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Last Friday was one of my favorite nights of the year, as hundreds of our state’s top K-12 leaders, innovators, and changemakers descended on our state’s capital for the annual Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala! This is an opportunity to roll out the red carpet (literally)...to celebrate our educators like the stars they are…and to say thank you for the immense difference they make every single day. If you’ve not yet had an opportunity to experience this event in-person, the below video shares a highlight of the many educators and schools we have celebrated over the past three years.
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This year, we once again awarded nearly $5 million to schools and educators across the state to help them continue to grow their impactful work. We know that continuous improvement is part of our journey, yet this gala is about pausing to shine a spotlight on the successes happening in our schools. We have a lot of good work to celebrate in Indiana, so let’s take a moment to reflect on some of our biggest accomplishments over the past year (just to name a few):
- Statewide, third grade literacy rates increased for the third consecutive year, and 2024 represented the largest single-year increase since the assessment was launched in 2013!
- Indiana was highlighted as a top state in the nation for computer science.
- We host the largest state robotics championship in the nation, and sent more teams to the world championship than any other state of even country (China was #2!).
- Indiana is #1 in the nation in terms of students earning college credit in high school.
- We are also currently rethinking the high school experience and scaling some of the incredible work being led by schools across the state to help more students experience work-based learning, earn a credential of value, and personalize their high school journey to achieve their unique goals.
The gala recognized schools that are excelling in these key areas, such as literacy (science of reading), STEM, and rethinking high school, as well as the individual educators leading this work, including our 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Eric Jenkins, and Indiana’s 2023 Milken Educator Award recipients, Josh Dingeldein and Kendra Randle.
Additional information regarding each of the awards is available here, and I’d like to spotlight our recipients below! 2024 Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala school/district and teacher recipients include:
Excellence in STEM Award
Carlisle Middle School, Southwest School Corporation
Indian Creek Elementary, MSD Lawrence Township
Sullivan Middle School, Southwest School Corporation
Excellence in Leading and Learning Award
Heritage Elementary School, East Allen County Schools
Paramount Brookside, Paramount Schools of Excellence
Tippecanoe School Corporation
Excellence in Early Literacy Award
Grissom Elementary, Muncie Community Schools
Perry Central Elementary School, Perry Central Community School Corporation
Union Elementary School, Franklin Community Schools
Excellence in Student Pathways
Community School Corporation of Eastern Hancock County
Providence Cristo Rey High School
Whitley County Consolidated Schools
Excellence in Community Collaboration
Career Academy South Bend
Options Schools
South Ripley Elementary School, South Ripley Community Schools
Excellence in Student-Centered Support
Brentwood Elementary School, Plainfield Community School Corporation
Lawrence Central High School, MSD Lawrence Township
MSD Washington Township
Excellence in Academic Gains
Cathedral High School
East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy
Grissom Middle School, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
Excellence in College Readiness
Herron Classical Schools Network
Randolph Central School Corporation
Tell City Jr.-Sr. High School, Tell City-Troy Township School Corporation
Excellence in Next Level Educational Experiences and Opportunities
Christel House Indianapolis
Promising Educator Excellence Award
Elise Anderson, Geist Montessori Academy
Dedicated Educator Excellence Award
Lindsay Speiser, Southwest Allen County Schools
Lifetime Educator Excellence Award
Deaneen Pashea, East Noble School Corporation
Ryan Rust, Plymouth Community School Corporation
Early Childhood Educator Excellence Award
Christina Parker, Hickory Center, Northwest Allen County Schools
Digital Innovator Excellence Award
Shannon Quigley, Fort Wayne Community Schools
English Learner Educator Excellence Award
Ali Fleischer, MSD Washington Township
Exceptional Learner Educator Excellence Award
Emily Weaver, Greenfield Central Community Schools
Collaborative Educator Excellence Award
Alex Axsom, Noblesville Schools
Jason Hawley, Randolph Eastern
Congratulations to our 2024 recipients, and keep up the great work!
Thank you to our philanthropic sponsors who help make this event possible, and as always, thank you for the important work you lead daily for our students, our communities, and our state!
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: Mandatory and Voluntary Graduation Rate Audit
All schools that are subject to the mandatory graduation rate audit of the 2024 cohort have been notified by email. If you did not receive an email and/or are unsure if your school was selected, please check the list of mandatory audit schools (enrollment key: “AccountabilityCommunity”). Every high school should review their 2024 cohort. If there are students in the 2024 cohort with an incorrect (non-graduate) cohort status, please submit those students on the voluntary graduation rate audit. All schools are welcome to participate in the voluntary graduation rate audit, and it is the final opportunity to request a change to the 2024 cohort. The mandatory and voluntary graduation rate audits will be open from Wednesday, October 2, through Friday, October 25. Contact IDOE’s Office of Accountability with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana SAT Test Blueprint Now Available
The Indiana SAT Test Blueprint is now available in the Indiana Assessment Frameworks for Mathematics and English/Language Arts (ELA). The Assessment Frameworks are also accessible on IDOE’s High School Assessment webpage. The Indiana SAT Test Blueprint defines the essential Mathematics and ELA Indiana Academic Standards that are measured by the SAT. Additional resources including proficiency level descriptors for each measured standard will be added this fall. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: WIDA Alternate ACCESS 2024 Results Release
WIDA Alternate ACCESS 2024 results were delayed due to standard setting for the revised assessment, which took place this summer. Alternate ACCESS results will be released in WIDA AMS Reporting Services on Wednesday, September 11. Schools must review results and share them in a timely manner. Printed reports will arrive in corporations on Thursday, September 26. Student results, including calculations for students with approved domain exemption accommodations, will be available in EdData and Indiana ILP by Monday, September 30. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: Preferred Universal Screener Approval Committee Interest Survey
IDOE partners with Indiana educators to review universal screeners in alignment with Indiana Code (IC) 20-35.5 and Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 1 (2024) and now seeks qualified educators and other stakeholders to review assessment program documentation. Interested individuals must complete the 2024-2025 Preferred Universal Screener Approval Committee educator or community member interest survey by Friday, October 4. Completion of the interest survey is not an indication of commitment and is non-binding. Additional information regarding universal screener assessments can be found on IDOE’s Dyslexia webpage. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with questions.
REMINDER: Universal Screener and Dyslexia Programming Office Hours
Office hours will be offered for universal screener and dyslexia programming guidance to support schools with completing K-2 universal screening within the 90 calendar days of the start of the school year. The requirements and list of approved screeners can be found here. Register for the office hours on Wednesday, September 18, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. ET. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with questions.
REMINDER: Universal Screener and Dyslexia Programming Guidance
Schools are encouraged to review the Universal Screener and Dyslexia Programming guidance for the 2024-2025 school year. IC 20-35.5 requires schools to administer a universal screener to all kindergarten, first, and second grade students annually to identify students who may be “at some risk” or “at risk” for learning characteristics of dyslexia. This early identification of students who are not on track to be proficient readers allows early implementation of targeted support. More information can be found on IDOE's Dyslexia webpage. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
REMINDER: Nominations Open for the 2025 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Classified Staff Award
Public and non-public schools across the state are encouraged to nominate up to two classified school employees for the RISE Award. The RISE Award honors and promotes the excellence exhibited by classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students in pre-kindergarten through high school. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, September 13, at 5 p.m. ET. Nominations can be submitted via JotForm. Contact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
REMINDER: Flexible Keys to Literacy Professional Development Options Available Now
Registration is now open for educators who hold an Indiana professional educator license to enroll in one of the new flexible professional development options outlined in this memo. Additional information can be found here, and the registration form with all available options can be found here. Educators who previously registered are able to continue with their current enrollment and can use the registration form to confirm their plans to remain in the live cohort sessions or choose a different option. Contact IDOE's Literacy Center with any additional questions.
REMINDER: 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.
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: Staff Performance Evaluation Plan Submissions Due Today, Friday, September 13
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 today, Friday, September 13. For more information, click here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Educator Talent with any questions.
REMINDER: Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) Policy Submission Due Today, Friday, September 13
Information regarding the TAG Policy Submission can be found here. Local educational agencies (LEAs) (including charter and virtual charter schools) must submit the TAG policy for approval via JotForm by today, Friday, September 13, to be eligible to receive TAG funding. Contact tag@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: K12 Six Offers Free Cybersecurity Resources
K12 Six offers free cybersecurity resources that do not require a membership to access. These are included in the K12SIX Essentials Series including the K12 SIX Essential Cyber Incident Response Runbook v1.1. All of these resources are being updated for the 2024-2025 school year, so check back for the updated versions releasing soon. K12 Six also maintains a map of attacks against schools throughout the country. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: Federal REMS TA Center Offers Free Cybersecurity Resources
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the REMS TA Center offers resources to address Cyber Safety and Cybersecurity Preparedness. Contact Brad Hagg with any questions.
REMINDER: INView Now Integrated Into Indiana GPS Dashboard
INview has been integrated into the Indiana GPS dashboard. This combines the data Hoosiers interact with the most on INView with the user-friendly functionality of Indiana GPS. Bringing this education data together in one spot makes it easier for educators, parents, and other stakeholders to find what they are looking for more quickly. Many features, such as map and compare, have been accessible through Indiana GPS since January 2024. Please fill out this JotForm with any questions or feedback.
REMINDER: Data Exchange (DEX) Office Hours for 2024-2025
Weekly DEX office hours sessions will be available throughout August on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Beginning in September, weekly DEX office hours sessions will return to a Tuesday-only schedule. Links to submit questions, responses, and to join the office hours sessions can be found in Knowledge Hub > Communications Hub > Upcoming Events.
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Tuesday, September 17, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET, Topics: Calendar, Attendance, and Pupil Enrollment
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Tuesday, September 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon ET, Topic: Alternative Education
REMINDER: LINK Portal Setup Requirements
The LINK Portal is able to recognize all public, charter, and accredited non-public schools’ local Google G-Suite or Microsoft 365 accounts. IDOE configures the organization’s leader as the first account, and the organization leader must log in to designate up to two security coordinators responsible for overseeing the setup of roles for others in the organization. All superintendents and leaders of non-public schools must log in to the LINK Portal and review/update their security coordinators. Failure to do so will result in access issues to IDOE systems.
- Instructions for organization leaders on how to review/designate the security coordinators can be found here.
- The registration process for the LINK Portal for new public and Choice schools can be found here.
- New superintendents or organization leaders of non-public schools who need an initial account configured should email link@doe.in.gov.
REMINDER: Designation of Key Contacts
Security coordinators for all traditional public, charter, and accredited non-public schools are responsible for ensuring their organization’s key contacts for the 2024-2025 school year are set. Key contacts, including the roles of Superintendent, Financial Contact, Special Education Director, Principal, Data Exchange Contact, etc., are needed for the 2024-2025 school year even if those contacts were provided last school year.
For school corporations that have an Ed-Fi student information system (SIS), key contacts and other staff role assignments should be entered and managed in the local SIS, and then provided to DEX/LINK for the new school year. However, all three options below are available:
- Provide staff classifications in the local SIS per the vendor’s instructions,
- Add a staff type manually for the 2024-2025 school year via the Security Portal, or
- Upload templates 008_StaffAssociation_StaffEdOrgAssignmentAssociation and 009_StaffOrganizationContactAssociation into DEX.
Schools utilizing options two and three may cause overriding or loss of data. Schools should connect with their SIS vendor to better understand how to avoid data loss when providing data via multiple methods. IDOE is now recognizing only the 2024-2025 school year assignments. Security coordinator instructions can be found here. Contact IDOE’s Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: School Summer School Reimbursement for Public and Non-Public Schools
The window to submit final 2024 summer school costs closes on Sunday, September 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Instructions for submitting summer school costs can be found in this memo. Please submit a form even if you do not have costs to report. Contact IDOE's Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: School Improvement Plan (SIP) Submissions Due Friday, October 4
In accordance with IC 20-31-5-1, public and state-accredited non-public schools must develop a strategic and continuous three-year SIP, and review these plans on a regular basis. All Indiana schools must submit SIPs during the 2025-2026 school year. Use of IDOE’s ESSA-aligned SIP template is recommended, however, schools may use any template as long as all required portions are included. This memo provides additional information regarding school improvement plans. Schools that are identified under the federal accountability model as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) are required to submit SIPs and comprehensive needs assessments (CNAs) annually. Submissions for CSI, ATSI, and TSI schools only are due Friday, October 4, using this JotForm. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.
REMINDER: 3E Grant Encumbrance Deadline and Reimbursement Requests
The 3E Grant encumbrance deadline is Monday, September 30. All 3E grantees must encumber all funds by the deadline and regularly submit reimbursement requests to IDOE. Reimbursement forms should be completed, signed by the preparer, and submitted to DOECares@doe.in.gov on the first 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.
NEW: Obligate All Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Grant Funds by Monday, September 30
To ensure sufficient time for budget modification review and approval, submit all FY 2023 IDEA Part B grant budget modification requests by Friday, September 20. All FY 2023 Part B funds must be obligated by Monday, September 30. All FY 2023 Part B grant reimbursement requests must be submitted to IDOE’s special education Part B grants team by Friday, December 13. All forms and related guidance are available in IDOE’s Office of Special Education Community in Moodle. Please contact the Office of Special Education’s Part B Grants with any questions.
NEW: Special Education Teacher Office Hours
IDOE’s Office of Special Education will hold office hours for new special education teachers from 4 to 5 p.m. ET on Thursdays once a month beginning Thursday, September 19. These meetings will support teachers new to special education in navigating a variety of topics, starting with the roles and responsibilities of the case conference committee. The first half of the session will be a formal presentation on a relevant topic and the last will be an opportunity for teachers of record (TORs) to ask questions. Registration is not required; join the session here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Council for Exceptional Children Workshop Opportunity
The Indiana Council for Exceptional Children is hosting an Early Career Special Educator Workshop on Thursday, September 19, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET at the CRG Event Center in Plainfield. Sessions will provide learning opportunities on the essentials needed to begin your career as a special educator. First and second year special educators receive a complimentary registration. This event is open to all special educators and college students; learn more and register here. Contact in.cec.edu@gmail.com with questions.
NEW: FY 2025 IDEA Part B Allocations
Allocations for FY 2025 IDEA, Part B have been posted to IDOE’s Office of Special Education Community in Moodle in the Allocations file of the FY 2025 Grant Information folder. There are three columns of allocations on the spreadsheet: 611, 619, and Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS).
- For LEAs mandated to use Part B funding for CCEIS, the required 15% has been removed from the calculated 611 allocation. The amount in the 611 column is the remaining funding to be budgeted on special education.
- For LEAs not mandated to use CCEIS funds, there will be no amount listed in the third column.
Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education Part B grants team with questions.
NEW: FY 2025 IDEA Part B Applications & Office Hours
FY 2025 Part B applications and instructions are available in IDOE’s Office of Special Education Community in Moodle in the Allocations file of the FY 2025 Grant Information folder. Applications for 611 and 619 are due to the grant management system by the following dates:
- 619 Application: Friday, October 11
- 611 Application: Friday, October 18
- Mandatory CCEIS: Friday, October 25
A checklist is available within each application to assist with completion to support this work. New charter schools for 2024-2025 will be eligible for Part B funding in January 2025 and will be contacted by IDOE at that time. LEAs can also join office hours sessions for support with application submissions:
Questions should be directed to your LEA’s assigned fiscal specialist to ensure the most effective support; these individuals can be found in Moodle. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education Part B grants team with additional questions.
NEW: RoboKind Grant Recipients Announced
Recipients for the 2024-2025 RoboKind Grant have been announced. This grant is designed to provide funds to purchase technology and professional development to improve the social and behavioral skills for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with questions.
NEW: Special Education Directors Symposium
The Special Education Directors Symposium has been formed for special education directors and administrators to learn about special education policies and resources available to Indiana LEAs by providing timely and relevant information that guide them toward increased confidence in their roles and furthering compliance for their corporation’s reporting. Complete the interest form to indicate availability and receive updates regarding the symposium, which will begin meeting virtually in October. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Indiana IEP (IIEP) Virtual Office Hours
Join IIEP virtual office hours sessions hosted by Public Consulting Group (PCG) on the third Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m to noon E.T. via Microsoft Teams. The sessions will be recorded and available in the IIEP Documents widget under the Training tab in IIEP. Register for September’s session to learn more about recent system updates and upcoming changes, followed by a question and answer session. Contact PCG with questions regarding these office hours.
REMINDER: Public Comment for I AM Waiver Extension Request Now Open
IDOE is seeking public comment on its waiver extension request for the number of students tested using the statewide alternate assessment (I AM). For each subject assessed, the number of students tested with I AM may not exceed 1% of the total Indiana students assessed in that subject, which requires Indiana to submit a federal waiver extension request. See the 2023-2024 Alternate Assessment Waiver Extension Request and this information regarding the federal requirement. Public comment may be submitted via this form through Tuesday, October 1. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education data team with any questions.
REMINDER: 2024-2025 Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency (CoMP) Participation Registration Now Open
CoMP, Indiana’s Seal of Biliteracy, is awarded to seniors who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in English and another language. It is a great way to celebrate students’ achievement in world language and honor the home language of English learners and heritage speakers. School corporations or nonpublic schools intending on participating in Indiana’s CoMP must renew their registration annually. Those wishing to participate in the 2024-2025 school year must sign up using this form by March 31, 2025. This current list of participants shows which corporations or schools have already registered. For more information, see IDOE’s CoMP webpage. LEAs can use this data template to track student progress and assist with data reporting at the end of the year. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Home Language Survey (HLS) Amendment Request Deadline
When attempting to change a student’s language assignment from a non-English language to English, an HLS Amendment Request is required to be completed and sent to IDOE for review prior to a change occurring. Due to the time needed for review and the volume of requests at the beginning of a school year, HLS Amendment Requests must be submitted by Friday, September 20, to be reviewed prior to the October 1 Multilingual Learner Report count date. Due to FERPA, HLS Amendment Request forms, along with the student’s original HLS, must be faxed. The HLS Amendment Request guidance and form can be found in the Compliance Documents section of IDOE’s English Learning and Migrant Education webpage. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
REMINDER: WIDA Workshops for October
WIDA will be facilitating a two-day, in-person workshop on Wednesday, October 2, and Thursday, October 3, at MSD Lawrence Township. This free, interactive workshop is for secondary teachers of multilingual learners and will focus on developing academic writing skills and communicating effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences. More information on the session can be found on this flier. Registration is required via JotForm by Monday, September 16. WIDA will also be facilitating an in-person workshop on Friday, October 4, at MSD Lawrence Township. This free, interactive workshop is for Spanish bilingual education teachers and will focus on instructional planning that will elevate the assets of their multilingual learners - the session will be delivered primarily in Spanish. More information on the session can be found on this flier. Registration is required via JotForm by Monday, September 16. Space is limited for all events, and LEAs may send two participants. Contact IDOE’s Office of English Learning and Migrant Education with any questions.
NEW: Taking a Deeper Dive - Unpacking the 2023 Mathematics Frameworks
The new Taking a Deeper Dive: Unpacking the 2023 Mathematics Frameworks session is now available on-demand in the Indiana Learning Lab. This session discusses how the 2023 Mathematics Frameworks can be used to go beyond the wording of the standard to provide content and pedagogical knowledge, explore assessment insights, and examine ways to provide universal supports for all students. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Summer of Learning Live 2024 Collection Now Available
The Summer of Learning conferences offer educators the opportunity to connect with innovative, technology-enhanced pedagogy related to Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and accessibility, science of reading, integrated STEM standards, academic recovery, and designing virtual and blended learning experiences. Whether or not you were able to attend any of the 11 regional conferences, you’ll want to check out the Summer of Learning Live 2024 Collection, which includes recordings of keynote and spotlight speaker presentations from each of the conferences. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: On-Demand PD with IDOE
Throughout the school year, IDOE hosts PD with IDOE on a variety of topics. August’s workshops are all available on demand:
Attend future live sessions and view other on-demand content in the Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: 2025 Summer of Learning Grant Application Now Open
IDOE’s 2025 Summer of Learning Grant application is open through Friday, October 11. In summer 2024, this grant supported 11 conferences throughout the state, providing opportunities for over 3,000 Indiana educators to learn about teaching and learning in technology-rich environments. Public school corporations and public charter schools may apply to host one of these conference opportunities. School corporations must have completed the 2024 School Tech Plan Survey to be eligible to apply. More information about the grant application can be found in this memo. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: September PD with IDOE
September PD with IDOE continues Wednesday, September 18, at 4 p.m. EST with The Power of Partnership: HECC and ICE presented by members of Hoosier Educational Computer Coordinators and Indiana Connected Educators. View a full list of September 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: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Platforms in Indiana Series
Are you interested in seeing the AI-platforms teachers and students are using in Indiana? As part of three grant opportunities, corporations across the state adopted AI platforms that met vendor requirements set forth by IDOE. Join us in the Indiana Learning Lab Monday, September 30, through Friday, October 4, for sessions that highlight the capabilities and features of these platforms. Register for these workshops in the Indiana Learning Lab. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Opt-In Early Learning Assessment Opportunity
The Indiana Student Performance Readiness and Observation of Understanding Tool (ISPROUT) will be available for children from birth to age two beginning in January 2025. This voluntary opportunity provides a snapshot of children’s abilities in all early learning domains. Complete this form to opt in. You may also opt in for children ages three to five. As a reminder, ISPROUT is still required for children ages three to five who receive special education services within the public school. Contact IDOE’s Office of Kindergarten Readiness with any questions.
NEW: Family Engagement Coffee Chat on Thursday, September 26
Join IDOE’s Office of Title Grants and Support on Microsoft Teams to discuss family engagement during September’s coffee chat on Thursday, September 26, at 10 a.m. ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Title Grants and Support with additional questions or topic suggestions for future meetings.
REMINDER: Fall 2024 Microcredential Program
IDOE's Office of Title Grants and Support will continue to offer a microcredential program for experienced program administrators in fall 2024. The microcredential program is a no-cost program that allows program administrators to develop their current practices and participate in ongoing learning and reflection by dedicating between four and six hours of work per microcredential skill. Two optional checkpoints will be provided by IDOE staff for any needed support. Participants will be provided five professional growth plan (PGP) points for each skill, as well as a bonus point on the risk assessment. Interested in participating in the fall informational session on Friday, September 27, at 11 a.m. ET. Please complete the Microcredential Interest Survey. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Quarterly Meeting Schedule for the 2024-2025 School Year
IDOE’s Office of Title Grants and Support will continue hosting a meeting each quarter to provide updates regarding federal grants. The quarterly meetings will be hosted on Thursdays at 10 a.m. ET on the following dates:
Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Budget Applications
FFY24 Title II and FFY24 Title IV budget applications are due by Monday, September 30. The budget applications are being finalized and will be distributed when available. Contact TitleII@doe.in.gov or TitleIV@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Alternative Household Application for Free and Reduced Eligibility
The new Alternative Household Application for Free and Reduced Eligibility form has been released (replacing the former Textbook Rental Assistance form). LEAs may use this alternative form in determining poverty for a Community Eligibility Program (CEP). Charter schools are encouraged to use this form for reporting poverty counts used in calculating Federal Title Funding through Data Exchange. Contact TitleI@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: CSP Quality Counts II Cohort 2 Application
CSP Quality Counts II Cohort 2 application is now live. Learn more here. Contact CharterPrograms@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT: Attending Oral Arguments
Indiana Supreme Court oral arguments are open to the public, streamed live, and archived for later viewing. Arguments are typically held in the historic courtroom at the statehouse. For most arguments, each side has 20 minutes, and the justices ask questions during that time. See a visitor’s guide for attending OAs for more information including a calendar of upcoming arguments and a form to submit requesting attendance.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA STATE LIBRARY: Learning IN Indiana Fourth Grade Essay Contest
Indiana is a great place to learn. Fourth graders! Write an essay, and you could be honored at a Statehood Day celebration. Four winners will be selected. Each winner will receive an Indiana529 Deposit of $529 made possible by the Indiana Education Savings Authority! Entry forms and contest rules can be found here. Winners of the essay contest will be honored on Wednesday, December 11, at an in-person ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse or the Indiana State Museum. Submission deadline is Friday, October 25. Contact youngreaderscenter@library.in.gov with any questions.
NEW FROM THE READING LEAGUE INDIANA: Science of Reading: Experts Explain Series
In partnership with IDOE, The Reading League Indiana is proud to present the Science of Reading: Experts Explain Series. Featuring national reading science experts, this live, virtual series showcases critical research and resources for coaches and school leaders shifting their practice towards evidence-aligned reading and writing instruction. The webinar will feature a brief presentation, followed by a Q&A, and additional resource suggestions to enhance your learning on the topic. All sessions will be recorded and shared in the Indiana Learning Lab. See registration details here. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with any questions.
NEW FROM RILEY CHILDREN’S HEALTH: Seeking Partnering Schools
IDOE is partnering with Riley Children’s Health to pilot many initiatives within Indiana schools to address our youth mental health crisis, while empowering and equipping our educators and students. These initiatives include curriculum and content development, professional development opportunities, virtual case-based learning, a mental health literacy toolkit for families/students, and co-development of peer-support training resources for educators and students. We are seeking partner schools to pilot our proposal. If you are interested in being a partnering school, contact Michelle Clarke for more information.
NEW FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: The Genre of Math – Building Math & Literacy Connections
Mathematics is a unique genre, but it is still full of specific literacy structures. This session will work to explicitly name literacy connections while exploring the genre of mathematics. This workshop is designed for elementary classroom teachers, special education teachers, team leads, math specialists, instructional assistants, and administrators. Learn more and register here. Contact Keep Indiana Learning with questions.
NEW FROM THE INDIANA COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: Career Discovery Meeting Resources
This summer, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education shared resources to support schools in the implementation of Career Discovery Meetings. These resources are linked below:
Contact the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s Career Discover Meeting team with additional questions.
REMINDER FROM THE INDIANA SECRETARY OF STATE: I Voted Sticker Contest
Young Hoosiers are invited to participate in the I Voted Sticker Contest, an opportunity for children across the state to get involved in the election process. This contest encourages creativity and civic engagement by challenging students to design “I Voted” stickers that will be handed out to voters at polls in November. The contest is open to all Indiana students. Participants must agree to the official rules and submit their design via email or on a printed official entry form sent in by mail. Submissions for the contest are due by Monday, September 30. The competition is divided into three groups based on grade level: Kindergarten through third grade, fourth through eighth grade, and ninth through twelfth grade. The first place winning design from each grade level will be featured on stickers distributed to voters on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. First place winners will be invited to meet with Secretary of State Diego Morales in the Statehouse. Second and third place winners from each grade level will receive social media recognition and be featured on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website. All winners will receive a certificate. Competition entry form and rules can be found here. Contact Lindsey Eaton with any questions.
REMINDER FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY: International Conference on Literacy, Culture, & Language Education (ICLCE)
Purdue University’s Center for Literacy and Language Education and Research (CL2EAR) is hosting ICLCLE from October 25 through 27 at the Stewart Center at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus. This conference brings together language and literacy scholars with Pre-K-12 educators to discuss a wide range of topics such as the science of reading, early literacy, and teaching multilingual learners. Educators can earn 11 PGP points by attending. More information on how to register can be found on the ICLCLE 2024 website. Use the code “EDUCATOR” for a $30 discount on registration! Contact ICLCLE with questions.
REMINDER FROM KEEP INDIANA LEARNING: Counselor Connect Professional Development
Check out the professional learning planned so far for this fall! We have many virtual workshops and two in-person workshops this month including Data Day and Engage & Renew. Contact Keep Indiana Learning with questions.
REMINDER FROM THE U.S. FEDERAL COURTS: Fall 2024 Field Trips and Bill of Rights Day Contest
Field Trips: The U.S. District Court in Indianapolis is once again offering its popular student fieldtrips during fall 2024. Field trips are open to all ages. Full details may be found here.
Bill of Rights Day Contest: The 5th Annual Bill of Rights Day art and essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Courts takes place in October 2024. Students in grades five through 12 residing in select states including Indiana will respond to specific prompts pertaining to the Bill of Rights. Students can win up to $500, and teachers can win prizes too. Contest deadline is Friday, November 1. Contest prompts, complete rules, and a link to the online submission form, can be found here. Questions on either program may be sent to outreach coordinator Contact Mary Giorgio with any questions.
REMINDER FROM BUTLER UNIVERSITY: Applications Now Open for the Founder's College
Butler University introduces an exciting new pathway for Indiana high school students who have high potential for postsecondary success, but because of financial barriers feel college is out of reach. Founder’s College at Butler University offers a new, affordable, high-quality two-year degree option right here in Indiana. Applications are now open. The first cohort of students will begin August 2025.
Contact Founders Admissions Director Donneisha Baker with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE INDIANA CONNECTED EDUCATORS CONFERENCE: Register for 2024 Conference Now
Registration is now available for the Indiana Connected Educators Conference this fall, which will be held on Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10, at Franklin Central Junior High School. More information and registration can be found here. Contact Nadine Gilkison or Jenna Eastham with questions regarding the conference.
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