Dear John,

Summers certainly aren't what they used to be for educators! Remember the days when June, July, and August were set aside for educators (and students) to rejuvenate? Not anymore! Nowadays, one school year runs right into the next one! 

Even with greatly shortened summers, it is critical that we all make time "to be away," whether that be mentally, physically, or both. Search out those opportunities! It might involve taking a vacation, enjoying a staycation, or even simply visiting a park or reading that pleasure book you never can make time for; all are opportunities to relax, renew, and rejuvenate. Unless we are purposeful and strategic about taking care of ourselves, it just won't happen.

When we take the time...make the time…we'll be in a much better state of mind to greet next year's students with a passion-filled love for this wonderful profession of teaching!

Summer Blessings,

John, Andrea, and Beatrice

The INPEA Team

Register for INPEC 2023!

Get your team registered for INPEC 2023! With nearly 100 sessions in nine learning strands, there is something for every non-pub educator at INPEC 2023. 

Unfamiliar with INPEC? Here’s what Guerin Catholic High School teacher Steve Perkins said about his first INPEC experience in 2021:

“As a veteran teacher of 30 years, this was my first time to attend INPEC. Over my career, I have attended many conferences, and as an Indiana Teacher of The Year (2014), I have led numerous sessions. There was a great atmosphere at INPEC. Everyone seemed genuinely excited to learn together, and that makes for the best experience.”

Steve will be leading a session at INPEC 2023, “A Platform for Student Voices: Podcasting and the Secondary Classroom.”

Registration is now open! We hope you are making plans to bring your team to the conference! Keep in mind that there are some funding options available to you. You can use Title IIA funds or EANS funds. 

We hope to see you October 26 and 27 at the

Indiana Convention Center for INPEC 2023! 

Choice Expansion Rollout Launch

INPEA and the Institute for Quality Education have prepared a communications toolkit to assist you and your families with communicating the new changes to the Choice Scholarship Program, Tax Credit Scholarship Program, and the ESA Program. Here are some helpful links from the toolkit launch webinar from June 27.  

Thank You, School Donors

Every year we ask our member schools to consider giving to INPEA above and beyond their annual dues so we can continue to make strides in legislation, professional development, and consultation for Indiana's non-public schools. We want to thank the following schools who stepped up so far this school year to donate money above their individual school membership dues, as of June 29, 2023:

Andrean High School, Merrillville

Bishop Chatard High School, Indianapolis

Bishop Luers High School, Fort Wayne

Bishop Noll Institute, Hammond

Cardinal Ritter High School, Indianapolis

Cathedral High School, Indianapolis

Central Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School, Lafayette

Christian Academy of Indiana, New Albany

Crown Point Christian School, St. John

DeMotte Christian Schools, DeMotte

Evansville Christian School, Newburgh

Heritage Christian School, Indianapolis

Highland Christian School, Highland

Illiana Christian High School, Dyer

Marian High School, Mishawaka

Marquette High School, Michigan City

Mater Dei High School, Evansville

Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville

Roncalli High School, Indianapolis

Saint Joseph High School, South Bend

Scecina Memorial High School, Indianapolis

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, Fort Wayne

St. Joseph Grade School, South Bend

St. Peter’s Lutheran School, Columbus

St. Theodore Guerin High School, Noblesville

If your school has the ability and the heart to give to our annual fund campaign, you can find more information on giving online or sending in a check here. Or feel free to reach out to Beatrice Bursten for more information.

Ready to Rock the Block?

Are you looking for a way to boost enrollment and community awareness about your school? Partner with IQE/My School Options to host a Rock the Block Celebration! Already planning a summer event? Invite IQE/MSO to join you! 

We are please to have seven INPEA member schools with Rock the Block Celebrations planned:

Covenant Christian School in Mishawaka: May 25

Ascension Lutheran School in Gary: May 26

St. Stanislaus Catholic School in East Chicago: July 8

Emmaus Lutheran School in Fort Wayne: July 19

St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic School in Indianapolis: July 22

Trinity Lutheran School in Hobart: July 22

Holy Angels Catholic School in Indianapolis: July 29 

For more information about setting up your Rock the Block, reach out to Sarah Milligan at sarah@myschooloptions.org. 

Here’s what Alison Noakes, principal at Covenant Christian School in Mishawaka said about their event in May:

"We teamed up with IQE/MSO, for an awesome event gathering many community members. The objectives for this event were to 1. Have a fun and safe event for the community and 2. Increase awareness of Covenant Christian School and other educational partnerships in the Michiana area. Covenant Christian staff members were giving tours to interested families while IQE was spreading information about the wonderful opportunities that Indiana families now have! While these important events were taking place, families ate at food trucks, learned about offerings in our community all while students had a blast with friends playing Extreme Ball, Soccer Shots, enjoying Kona Ice, and more! It was definitely a night to remember as history was made giving Covenant Christian School the highest enrollment that we have ever had. That evening, parents learned that they have a choice on how they educate their children- what can be better than that!"

My School Options Parent Info Sessions

The Institute for Quality Education and My School Options (MSO) are looking for schools to host a Parent Information Session so families may have the opportunity to learn more about the Indiana’s Choice Scholarship (Voucher) Program and find out if they now qualify because of recent legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly.  

During these sessions a member of the MSO Outreach Team will take the time to explain the different choice programs (Voucher and Tax Credit Scholarship) available and how to qualify and apply for these programs. The goal is to empower families when it comes to their child’s education by making them aware of and participating in school choice. 

Sessions will be scheduled with the MSO team through August 2023. To schedule a session, please contact:

Sarah Milligan

Assistant Director of Community Engagement

My School Options 

Sarah@myschooloptions.org

812-272-7216

Secured School Safety Grant Application Update

The Fiscal Year 2024 Secured School Safety Grant (FY24 SSSG) application period will open June 26, 2023.  

Before submitting your application, you should:

1. Be registered in IntelliGrants.
2. Have an active bidder number with the state of Indiana.
3. Have an active supplier number with the state of Indiana.
4. Sign up for Grant updates.

The period of performance for the FY24 SSSG will be

Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2024.

The application will close Monday, July 26, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. ET. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. For more information, submit your questions to the Grant Management support ticket.

IDOE Updates

With the new fiscal and school year approaching, there are a LOT of updates from IDOE to share! Please read the information below for updates relevant to non-public schools! 

Guidance on New Legislation

The IDOE team has prepared a document that can serve as a one-stop-shop as you work to interpret and implement the new laws applicable to your school. They will continue to update and expand this document as they work through the many new laws passed in 2023. Any future updates will be added to this comprehensive guidance document and shared via the weekly newsletter. You might also consider bookmarking this page for convenient access.

Clarification on ASVAB Graduation Pathway Guidance

In an effort to provide clarification surrounding new legislation impacting students using the ASVAB as a means to fulfill graduation pathway requirements, this memo has been updated. Please see the Applicable Graduation Cohorts section of the memo for additional clarification on this new legislation. Contact StudentPathways@doe.in.gov with any questions. 

REMINDER: 2023-2024 Reading Plan and Dyslexia Reporting Submissions Due Friday, June 30 

All accredited non-public schools with students enrolled in grades K-3 must submit elementary reading plans to IDOE by June 30. These schools also have the option to report dyslexia screening information for the 2022-2023 school year. More information is available here. Contact IDOE’s Literacy Center with questions or for additional guidance.

21st Century Scholars Program Eligibility + Federal Hot Lunch Participation Information

New for the 2023-2024 year, HEA 1449 states that the Commission for Higher Education and IDOE shall identify and notify students that meet program eligibility requirements for the 21st Century Scholars Program. Eligibility will be determined by FRL program eligibility. 

IDOE asks non-public schools to report FRL program eligibility information in Data Exchange, even if a school doesn’t participate in the program. It is important that INPEA member schools report this information so that all students who are eligible for the 21st Century Scholars Program are kept informed. Additionally, INPEA is compiling a master list of schools that do NOT participate in the Federal Hot Lunch Program. 

Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace is Live

The Indiana Educator Talent Marketplace is now live. Current and emerging educators can now create talent profiles to match with schools that meet their job search criteria. Candidate profiles will be accessible to all schools that opted into the full Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Indiana superintendents and/or HR directors interested in the next opportunity to opt-in to the full Nimble ATS are invited to complete the following JotForm. Additional information about the statewide partnership with Nimble can be found here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.

REMINDER: Nominate an Educator for Teacher of the Year

The Indiana Teacher of the Year Program works to inspire, rejuvenate, and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. Local schools are encouraged to participate in an annual selection process and local Teacher(s) of the Year are encouraged to complete the state application process by Friday, July 7. More information on the 2024 Indiana Teacher of the Year selection process can be found here. Contact intoy@doe.in.gov with any questions.

Federal Stronger Connections Funding

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) provides $1 billion in funding to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) to be distributed under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The BSCA specifies that SEAs must make competitive subgrants to high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), as determined by the SEA, for activities that support safe and healthy students under section 4108 of the ESEA. BSCA section 4108 funds have been designated as the Stronger Connections grant program to distinguish it from the regular Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program, which funds a broader range of activities, including activities to support well-rounded educational opportunities and the effective use of educational technology.

An eligible school district applying for a Stronger Connections subgrant must consult with appropriate private school officials before the entity makes any decision that affects the opportunities of eligible private school children and educators to participate (ESEA section 8501(c)(3)). Such consultation might include a brief survey of non-public schools or other information gathering to indicate the schools’ interest in participating and the population to be served. If a school district is successful in receiving a Stronger Connections subgrant, it must continue to consult with interested private school officials on the specific services the school district will provide students and educators, consistent with the school district’s approved application, including any limitations or priorities established by the Indiana Department of Education.

Grant Information and State Ombudsman Office Hours 

Check out the Title Grants Newsletter. The Grants team posts weekly updates on Thursdays for Title grants. Please check for updates that may affect your local school districts and your equitable share of Title funding.

The Title Grants and Support team have created a new Title Grants & Support calendar for the field. This calendar will feature Title I-IV and ESSER deadlines, Title Grants events, and other key dates. This link will automatically update as changes occur and is a great resource to bookmark.

Garrett Wilson has recurring office hours to handle federal grant questions every Thursday from 2:00-2:30 p.m. You can join his office hours here.

Updated Annual Consultation and Agreement Form

Garrett Wilson has provided this form for schools to use in their upcoming meetings.  

Syntax: A Crucial Piece of Comprehension Instruction 

By Dr. Anne Elsener, Marian University Center for Vibrant Schools

A reader’s ability to comprehend individual sentences is the foundation of successful reading comprehension. According to professor of cognitive psychology Daniel Willingham, readers engage in these three processes in reading comprehension: 



1. Extracting ideas from sentences;
2. Connecting these ideas to one another; and
3. Building a general idea of what the text is about.

This means that in order to understand what they read, students must understand the meaning of individual sentences and how these sentences build upon each other to create a meaningful passage.

Teachers can support students in overall reading comprehension through syntax instruction. Read more about syntax at the link below. 

Summer 2023 Updates from Ivy Tech 

Summer is the perfect time to get ready for college! If your student is still trying to decide which of Ivy Tech’s 70+ programs are right for them, we recommend they join us for Tuesdays@TheTech. Ivy Tech locations around the state are open every Tuesday to answer questions about registration, offer career coaching, give campus tours, and help students figure out what classes are right for them. Each month highlights one of Ivy Tech’s eight schools, shining a spotlight on the opportunities they offer and the ways they prepare their students for success. Encourage your students to visit Ivy Tech this summer so they’re prepared to join us this fall.

Indiana Learns Grant Program 

Indiana Learns is a statewide grant program offering eligible students $500 for high-dosage tutoring. We recently expanded our eligibility criteria and are thrilled to now serve 3rd-8th grade Indiana students who also:

• Qualify for Federal Free or Reduced Lunch in 2022 or no later than October 2023
• Scored below proficiency in either Mathematics or English/Language Arts on ILEARN

You can learn more on our website, IndianaLearns.org. 



There have been several program updates, including that individual schools can now apply to be Learning Partners and provide tutoring to eligible students during the school day. Tutoring must be outside of tier 1 math and language arts instruction. The full list of requirements can be found on our website. We strongly encourage schools with eligible students to consider applying to serve as an Indiana Learns learning partner. As a partner, you can charge up to $100 per student/per hour. These funds can be used to pay teachers and for materials related to the tutoring experience. You can apply here if interested, and reach out to avanneman@themindtrust.org with any questions. 

Contact: Khaliah Williams

Contact: Cathy Tooley

Contact: Dr. Ken Britt

Contact: Dr. Kevin Berkopes

Contact: Alex Urrea

Agudath Israel of America

Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Association of Christian Schools International

Christian Schools International

Diocese of Evansville

Diocese of Fort Wayne- South Bend

Diocese of Gary

Diocese of Lafayette

Indiana Association of Independent Schools

Indiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - Indiana District

The Lutheran School Partnership