As you have likely heard and planned for by now, one month from today on Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will pass over the U.S., and this year, a large stretch of Indiana lies in the path of totality! While schools in different parts of the state will experience the total solar eclipse differently, all schools have an incredible opportunity to engage their students in learning about the eclipse and also the opportunity to integrate STEM lessons in a real-world context. One district leaning-in to this opportunity is Manchester Community Schools in Wabash County.
After all three of Manchester’s schools earned STEM Certification (an impressive feat in itself!), Manchester was connected with Bobby Russell, STEM education researcher and CEO of an educational, STEM-focused non-profit. With a mission to advance STEM education and make space research more accessible to students, Russell worked with Manchester students to launch their first stratospheric balloon in May 2023, and on April 8, they will launch their second mission in conjunction with the total solar eclipse! You can check out footage from their first launch here.
Though slightly outside the path of totality, Manchester has leveraged a partnership with Bluffton-Harrison MSD to bus students to a district inside the path of totality and launch the stratospheric balloon with students in 7th through 12th grades from both districts. Payloads attached to the balloon will contain student experiments, ultrasonic sensors, and data collection devices to measure temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure at the time of totality.
The coordination between Manchester and Bluffton is just one example of how schools are engaging students during this once-in-a-lifetime event. I know that others are also planning some really cool activities. I have heard from one school in particular where another state reached out to see if they could bus kids to their school to view the eclipse. If you have something fun and educational planned, we’d love to hear more!
For schools utilizing an eLearning day, IDOE’s digital learning team has been hard at work in partnership with NASA, to curate online resources for the eclipse. The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse collection in the Indiana Learning Lab has resources for elementary, middle, and high school audiences. There are also four professional development sessions, offered in partnership with Nextech, focused on high-quality instruction and eclipse learning opportunities aligned to Indiana’s Academic Standards.
IDOE’s Eclipse webpage contains additional NASA resources, including links to eye safety guidelines to help you and your students view the eclipse safely, as well as information from our state agency partners like the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and Visit Indiana. If you haven’t already, be sure to check it out!
Thank you, as always, for all that you do, and thank you for maximizing this STEM learning opportunity for students!
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Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Graduation Pathway Requirements
Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-32-4-1.5, the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) established the use of the ASVAB to meet graduation pathway requirements. Beginning with the 2025 graduation cohort, HEA 1635 requires students electing to use the ASVAB as a means for meeting graduation pathway requirements to also fill out the Military Enlistment Intent Form. Students graduating in the 2023 and 2024 cohorts who have earned a qualifying ASVAB score, as determined by SBOE, prior to July 1, 2023, will be “grandfathered” in and will be able to utilize previously earned ASVAB scores without a signed Military Enlistment Intent Form to fulfill their graduation pathway requirements. Learn more here. Contact IDOE's Student Pathways team with any questions.
Graduation Waiver Caps
As outlined in Indiana Code (IC) 20-26-13-10, for purposes of calculating the 2024 graduation rate, Indiana schools may not count more than 9% of their graduation cohort as graduating if utilizing postsecondary ready competency waivers. Schools exceeding the 9% cap will receive an adjusted state graduation rate. Postsecondary ready competency graduation waivers will be capped at 6% for the 2025 cohort and 3% for the 2026 cohort and beyond. In December, schools received a letter with their 2023 graduation rates along their post-secondary competency waiver rates. The letter provided a breakdown of how the 9% cap would impact their graduation rate, which should be considered when helping the class of 2024 meet their graduation requirements. Contact studentpathways@doe.in.gov with questions regarding postsecondary ready competency qualifications, or schoolaccountability@doe.in.gov with questions regarding the calculation of the graduation rate or the cohort report.
REMINDER: SAT School Day Primary Testing Window Open Through Friday, March 15
Schools must ensure that they are prepared to administer the SAT School Day to cohort 2025 students by Friday, March 15. Review these tasks to assist in your preparation:
- Conduct a digital readiness check to familiarize students and staff with the testing platform.
- Add test staff and rooms to Test Day Toolkit (TDTK), finalize organization of testing rooms, and verify accommodations. Schools should assemble test day packets for proctors by room, including a roster and student sign-in tickets.
- Ensure review and distribution of the appropriate SAT School Day test manuals.
- Provide students with the link to the SAT Student Guide, allowing them to review the test format and guidelines before the test administration.
Detailed frequently asked questions can be found here, and other preparation materials can be found in College Board’s Indiana SAT School Day Google Drive. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with participation and policy questions and College Board with any technical questions.
REMINDER: SAT School Day & IREAD-3 Monitoring
IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment will conduct virtual and onsite monitoring visits during the SAT School Day and IREAD-3 Spring 2024 testing windows from Monday, March 4, through Friday, March 15, to ensure fidelity of test administration and test security requirements. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: IREAD-3 Testing Window Open Through Friday, March 15
The IREAD-3 Spring 2024 testing window is open 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 today, 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: LVIS360 Update
Educators applying for initial licenses or renewals in the next few months should log in to the updated LVIS360 system soon to link their LVIS legacy licensure data to their LVIS360 account. The new system requires users to create an Access Indiana account prior to accessing LVIS360. The Office of Educator Licensing recommends getting acquainted with the new login process and linking your new LVIS360 login to your legacy account now before the busy season for licensing starts in May. Administrators, please encourage your teachers to log in soon. Access the user portal here. Contact IDOE's Office of Educator Licensing with any questions.
NEW: Nominate an Educator for Teacher of the Year
The Indiana Teacher of the Year Program works to inspire, rejuvenate, and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. Local schools are encouraged to participate in an annual selection process and local Teacher(s) of the Year are encouraged to complete the state application process by Friday, July 5. More Information on the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year selection process can be found here. Contact intoy@doe.in.gov with any questions.
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.
REMINDER: 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.
REMINDER: Indiana Teacher of the Year Speaker Request
The Office of Educator Talent invites you to request the Indiana Teacher of the Year to be a guest speaker at your next event. Take advantage of the opportunity to help celebrate teaching and uplift the profession. Requests may be submitted here. For more information on the Indiana Teacher of the Year program, contact intoy@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: Indiana STEM Educator Expansion Program (I-STEM) Registration Now Available
IDOE is partnering 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 but hold a bachelor’s degree, to become licensed to teach in a STEM content area. Eligible STEM content areas are life science, chemistry, earth/space science, physics, physical science, computer science, technology education, and mathematics. Learn more and register here. Contact the Office of Educator Talent 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.
NEW: Indiana Summer EBT Informational Sessions for Schools
IDOE is hosting three informational sessions regarding the new Summer EBT program in Indiana. The sessions listed below are intended for school personnel. Each session will provide the same information with time for questions.
NEW: ESSER III Subrecipient Contracts
In order to maximize Indiana’s federal relief dollars to best support student learning, IDOE will be reviewing all subrecipient awards funded using ESSER III. As a reminder, all ESSER III funds must be encumbered by Monday, September 30. Any subrecipient that has not spent what would reasonably be expected at this time may have their award re-evaluated and could see a reduction in funding. In these instances, IDOE has already communicated with both the project contact person and business office staff to ask that a reimbursement request be submitted as soon as possible that will bring project reimbursements up to date and accurately reflect the work completed thus far. Follow-up communications will be provided as needed. Please note that the ESSER III LEA formula grants will not be impacted. Contact Tracy Brown or Derek Deuth with any questions.
REMINDER: Fall 2024 Average Daily Membership (ADM) Estimate
School corporations and charter schools may submit a fall ADM estimate from Wednesday, March 6, through Friday, March 22. For more details, please read this memo. 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: Summer School Estimates
The window to submit the Estimated Cost Report for Summer School 2024 closes Monday, April 1. 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: 2023 Federal Accountability Notification Memos
All notification memos for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools have been sent to schools that were identified based on 2023 assessment data. Contact IDOE's Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions regarding status classification.
REMINDER: Next Generation School Improvement Grant (Next Gen SIG)
Applications for the Next Gen SIG are now open. This is a competitive multi-year, multi-million dollar grant, and must include a well-developed vision and intentional strategic plan to innovate or transform the educational experience for your students and their community. Eligibility for this grant extends to all schools currently identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) under Indiana’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan. Interested school officials can read more about the grant program in this memo. A list of eligible schools can be found here. The NextGen SIG application will remain open through Friday, May 24. Please review the scoring rubric that will be used to evaluate the application before filling out the application. 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.
NEW: High Ability Teacher Professional Development Opportunity
Dr. Ginny Burney and Dr. Kristie Speirs-Neumeister, experts in the field of high ability education, are offering professional development for teachers of high ability students on Tuesday, May 7, and Wednesday, May 8, at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Learn more about the Tuesday sessions here and the Wednesday sessions here. High Ability Program (HAP) Grant funds may be used for these workshops. Contact IDOE's High Ability team with any questions.
REMINDER: 2024-2025 Locally Created Pathway (LCP) Application Open
The application for new LCPs is open for any local educational agencies (LEAs) who seek approval for a new LCP beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Additional information about LCPs can be found on the Graduation Pathways webpage. Contact IDOE's Student Pathways team with any questions.
REMINDER: 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 2024-2025 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 Tuesday, October 1. The McKinney-Vento subgrant contract dates are October 1 through September 30 each year. 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: Indiana IEP Update - Education Savings Account (ESA) Service Plans
A new section for ESA Service Plans within Indiana IEP allows users to indicate if a student attends a non-accredited school and participates in an ESA program. The Accommodations section was revised to allow case conference committees to select Non-Accredited School Accommodations for ESA for these specific students. Learn more here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Part B Verification - FY 2025 Federal Grant
LEAs will soon receive an email from IDOE regarding all counts for the federal funding formula and determination of proportionate share as the Part B data verification process for the FY 2024 federal grant begins. LEAs may verify these counts and request any changes at this time prior to performing grant calculations. Any parentally-placed non-public students identified but not receiving services must be reported at this time. Emails will include a verification template that will be submitted via IDOE’s Grant Management platform. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Science of Reading Experts Explain Series Continues
Join IDOE and The Reading League Indiana from noon to 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 21, for Knowledge Acquisition and Transformation Using Text Structures, with Dr. Kay Wijekumar. The Science of Reading: Experts Explain series runs throughout this school year and features nationally-renowned reading experts to support schools in shifting instruction toward evidence-based reading and writing instruction. Register for the sessions and view previous sessions on-demand in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW: 2024 Digital Learning Grant Application Closes Friday, March 15
Applications for the 2024 Digital Learning Grant close on 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.
NEW: March Professional Development (PD) with IDOE - User Request Addition
March PD with IDOE continue on Wednesday, March 13, with The Importance of Read Alouds for Middle Schoolers led by IDOE Literacy Specialist, Kat Holton and Sixth Grade English Teacher from Clinton Central School Corporation, Jessica Brovont. View a full list of March sessions here. To register for workshops or view on demand sessions, create a free 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.
NEW: Virtual Learning Professional Development Series Continues Thursday, March 14
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, March 14, at 4 p.m. ET, with What Pre-Service Teachers Need to Know About Blended and Virtual Learning by Dr. Cecil Short of Emporia State University. Registration for this session is available now. Previous sessions are available in an Indiana Learning Lab collection. 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 additional questions.
NEW: Week of the Young Child® (WOYC) Activity and Resource Guide
WOYC is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) designed to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. WOYC serves as a time to reaffirm our commitment to the importance of child experience in all types of early environments and promote critical foundational learning. This resource and activity guide, designed for both educators and families, has been developed to support this commitment. Celebrate WOYC with children and families Saturday, April 6, through Friday, April 12. Educators and families can also register for daily sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab as part of this annual celebration. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with additional questions.
REMINDER: Designing for Impact Next Level Computer Science Grant Application Now Available
IDOE launched the Designing for Impact Next Level Computer Science Grant to eligible entities providing PreK-12 professional development in computer science. Review the grant guidelines here and complete the online application by Friday, March 29, at noon ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning 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. 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 FROM THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (IDOH): Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Connections Newsletter
IDOH’s Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education has released the latest issue of Connections Newsletter, which contains information on transitions for students who are deaf and hard of hearing. The Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a statewide resource with a multidisciplinary team available for technical assistance to children, families, and professionals from Part C to Part B transitions to school exit. Contact the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing with any questions.
NEW FROM THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (FSSA): Head Start Needs Assessment Survey
FSSA's Indiana Head Start State Collaboration Office seeks feedback on community partner knowledge of and relationships with local Head Start programs. Submit this survey to inform future work to build stronger relationships that support Hoosier families and children. Contact Tonia Carriger, Indiana Head Start State Collaboration Director, with any questions.
NEW FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Building New Teacher Academies that Work
This two-day workshop, led by Lindsey Acton, will help school and district leaders develop a year-long New Teacher Academy Program that serves new teachers and optimizes their ability to thrive in their buildings. Contact Keep Indiana Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Work-Based Learning Workshop
Work-Based Learning Workshop participants will have the in-person opportunity to hear from practitioners and have guided time to develop a plan for moving work-based learning forward in their school or district. Contact Keep Indiana Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES CURRICULUM STUDY (BSCS) SCIENCE LEARNING: Three-Dimensional Assessment Pilot Test
BSCS is recruiting middle school science teachers to pilot test assessments with students in April or May as a project to investigate the validity of three-dimensional assessment tasks. Learn more about this opportunity and the launch of the new assessment website here. Contact BSCS Science Learning with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA ARTS COMMISSION (IAC): Summer Institute for Creative Teaching
Research shows arts integration can be a powerful way to connect with students through creative approaches to learning. IAC, in partnership with IDOE, is hosting a three-day workshop to assist teachers in implementing creativity-centered innovation in the classroom. Through hands-on experiences and collaboration with peers, participants will learn effective and innovative teaching strategies. The Summer Institute for Creative Teaching will take place from Wednesday, July 10, through Friday, July 12, in Lebanon, IN. Learn more and register here.
NEW FROM THE IDOH: Updated Respiratory Virus Guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated and simplified its respiratory virus precautions. These easy-to-use recommendations can help prevent the spread of illness. Screening tools for schools and parents are available below:
NEW FROM MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS (TFT) FOUNDATION: Free Books For Title I Schools Through the TFT Literacy Program
The TFT Literacy Program is a year-round initiative to support children in need across our Nation. The Program offers our Nation’s most precious resource – our children – the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively. Title I schools and/or school districts can request books for specific reading levels which will be shipped directly to schools. There is no cost to schools due to the significant generosity of the American public. Note that last year TFT reached the book request limit within the first two weeks. Learn more here and submit the Title I School Book Request Form here by Tuesday, April 30. Contact TFT with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT: Judges Speakers Bureau
The Indiana Supreme Court has a Judges Speakers Bureau with contact information for nearly 300 judicial officers. These volunteer judges are willing to speak to K-12 classrooms in their respective counties about courts and the law. They can assist in promoting an understanding of the purpose and structure of Indiana’s judicial system. Please use the list for any of your judicial speaking requests and share with other educators as they plan for the rest of the school year.
REMINDER 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.
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