|
Is it almost March? In many ways it feels like we have already encountered March Madness! Schools are heading into spring breaks, state testing, and school plays, just to name a few. On the state level, things will be gearing back up at the Indiana Statehouse for the second half of the session.
At the federal level, there are also LOTS of things happening which have caused uncertainty and even anxiety for many folks. One question that we get pretty regularly related to federal concerns is what happens if the U.S. Department of Education is eliminated? Actual elimination, we are told, would take an act of Congress. There are a number of other changes that could happen administratively. Two programs at the USDOE that could impact our non-public schools are how ESSA (Title programs) and IDEA (Special Education) would be handled. There has been discussion about these programs being block-granted to the states. It is important to note that both of these programs were in existence before there was a federal department of education (1979). We will continue to monitor these developments along with our CAPE colleagues in Washington, DC. As a matter of fact, I have a meeting at the U.S. Department of Education next Monday, so hopefully we’ll get a clearer picture of the tenor amongst staff at the Office of Non-Public Education.
Stay tuned! We’ll keep you posted.
John Elcesser
INPEA Executive Director
| |
|
Legislative Updates
We have reached the halfway point of the 2025 legislative session. Now is when bills that are still “alive” move from their chamber of origin to the other chamber. Historically, the Senate has posed more challenges on certain non-public school legislation, especially legislation that has a fiscal. We will need our stakeholders ready to engage with their senators over the next few weeks. Watch INPEA’s legislative engagement video to learn about the importance of being engaged this session.
Bills We Are Following
At the beginning of the legislative session, INPEA was following 54 bills; we are now following 23 bills. Here are a few of the education bills we are still following:
-
HB 1001 State budget proposes universal eligibility for the Choice Scholarship Program. Expansion of the Choice program is estimated at 1.4% of the overall State budget. This bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee where we expect some pushback on universal choice.
-
HB 1326 Student and teaching scholarships lowers eligibility of SGO funds to Pre-K 3 students and proposes universal eligibility for the SGO tax credit program. This bill now moves to the Senate.
-
HB 1498 School accountability requires the State Board of Education to develop a new A-F methodology. This bill now moves to the Senate.
-
HB 1499 Education matters allows for a grace period for the third grade retention required from last year's SEA 1, the literacy bill.
-
HB 1515 Education and higher education matters gives non-public schools access to STEM teacher recruitment grants and the principal institute, allows non-public schools to establish police departments, and allows parents to petition IDOE to reconsider Choice Scholarship eligibility due to data error. This bill now moves to the Senate.
-
HB 1634 Math education establishes requirements regarding: (1) mathematics screening, evaluation, and intervention; and (2) teacher preparation program math curriculum and content. This bill now moves to the Senate.
-
SB 146 Teacher compensation deals with minimum compensation of public school teachers. Although non-public schools are not directly impacted by this, our schools will need to pay attention to teacher compensation in the already competitive marketplace.
-
SB 358 Various education matters allows families or schools to appeal student ineligibility for the Choice Scholarship Program due to data error. This bill now moves to the House.
For more information, tune into our latest version of the Statehouse Express podcast at the link below. This week's episode features Institute for Quality Education President and CEO Betsy Wiley as well as INPEA's John Elcesser and Chris Brunson. We've also included links to the legislative update webinar recording and presentation slides from earlier today.
| |
|
Legislative Liaison Corner
Please share this content with your school community. You can cut and paste this into your regular communications.
The Indiana Non-Public Education Association (INPEA) is proud to be the voice of Hoosier non-public schools at the Statehouse! We have reached the period known as crossover, which marks the halfway point of the session and when bills move from one chamber to the other. Once the state budget heads to the Senate, non-public school stakeholders will need to be alert and vocal with their legislators about the importance of keeping universal choice in the budget. We will also need families to testify in support of universal choice at the Statehouse. If you are interested in sharing your story, please visit https://bit.ly/ATFLParentStory.
Follow INPEA on Twitter or Facebook, subscribe to their newsletters, and visit INPEA’s Legislative Action Center to stay informed about what’s happening at the Statehouse. View INPEA’s 2025 advocacy video to learn more about how you can get involved this legislative session.
| |
|
Save the Date for INPEC 2025!
Will we see you at INPEC 2025 on September 18 and 19 at the Indiana Convention Center? Conference registration will open later this spring but you can find some conference details, including registration fees at https://bit.ly/INPEC2025.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary, we asked past conference attendees to help us choose our keynote speakers. We are pleased to have Gerry Brooks as our Thursday keynote and Kim Bearden as our Friday keynote. Gerry is a veteran educator and social media influencer who spoke at INPEC 2021. Kim is cofounder, executive director, and language arts teacher at Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta. She was the keynote at INPAC 2022.
Mark your calendar for INPEC 2025! We hope to see your team at the conference!
| |
|
Gerry Brooks
Thursday Keynote
| |
|
Kim Bearden
Friday Keynote
| |
|
Register for TitleCon 2025!
Registration is now open for TitleCon 2025: Learning from Yesterday, Planning for Tomorrow, which will be held in Plainfield from Tuesday, April 15, through Thursday, April 17. TitleCon 2025 will bring together hundreds of Indiana educators, including superintendents, principals, program administrators, and fiscal representatives from local educational agencies (LEAs), charter schools, and non-public schools statewide. This two-day conference will feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions designed to provide programmatic and fiscal guidance to help schools strengthen education programs in their communities. Breakout Session topics include student supports, educator supports, family engagement, and grants management with a few sessions focused solely on equitable services. A full schedule of breakout sessions should be available in mid-March. Please stay tuned for more information!
Register for this free conference here. Contact IDOE's Ombudsman with any questions.
Indiana Data Backpacks
It came to our attention recently that IDOE has plans to utilize “data backpacks” to transfer student records when a student transfers schools. In some ways this could make transferring records easier and more efficient. For schools with policies regarding not releasing records for non-payment of tuition, this could be problematic. In essence, it would take away that payment leverage and insert the state into the school’s contractual relationship with families.We have reached out to both our legal counsel and IDOE’s CIO to discuss how best this could be addressed in these breach of contract situations. We will keep you posted.
| |
|
Read the Latest Early Childhood Newsletter
Check out our latest issue of INPEA’s Early Childhood Newsletter! This quarterly newsletter contains curated content specifically for educators focused on our youngest learners. If you have staff we should include in future distribution, please reach out to Andrea Anderson at aanderson@inpea.org.
| |
|
AI Resources in the Indiana Learning Lab
The Indiana Learning Lab has a variety of workshops and other resources available for schools and families on the timely topic of Artificial Intelligence. Schools are invited to share this informational flyer with the parents and families in their community. Check out all the AI resources available at the link below.
| |
|
STEM Opportunity for High School Students
Attention high school leaders! Encourage your students in grades 10 and up to apply for the Perry Outreach Program, a free, one-day, hands-on experience to encourage women to pursue careers in medicine and engineering. This year’s program will be held on Saturday, May 10th at Indiana University Indianapolis. Students will hear from women leaders in these fields and try it for themselves by performing mock orthopaedic surgeries and biomechanics experiments.
Participants should have a passion for science, medicine and/or engineering. Although The Perry Initiative is focused on advancing women in engineering and medicine, all genders may apply to the program so long as they are committed to the program’s mission. Applicants should fill out our online application in advance of the April 15th application deadline. More information and a printable flyer for this event can be found HERE. Additional information can be found at www.perryinitiative.org and the application may be accessed directly at https://perryinitiative.org/pop-application/.
| |
|
Welcome, Five Star Technology Solutions!
Welcome to INPEA’s newest Business Partner, Five Star Technology Solutions! Learn more about what Five Star can offer your school at https://fivestartech.com/.
| |
At Five Star Technology Solutions, we are dedicated to providing innovative and customized technology solutions that empower K-12 districts and dioceses to thrive. We understand the unique challenges dioceses face, and we are committed to working closely with them to develop tailored strategies that enhance educational experiences, streamline operations, and improve overall learning outcomes. Our team is here to support dioceses with comprehensive, scalable solutions that drive success in both the classroom and administrative environments. Together, we can build a future where technology supports the mission of education at every level. | |
|
Embrace the Season of Lent with Free Faith-Building Resources from Friendzy
As we enter the season of Lent, we are reminded of the power of reflection, renewal, and deepening our connection with Christ and one another. To support your school community during this meaningful time, Friendzy is offering free Lent resources designed to encourage faith-centered conversations and strengthen friendships.
Download Friendzy’s Free Lent Resources
To learn more about Friendzy and our incredible faith-based program for students, contact Whitney Stovall at Whitney@friendzy.co to get started!
| |
|
Students Can Save $10,000+ on Their Bachelor’s Degree with Ivy Tech
Ivy Tech is a two-year college, but it’s still a great way for students to start a bachelor’s degree! We have transfer agreements with four-year schools across Indiana and beyond, meaning students can take advantage of Indiana’s best value in higher education, then seamlessly transfer their credits to finish their degree. Ivy Tech offers three transfer pathways:
-
Guaranteed Admissions: Ivy Tech has special agreements with 25 schools that guarantee qualifying students who complete an eligible associate degree are admitted into their bachelor’s programs.
-
Transfer as a Junior: Students in eligible programs can earn an associate degree, then seamlessly transfer to any Indiana public four-year institution with junior status.
-
Start as a Sophomore: Current high school students can complete the Indiana College Core through Ivy Tech, then transfer those credits to another Indiana public college to start as a sophomore.
Learn more at ivytech.edu/tranfer.
| |
|
FREE Workshop for School Leaders
Leaders from Indiana’s non-public schools are invited to join Smekens Education and HMH-Writable for a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 on the science of writing.
Designed for K-12 administrators and instructional leaders, this statewide series will explore how to leverage the science of writing to create a cohesive, research-based writing program that prepares students for success in school and beyond.
Remaining Sessions:
March 5 – Indianapolis (Holiday Inn Indianapolis Airport)
March 6 – Fort Wayne (Region 8 ESC)
March 7 – Lafayette (Courtyard by Marriott East)
Learn more and register: https://www.smekenseducation.com/esc-writing-program/
Questions? Contract Brady Smekens at brady@smekenseducation.com.
| |
|
Maximizing Student Success with Daily Learning Targets| Effective Classroom Management, K-12 Teaching Strategies, School Improvement Initiatives
As educators, we understand the power of setting clear goals, yet in the day-to-day demands of teaching, the impact of daily learning targets (DLTs) can sometimes be overlooked. The truth is simple: what doesn’t get measured, doesn’t grow.
Daily learning targets are more than just objectives—they provide a roadmap for student success, guiding both teachers and learners toward meaningful progress. When implemented effectively, DLTs enhance engagement, sharpen focus, and create measurable outcomes that drive learning forward.
In this blog, we explore the key benefits of daily learning targets, best practices for using them effectively, and real-world examples across grade levels.
Want to see how DLTs can transform your classroom? Read the full blog here.
| |
Thank You to Our Business Partners! | |
Would you like to be come an INPEA Business Partner or know a business that would be a good fit? Check out our website here or contact John Elcesser at jelcesser@inpea.org for more information! | |
|
Mission
The Indiana Non-Public Education Association serves as an advocate,
promotes engagement, and strives for the advancement of non-public schools.
| | | | |
