Charter Clues
Updates from IDOE's Office of Charter Schools
September 2020 Charter Clues Newsletter
General Elections and Indiana Code
The November 2020 elections are quickly approaching, and schools should be making plans to instruct about the general elections. Indiana code requires that public and nonpublic schools teach about elections in grades 6 through 12 during the two weeks prior to the elections. For more details, please see Indiana Code 20-30-5-4 “System of Government; American History.” Additionally, see the Indiana Department of Education’s (IDOE') Civics Education page for support with elections education. Please contact Matt Walsh, Academics Specialist (jwalsh1@doe.in.gov) with any questions.
Important: When Schools Receive Notice of a Positive Case of COVID-19
Once schools receive notice that a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, the school should immediately contact the local health department for verification of the positive case, and to coordinate the school's response. Detailed information regarding the procedures to follow when the school has a positive case can be found on the Indiana State Department of Health COVID-19 website. Schools should no longer report cases of COVID-19 to IDOE.
State-Issued Face Masks for Students
Schools unable to use State-supplied face masks should contact IDOE for assistance in returning them. Please reach out to Stephen Balko with any questions.
Office of Transportation: Special Purpose Bus Use
Please read this reminder memo from the Office of Transportation regarding the use of special purpose buses. Contact Mike LaRocco with any questions
Curation of Re-entry Resources for Schools Now Available
IDOE’s Office of Academics Teaching and Learning Division is proud to release this webpage, filled with resources to assist schools with re-entry, regardless of the instructional format being implemented.
Save the Date for Training on Closing Educational Learning Gaps
Please join IDOE for an October 14 training webinar focused on closing learning gaps. Additional information is available here.
Best Practice for Instructional Re-Entry Video
Please watch this short video which provides an overview of best practices for instructional re-entry in student assessment, curriculum, instruction, and student grouping/differentiation. The video outlines the need for schools to provide all students data-driven, grade-level instruction upon re-entry and supports teachers and administrators with action steps needed for effective implementation of best practices at each stage. Find a summary of the video with this corresponding one-pager.
Transition Re-entry Resources
OSE has developed a document that includes considerations and scenarios to assist schools and families in making decisions regarding site-based programming and worksites for this school year. OSE, in collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation and other stakeholders, have created a joint document titled, “Considerations for Transition Planning as Part of School Re-entry.” Contact Dr. Nancy Holsapple with any questions.
PATINS Project
Join the PATINS Project for the first ever virtual Access to Education 2020 conference on November 18 and 19, 2020). The schedule is live with sessions to super power your teaching.
For the low price of $100, you gain access to:
2 days of sessions (20 in total)
Influential keynote speaker - Lance McLemore
Pre-conference educator panel (November 17)
Assistive Technology Exploratorium
Universal Design for Learning Classroom Experience
Recorded summary videos of all sessions
Register by November 10, 2020!
Green Ribbon Schools Award
United States Department of Education: Office of Formula Grants
On October 15, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13891, “Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents,” which established a Federal policy “to rescind those guidance documents that should no longer be in effect” and required the U.S. Department of Education (Department) to create a searchable “guidance portal” that contains or links to all guidance documents in effect. In accordance with the Executive Order, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register on February 26, 2020, notifying the public of the existence of the Department’s guidance portal. I am pleased to provide an update on the work that the Department has been doing since the President’s Executive Order.
First, since the Executive Order was signed, the Department has created a guidance portal located here. This portal links to a searchable index of all of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (OESE’s) guidance documents written to support the implementation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. The guidance documents found in the portal are effective as of the date issued and provide guidance that is non-binding both in law and practice.
The second action taken by OESE to comply with the President’s Executive Order was to complete a comprehensive review of its guidance documents and rescind guidance that was deemed outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective. To this end, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register on August 31, 2020, notifying the public of the guidance documents rescinded by the Department as a result of its review. At this time, OESE has a total of 46 guidance documents that have been rescinded as a part of this effort. These documents are being rescinded because they are outdated or have been superseded, and therefore are no longer relevant. Information specific to those guidance documents that have been rescinded, as of the date of the Department’s notice, is available here.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your Federal Program Officer if you have questions after reviewing the website and notice.
Ruth E. Ryder
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Formula Grants
2020 Census Impacts Indiana Students
The 2020 Census greatly impacts Indiana students and communities. Please continue to help us raise awareness about the census to ensure students receive the necessary federal funds for the next several years to come. IDOE has collated a list of census resources for superintendents, school leaders, families, and educators. Click here to access IDOE's 2020 Census website.
COVID-19 Communications Update
As a reminder, IDOE’s COVID-19 FAQ document is updated regularly and available here. Please contact Holly Stachler with questions.
CSP Grant Calendars
Superintendent Weekly Webinars
Dr. McCormick's weekly webinars can be found here. Please visit the site for information about upcoming webinars, directions on how to access, and to find out where to submit questions for the webinar.
Amreen Vora
317.234.3063
Beatriz Pacheco
317.232.9057
Brandon Phillips
317.232.6612
Indiana Department of Education
Website: https://www.doe.in.gov
Location: 115 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Phone: (317) 232-6610