Tomorrow is the official first day of fall…my favorite time of year…and the best time of year to hit the road for some school visits! Over the next month and a half, we are planning visits in northern, central, and southern Indiana, and I can’t wait.
This fall, in addition to our ongoing literacy work focused on science of reading, we will also remain laser focused on rethinking the high school experience. The key question is, how might we make the four years of high school as valuable as possible for our students, including developing the essential skills needed for success, regardless of their unique path ahead?
This collaborative and comprehensive effort officially launched earlier this spring with a Graduation Landscape Analysis. The analysis included an in-depth look at how Indiana’s graduation pathways and diploma requirements have evolved over time, as well as examples of graduation/diploma practices in other states. The analysis also included stakeholder engagement, which ultimately helped us focus our state’s work into three key areas:
-
Diploma requirements - Making high school diploma requirements more flexible and relevant to students, employers, and communities
-
High-quality work-based learning - Improving access to and the number of students completing high-quality work-based learning opportunities
-
Credentials of Value - Increasing access to and the number of students completing high-value postsecondary credentials before high school graduation
This ongoing work was the subject of last week’s State Board of Education half-day work session, where we had an opportunity to hear from two national thought leaders in this space: Patricia Levesque, CEO of the Foundation for Excellence in Education and Dr. Tim Knowles, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. See their presentations here.
As we continue to drive this work in Indiana and at the national level, it’s important to elevate the impact that many Indiana schools and educators, in conjunction with community partners and employers, are already leading in this space. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit two such schools in southeastern Indiana. Let me take a moment to share a bit with you…
Rising-Sun High School (RSHS) in Ohio County is hard at work ensuring their students are earning high-value postsecondary credentials before graduation. Principal Noel Bostic shared that through collaboration with higher education partners, 27% of students at this endorsed early college high school earned an associates degree prior to graduation in 2023, and 35% of their students earned the Indiana College Core!
Not only are Rising-Sun students benefiting from dual enrollment and dual credit, but teachers are, too. Educators teaching dual credit are offered a $1,000 stipend per class with an extra incentive of $1,000 for a class with 20 or more students enrolled.
Just down the road in Switzerland County, Superintendent Rod Hite showed off a new addition to Switzerland County High School. This addition will connect their middle and high school buildings (in the past, students had to walk outdoors), as well as provide space for a ninth grade academy. The new ninth grade academy is the impetus for redesigning some of their high school course offerings, leading to high-quality job placements and early high school credit earnings for their middle school students. The new addition houses nine new classrooms, including a large maker space, biology lab, extended learning and collaboration spaces, and more, to maximize the student experience. I look forward to seeing how it all comes together.
As we work together to make high school as valuable as possible for our students, your voice and influence are a key part of setting our state, and ultimately our students, up for success. Thank you for the collaborative work you are already leading and for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and seize this opportunity…together!
|
UPDATE: 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.
NEW: Submit Your Graduates on Data Exchange
The deadline to submit graduates on Data Exchange is quickly approaching. Please check your 2023 cohort on EdData to ensure that all students who graduated have a graduate status on the cohort report. Students who graduated and do not have a graduate status should be submitted now on Data Exchange. Graduates are submitted with a 2024 Enrollment Record and a Graduate Record. Students have until Saturday, September 30, 2023, to meet the graduation requirements to be a 2023 graduate. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
UPDATE: School Performance Report Requirements
In lieu of issuing letter grades for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, HEA 1591 requires IDOE to develop a school performance report for public and state accredited non-public schools to post on their websites by October 15, 2023. IDOE is also required to provide the General Assembly with future accountability recommendations by December 1, 2024.
The school performance reports will provide additional transparency around key data points, helping parents, families, and communities to better understand the work happening in our schools. Initial guidance was shared earlier this summer in this memo.
In response to this legislation, IDOE has developed a school performance report for each public and state accredited non-public school, which will be available in the coming weeks, via Indiana GPS. Additional guidance, including instructions for schools to embed the school performance report on their school website, will also be released at this time. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
REMINDER: 2023 Federal Accountability Now Available
2023 Federal Accountability will be released to all public schools in the accountability portal, today, Friday September 15, which will start the three week review period. Issues should be submitted through a data audit. Information regarding submitting a federal accountability audit can be found on Moodle in the school Accountability & Accreditation Community in the Federal Accountability System/Audit Information folder. The deadline to submit a Federal Accountability audit is Friday, October 6. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
REMINDER: Third-Party Accreditation Petition Window is Open
Accrediting organizations for K-12 schools that are interested in being recognized by the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) may submit a petition to IDOE for review. A petition must be submitted by November 30 prior to the school year for which the organization seeks recognition. Pursuant to statute, IDOE will provide a recommendation to SBOE within six months of receipt of a petition. Additional information and the third-party accreditation petition can be found on IDOE's Accreditation webpage. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: Access New SAT College Board Resources
IDOE and College Board have provided several updated resources to assist schools with the 2023-2024 SAT Suite of Assessments.
Access these resources and more via College Board’s Indiana Resources Google Drive. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment or College Board with any questions.
NEW: College Board Technical Readiness Webinar & PSAT/NMSQT Reminders
Register now for College Board’s Technical Readiness Webinar from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, September 27, to review technical requirements, application installation, and more for the PSAT/NMSQT administration. As schools prepare for fall PSAT/NMSQT testing from Tuesday, October 10, through Friday, October 27, staff should refer to College Board’s Best Practices Timeline for guidance. Testing on Monday, October 9, will not be available due to the federal holiday. Contact College Board with any questions.
REMINDER: IREAD-3 Grade Two Administration Opt-In Now Available
Schools may opt in to administer IREAD-3 to grade two students for the spring 2024 administration to provide an early indicator of reading ability. More information on this opportunity can be found here. Benefits to administering IREAD-3 to grade two students include reduced testing in grade three for students who pass and obtaining data to provide early reading support to students who need it. The deadline for schools to opt in is February 10, 2024. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year Top Three Finalists Announced
The Indiana Teacher of the Year Screening Committee is excited to announce the top three finalists for the 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year. The 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year will be announced in October. Details on the top three finalists can be found here. For more information on the Indiana Teacher of the Year program, contact Rebecca Estes.
NEW: Register to Attend Be A Teacher Day hosted by Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
Join FCCLA on Friday, November 3, for an exciting event that focuses on the Education and Training pathway. This event allows students interested in a future in education or even early childhood education to connect with numerous college programs from around the state. Students spend the day learning about how to go to college, pay for college, and where they might want to attend. Click here to learn more and to register. Contact Alyson McIntyre-Reiger with any questions.
REMINDER: Application Center Reporting - Educator Evaluation Rating (ER) 2023
The ER2023 data reporting guidance layout for educator staff employed in the 2022-2023 school year is posted to the Data Exchange Moodle Community under resources and in the Data Exchange Knowledge Hub at School Support Hub > Reporting Guides > Staff Employment > References > ER (Educator Rating) Data Layout 2023. ER data will be submitted via the STN Application Center. The Application Center reporting window is now open and will close Friday, October 27, at 4 p.m. ET. Contact IDOE's Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
REMINDER: Register Now for an Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace Webinar
Learn more about how you can use Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace to find great candidates for your open roles. This webinar will walk through the marketplace's newest offering, share tips about how to attract the best talent, and answer your questions.
- Tuesday, September 26, at 3 p.m. ET
Click here to register. Contact IDOE's Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
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.
NEW: Membership (ME) Reporting Status
This year, ME reporting for fall has moved to coincide with the pupil enrollment count. The official ME count date is Monday, October 2. As of Monday, September 18, there were more than 1,000,000 membership records ready to be certified. As ME counts are reported, there has been a significant decrease in data errors and conflicts and IDOE appreciates the proactive work of school data teams to resolve data quality issues and sort out conflicts resulting from multiple schools claiming the same student. Contact the Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Data Collection from Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers
For the 2023-2024 school year, CTE centers are expected to submit the same data to IDOE as was submitted in the 2022-2023 school year. CTE centers will do this via Data Exchange. This memo explains how the various types of CTE programs should be reporting data in concert with local high schools. As new expectations come online for course-based data including graduation plans, course enrollments, and course outcomes, it is even more critical that the entire student academic record comes directly to IDOE from the source data systems. IDOE and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) will continue to work together to improve the integration and streamlining of data collection from schools and CTE centers. Finally, IDOE has produced extensive documentation to support the accurate submission of required data elements. This documentation is available on the Knowledge Hub. Contact the IT helpdesk with any questions.
REMINDER: Cybersecurity for Education Toolkit 2.0 Now Available
Developed by the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity (IECC), with support from IDOE, the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS), the updated Cybersecurity for Education Toolkit 2.0 is filled with a wide range of cybersecurity best practices, resources and tips for everyone in your K-12 school community. Visit Indiana’s Cybersecurity Hub webpage for additional resources for inside and outside of the classroom.
REMINDER: CISA Offers Free Cybersecurity Resources for K-12 Schools
As shared in early February, CISA released “Partnership to Safeguard K-12 Organizations from Cybersecurity Threats,” with an accompanying toolkit to provide schools targeted resources to improve their cybersecurity posture. These resources call out very specific actions that schools can take to drastically reduce their cybersecurity risk. Schools are strongly encouraged to review and implement these recommendations as we begin the 2023-2024 school year. Also, the Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools link below provide access to many great resources that will assist schools as they implement the recommended actions.
REMINDER: Resolution of Conflicts for Membership 2023
Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, IDOE will no longer be brokering the resolution of conflicts after the certification date. If, after the certification date, schools are unable to resolve an outstanding conflict, schools may petition the State Board of Education for an adjustment in their average daily membership (ADM) count by providing the Board with evidence supporting an adjustment in their membership claim. The process for petitioning the Board will be made available this fall and communicated in Dr. Jenner’s Weekly Update. IDOE wants to make sure each school receives full funding for the students they are serving and completes the Membership count within two to three weeks of the count date. This process will help achieve both of these goals. See this memo for a more complete explanation of this change. Contact the Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: Vision Screening Resources
Vision screenings should be done for all students in the required grade levels. Schools are encouraged to send requests to teachers and families asking them to refer students in the non-mandatory grade levels for screening if they are suspected of having a visual deficit. Additional vision screening information can be found here. Contact Jolene Bracale with any questions.
REMINDER: School Resource Officer Reporting
By law, school corporations and charter schools are required to annually report the number of school resource officers employed. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) has opened the portal to report the data for the 2022-2023 school year. Data must be submitted by Friday, October 6. For safety, IDHS is required to keep the data confidential and not release it for public disclosure. See this link to report. Contact Rusty Goodpaster with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy – Fall Advanced Training
Registration is now available for the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy Fall Advanced Training. Training will take place Thursday, October 12, and Friday, October 13, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown (350 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis). School Safety Specialists can register for the training here. Contact Stephen Balko with any questions.
REMINDER: Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Survey for School Administrators
As required by Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 369, IDOE is conducting a statewide survey of public schools, charter schools, and state-accredited non-public schools to determine the number of AEDs and AED-related school policies currently in use. The survey will take less than five minutes to complete and should be filled out at the building level by the school administrator. The survey, which will close today, Friday, September 22, can be accessed by clicking here. Contact Stephen Balko with any questions.
REMINDER: Curricular Material Memo
Please read this memo regarding submission of the curricular material cost report which opens Monday, October 2, and closes Tuesday, October 31. The JotForm link to submit curricular material costs will be shared at a later date. Contact doetextbooks@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Indirect Cost Training
In partnership with Crowe, IDOE will host a virtual Indirect Cost Rate Training seminar at 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 28. To attend this seminar, please register here. Contact icr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: School Year 2023-2024 Average Daily Membership (ADM) Count Dates
The fall 2023 ADM count date of the eligible pupils enrolled in each school corporation and charter school is Monday, October 2. Please read this memo regarding the count date. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Membership and Enrollment
As the membership census date approaches on Monday, October 2, enrollment questions have increased. The memos can be found in Moodle Finance under Membership. Contact Cathy Danyluk with any questions.
NEW: Recipients of Next Generation School Improvement Grant Announced
The Office of School Support and Transformation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Next Generation School Improvement Grant, a federally funded initiative to transform educational opportunities in schools identified for additional support under Indiana’s approved ESSA plan. Grant recipients will receive one year’s worth of planning funds followed by funding for three years of implementation. More information can be found in the Next Generation School Improvement Grant Award Summary. 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: Advanced Placement (AP)/Cambridge International Exam Funding
IDOE continues to support Indiana students through AP and Cambridge International exam funding. The state’s biennial budget provides funding to cover the exam fees for AP and Cambridge International exams taken by Indiana students in grades nine through 12 who are enrolled in an accredited public or non-public school. A maximum of three exams per student, per year may be funded. Additional information can be found in this memo. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Guidance Letter for Final Year of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief – Homeless Children and Youth Funding (ARP-HCY)
The U.S. Department of Education released a guidance letter to chief state school officers on the final year of ARP-HCY that provides clarifications on allowable uses of funds for grantees including the use of prepaid debit or store cards, providing school of origin transportation, and short-term temporary housing in emergency situations. It also covers a range of ways ARP-HCY funds can be used to support school attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism among students experiencing homelessness, provide them with physical and mental health support, and facilitate connections to early childhood education and transitions to post-secondary education. All ARP-HCY grantees are encouraged to read this letter. Contact Mckinneyventopoc@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: 2023-2024 Alternative Education Program Renewal
Each IDOE approved alternative education program must complete the annual renewal application by Saturday, September 30, in order to remain an approved program, eligible for alternative education funding. Upon submission of the JotForm, a confirmation email with a copy of the responses will be sent to the superintendent. Contact studentpathways_alted@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Career Explorer - K-5 Career Exploration Dashboard and Clever Integration Available Now
The new Indiana Career Explorer grades K-5 career awareness and career exploration dashboard is now available, just in time for College Go Week. The K-5 User Guide and other helpful resources for Indiana Career Explorer can be found on IDOE’s College and Career Navigation webpage. Schools that utilize Clever can now access Indiana Career Explorer through single-sign on. To sign up via Clever or to onboard to Indiana Career Explorer, please fill out the request form. Contact INCE@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Family Friendly Schools 2024-2025
The 2024-2025 Family Friendly Schools Designation process is now open. Please review the Family Friendly Schools Handbook for additional information. The process for renewal has changed for the 2024-2025 school year. Please access the applications below:
Contact FamilyFriendlySchool@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Science of Reading Special Educator Training Series
IDOE is offering a three-part science of reading series designed for special education staff (e.g., special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals) and features both virtual and in-person opportunities on word recognition, language comprehension, multi-tiered systems of support, and more! Find more information and registration here; virtual sessions will be held in the Indiana Learning Lab. Participants are encouraged to register for all sessions. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: 2023-2024 Paraprofessional Grant Recipients
IDOE is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023-2024 Paraprofessional Grant. The list of recipients can be found in this memo. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with questions.
NEW: Upcoming No-Cost Training & Weekly Office Hours from the PATINS Project
Register for no-cost training from the PATINS Project. Visit the training calendar for all upcoming opportunities or view the Professional Development Guide for offerings by request. Meet with PATINS Project staff during virtual office hours to discuss Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), Assistive Technology (AT), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Find the full calendar and registration details on the PATINS Virtual Office Hours webpage. Complete IDOE’s Technical Assistance (TA) Request Form for additional support. Contact the PATINS Project with questions regarding training opportunities and IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with questions regarding TA.
NEW: Multilingual Learner Data Collection Walk-through and Office Hours
IDOE will hold office hours to answer questions regarding the Multilingual Learner report in Data Exchange (DEX-LM) on Tuesday, September 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon ET. Participants should view this recorded DEX-LM walk-through video and prepare questions prior to the meeting. No registration is required. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: 2023-2024 Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency (CoMP) Participation Registration Now Open
CoMP, Indiana’s Seal of Biliteracy, is awarded to seniors who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in English and another language. It is a great way to celebrate students’ achievement in world language and honor the home language of English learners and heritage speakers. School corporations or non-public schools intending on participating in Indiana’s CoMP must renew their registration annually. Those wishing to participate in the 2023-2024 school year must sign up using this form by March 31, 2024. This current list of participants shows which corporations or schools have already registered. See IDOE’s CoMP webpage or this webinar for more details. Local educational agencies (LEAs) can use this data template to track student progress and assist with data reporting at the end of the year. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Parent Survey Office Hours on Tuesday, September 26
Join IDOE and INSOURCE for office hours for parents and families on the importance of the annual parent survey for students with disabilities. Join the session on Tuesday, September 26, from noon to 1 p.m. ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with questions.
REMINDER: Join the Monthly English Learner (EL) Director Professional Learning Community (PLC)
IDOE offers a new PLC for new directors of EL programs during the 2023-2024 school year. This PLC offers the opportunity to network with other new directors, access timely program information, and bring questions. The next session will be Tuesday, September 26, at 9:30 a.m. ET. Additional information can be found on the EL PD Calendar. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant 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. For more information on presenters and session descriptions, view the Registration Brochure. Register here, as space is limited. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility or the IEP TA Center with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Academic Standards for K-12 Integrated STEM Frameworks Now Available
IDOE developed new frameworks in alignment with the streamlined 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for kindergarten through grade 12. Frameworks are designed to support educators in standards implementation, providing key areas of focus such as academic vocabulary, evidence statements, and instructional resources. Frameworks for additional grade levels and courses will become available in the coming weeks. View the new frameworks for K-12 Integrated STEM in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: K-12 Robotics Competition Grant Application Closes Friday, September 29
The K-12 Robotics Competition Grant is designed to support state-accredited schools in establishing or maintaining robotics competition programs in accordance with Indiana Code (IC) 20-20-45.5. Funded through appropriations by the Indiana General Assembly, this grant aligns with the mission of Indiana’s Priorities for STEM Education to provide Indiana students with engaging STEM learning experiences that prepare them for emerging careers and educational opportunities. Grant guidelines and the online application are located here, and applications are due Friday, September 29. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning grants team with any questions.
NEW: Artificial Intelligence-Powered Program Pilot Grant Awardees Announced
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning is pleased to announce the thirty-six recipients of the AI-Powered Platform Pilot Grant. This competitive grant opportunity will fund the subscription fees and professional development support for student high-dosage tutoring and reducing teacher workload through the use of an AI platform. For more information and to see the list of awardees, please see this memo. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with questions.
NEW: Dyslexia Survey and Focus Groups
IDOE’s Literacy Center seeks input regarding dyslexia programming guidance for schools, including screening, assessment, intervention, and resources. The Literacy Center is recruiting stakeholders (e.g., teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, community members) to participate in virtual focus groups and survey responses to inform future dyslexia programming guidance. Selected candidates for the focus groups will be notified in early November. Complete this Jotform to share your feedback and express your interest in the focus groups. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW: 2023-2024 Digital Learning Leadership Cadre Members
IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning continues to build a cadre of leadership charged with providing support to educators and corporations on topics important to virtual and blended learning environments. 15 members were selected for the 2023-2024 Digital Learning Leadership Cadre. View this memo for more details. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with questions.
NEW: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Blended Learning Session on Tuesday, September 26
Dr. Catlin Tucker, a renowned expert on blended learning strategies, will present the second of 13 sessions exclusive to Indiana educators on Tuesday, September 26, at 4 p.m. ET in the Indiana Learning Lab. This session will explore how blended learning can make implementing UDL more manageable. Register for the series here. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with questions.
NEW: Learning Lab Spotlight - Anderson Community Schools
The Indiana Learning Lab district admin feature allows school corporations to customize professional development (PD). Join Rissi Scott and Kasey Cope from Anderson Community Schools on Monday, September 25, at 4 p.m. ET to hear how Anderson uses this feature to house PD for their corporation and encourage use of the Indiana Learning Lab. Register for the session here. Contact the Office of Digital Learning with questions.
NEW: K-12 Robotics Competition Grant Question and Answer (Q&A) Session Today, Friday, September 22
Join IDOE’s Q&A session over the K-12 Robotics Competition Grant today, Friday, September 22, at 10 a.m. ET using this meeting link. If you are unable to attend today’s Q&A session, please review these frequently asked questions. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning grants team with any questions.
REMINDER: Competitive Science of Reading Grant Applications Due Friday, October 6
Applications for the 2023-2024 Competitive Science of Reading Grant are now open through 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, October 6. This competitive grant opportunity for schools is funded through appropriations by the Indiana General Assembly in HEA 1001. This grant is designed to support state-accredited schools that serve K-3 students and whose educators are interested in implementing evidence-based practices aligned with science of reading and Indiana’s Priorities for Early Literacy. More information regarding the Science of Reading Grant application process can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
REMINDER: 2022-2023 Early Intervention Grant (EIG) End-of-Year Report Form Coming Soon
Guidance regarding the 2022-2023 EIG and end-of-year report will be available in SAMS next Friday, September 29. Corporations and schools must encumber all distributed EIG funds by next Friday, September 29, and return any unused funds to IDOE by Friday, December 15. EIG was discontinued after the 2022-2023 school year since 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.
REMINDER: Summer of Learning 2024 Grant Application Now Open
The Summer of Learning Grant for 2024 is now available. This grant launches the eleventh year of this conference series. Public school corporations and public charter schools may apply to be one of several host sites throughout the state for the summer of 2024. School corporations must have completed the 2023 School Tech Plan Survey to be eligible to apply. For more information and to apply, see this memo. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: September PD with IDOE
September PD with IDOE continues Wednesday, September 27, at 4 p.m. ET with Fostering Early Literacy: The Role of Reading Aloud in Young Children’s Educational Journey – For Educators led by the Indiana State Library and IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness. View a full list of the September 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 directly and use your school email address to log in. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Preschool and Early Education Support PD Series
Join IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab for Partnering for Preschool: Nurturing Success in Early Education, a targeted learning series to support success in preschool and early education. The series kicks off Wednesday, October 4, from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET with a session on employer-sponsored childcare grant opportunities. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
REMINDER: Required Cursive Writing Survey Due Sunday, October 1
Pursuant to IC 20-19-3-30, IDOE shall conduct a statewide survey to determine whether and in which grade levels schools are providing cursive writing instruction. A designee from each public school, public charter school, and state accredited non-public school must complete this survey by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 1. If a school corporation maintains consistent cursive writing instruction across schools within the corporation, then only one submission for the corporation is required. Note that the results of this survey will be used for informational purposes only, and responses will not result in any punitive measures. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Imagination Library Family Resources
Each month, Imagination Library mails participating children ages birth to five a free book. To support a love of reading and increase enjoyment, these family resources provide music, activities, vocabulary, and connecting book and read-aloud ideas. To access these resources, register for a free account to the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
NEW: Microcredential Pilot Program
IDOE's Office of Title Grants and Support is building a Microcredential Program for experienced program administrators that will launch with a pilot group this fall.
What is it?
A no-cost program that allows program administrators to expand their current practices and participate in ongoing learning and reflection based on selected skills. Two optional checkpoints will be provided with TGS staff for any needed support. Participants will be provided professional growth plan (PGP) points, as well as a bonus point on the risk assessment.
Qualifications:
Minimum of three years of experience working with federal grants.
Ability to dedicate four to six hours of work per microcredential skill.
Interested in participating or want more information? Please complete the Microcredential Interest Survey by Friday, October 6.
NEW FROM THE DONOVAN GROUP & KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Public Relations Academy
Corporation and school administrators and communications directors are invited to the Public Relations Academy, an asynchronous course designed to help you engage in proactive communication and respond appropriately when managing a crisis situation. Register now, as the course kicks off next week. Contact Keep Indiana Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM U.S. COURTS: Bill of Rights Essay Contest
There's still time to participate in the 4th Annual Bill of Rights Art & Essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Courts. All Indiana students in grades five through 12 are encouraged to participate. Students can win up to $500, and teachers can win prizes, too. For this year's contest prompts, complete instructions, and a link to the online submission form, click here. Contest deadline is Sunday, October 29. Contact Mary Giorgio with any questions..
NEW FROM THE INSTIUTE OF WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE: Presentation Proposals Open for Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference
The Work-Based Learning Conference is a convening of Hoosier employers, educators and intermediaries regarding best practices and sharing of ideas toward growth and partnership within work-based learning. Presenters will receive free conference admission. Presentations should adhere to one of the following themes:
- Preparing students for success through course connection
- Career and Technical Education
- Incorporating skills-based hiring practices into work-based learning programs
- Employer engagement success
- Creating opportunities accessible to all
- Work-based learning research
The tentative date for the event is February 19, 2024. Submit a presentation proposal by Friday, October 27 at this link. Contact Work and Learn Indiana with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INSTIUTE OF WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE: Nominations Open for 18th Annual Impact Awards
Recognize work-based learning excellence in Indiana by nominating an employer, work-based learning supervisor, career development professional, innovative program or work-based learner. Winners will be chosen by a group of impartial judges. All nominees and winners will be celebrated at the Impact Awards Luncheon in February 2024. You may submit more than one nomination in any or all of the award categories. Submit a nomination here by Friday, November 10. Contact Work and Learn Indiana with any questions.
NEW FROM THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEACHER INVESTMENT PROGRAM (AP-TIP): Join Cohort 12
AP-TIP at the University of Notre Dame is now accepting applications from schools to join Cohort 12. For information about how AP-TIP supports professional development and stronger outcomes for students in AP math, science, and English courses across Indiana, visit the AP-TIP website. AP-TIP will begin reviewing applications on Friday, November 3. Contact AP-TIP with any questions.
NEW FROM AP-TIP: REMOTE TEACHER COLLABORATIVE
AP-TIP at the University of Notre Dame invites all AP math, science, and English teachers to attend the next Remote Teacher Collaborative on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. ET. These one-hour, online sessions offer a convenient space for teachers to share best practices and learn from AP leaders. Learn more, see the full schedule, and register online here. Contact AP-TIP with any questions.
NEW FROM THE CENTRAL INDIANA CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP (CICP): See Yourself In Summit
Join CICP and its five talent and industry sector initiatives for the See Yourself In Summit on Thursday, November 16, or Friday, November 17. Attendees will hear about Indiana’s industries of the future and learn from innovative teachers about how they are preparing students through unique programs and projects. Click here to register. Contact Raquel Bahamonde with any questions.
REMINDER FROM TEACHINDY: Teacher Appreciation Day Presented by the Indianapolis Colts and Meijer
The Indianapolis Colts and Meijer want to thank all Indiana educators for supporting our students! The Indianapolis Colts are offering specially discounted tickets to the Sunday, October 1, game and Meijer is offering one $20 gift card for each teacher to purchase supplies for their classroom! After you purchase your tickets, be sure to check out additional resources for educators from our friends at Teach Indy! Teach Indy is a local non-profit that works to support, retain, and develop outstanding educators in Indianapolis. View full details and buy tickets here. Contact Mark Carter with any questions.
|
