Just this past weekend, one of my 14 year old twin daughters asked if she could go through old pictures on my phone from when she and her sister were little. She was making some sort of collage, and she knows that I rarely delete old pictures, so my phone was a good place to start. While looking through years of memories, she came across a video from when they were younger…and really into STEM.
In this particular video, they were experimenting with a STEM Kit for Girls (a recent birthday gift). Specifically, they were creating a zipline to move a doll from one place to another. They would tie the string to different pieces of furniture or lamps…or really whatever they could find…to see how fast their STEM girl could go on the zipline (which obviously depended on the steepness of the slope, which they quickly learned). You can check out one of the videos to see it in action.
Not too long after this video was taken, and while still in this “STEM phase,” they asked to watch the movie Hidden Figures. If you aren’t familiar, it’s a movie about three Black women who played a pivotal role in the early days of NASA. My girls had questions here and there, but I could see the gears turning in their minds…it really got them thinking about what they, too, can achieve some day!
As parents and educators, we do the best we can to provide our kids the greatest experiences and opportunities. Part of lighting their fire of purpose means empowering them to dream big and consider all the possibilities for what could be ahead. As young girls, Hidden Figures was particularly inspiring because it was not just about trailblazers in STEM, but about three Black women who paved the way for future young scientists and mathematicians. When elevating success stories for our young people, the person who is achieving success can be just as important as the success itself.
As we should throughout the year (it happens to be Black History Month), it is important that we elevate and celebrate the success stories of a variety of people, including those who our students may not be familiar with, but who could truly inspire them to consider a future beyond their wildest dreams.
Today, as we head into the final week of Black History Month, I wanted to highlight and celebrate another trailblazer in STEM…Dr. Mae Jemison. A product of the midwest, Dr. Jemison spent her formative years in Chicago where she was first introduced to science at a young age and knew very early on that someday, she wanted to travel to space.
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Throughout her K-12 years, she found a passion for anthropology, archaeology, and astronomy, and following her graduation from high school at the age of 16, Dr. Jemison attended Stanford University where she continued to cultivate her love of engineering and biomedical research. After graduating from medical school in 1981, Dr. Jemison worked with the Peace Corps, the National Institute of Health, as well as the Centers for Disease Control, where she helped to develop the hepatitis B vaccine. She later applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to become an astronaut. Her dream as a young girl, realized.
Of the 2,000 applicants in 1987, Dr. Jemison was selected as one of 15 to train as a mission specialist with NASA, making her the first Black woman to be admitted to the NASA astronaut training program. By fall of 1989, Dr. Jemison received her first mission to join the STS-47 crew as a mission specialist, and in 1992, she and six other astronauts launched their mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavor, making her the first Black woman in space. Dr. Jemison and her team made 127 orbits around the Earth and landed safely back at Kennedy Space Center just eight days later.
Today, Dr. Jemison leads the 100 Year Starship project through the U.S. Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with the goal to ensure human travel to another star is possible within the next 100 years. And in April, she will be right here in Indiana to join in the festivities surrounding the Total Solar Eclipse.
Dr. Mae Jemison is just one of many incredible examples of what a child can do when they are encouraged to dream big…and who have access to an education that supports those dreams. Thank you to Dr. Jemison for the contributions she has made to our nation and for the inspiration she provides to all students that they, too, can achieve great things.
And as always thank you for all you do for Indiana students!
REMINDER: 2024-2025 Petition to Seek Performance-Based State Accreditation Submission Window
The submission window for non-public schools to submit a petition for performance-based state accreditation closes 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. This petition only applies to non-accredited non-public schools that want to apply for performance based state accreditation. Schools that already have performance-based or freeway accreditation do not need to reapply. Contact IDOE's Office of School Accountability with any questions or to submit the completed petition.
NEW: SAT School Day Testing Window Opens Monday, March 4
The SAT School Day Spring 2024 test window is open Monday, March 4, through Friday, March 15. Cohort 2025 students must participate in the assessment, and all schools are expected to test during the primary testing window. Refer to the SAT 2023-2024 Milestones and SAT School Day Test Window Checklist for an overview of testing tasks. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: IREAD-3 Testing Window Opens Monday, March 4
The IREAD-3 Spring 2024 testing window is open Monday, March 4, through Friday, March 15. A few reminders:
- Ensure all students have participated in the practice test prior to operational testing.
- Additional orders for paper testing materials close Friday, March 8, for new or updated student accommodations.
- Ensure student data is accurate within the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE), including the Tested Grade setting for grade four and five students.
- Ensure that test administration materials are prepared, including the IREAD-3 Test Administrator’s Manual (TAM) and accommodated scripts, as needed.
Refer to the IREAD-3 2023-2024 Milestones for an overview of tasks. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: Centralized Reporting System (CRS) User Guide Now Available
The CRS User Guide is now available for ILEARN, IREAD-3, and I AM assessments. This guide provides detailed instructions for assessment personnel on how to navigate, set up, and export reports and results within CRS. Details on how to use additional features such as filters and rosters are also included. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: WIDA ACCESS Testing Window Closes Next Friday, March 1
The WIDA ACCESS annual testing window closes next Friday, March 1. Schools must ensure that 100% of identified English learners (ELs) have participated, as federally required. As of Thursday, February 22, over 94% of scheduled online test sessions were complete. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) Winter 2024 Testing Window
The ILEARN Biology ECA Winter 2024 testing window closes today, Friday, February 23. Students must participate in the assessment upon completion of the high school biology course. Refer to the ILEARN 2023-2024 Milestones and ILEARN Biology ECA Test Window Checklist for more information. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: Nominations Open for the Indiana History Teacher of the Year Award
In partnership with IDOE, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History awards the Indiana History Teacher of the Year title each year in its effort to promote the study and love of American history. State winners are then considered for the National History Teacher of the Year award. For more information about the nomination process and to nominate an Indiana history teacher, click here. Nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, April 30. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with any questions.
NEW: Nominations Open for Distinguished Educators Recognition
IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent is looking for confidential nominations of teachers who represent the very best educators in Indiana. These emerging leaders must have between five and 15 years of experience, demonstrate leadership beyond the classroom, and positively impact school culture and student achievement. Superintendents and principals may submit recommendations here. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, May 24. 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. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with any questions or to submit an educator recognition opportunity not yet listed.
REMINDER: Applications for Spanish Visiting Teacher Program
Details for the 2024-2025 school year Spanish Visiting Teacher Program can be found here, or to learn more about the responsibilities of being a host school please click here. Districts can express interest by completing the application form here. Priority will be given to applications completed by Sunday, March 31. Contact Anne Marie Milligan with any questions.
NEW: Refreshed LINK Portal Launches Monday, February 26
A new version of the LINK Portal will be launched on Monday, February 26, with a new interface and the ability to save your favorite applications so they appear immediately after logging in. The system will still allow users to use their school corporation Google or Microsoft credentials to access IDOE applications and resources. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: Free Cybersecurity Resources for Schools
The following cybersecurity tools are available to public schools at no cost through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) in Indiana.
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CrowdStrike Falcon Complete licenses for servers and faculty/staff workstations are being offered at no cost until January 31, 2026. Indicate your intent to participate here by Wednesday, March 13.
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Indiana Cybertrack, a partnership between Purdue University and Indiana University, provides free cybersecurity assessments for all schools.
- Access the KnowBe4 Diamond-level security awareness training in the School Cybersecurity Moodle Community by filling out the KnowBe4 request form. These licenses are available at no cost through November 2027.
- Coming soon: Udemy licenses for both mid-level cybersecurity training and non-cybersecurity professional development, available for free to all public schools. Please check here for updates on the application form.
Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: E-Rate Match for Fiber Construction Now Available
IDOE is once again participating in the E-Rate Match Program for special fiber construction projects. Available to any Indiana public school for fiscal year (FY) 2024 (Monday, July 1, to June 30, 2025), the program increases the discount rate for special construction charges for high-speed broadband that meets the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) long-term connectivity targets up to an additional 10% to match the state funding on a one-to-one dollar basis. Full application details are available here. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: National Cybersecurity Review (NCSR) Now Open Through February
A great way to assess the cybersecurity posture of your school/school corporation is to complete the free annual NCSR from Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). As your team completes the survey, your information is secure and is only used to provide nationwide statistics and trending in aggregate. By completing the NCSR, you also have the option to review next steps at no cost during a meeting with a representative from MS-ISAC. You can also measure growth as you complete it each year. For a quick overview of the process, read this document. Completing the NCSR is a mandatory service as part of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: 2024 Eclipse Guidance
As was shared in a memo on October 13, 2023, schools across Indiana will experience the eclipse differently, depending on their geographic location, with portions of central and southern Indiana in the path of totality. Any determinations regarding instruction on the day of the eclipse will be a local decision, and local planning should be occurring now. Some schools will be in-person and holding special events this day, others will have virtual learning, and others have already extended spring break so they are not in session on this day. As a reminder, per Indiana Code (IC) 20 -24.2-4-2, schools are required to meet a minimum instructional time threshold, and waivers will not be granted due to the eclipse. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Building Physical Safety and Security with any questions.
REMINDER: Spring 2024 Membership Petition Process
Please read this memo regarding the spring 2024 membership petition process. The deadline to file a petition is Wednesday, February 28. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Form 9 Financial Reporting for January to June 2024
Please read this memo regarding Form 9 accounting changes for January to June 2024. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Honors Expenditure Tracking Memo
Please read this memo regarding 2023-2024 Honors expenditure requirements. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Summer School Estimates
The window to submit the Estimated Cost Report for Summer School 2024 is now open. Please read this memo for information regarding eligible courses, important dates, and financial provisions. Detailed information about the summer school programs and how to report is included in this presentation. Contact Teresa Hemmerle or Alex Waite with any questions.
REMINDER: Next Generation School Improvement Grant (Next Gen SIG)
Next Gen SIG is a competitive grant to aid in school transformation. Eligibility for this grant extends to all schools currently identified as Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) and Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) under Indiana’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan. Interested school officials can read more about the grant program in this memo and a list of eligible schools can be found here. The Next Gen SIG application and rubric will be available in the coming weeks. Applications will open in March and finalists will be announced mid-summer. Contact IDOE's Office of School Support and Transformation 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. Contact Georgia Watson with any questions.
REMINDER: Bus Evacuation Drills
Per IC 20-27-3-6.5, 575 IAC 1-10-1, and 575 IAC 1-10-2, the second bus evacuation drill is due soon; it must be completed within the first 45 school days of each semester. When that drill is completed, please report it through DOE Online. Contact Michael LaRocco with any questions
NEW: 2024-2025 Locally Created Pathway (LCP) Application Opens Next Friday, March 1
The application for new locally created pathways will open Friday, March 1, for any school districts seeking approval for a new LCP beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. On Thursday, February 29, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET, the Student Pathways team will hold a Graduation Pathways webinar focused on LCPs. Click here to join the webinar. No pre-registration is required. Contact IDOE's Student Pathways team with any questions.
NEW: High Ability Grant Application Early Release
The Student Pathways & Opportunities High Ability team would like to announce the early release of the fiscal year (FY) 2025 High Ability Program Grant. The FY 2025 High Ability Program Grant application will be open to all public and public charter LEAs on Monday, April 15, and will close at the end of the day on Wednesday, May 1. The early release will expedite approvals and allow LEAs to request awarded funding sooner. Attend the High Ability webinars or join High Ability Office Hours for more information. Contact IDOE's High Ability team with any questions.
REMINDER: Early Release of the 2024-2025 McKinney-Vento Subgrant Application
The Student Pathways & Opportunities McKinney-Vento team would like to announce the early release of the 2024-25 McKinney-Vento Subgrant Application. The 2024-2025 McKinney-Vento Subgrant Application will be open to all LEAs on Friday, March 15, and will close at the end of the day on Friday, April 26. The McKinney-Vento subgrant application will have an early release to assist LEAs with homeless children and youth program planning for the 2024-2025 school year. The early release will also assist to ensure that LEAs receive their subgrant funding award by the contract start date of October 1, 2024. The McKinney-Vento subgrant contract dates are October 1 through September 30 annually. Please contact McKinney-Vento team for support.
REMINDER: Diploma Seals Order Form
The online form to order diploma seals for the 2024 Cohort is now live. Please see this memo for additional information. Contact IDOE's Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
NEW: U.S. Department of Education (ED) Transition Planning
ED's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services published a new post about transition planning to prepare students for success, including a transition guide and information for promoting sustained engagement in state vocational rehabilitation services programs. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Education Scholarship Account (ESA) Program Students in Indiana IEP
Indiana IEP has been updated to accommodate students who do not attend an accredited Indiana school but will still participate in statewide assessments as required by involvement in the ESA program. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: EL Exit Criteria Change Proposal Session
IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education will host a virtual session to review the Exit Criteria Change Proposal that underwent public comment earlier this school year on Wednesday, February 28, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET. This session will be recorded. Upon anticipated approval by ED, the proposal would apply to the 2023-2024 ACCESS results. Visit the Indiana EL Professional Development Opportunities Calendar for the meeting link, and contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: New EL Director Professional Learning Community (PLC) March Session
Join the PLC for new directors of EL programs on Tuesday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. ET. This is a place to network with other stakeholders, access timely program information, and bring questions. This meeting will feature Carly Spina, author and multilingual education specialist. Visit the Indiana EL Professional Development Opportunities Calendar for the meeting link, and contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: Blended Learning Series with Dr. Catlin Tucker
Dr. Catlin Tucker, a renowned expert on blended learning strategies, will present the last of her 13 sessions exclusive to Indiana educators on Monday, February 26, at 4 p.m. ET, in the Indiana Learning Lab. Blended Learning Models and Ideas for Traditionally “Hands On” Subjects will explore ways to bring blended learning into new spaces. Previous sessions are available in the Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Foundational Literacy for Families Series
Join IDOE in the Indiana Learning Lab for family sessions on how to support children’s development of skills related to early communication on Tuesday, March 12, early reading on Tuesday, March 19, and early writing on Tuesday, March 26. All sessions will be held from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
REMINDER: Register for Digital Learning Coach Camp on Friday, March 8
Digital learning coaches are invited to attend the Digital Learning Coach Camp on Friday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET at Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC). This professional learning opportunity, specifically for those in educational technology coaching and leadership roles, is a round-table style, one-day conference. This event is free, and participants will break at lunch. Register for this opportunity here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 2024 Digital Learning Grant Application Open
Applications for the 2024 Digital Learning Grant are now open through Friday, March 15, at 5 p.m. ET. This competitive grant opportunity is available to all public school corporations and charter schools who have completed the 2023 School Tech Plan Survey. Refer to this memo for more detailed information regarding grant priorities and important dates. To view previous grant projects and implementations, view our Digital Learning Grant Success Stories session in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: February Professional Development (PD) with IDOE - Eclipse Edition
PD with IDOE for the month of February focuses on supporting educators as they prepare for the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Join Nextech on Wednesday, February 28, at 4 p.m. ET, for Investigating the Eclipse with Computer Science (6-8). View a full list of February 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: Licensed vs. Exempt Childcare Programs for School Staff Webinar
Join IDOE and Marci Derado, Director of Early Learning at Westfield Washington Schools, to learn more about the choice to become a fully licensed childcare center or using the allowable exemption when offering onsite childcare for district employees. Explore the difference between the two paths, as well as how to get started on either on Tuesday, March 19, 1 to 2 p.m.ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with additional questions.
REMINDER: 2024 Digital Learning Grant Application Open
Applications for the 2024 Digital Learning Grant are now open through Friday, March 15, at 5 p.m. ET. This competitive grant opportunity is available to all public school corporations and charter schools who have completed the 2023 School Tech Plan Survey. Refer to this memo for more detailed information regarding grant priorities and important dates. To view previous grant projects and implementations, view our Digital Learning Grant Success Stories session in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Registration Open for Early Learning Standards Workshop
Join the Future-Focused Learning Series for the Early Learning workshop on Thursday, March 7, to explore the 2023 Early Learning Standards. This full-day workshop will include hands-on activities demonstrating the standards in action and a chance to talk with other early childhood providers. Register for free here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with additional questions.
NEW: Quality Counts II Request for Applications
The Charter School Programs team is working to gauge interest in the upcoming Quality Counts II request for applications. If your local education agency (LEA) is interested in applying for Quality Counts II, please complete this survey by Friday, March 15. Contact IDOE's Charter School Programs team with any questions.
NEW: Monthly Coffee Chats
Join the Title Grants and Support team for monthly Coffee Chats on the last Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. ET. February's topic will cover program evaluation for federal grant programs. Please join us here on Thursday, February 29. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions or suggestions for future topics.
REMINDER: TitleCon 2024 Vendor Interest Form
The Vendor Interest Form for TitleCon 2024 is live. There is no fee associated with being a vendor. A limited number of vendor spaces are available. Vendor requests will not be accepted after Friday, March 1. Contact Katie Lehman with any questions.
REMINDER: Register for TitleCon 2024
TitleCon 2024 will be on Wednesday, April 10, and Thursday, April 11, in Plainfield. This year, there is an optional pre-conference on Tuesday, April 9, to provide an overview of the new eCivis grants management system. The morning and afternoon sessions of the pre-conference will be identical. Please register here. We will share further information regarding the conference app and hotel blocks in the coming weeks. Contact Gabriela Escoto with any questions.
NEW: PATINS Project Assistive Technology (AT) Series
Join the PATINS Project for AT in IEP: Making It Stick on Wednesday, February 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET, for the last of this five-part training series on how to navigate collaboration, funding, transition, and more. Contact the PATINS Project with any questions.
NEW FROM ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEACHER INVESTMENT PROGRAM (AP-TIP): AP Summer Institute
The 2024 AP Summer Institute sponsored by AP-TIP will be from Tuesday, July 9, through Friday, July 12, in Indianapolis. Training in a wide array of subjects across disciplines will be offered. AP Capstone sessions, Research, Seminar, and Seminar ELA, will be available at this location, as well. Learn more about this College Board-endorsed event and register here.
REMINDER FROM AP-TIP: 2024 Mock Exam
AP-TIP will host the 2024 Mock Exam in Indianapolis on Thursday, March 7, Friday, March 8, and Friday, April 12. The Mock Exam is AP-TIP’s highest-rated professional event and provides full-length practice exams (using previously released AP Exams from the College Board) to implement training on scoring in a format similar to an AP Reading. The Mock Exam reflects the full workload of the AP Exam, giving students an idea of the pacing and endurance required for the AP Exam, offering each student practice with testing mechanics, and providing teachers with information on student strengths and areas of growth. Registration is now open. Learn more, review the dates and logistics by subject, and register here.
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