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For many of our schools across the state, winter break is just around the corner. I hope that this holiday season, you take the time to rest and find JOY.
Our team looks forward to welcoming you back in 2024 with the next edition of the weekly newsletter coming on Friday, January 5.
Please check out my holiday video to you, below:
NEW: 2023 Graduation Rate Publication Timeline
IDOE is scheduled to lift the embargo of the 2023 graduation rates on Friday, December 29. The 2023 cohort report on EdData currently reflects the changes made as a result of the all graduation rate audits and re-reviews. If you submitted a graduation rate audit or a graduation rate audit re-review request, and have not received an email with the results, please contact School Accountability immediately. The 2023 graduation rates on EdData are considered final and will remain embargoed through December 29, 2023. Contact the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE's) Office of School Accountability with any questions.
NEW: 2023-2024 Petition to Seek Performance Based Accreditation Submission Window
The submission window for non-public schools to submit a petition for performance-based state accreditation will open on Tuesday, January 2, and end on Tuesday, April 30. A petition for accreditation must be completed and submitted to IDOE prior to the school year for which accreditation would begin. The petition for performance-based state accreditation may be found here. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: Non-Public Schools Interested in Applying for the National Blue Ribbon Award
Assessment percentiles that can be used to assist non-public schools in the application process for the 2024 Blue Ribbon awards are available in the School Accountability and Accreditation Moodle community (Awards > Blue Ribbon) using enrollment key “AccountabilityCommunity.” The Blue Ribbon award application process for non-public schools is administered through the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), and the deadline for application is Friday, January 12. Contact IDOE's Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: Register for January College Board Training Opportunities
College Board invites administrators, counselors, teachers, and school staff to attend the Official SAT Practice Webinar with Khan Academy on Thursday, January 18. The webinar will review the new digital SAT course that provides students with results from their Bluebook practice tests and free educator content aligned to the digital SAT. View more information on training opportunities here, and contact College Board with any questions.
NEW: ILEARN 3-8 Initial Paper Material Orders Generate Thursday, January 25
Corporations and accredited non-public schools must confirm paper testing accommodations for regular and large print test books via Indiana IEP, or their student information system (SIS) for students with Section 504 Plans, for students who require this in their formal plan. This data will populate initial orders via IDOE’s data exchange process. Any paper testing accommodations not indicated must be placed during the additional order window in April. Note that accommodated paper materials are not applicable to the ILEARN Biology ECA Winter 2024 or the ILEARN U.S. Government ECA Spring 2024 administrations, as these assessments are online only. Refer to the ILEARN Milestones for these deadlines, and contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: I AM Initial Accommodated Materials Orders Generate Friday, December 15
Initial orders for accommodated materials will be generated today, Friday, December 15, via Indiana IEP. Any accommodated materials not indicated must be placed during the additional order window beginning Monday, March 25. Braille orders can be placed within the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) through Friday, January 12. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with additional questions.
REMINDER: ILEARN Checkpoint Pilot Opt-In Opportunity Now Available
IDOE invites schools to opt in to the ILEARN Checkpoints Pilot for the 2024-2025 school year. Schools can sign up to pilot the three checkpoints included in the ILEARN through-year design, but will still participate in the same statewide summative assessment. Refer to the following resources for an overview of the opportunity, reasons for participating, and how to sign up. IDOE will host four live question and answer (Q&A) sessions in December 2023 and January 2024 to answer questions over the pilot.
Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions regarding this opportunity.
REMINDER: Naturalization Examination Requirements
Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-30-5-7(d), students must take the naturalization examination from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during the student’s high school U.S. government course. Corporations must report data from this testing to IDOE annually by June 30 for the previous school year. More information on this requirement can be found in this memo. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with additional questions.
REMINDER: Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant
Applications for the EPP Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant will close at 11:59 p.m. ET today, 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 EPP Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Grant application process can be found in this guidance and FAQ. Contact Scott Bogan or Renee Baratta with any questions.
NEW: Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Webinar Recording Now Available
The video and slide deck from "An Introduction to Teacher Apprenticeships" hosted by IDOE and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) are now available. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with questions.
NEW: Nominations Open for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
Established by Congress in 1983, PAEMST is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government to educators teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to grades seven through 12. Each year the President may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers. More information about the process can be found here. Nominations must be submitted by Monday, January 8. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with 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.
NEW: Form 9 Financial Reporting for January to June 2024
Beginning in January 2024, the chart of accounts will be modified to streamline the transfer reports completed in step four of Form 9 data submissions. Instead of using accounts 60100 and 5200 to indicate every fund transfer, school corporations and charter schools will need to indicate the funds involved in the transfer by using expenditure and receipt accounts specific to the fund transfers. Please read this memo regarding the changes to fund transfer account numbers. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: December Tuition Support Payment Memo
Please read this memo regarding updates to the December tuition support payment. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Membership Conflict Petition Process
Please read this memo regarding the membership conflict petition process. Today, 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.
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 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 Flexibility Guide for Indiana's K-12 Schools. Applications are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis through Friday, April 5, 2024. Contact Georgia Watson with any questions.
NEW: McKinney-Vento Office Hours for New Liaisons
Office hours for new McKinney-Vento liaisons are held on the first and third Thursday of each month. The office hours on the third Thursday of each month will be focused on new liaisons to receive extended McKinney-Vento professional development. Please see the office hours schedule here. Please contact the McKinney-Vento team with questions.
REMINDER: 2023-2024 Student Pathways Monthly Webinars
The Student Pathways team are hosting monthly webinars for alternative education, graduation pathways, high ability, and McKinney-Vento throughout the 2023-2024 school year. Monthly webinar dates and links can be found here. No registration is required. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
REMINDER: High Ability Program (HAP) Grant Final Report
The 2022-2023 (fiscal year 2023) HAP Final Report is due by Sunday, December 31. All schools that received fiscal year 2023 high ability funds must complete this report. Contact the High Ability team with any questions.
REMINDER: 2023-2024 High Ability Office Hours
High ability office hours for the 2023-2024 school year. High ability office hours are open to anyone that has questions or concerns regarding high ability programming. Please see the schedule here. Contact the High Ability team with any questions.
NEW: Indicator 13 Transition Individualized Education Program (IEP) Compliance Checklist
An updated Indiana Secondary Transition IEP Compliance Checklist is now available on IDOE’s Special Education webpage. This resource serves to assist staff in developing compliant, quality Transition IEPs for students to align with federal requirements. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education monitoring team with any questions.
NEW: Indicator 4 Suspension and Expulsion Stakeholder Input Convening
IDOE seeks stakeholder input regarding proposed changes to the state’s process for identifying potential Indicator 4 noncompliance. Stakeholders may submit their interest in participating in a two-part, virtual meeting held in January and February. Daytime and evening sessions will be available to accommodate schedules. IDOE staff will contact applicants directly. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education monitoring team with any questions.
REMINDER: Feedback on Reporting Preschool Special Education Outcomes
IDOE's Office of Special Education is seeking feedback on the way preschool special education outcomes are gathered and reported on. If you are a teacher, administrator, data manager or other professional who has administered, documented, and/or reported on ISPROUT or ISTAR-KR, please complete this Google form to help the department gather feedback on its current and former practices. The feedback form will be open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 31. Contact IDOE's Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Request Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Part B Grant Reimbursements by Today, Friday, December 15
All FY 2022 and ARP Part B grants closed on Saturday, September 30. The deadline to claim reimbursements for encumbered expenditures in approved FY 2022 Part B 611, 619, ARP 611, and ARP 619 grant budgets is today, Friday, December 15. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education grants team with additional questions.
UPDATE: Indiana Early Literacy Achievement Grant
IDOE’s Early Literacy Achievement Grant was established to reward schools and teachers for improving students’ foundational reading skills. Grant allocations for school corporations and charter schools are available here. Recipients can anticipate distribution of funds by Wednesday, December 27. Refer to this FAQ for additional information. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW: Correlation Guides for 2023 Indiana Academic Standards (IAS) Now Available
IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning developed new resources to illustrate correlations between the 2023 and 2020 IAS for English/language arts, mathematics, computer science, and social studies (including the grade six civics course). 2022 IAS correlation guides for science are also available for reference. All correlation guides are available on content-specific pages from IDOE’s Indiana Academic Standards webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: FAQs for the Grade Six Civics Course
Access the updated Grade Six Civics Course FAQ resource for information addressing changes following the 2023 IAS streamlining process. This resource aligns with 2023 IAS and correlation guides, which can be found on IDOE’s Indiana Academic Standards webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: Social Studies Frameworks for Grades K-2 and Grade Six Civics Course Now Available
Access the 2023 Social Studies Frameworks for kindergarten through grade two and the grade six civics course within the Indiana Learning Lab to support standards implementation through key areas of focus (e.g., academic vocabulary, clarification statements, and instructional resources). Additional social studies frameworks will become available in the coming weeks. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: Virtual Learning Professional Development (PD) Series
Virtual Learning Essentials, a series of presentations from experts, researchers, and authors, features deep dives into essential elements of virtual learning. View the first four sessions on-demand now in the Indiana Learning Lab:
This series continues Thursday, January 4, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET with Making Digital Materials Accessible to Every Student by Lindy Hockenbary from InTECHgrated Professional Development. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions
REMINDER: U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools’ (ED-GRS) Nomination Due Today, Friday, December 15
IDOE is pleased to release the application for nomination to the 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 today, Friday, December 15. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
REMINDER: 2022-2023 Early Intervention Grant (EIG) Final Report and Unused Funds Due Today, Friday, December 15
Corporations and schools that received EIG funds must submit the final report and return any unspent funds by today, Friday, December 15. Please review the 2022-2023 EIG Final Report Guidance for details. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with 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 Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11, 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 questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (CHE): Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship Application is Now Available
CHE is accepting applications for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship and the Next Generation Hoosier Minority Educators Scholarship. High-achieving high school and college students who plan to teach in Indiana for at least five years can receive up to $10,000 per year ($40,000 total). Current college students who apply must be able to use the scholarship for two full academic years. Apply through ScholarTrack by Wednesday, January 31. Please contact the CHE for more information.
NEW FROM PUBLIC CONSULTING GROUP (PCG): Indiana IEP Virtual Office Hours
Join PCG for monthly office hours on the third Wednesday of each month to review topics relevant to the Indiana IEP system (e.g., system updates, potential issues, frequent questions). Registration is required and sessions will also be recorded for those unable to attend. Contact PCG’s Xelpha Profancik with any questions. Register for the associated sessions below:
NEW FROM NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE CAMP (NYSCamp): Application for 2024 Session Now Open
Applications are now available for students in the classes of 2024 and 2025 to represent Indiana at the 2024 NYSCamp from Saturday, June 29, to Saturday, July 20. Hosted in Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia since 1963, the NYSCamp is a residential science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) program designed to honor and challenge some of the nation’s rising STEAM leaders, provide them with opportunities to engage with STEAM professionals, and participate in exciting outdoor activities. The NYSCamp is offered to selected participants at no cost—including meals, housing, and transportation—so that talented students may attend regardless of their financial ability. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 29. Contact NYSCamp Director Kiona Y. Meade with questions.
NEW FROM NEXTECH: Indiana Computer Science Professional Development (CSPD) Week
Nextech, in partnership with IDOE and the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA), is proud to announce the application window for Indiana CSPDWeek is now open. Indiana K-12 educators teaching computer science content this school year are invited to apply to participate in intensive professional development from Monday, June 10, through Thursday, June 14. Professional development spans all stages of computer science teachers from beginning to advanced. Don’t pass up this opportunity to engage in high-quality professional development from a variety of national providers. Contact Stephanie Zircher with additional questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (IDOH): Free COVID-19 Tests Available From the U.S. Department of Education
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Education has recently sent a letter offering free COVID-19 tests to schools. Schools interested in obtaining these free COVID-19 tests may register here. Participation is voluntary and it is a local decision on how schools disseminate these tests. It is recommended that tests be made available in the main office for pick-up by interested parents or staff for use at home. More information regarding this program can be found here.
REMINDER FROM THE NATIONAL POSTSECONDARY STRATEGY INSTITUTE (NPSI): 2023 Power of Hope Awards
NPSI is excited to announce the launch of our 2023 Power of Hope Awards in collaboration with Common App and Michelle Obama's Reach Higher Initiative. This award honors school districts that engage school counselors as postsecondary leaders, tracking FAFSA and delivering postsecondary interventions in collaboration with district administrators. The goal of these awards is to support the vision that all students can achieve their educational and career goals. Districts can apply or be nominated here.
REMINDER FROM WORK AND LEARN INDIANA: The 2024 Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference
The Indiana Work-Based Learning Conference, featuring the 18th Annual Impact Awards, will be on February 22, 2024 at the Embassy Suites in Noblesville. The event is a convening of best practices and sharing of ideas toward growth and partnership within workforce and education. Register here or contact Sally Saydshoev for more information.
REMINDER FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE: AHEAD Human Resources Information Session
The Institute for Workforce Excellence, a 501c-3 subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with IDOE will be hosting an AHEAD Human Resources representative to address employer questions related to work-based learning workers compensation and liability. During the virtual information sessions, AHEAD Human Resources will address questions and concerns from the audience while also providing an overview of services offered. The final session will take place on Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. ET. Register here or contact Sally Saydshoev for more information.
REMINDER FROM TEACH INDY: Register Now for the 2024 Teach Indy Educators Conference
The 2024 Teach Indy Educators Conference will be 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 and contact Teach Indy with questions.
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