Monthly Happenings: May 2019
Updates from IDOE English Learner Team
IILP: Rollout, User Access, & Updates
IDOE is thrilled to announce the roll-out of the IILP system, the first statewide ILP system of its kind. IILP is free for Indiana schools to utilize and is now live and ready. Releasing the system at the end of this school year allows for schools to begin to navigate the IILP system in preparation for the 2019-2020 school year, or to begin creating ILPs for students immediately...
User Access
PCG has sent login information along with the User Guide to EL coordinators, with instructions on setting up additional user access for the district. IDOE has provided PCG with a list of lead EL contacts for districts based on previous communications, the names of those submitting Title III/NESP grants, etc. That said, it is possible that some names listed as lead EL contact may be outdated, and there are some that are vacant.
If you are the EL lead for your district, and you haven't already, please double check the attached list to ensure that the representative listed for your district is correct. If it is not, please complete a brief Google Form, linked below, to request the change. We will then process that request to ensure access is granted to the correct individual. Also, non-public schools are not represented on the list. If you are the EL lead at a non-public school who intends on utilizing IILP, please complete the form as well.
IILP EL Administrator Access Request Form
If you have questions regarding IILP User Logins, please contact IndianaILP@pcgus.com.
Trainings
The first round of trainings, webinars detailing an overview of the system, were completed this week. Those have been recorded and can be accessed here in three parts:
We will also be having our first in-person trainings later this month. Two sessions will be offered, and you will only need to choose one. See info and registration below. UPDATE: The morning session has now reached capacity, and only the afternoon is available.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22
TIME: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET; and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
LOCATION: MSD Washington Township. 8550 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46240
NOTES: Sessions are intended for the first round of users, your EL administrators and EL teachers who will be interacting often with the system. Participants should bring their laptops and ensure they have user access prior to the training.
IILP trainings will be ongoing through the summer and into the beginning of next school year, both in webinar and in-person formats. Webinar recordings will be available at all times as well.
A Note from IDOE EL Team
We recommend using the end of this school year as a transitional time to become more familiarized with the IILP system and its processes. As you've heard, IDOE is in the initial phases of its LINK initiative, which impacts IILP. In spite of this, with IILP ready we wanted to make the system available for use, knowing that there will be some adjustments along the way. We appreciate your patience and value your feedback. You can look forward to additional guidance from IDOE on IILP use, specifically surrounding the HLS and other topics as they arise.
WIDA ACCESS Results and Resources
Congratulations on another successful WIDA ACCESS administration, and a huge thank you for all of your efforts before, during, and after the testing window. You should now have access to the test results both digitally via WIDA-AMS as well having received physical score reports.
We encourage you to see the resources within the attached memo below to assist you in distributing and interpreting the results. It includes key supports such as: accessing translated student reports in 47 different languages, a parent handout and parent guide for the score report, sample letters to accompany the score report, and similar resources for Alternate ACCESS.
With IDOE completing post-data validation, any score reports that needed merging will be released in an updated results report later in the month. We will share information on the amended reports when they become available. Once finalized state data becomes available, IDOE will perform a data analysis to be able to share state-wide averages and trends.
NESP Cash Request Deadline
NESP Funding Increase
In good news from the statehouse, House Bill 1001, which includes state funding for the Non-English Speaking Program (NESP), was recently signed into law by Governor Holcomb. NESP has received an increase in funding to $22,500,000 in 2019-2020, an increase of over $5 million. The new version removes weighted funding allocations tied to EL populations of over 5 percent and 18 percent; it includes a larger per-pupil amount for English Learners at overall proficiency levels 1 and 2, as well as ELs taking Alternate ACCESS, than the per-pupil for ELs at levels 3 and 4. See the full language on NESP funding on page 80 of the latest version of House Bill 1001.
Allocations for both the 2019-2020 NESP and Title III grants will be released within the next few weeks.
Upcoming PD...
IDOE EL Summer PD Roadshow
There are still spots remaining at both Summer PD Roadshow sessions at the following dates/locations:
- June 13th - Monroe Co. Schools (Bloomington)
- June 18th - East Allen Co. Schools (New Haven)
- June 20th - Tippecanoe School Corp. (Lafayette)
The two sessions, occurring simultaneously are: Redefining the Role of the English Learner Teacher and Inclusive School Leadership: Promoting Cultural Proficiency and Awareness. Click here for session descriptions and registration. We hope you'll join us this summer!
Annual Directors' Meetings
It's also not too late to sign up for the Annual EL Directors' Meetings, which will once again take place at Lawrence Township (Indianapolis). The New EL Directors’ Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 13, and the Annual EL Directors’ Meeting for new and returning EL directors will be held on Wednesday, August 14. Both meetings will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register now and provide your input on the topics you hope to see on this year’s agenda.
As always, check IDOE's Upcoming English Learner PD calendar for more details on the events listed above and additional opportunities.
Academic Language of Math Webinar: Recording and Resources
Thanks to all who were able to attend the Academic Language of Math webinar earlier this month! The recording is now posted and you can access it here (Note: you must be logged in to the WIDA Secure Portal):
Go to the WIDA Download Library > Click "Indiana Webinars"
The presenter also shared a Padlet with resources from the session, which are open for you to utilize even if you did not attend. Access the Padlet here.
INTESOL Call for Proposals
See the message below from INTESOL...
"Submit a proposal for INTESOL 2019!
INTESOL is excited to read your proposal! All proposals are due September 1 by 11:59 PM EST. Presenters will be notified of acceptance in mid-September. When receiving your acceptance, you must immediately commit to attending (register for the conference) or rescind your proposal. There are eight session/presentation types and ten interest sections. You will be asked to select a session/presentation type and interest sections for your proposal."
Click here to submit your proposal.
Indiana Refugee Series: Washington Township
A Closer Look: Academic Conversations
- Evaluating importance
- Considering multiple perspectives
- Interpreting and inferring
- Persuading and arguing
- Applying and transferring to new contexts
- Comparing
- Considering ethics
- Analyzing author's craft
- Creating and communicating
Some of the given activities such as comprehension target talk and information gap are found at this link. The text offers several others. The RESPONSE-to-Literature acronym is useful for scaffolding conversations. Students must work in partners in order to discuss ideas for each of the acronym lines. They take notes before and after the conversations. Below is the acronym.
R Reflect on why the title was given to this story.
E Empathize with characters- how they changed or not.
S See the symbols that keep popping in.
P Pick out the main problem, challenge, or plot.
O Observe and critique the author's style and techniques.
N Notice life lessons or deeper life themes.
S Support a main thesis with evidence and quotes.
E Explain how the theme applies to us and the world.
IDOE English Learner Team
Valerie Beard
Assistant Director of English Learners and Migrant Education Programs
(317) 232-0558
vbeard@doe.in.gov
Nicole Leach
Dual Language Immersion and English Learner Specialist
(317) 232-0572
nleach@doe.in.gov
Adam Pitt
English Learner Specialist
(317) 234-7168
apitt@doe.in.gov
Georgina Schneider
English Learner Specialist
(317) 234-7785
gschneider@doe.in.gov