To this point, IDOE has released the following guidance to assist schools specifically with English learner students...

English Learner eLearning Requirements: This guidance details what is required for English learner services with schools operating in remote learning environments. It also addresses the process for enrollment and identification of potential ELs during school closures.

English Learner Resources: The EL team has collected some of the more notable, quality resources for ELs surrounding COVID-19 school closures into this compilation. It includes additional resource hubs, resources for connecting with families, and resources for instruction.

A Note on English Learner Retention during COVID-19: While individual retention decisions are made at the local level with collaboration and input from educators and families, special consideration must be given to civil rights protections for English learners. Federal law prohibits the retention of English learners on the basis of language proficiency. For additional guidance on retention decisions for English learners, see pp.13-14 of the IDOE English Learner Guidebook

IDOE General COVID Resources: All of IDOE has been hard at work developing guidance and resources addressing COVID-19's impact on schools. IDOE's COVID-19 main page houses a comprehensive FAQ, extensive remote learning resources, CARES Act funding information, Special Education guidance, and much much more. Please tune in to Dr. McCormick's weekly video address (Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. ET), and weekly newsletter for the most up to date news, guidance, and resources on COVID-19 and Indiana schools.

IDOE conducted an analysis of English learner data for all Title III subgrantees, including traditional public school corporations and charter schools, and identified those with exemplary achievement and growth. IDOE then conducted phone interviews and onsite visits with EL program directors, teachers, building-level and district-level administrators, and other key program staff to evaluate EL programming, instruction, school culture, and family and community engagement.

With English learners representing over 25% of the total student population, including 81 different languages spoken from 67 different countries, Perry Township schools is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse districts in the state. Perry has excelled at serving their EL students, which is evidenced by high levels of English learner achievement and growth at rates well above the state average for ELs on 2018-2019 ILEARN and ISTEP assessments. Perry ELs also met their English language proficiency targets on WIDA ACCESS and graduated at similarly high rates.

Perry Township has distinguished itself through its commitment to embracing their EL students, developing a culture district-wide that views linguistic and cultural differences as assets. These strengths are especially notable in their support of the large Burmese refugee community in the district. Instructionally, Perry has made inclusive, rigorous core subject area classrooms a priority. Students are taught in academic language rich environments, where students are acquiring new language and content simultaneously. This combination of high academic achievement, exceptional instructional programming, and school community set Perry Township apart.

Indiana was thankfully able to successfully complete the WIDA ACCESS test administration prior to school closures. Because of this little has been impacted by COVID-19, and test results will be available soon. See below for important information on score reports:

• Digital Score Reports: Test results are here soon! Digital score reports will be available in WIDA-AMS on April 24. For information on how to view the various score reports, see the WIDA-AMS User Guide, found in the Manuals drop-down of the WIDA Indiana page. See the WIDA Download Library for short webinars on Interpreting Score Reports.

• Post-Reporting Data Validation: After the initial wave of reports is released, IDOE will perform a Post-Reporting Data Validation from April 24 to May 8. During this process, discrepancies, such as split-score reports, will be addressed. Reports needing amending as a result of this process will be released on May 27.

• Physical Score Reports: Due to school building closures and the inability to accept shipments of paper reports, the paper report delivery date will be delayed until a date when administrators and staff have renewed access to their buildings. IDOE will share a final date when it is confirmed.

Our Indiana English Learner PD Calendar features current professional learning opportunities for the school year. With in-person PD opportunities in jeopardy for the near future, WIDA Self-Paced eWorkshops are a convenient alternative. All Indiana educators with a WIDA portal login have the opportunity to participate in six self-paced, on-demand eWorkshops free of charge. The topics of the six workshops, which vary in length, are:

• Using the WIDA Writing Rubric
• Leading for Equity: Classroom Walk-through
• Classroom Educators: Engaging Multilingual Learners
• Language for Learning in Mathematics
• Doing and Talking STEM
• Foundational Concepts for K-12 Educators

You can find more details on each of these sessions, including a video overview, in WIDA's Self-Paced eWorkshops page. To access the eWorkshops, after logging into the secure portal, click the button labeled Free eWorkshops. If you have any questions, contact the WIDA Client Services Center at (866) 276-7735 or help@wida.us for assistance.

While Title Con 2020 is unable to take place in person, many of the presenters are providing their materials and/or providing a recorded version of their presentation. These materials and videos will be posted gradually as they are received by IDOE, and it will be announced when everything has been received and posted on the website. See the Title Con website for presentations that have already been posted.