIG)
The Office of School Support and Transformation is now accepting applications for planning grants as part of the NextGen SIG program through Friday, August 4. This is a competitive grant to aid in school transformation. Eligibility for this grant extends to all schools currently identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) under Indiana’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan. Interested school officials can read more about the grant program in the NextGen SIG overview. A list of eligible schools can be found here.
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Application window
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Review period (tentative)
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Finalist interviews (tentative)
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Announcement (tentative)
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Friday, June 9, through Friday, August 4
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Tuesday, August 8, through Friday, September 1
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Wednesday, September 6, through Friday, September 8
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Friday, September 15
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The scoring rubric used to evaluate the application is found here. Contact IDOE's Office of School Support and Transformation 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 ESSA for schools identified for CSI, 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.
NEW: Clarification on ASVAB Graduation Pathway Guidance
In an effort to provide clarification surrounding new legislation impacting students using the ASVAB as a means to fulfill graduation pathway requirements, this memo has been updated. Please see the Applicable Graduation Cohorts section of the memo for additional clarification on this new legislation. 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: Comprehensive School Safety Planning - Prevention Through Recovery Workshop
One additional PREPaRE Workshop 1 will be held at the Hamilton County Community Foundation on Wednesday, August 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET. This workshop emphasizes the unique needs and functions of school safety and crisis response teams and the important steps needed to develop cohesive and sustainable teams that integrate school personnel and community service provider roles. The focus of the workshop will explore how to prepare for school crises by developing, exercising, and evaluating crisis preparedness plans. Please register here by Friday, August 4, or until space runs out. For questions about future regional training, please email tcgmiller@collaborativewks.com or info@projectawarein.org.
NEW: Non-English Speaking Program (NESP) Funding Changes for 2023-2024 School Year
The 2023 Legislatively-Required and Other Guidance Surrounding Newly-Enacted Legislation document is now available. Changes to state NESP funding include moving from a grant application to state tuition support and provides for increases in per-pupil funding to support English learners. This memo details changes to NESP funding for the 2023-2024 school year. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Special Education Excess Cost (SEEC) Office Hours
IDOE’s Office of Special Education continues to offer office hours to support schools in navigating the SEEC fund. This is an opportunity for schools to ask questions regarding excess cost procedures or situations specific to their district. Join the meeting on Wednesday, June 28, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. ET here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Register Now for Elevating Education - Improving Outcomes for All Statewide Conference
Registration is open for Elevating Education: Improving Outcomes for All, a new statewide conference from IDOE and 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! Please contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: New Office Hours Time - American Rescue Plan (ARP) Grant
IDOE’s Office of Special Education Part B fiscal team will host another office hours meeting on Wednesday, June 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) with questions related to the ARP Grant. Attendees may ask IDOE questions or discuss issues concerning remaining balances. The session will not include a presentation, as this serves as structured time for individual discussion. Additional information concerning the use of funds for non-tech and tech-related categories can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any 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.
NEW: Early Learning Standards Now Available
Following approval from the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE), the 2023 Early Learning Standards and the Indiana Early Learning Standards Overview are available on IDOE’s Early Learning webpage. The Early Learning Framework, a resource for educators and other early childhood professionals to support and enhance children’s learning and development while using the standards, will become available soon within the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
REMINDER: Future-Focused Indiana Academic Standards Now Available
Streamlined K-12 Indiana Academic Standards in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science and Computer Science were approved on Wednesday, June 7, by SBOE. The adoption of these prioritized standards followed IDOE’s statutorily-required work to update standards in key content areas to align with the essential skills and traits necessary for students to be successful after high school graduation. SBOE also adopted updated Indiana Academic Standards for Physical Education, Health and Wellness, and Fine Arts per the regularly scheduled standards revision cycle, as well as Early Learning Standards and newly-developed integrated STEM standards. All updated standards are now accessible on IDOE’s Indiana Academic Standards webpage. Please contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 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.
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 current 2022-2023 school year. Accredited non-public schools are not required to submit this data, but have the option to report it. 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 questions or for additional guidance.
REMINDER: Pre-Application Equity (Disparity) Reports
The 2023 Equity (Disparity) Reports, which are needed to complete Section 3 of the Pre-application, have been uploaded to the Pre-application course within Moodle. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 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 the 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.
REMINDER: Title Grants and Support Monthly Coffee Chats
Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join the Title Grants and Support team for monthly Coffee Chats. Chats have moved to the last Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. ET. The link will always be the same. Join us via Microsoft Teams here. This month’s topic covers Moodle resources with an opportunity to ask programmatic Pre-Application questions. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions or suggestions for topics.
NEW FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY: Indiana STEM Education Conference 2024 - Proposals to Present
Purdue University’s Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM (CATALYST) is now accepting proposals to present at the ninth-annual Indiana STEM Education Conference on STEM instruction, curriculum, career exposure, or educational research. The conference will be held at Purdue University on January 11, 2024. The theme for the 2024 conference is Resourcing STEM Education. Proposals are due Friday, October 13, and accepted proposals will be announced by Friday, November 10. Refer to the following guidance to apply:
- Proposals must include a title and abstract (200 words or less);
- Presenters are required to register for the conference;
- STEM instruction, curriculum, and career exposure presentations should be a total of 50 minutes, including approximately 10 minutes for questions;
- STEM research presentations should be a total of 15 minutes; and
- Research briefs and posters will be published as proceedings through Purdue e-Pubs.
Contact wswalker@purdue.edu with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA CTO COUNCIL: Create the Ultimate School Safety Plan
On behalf of the Indiana CTO Council, the Indiana K-12 Cybersecurity Taskforce, and Avaya you're invited to Keeping Students Safe: Legislation, Compliance and Best Practices in the Event of an Emergency on Your Campus on Wednesday, July 14, from 2 to 5 p.m. This educational experience will take place at the newly renovated STUTZ building, and will guide leaders in creating the ultimate school safety plan. During the event, we will discuss Next Gen 911 and its implications in K-12 districts. We have gathered an all-star lineup of top experts in the field, dedicated to assisting you in your campus planning. Register for free here.
REMINDER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME: 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. 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. To view the full list of sessions and register by Friday, June 23, visit the event page. Contact Karen Morris with any questions.
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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