As we will not have a weekly newsletter next week, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
While there are certainly holidays and special days throughout the year that I enjoy, as I’ve gotten older, Thanksgiving Day has become my favorite day of the year. For me it represents all of my favorite things in one day — faith, family, food, and fun.
Like many of you, I usually spend the day surrounded by family, as well as a few close friends who are like family. We have a typical Thanksgiving Day routine that I can almost predict by the minute. We kick-off the day with coffee and catch-up time in the morning while the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade plays in the background, followed by our annual family “Turkey Trot” (working off some calories in preparation for the big dinner). When we return home, some of us head straight for the TV to watch football, while others disappear to take a long nap. And we end the day gathered together once more for a pitch-in dinner.
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While I love the family time and the delicious food (sweet potato casserole is my favorite!), Thanksgiving Day also encourages us to pause and reflect on the many blessings in our lives. Each year at this time, I make a list, and year after year, I come back to the same things… faith, family, friends, our student-focused educators and partners (at the state and local levels), as well as the opportunity that each of us has to make this world better by positively impacting students.
We each have a significant purpose in life, both within our own homes, as well as through serving others. My hope for you is that either on Thanksgiving Day or sometime over this long weekend you are able to have some quiet time to reflect and count your blessings…you are certainly one of mine. Thank you for the difference you make each and every day on Indiana students and your local community. Happy Thanksgiving!
There will be no edition of Dr. Jenner's Weekly Update next week. The next edition of the newsletter will be sent on Friday, December 1.
NEW: ILEARN Test Administrator’s Manual (TAM) Now Available
The 2023-2024 ILEARN TAM is now available on the Indiana Assessment Portal to provide an overview of roles before, during, and after ILEARN testing. This resource combines the previously-separated ILEARN 3-8, Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA), and U.S. Government ECA manuals into one source. Practice tests and scripts for ILEARN assessments are now available to prepare for this year’s testing. Contact the Indiana Assessment Help Desk with any questions.
UPDATE: Register for Upcoming College Board Training Opportunities
School staff involved in PSAT and SAT School Day Testing can register for College Board training opportunities to support test administration and post-testing data use. View workshops and webinars here. Live workshops to support PSAT data use and test preparation for the SAT School Day around the state throughout November. Recordings will be available for webinars following the live event. Contact College Board with any questions.
REMINDER: Educator Preparation Provider Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant
Applications for the Educator Preparation Provider Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant are open through 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, December 15. This competitive grant opportunity for educator preparation providers is funded through appropriations by the Indiana General Assembly in the state budget. The 2023-2024 EPP Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant is designed to support Indiana-approved educator preparation providers with early childhood, elementary, and/or special education educator licensure programs to provide professional development to preservice teachers who will not be prepared by July 1, 2025, to pass the required Literacy Endorsement assessment. EPPs will be required to utilize IDOE approved professional development vendors. More information regarding the Educator Preparation Provider Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant application process can be found here. IDOE will host a webinar today, Friday, November 17, at 11 a.m. ET to review the grant guidance and answer questions. Contact Scott Bogan or Renee Baratta with any questions.
NEW: School Year 2023-2024 Teacher Appreciation Grant Allocations
School year 2023-2024 Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) allocations can be found here. Recipients can anticipate distribution of funds before Friday, December 1. Contact TAG@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Register for Registered Teacher Apprenticeships (RTAPs) Webinar
IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship will host a webinar on Monday, November 27, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. ET. The webinar will include an in depth introduction and discussion of RTAPs. Click here to register. Contact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent 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 May 26, 2024. 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: Indiana STEM Educator Expansion Program (I-STEM) Registration Now Available
IDOE is pleased to announce a new partnership with Educational Service Centers (ESCs) of Indiana to strengthen Indiana’s STEM educator pipeline. The I-STEM partnership 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. The 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 to learn more and register. ontact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
REMINDER: More Cybersecurity Resources
Cybersecurity Awareness Month may be over, but the threats to schools from cyber criminals never lets up. Here are three incredible free resources to improve your planning and posture while ensuring that you will qualify for federal funds through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP):
NEW: November Tuition Support Payment
The updated Form 54 Tuition Support Monthly Distribution Report is now available. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: Summer School Distribution
IDOE's Office of School Finance has determined the reimbursement of summer school costs based on the 2023 Summer School Final Cost Reports submitted by eligible school corporations and charter schools. The payment for 2023 summer school programs will occur on Monday, November 20. Additional information and the detailed list of distributions can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: Membership Conflict Petition Process
Please read this memo regarding the membership conflict petition process. Friday, December 15, is the deadline for a school corporation or charter school to file a petition. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: Resources for Military-Connected Children with Disabilities
The families of military-connected children with disabilities may experience additional challenges of frequent separation from support networks and disruptions in the continuity of early intervention services and special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
This Letter on Military-Connected Children with Disabilities from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs Director Valerie C. Williams to state special education leaders emphasized the need to support these children and their families through the numerous educational and life transitions they may face. Access these resources to help support educators, parents, families, and others to meet the unique needs of these children and ensure the timely provision of required early intervention, special education, and related services. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Dual Language (DL) Office Hours - Monitoring Target Language Acquisition
IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education will host DL Office Hours on Tuesday, December 5, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET. Join to explore the Indiana Dual Language Proficiency Targets, review what each proficiency level looks and sounds like, and gain access to resources for formative language assessment throughout the year. Visit the Indiana English Learner (EL) Professional Development Opportunities Calendar for more information and the meeting link. No registration is required. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Virtual EL Leadership Meeting on Thursday, December 7
IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education will host the winter EL Leadership Meeting virtually from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, December 7. This interactive meeting is intended for Indiana K-12 EL leaders and administrators and will cover a variety of topics, including EL exit criteria, secondary resources, WIDA ACCESS updates, and more. Registration is not required. Visit the Indiana EL Professional Development Opportunities Calendar for the meeting link. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: 2022-2023 Early Intervention Grant (EIG) Final Report Due Friday, December 15
Corporations and schools that received EIG funds must review the 2022-2023 EIG Final Report Guidance and submit the final report to verify their use of EIG funds by Friday, December 15. This grant was discontinued after the 2022-2023 school year, as it was not included in the biennial budget passed during the 2023 legislative session. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Virtual Learning Professional Development (PD) Series Continues Thursday, November 30
Join IDOE for Virtual Learning Essentials, a series of presentations from experts, researchers, and authors, featuring deep dives into essential elements of virtual learning. This series continues Thursday, November 30, at 4 p.m. ET with 5 Strategies to Improve Engagement in Virtual Learning with Lindy Hockenbary from InTECHgrated PD. Register for this session here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Application Now Available for U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools’ Nomination
IDOE is pleased to release the application for nomination to the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) program for 2023. The ED-GRS program is a federal recognition award for school sustainability. Interested corporations and schools are encouraged to review this memo for additional information and submit their applications by Friday, December 15. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
REMINDER: Register for Future-Focused Learning Series School Year Support Workshops
The Future-Focused Learning Series from IDOE and the Education Service Centers of Indiana (ESCI) will host five live professional development workshops in regions across the state to support the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards, Early Learning Standards, and Integrated STEM Standards implementation. Register for these full-day, School Year Support Workshops now via the Future-Focused Learning Series webpage. Contact ESCI with any questions.
REMINDER: PD Opportunity for Supporting Student Literacy in the Secondary Space
This live PD opportunity will be held on Wednesday, November 29, from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET. During this session, participants will receive instructional strategies related to assessing, developing, and supporting literacy skills across content areas in the secondary school setting. Administrators, instructional coaches, and educators across all disciplines are encouraged to register for this informative session. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Title Con 2024-Call for Proposals
The Title Grants and Support team is excited to announce Title Con 2024. The event will be held on April 10 and 11, 2024, in Plainfield. Title Con 2024 will bring together hundreds of Indiana educators and school personnel from across the state to learn and build stronger federal programs for student growth and achievement. Title Con seeks dynamic presentations on topics related to Title grants and federal funding that align with the theme of “The Student Behind the Funding.” Please review the call for proposal form for more information. All submissions are due by Friday, January 5. Contact Caitlin Laurino with any questions.
NEW FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Register for the Project EL-PACT Workshop
Educators across the state are invited to register for Elevating Literacy Practice Among Communities of Teachers (Project EL-PACT) to gain knowledge and resources to create social literacy projects and practices and utilize groups and conversations to make literacy engaging and accessible to all students. Contact Keep Indiana Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM TEACH INDY: Register now for the 2024 TEACH Indy Educators Conference
Join the Teach Indy Team at the 2024 Teach Indy Educators Conference at the Ivy Tech Community College Culinary and Conference Center on Saturday, March 2. Join us to enhance teachers’ expertise, share best practices, amplify the educator’s voice, and seize the opportunity to learn and grow. All current and aspiring educators are welcome! Register here. Contact info@teachindynow.org with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF INDIANA (ACEC): Civil Engineering Presentations for National Engineers Week
Each year, ACEC Indiana coordinates an effort to organize volunteers in the civil engineering profession to speak at elementary, middle, and high schools across Indiana during National Engineers Week (February 18 through 24, 2024). “EWeek” is dedicated to promoting engineering as a potential career in young students by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. Teachers may request up to five presentations/sessions to host an engineer in the classroom and ACEC will accommodate at least one from every teacher (potentially more, based on volunteer availability). Learn more at ACEC’s website and request presentations/sessions using this link.
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