While the official Fourth of July holiday was yesterday, for many, the celebrations will continue throughout the weekend!
As we celebrate our country’s 248th birthday, I am reminded of the importance of sharing our nation’s history and patriotism with future generations. We are the land of the free, the home of the brave, and the land of opportunity…and we each play an important part in preserving this for the future.
There are some moments throughout the year and places in our country that can especially spark that patriotism and help to remind us that even through the divisiveness and tough moments that we have as a country, we are all connected as Americans and part of something greater than ourselves. Here are just a few examples…
Before the game starts… A highlight before a ballgame, a marching band competition, or even the Indy 500 is when the bleachers, which are full of chattering people, turn to silence in a show of respect for our country. As people remove their hats and some put their hands on their hearts for the singing of our National Anthem…it gives me cold chills every time, and even more so when a young person is the one singing.
Traveling to state or national parks, historic places, or seeing our beautiful countryside… As my family has traveled to places like Yellowstone National Park, Charlestown State Park (the Rose Island trail is one of my favorites), and Mount Vernon (George Washington’s home) in recent years, I’ve been incredibly grateful to be able to share that beauty and history with my girls. They also visited Washington D.C. a few weeks ago for their 8th grade school trip, and Jane (one of my twin daughters) shared that her favorite part was visiting Arlington National Cemetery. You likely have places around our country as well that make you feel especially thankful to live in America.
And of course, the festivities of Fourth of July… From the Main Street parades, to the community fireworks display, to the Regatta boat race (yes, I live in Madison, IN!), we are serious about celebrating America’s birthday and our collective past, present, and future!
Our country is not short on challenges and disagreements…but at the end of the day, we are ALL Americans. Let’s take a moment this weekend to celebrate together and to remember all who continue to serve our great nation and defend our freedoms.
Happy Fourth of July (weekend)!
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REMINDER: Implementation Guidance for Newly Enacted Education Laws
Following the close of each legislative session, IDOE immediately begins working to implement newly-enacted legislation impacting K-12 education, which includes compiling guidance for educators. Guidance is a product of robust cross-agency collaboration and partnership with countless stakeholders. Any future updates will be added to this comprehensive guidance document and shared via the weekly newsletter.
REMINDER: ILEARN Spring 2024 Final Results Now Available
Final results are now available in CRS for students who participated in the ILEARN U.S. Government End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) and the ILEARN 3-8 assessment this spring. Final results reflect any changes due to rescore requests. ILEARN Science scores will be released in fall 2024 following the July standard-setting meeting. As a reminder, public posting of school or corporation results is prohibited until after the State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, July 17.
Refer to the Indiana Interpretive Guide for Statewide Assessments and CRS User Guide on the Indiana Assessment Portal for more information on viewing and interpreting results. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: PSAT/NMSQT Order Guidance
Schools may now place orders for the fall 2024 PSAT/NMSQT administration within the SAT Suite Ordering and Registration (SSOR) System. Schools will notice that a cost is indicated in SSOR when completing orders. College Board will invoice this displayed amount to IDOE, and schools/corporations will not be billed for grade 10 and/or 11 students participating in this PSAT/NMSQT administration. More information can be found in this memo. Contact College Board with questions regarding ordering PSAT/NMSQT materials and IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with policy and participation questions.
REMINDER: 2024 Cohort Locking Soon
The July certification in DEX is the final opportunity to fix any (non-graduate) students in the 2024 cohort via a data entry in DEX. Please check your 2024 cohort report for accuracy:
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Ensure that all students that have graduated have a Graduate status on the cohort report.
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Pay special attention to any students with an Unknown Cohort status. The Unknown Cohort status is a dropout status and counts against the graduation rate. Many Unknown Cohort statuses can be fixed by the school/corporation via data entries. Specific details about the causes of the Unknown Cohort status and what to do about it can be found in the Unknown Cohort Status webinar and the accompanying slides found on Moodle. The case-sensitive enrollment key for the Moodle community is AccountabilityCommunity.
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Review the graduation rates on the cohort report. The Official State Grad Rate is the state graduation rate and accounts for the Alternate Diploma and waiver caps.
Contact IDOE’s Office of Accountability with any questions.
NEW: Approval Process for 80 Hours of Professional Development to Support Early Literacy Endorsement Requirements and Praxis Voucher Request
Educators who plan to add Indiana’s Early Literacy Endorsement can follow the process outlined here to submit a request to verify completion of an approved 80 hours of professional development and request a Praxis Voucher. Contact IDOE's Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW: Staff Performance Evaluation Plan Submission
Senate Enrolled Act 486 (2023) requires each school corporation to develop or adopt a plan for annual performance evaluations for each certificate employee. Staff performance evaluation plans must be submitted via JotForm by Friday, September 13. For more information, click here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
NEW: Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) Policy Submission Required
Information regarding the TAG Policy Submission can be found here. Local educational agencies (including charter and virtual charter schools) must submit the TAG policy for approval via JotForm by Friday, September 13, to be eligible to receive TAG funding. Contact tag@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace Webinar
Learn more about using the Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace to find great candidates for open roles. This webinar will walk through the marketplace offering, share tips about how to attract the best talent, and answer your questions. Register below:
- Tuesday, July 9, at 3 p.m. ET
- Thursday, July 18, at noon ET
- Thursday, August 1, at 4 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, August 7, at 11 a.m. ET
- Monday, August 19, at 2 p.m. ET
Contact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
UPDATE: Indiana Teacher of the Year Applications Due Today, Friday, July 5
The Indiana Teacher of the Year Program inspires, rejuvenates, and celebrates 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 today, Friday, July 5. Find more information on the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year selection process here. Contact intoy@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Early Literacy Endorsement Professional Development Verification
Verified programs that can be used to support the 80 hours of professional development needed for the early literacy endorsement can be found on this document. Training providers (including school districts) may request approval to certify which requirements are met through participation in the training by submitting this form with supporting evidence. The list of approved programs will be updated regularly. Contact IDOE's Literacy Center with any questions.
REMINDER: Flexible Keys to Literacy Professional Development Options Coming Soon
Educators who hold an Indiana professional educator license and are interested in asynchronous training offered through Keys to Literacy should review this memo. Registration will open in July for the new, flexible options. Registration for upcoming fall and spring live training options can be found here. Contact IDOE's Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW: July Tuition Support Payments
Please read this memo regarding the July tuition support payment. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
NEW: Form 9 Submission
Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-40-2-6, school corporations must submit their Form 9 financial data for January to June 2024 by Wednesday, July 31. To ensure that IDOE's Office of School Finance has adequate time to review your submission before finalizing the period, steps one through eight should be completed well before the deadline. The submission window is open as of Monday, July 1. The Form 9 application can be accessed via the Link Portal. Once in the portal, the financial administrator will navigate to the “Form 9 Financial Data” tile. Form 9 submission guidance can be found in Moodle including the Form 9 Overview. Contact Form9@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: School Technology Advancement Account (STAA) Applications
School corporations may file an application for an STAA through Friday, July 12. The STAA application can be completed online and must be completed in one sitting. A sample application and certification page can be found in Moodle. Contact commonschoolfund@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Free Sources of Strength (SoS) Curriculum for Kindergarten Through Sixth Grade
Through funding provided by the Mental Health Awareness Training grant, IDOE has partnered with SoS to provide 20 kindergarten through sixth grade schools with the SoS curriculum. Each school that applies for the curriculum must have two staff members available for the virtual curriculum coach training on Thursday, September 12, and Friday, September 13, from 9:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET. Each coach must attend both days. Schools can complete the application for the curriculum here. Upon review of the completed application, both staff members will be sent a link to register for the curriculum training. Once both coaches are registered for the training, the curriculum will be sent to the school. Please allow three to five days for shipping. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, August 23, and the training registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 31. Contact Jason Murrey with any questions.
NEW: Special Education Technical Assistance (TA) Updates
IDOE’s Office of Special Education provides updates regarding support for areas of special education improvement as well as state partner changes for assistive technology and accessible educational materials via this memo. Special education directors, professionals, and providers are encouraged to review this guidance for updated TA support. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Registration Available - New Special Educator Director Training
The Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE) and IDOE will host the 2024-2025 New Special Education Director Training on Friday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET at White Oak Professional Development Center in Avon. This training serves as an introduction to IDOE policies and resources for directors/administrators of special education in their first or second year, providing a unique networking and professional development opportunity for special education professionals. More information and registration can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Accommodations Toolkit from the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
NCEO’s Accommodations Toolkit provides summaries of academic research literature and policy analyses on accommodations for students with disabilities. The toolkit is organized by accommodation (e.g., tactile graphics, braille, test breaks, extended time, etc.), with a research fact sheet for each. Although resources within the toolkit are designed to support state agencies, information may also be helpful to special education professionals and case conference committees (CCCs). Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: FY 2023 Part B Grant Proportionate Share Release (Waiver) Request Forms Now Available
The FY 2023 Part B 611 & 619 grant proportionate share release request forms are now available in the Office of Special Education Moodle Community. Completed requests with supporting documentation must be submitted to IDOE’s Office of Special Education Part B Grants team by Friday, August 30. Following the acceptance of the release form, a Part B grant budget modification request must be completed by Monday, September 16, to transfer funds across budget scopes. Download the release request form and instructions from the Office of Special Education Moodle Community. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with questions.
REMINDER: Maintenance of Effort (MOE) for Part B Funding Due Monday, July 15
The window to submit Year 3 Compliance/Eligibility and Year 4 Eligibility Only for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding is now open. MOE workbooks are due within IDOE’s grant management system by Monday, July 15. Local educational agencies (LEAs) without an approved MOE should contact their assigned fiscal specialist to ensure this deadline is met. FY24 12-1-22 child counts have been placed in the Office of Special Education Moodle Community (i.e., Fiscal → Part B Grants for Special Education → FY24 Grant Information → Maintenance of Effort -Year 3). LEAs should contact their fiscal specialist with questions; fiscal specialists can contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions.
REMINDER: 2025 General Education Provision Act (GEPA) Forms Due Wednesday, July 31
To comply with Section 427 of GEPA, local educational agencies (LEAs) requesting Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B funds must submit an approved GEPA statement of compliance by Wednesday, July 31. View IDOE’s training video within the Office of Special Education Moodle Community for additional support. All questions must be answered on the GEPA form. Once completed upload the form to the grant management system. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with additional questions.
REMINDER: English Learner (EL) Exit Criteria Changes Approved & Upcoming Training
The U.S. Department of Education has approved Indiana’s state Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan amendment to adjust Indiana’s criteria for students to exit EL status beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The change is summarized here. IDOE’s EL team will release a memo and accompanying implementation guidance in the coming weeks. Join the virtual training on Wednesday, July 10, at 10 a.m. ET for additional details. The training will be recorded, and additional training opportunities will be coming soon. Details on the training can be found on the EL PD Opportunities Calendar. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with questions.
REMINDER: Summer IDOE WIDA Standards Workshops
IDOE will facilitate workshops on applying the WIDA English Language Development Standards to planning and instruction to best support academic language development of multilingual learners. This morning workshop will be repeated and offered in two locations: Monday, July 15, at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, or Monday, July 22, at School City of Hammond. Educators, administrators, and paraprofessionals at all levels of WIDA Standards experience are encouraged to attend. Registration was required by Friday, June 21. Please contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with questions.
REMINDER: Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 High Ability Cash Requests
Cash requests for the FY 2025 (2024-2025) High Ability Program Grant will be accepted until June 1, 2025. All relevant forms and deadlines may be found in the High Ability Grant Toolkit. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Alternative Education Summer Office Hours
Alternative Education Summer Office Hours are open to anyone with questions or concerns regarding the alternative education reporting and grant process, Indiana Code regarding alternative education, alternative education program requirements, and how to best serve students. Click below to join:
Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
REMINDER: 3E Grant Reimbursement Requests
All 3E Grantees should be regularly submitting reimbursement requests to IDOE. Reimbursement forms should be completed, signed by the preparer, and submitted to DOECares@doe.in.gov on the 1st and 15th of each month. Grantees must keep receipts, invoices, staff time and effort logs, and all other relevant documentation of your grant expenses on file locally, in the case of an audit. These documents do not have to be submitted to IDOE when seeking reimbursement. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
REMINDER: American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund for Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) Remaining Balance
The third anniversary of the $800M set-aside from ARP-HCY is approaching. Funds appropriated under the ARP-HCY I & II will be available for obligation until Monday, September 30. The deadline for drawdown of the obligated ARP-HCY I & II funds is 120 days, or January 30, 2025 (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.344(b)). Local educational agencies (LEAs) must report expenditures monthly in order for IDOE to maintain accurate reporting of dollars spent and dollars available. An amendment request must be submitted to IDOE for any modifications to the approved budget in order to expend funds. LEAs must receive approval of their amendment from IDOE before the implementation of any changes. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
NEW: 2024-2025 STEM Integration Grant Award Notification
IDOE is pleased to announce the 54 awardees for the 2024-2025 STEM Integration Grant. This highly-competitive grant is designed to enhance student success by accelerating students’ exposure to and learning in the STEM disciplines in alignment with Indiana’s Priorities for STEM Education and the implementation of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards. For more information and the list of recipients, please view this memo. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: AI-Supported Alternative Education Grant Recipients Announced
IDOE is pleased to announce the 24 recipients of the AI-Supported Alternative Education Grant. This grant funds subscription fees and professional development necessary to implement student tutoring systems across all content areas, assisting educators with data to support interventions for students enrolled in approved alternative education schools and programs. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Fall 2024 Opt-In Early Learning Assessment System - Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) and ISPROUT
As part of Indiana’s new system to measure and support kindergarten readiness, Indiana’s KRA will be available to all public, charter, and non-public schools as an opt-in assessment for fall 2024 kindergarten students. The opt-in window is open through Monday, July 15. ISPROUT will continue to be required for children in special education for ages three through five, but will also be available as an opt-in assessment for fall 2024 as well. The opt-in window for this opportunity is also now open. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
REMINDER: FY 2025 Pre-Application Virtual Help Desk
IDOE’s Office of Title Grants and Support will host Pre-App Help Desk each Thursday starting Thursday, July 11, through Thursday, August 22. Participants can ask any questions to IDOE’s Title I, II, III, and IV specialists and will be answered on a first come first serve basis. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022/FY 2023 GEPA Waiver-Public Comment Sought
IDOE intends to apply for flexibility to allow LEAs to more effectively encumber their FFY22 federal funds. Specifically, IDOE is requesting the following requirement be waived: 1) Section 421(b) of GEPA to extend the period of availability of FFY22 funds for programs in which the state education agency participates under its approved consolidated state plan until September 30, 2025. Please provide comments via this JotForm no later than Monday, July 15. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Updated Title III Equitable Services Guidance and FAQ
Updated Title III equitable services guidance and a new FAQ are available on IDOE’s Equitable Services Ombudsman webpage. These documents focus specifically on working with accredited non-public schools in alignment with WIDA state testing. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education or the Equitable Services Ombudsman with any questions.
REMINDER: Multi-Year Subscription Guidance
Guidance regarding multi-year subscriptions purchased with federal funds is now available. LEAs using ESSER funds for multi-year subscriptions should review this information closely to ensure that funds are obligated, liquidated, and used during the appropriate period of allowability. Contact esser@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Charter School Program (CSP) Quality Counts II - Cohort 1 Application Now Available
IDOE has launched the application for the first cohort of CSP Quality Counts II. The CSP Quality Counts II solicitation for application can be found here. To ensure quality applications, please be sure to review the budget worksheet and request for proposals, which outlines the application requirements. These items can be found either in the solicitation for application linked above or on IDOE's Charter Schools Moodle. Contact CharterPrograms@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM INDIANA UNIVERSITY’S (IU’S) OFFICE OF SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS: PK-12 Education Summit Registration Open
IU’s Office of School Partnerships invites prekindergarten (PK) through grade 12 district and school leaders to register for the Annual PK-12 Education Summit at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis on Friday, August 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is free, but space is limited. Gather with PK-12 leadership and IU staff and faculty who are engaged in or have interest in IU partnerships.
REMINDER FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Embark on an Exploratory Journey with Teacher Industry Experiences in Indiana (TIE-IN)
Elevate your teaching and ignite your creativity with TIE-IN, an initiative designed to bridge the classroom with the dynamic world of industry. This program, brought to life through a partnership with IDOE and Central Indiana Educational Service Center’s Keep Indiana Learning team, is open to all licensed Indiana educators, including prekindergarten through grade 12 classroom teachers, counselors, media specialists, and instructional coaches. Learn more and register here. Contact Dr. Christy Hilton with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: Indy Autonomous Challenge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Educators are invited to bring their high school students to the Innovation Showcase at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, September 6. This free event, held in conjunction with the Indy Autonomous Challenge, will provide students with the unique opportunity to learn more about STEM and the innovations behind autonomous vehicles up close, followed by a unique opportunity to watch these cars zoom around the famous oval track - without drivers! Click here to learn more about the Indy Autonomous Challenge. Click here to learn more and to register for free tickets. Contact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE LILLY ENDOWMENT: Renewal Grants for Indiana K-12 Educators
The Lilly Endowment is accepting applications for its Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program. This program supports educators throughout Indiana by providing resources for them to take time for meaningful renewal. The Endowment believes that through new experiences, exploration, and reflection educators can generate renewed energy in their careers, innovative approaches to teaching and educational leadership, and thoughtful ways to encourage students’ creative thinking. The Endowment expects to award approximately 125 grants, each totaling up to $15,000, in 2025. The application deadline is 5 p.m. ET on Monday, September 9. Information sessions will be held on Thursday, August 8, and Tuesday, August 13. To learn more or register for one of these sessions, visit the Lilly Endowment website. Contact Lilly Endowment staff at teachercreativity@lei.org with any questions.
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