Dear John,

It’s almost a wrap! The legislative session is finished and most schools are sending students home for the summer this week. It’s hard to believe the school year is over. There are always challenges but overall, it was a very good year. 

To a great extent, COVID was behind us and students received instruction without much interruption. It's certainly about time! We also had another historic legislative session! Reaching almost universal choice will open the door and provide opportunities for families to continue their non-public school education without major sacrifice. As you’ll see below, we will continue to work on tools and resources to help schools get the word out on the expansion. It looks like it will be another busy summer. If you have questions or if we can be of assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, make sure you find some time for some R & R! We all need it! 

Thanks for another great school year!

John, Andrea, and Beatrice

The INPEA Team

Congratulations to All of Our Seniors!

Congratulations on reaching another milestone in your educational career. We have no doubt that you are prepared for your next challenge, whatever it may be. Don’t forget the important lessons learned over the past four (or 12 years). Be a difference maker! The world needs you! Go forth and do us proud!

Register for INPEC 2023!

Have questions about INPEC 2023? Download the INPEC 2023 Registration Brochure! This brochure highlights individual sessions and provides a good overview of the conference. 

We are thrilled to have some amazing featured speakers at this year’s conference. You won’t want to miss sessions on supporting and engaging math learners from 3rd-12th grade led by Dr. David Allsopp and Dr. Sarah van Ingen, faculty from the University of South Florida; a session on emotional intelligence led by Dr. Ignacio Lopez from National Louis University in Chicago; or a session on maximizing small-group instruction led by Jamey Peavler from Mount St. Joseph University. We are also pleased to welcome back conference regulars like Cathy Tooley from Tools for Success, Scott and Tammy Barron from School Growth, and the Friendzy team. Watch for “John’s Top Ten INPEC Sessions” in an upcoming communication! There are so many great sessions planned for INPEC 2023 and you can read more in the registration brochure. 

Please note, due to unforeseen circumstances, Ann Anzalone will not be a featured presenter at INPEC so keep that in mind as you view the brochure. We will update the brochure as soon as we have information about the new speaker and sessions. 

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! 

Another Historic Legislative Session: New Choice Expansion Rollout

If you missed our Choice Expansion Rollout webinars earlier this month, we are happy to share that information with you below.

INPEA and IQE are creating a toolkit of resources to share with all of our schools that will assist you with the rollout. That information will be emailed to you as soon as it is available. In the meantime, here is some text you can include in your school newsletters and church bulletins right now: 

Choice Scholarship Expansion: More Families Eligible!

The Choice Scholarship Program is expanding! The 2023 legislative session resulted in expansions that will enable even more Hoosier families to take advantage of this program. With these changes, the eligibility requirements for the Choice Scholarship Program are:

1. Student must have legal settlement in Indiana.
2. Student must be at least 5 years old and less than 22 years old by October 1st of the school year the student is applying; AND
3. Student is a member of a household with an annual income of not more than 400% of the amount to qualify for the Federal Reduced Lunch Program.

These changes allow many new families to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program for the first time. Please carefully review the income eligibility chart, based on your household adjusted gross income from your 2022 Federal tax returns, line 11. If you now qualify for this program, please reach out to INSERT CONTACT NAME as soon as possible. 

Legislative Session Recap

There has been a lot of focus on the school expansions passed in the biennial budget from the 2023 General Assembly session (as there should be), but there are a number of other bills that should be on your radar.

• SEA 35: Requires that personal financial responsibility be taught in grades 9-12 as a separate subject beginning July 1, 2023. This includes state accredited non-public schools. The bill specifies the topics to be included in the course content. Beginning with the 2028 cohort, students must successfully complete the course as a prerequisite for graduation.
• SEA 72: By October 1, 2023, state accredited non-public schools must report to the IDOE if they teach cursive writing and if so, in what grades.
• SEA 167: Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, each senior in a choice school must complete the FAFSA by April 15, unless a waiver is requested by the parent or guardian or by the school after two attempts to reach the parents.
• SEA 342: Deals with expanded criminal background checks and the possible use of a more comprehensive check if provided by the vendor. It also provides some flexibility with appropriate approvals to hire or continue to employ individuals who have committed certain minor crimes or misconduct.
• SEA 369: State accredited non-pubs must develop a venue-specific emergency plan for sudden cardiac arrest which includes details on how to respond and the location of the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) at the venue. The bill references who must be trained in sudden cardiac arrest, including the use of the AED. It also stipulates where AED must be located at events, but it is a may provision. Schools may apply for grant funding to purchase AEDs through the secured school safety grants.
• SEA 486: Removes teacher training requirements for gangs, homeless students, and seizures. Charges IDOE to create an online platform for various other trainings.
• HEA 1002: Creates a new Career Scholarship Account (CSA) providing funding for workforce development opportunities including CTE courses, concentrators, cost involved with gaining an industry credential, or an apprenticeship opportunity. CSA are a maximum of $5,000 per student per year. The overall program is capped at $5 million in year 1 and $10 million in year 2.
• HEA 1177: Allows an accredited non-pub to apply for a grant to the secured school safety grant for counseling following a school shooting  or to pay for firearms instruction for teachers.
• HEA 1382: Establishes a grant fund for competitive robotics programs. State accredited non-pubs are eligible to participate. A 25% match is required.
• HB 1492: Expands possible uses for the Indiana Secured Schools Grant Fund. The required match is based on the size of the school. Includes may provisions in areas such as school safety specialists, safety plan format, school safety committees, and participation in the county school safety commission.
• HEA 1590: Addresses the definition of science of reading and requires IDOE to publish a listing of high quality curricular materials. Allows access to the Next Level Computer Science Fund to state accredited schools for professional development and for computer science program sustainability.
• HEA 1591: (1) Allows SGO funds to be used for Pre-K tuition, (2) allows null grades to be used for the 22-23 & 23-24 school year but ILEARN results must be published on the school’s website, (3) removes the voucher lottery requirement, and (4) prescribes certain metrics for a revised school performance designation (otherwise known as A-F).
• HEA 1608: Deals with sex education and the use of names and pronouns not aligned with a student's birth sex. Does not apply to non-pubs.
• HEA 1635: Allows non-public schools to issue an adjunct teaching permit when certain qualifications are met. Students can only use the ASVAB pathway for graduation if they intend to enlist. The State Board must develop a revised school performance designation and use A-F designations.

We hope to have more details on these bills after our meeting with

Dr. Jenner in early June.

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

IDOE Updates

Information from the Choice Office

Brad Pendleton’s office continues to recommend not waiting to submit Choice Scholarship Program applications for families that are currently eligible. You only need to wait on applications that are only eligible under the new voucher expansion legislation.

Here are some important dates to note:

• Choice Certification Sessions: June 14th, June 28, July 11
• Annual Choice Conference: July 12 

We will send more information as it becomes available.

Title IV School Safety Funding

The federal government allocated some additional funding through Title IV for school safety funding. Because it was allocated through Title IV, it has an equitable participation requirement for non-public schools. LEAs have the option to apply. If they do, they should consult with non-pubs in their district about applying. The application deadline is July 15, 2023. We encourage you to reach out to your LEA to see if they plan to apply for the Title IV Safety Grant (BSCA: SC Grant).

Get Your Teach On Summer Conferences

IDOE's Office of Student Support and Accessibility, in partnership with Get Your Teach On, is offering four free conferences at locations throughout Indiana this summer! Conferences will take place at the following locations for teachers AND administrators:

• Monday, July 10, through Tuesday, July 11 - Jasper High School, Jasper
• Thursday, July 13, through Friday, July 14 - Decatur Central High School, Indianapolis
• Monday, July 17, through Tuesday, July 18 - Southside Middle School, Muncie
• Thursday, July 20, through Friday, July 21 - Washington High School, South Bend

Teachers will attend a Two-Day Teacher Experience from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Administrators will attend a One-Day Administrator Experience from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first day of the conference. All locations have a maximum capacity of 500 teachers and 250 administrators. Register before they fill up!

Next Level Computer Science Grant

Non-pubs can now participate through HEA 1590! The Designing for Impact: Next Level Computer Science Grant provides opportunities to expand access to engaging and empowering computer science education for all Indiana students. Legislation passed during the 2023 legislative session allows non-public schools to access these funds. 

Computer science plays a critical role in the future Indiana workforce, and preparing students for success through this grant will provide support for improved pedagogy and access to high-quality computer science resources.

The Designing for Impact: Next Level Computer Science Grant was developed to produce the following key results: 

• Increase computer science pedagogical knowledge of in-service and pre-service teachers; 
• Increase teacher understanding of and ability to implement authentic problem solving using computing to address or improve systems and circumstances in local communities; and 
• Provide professional pathways for educators to access and be successful in acquiring transferable credentialing and licensing opportunities. 

For more information, click the link below. 

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.  

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 May 25, 2023:

Andrean High School

Bishop Luers High School

Cardinal Ritter High School

Cathedral High School

Christian Academy of Indiana

Crown Point Christian School

Evansville Christian School

Heritage Christian School

Highland Christian School

Lafayette Central Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School 

Marian High School

Marquette High School

Mater Dei High School

Reitz Memorial High School

Roncalli High School

Saint Joseph High School

Scecina Memorial High School

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School (Fort Wayne)

St. Theodore Guerin High School

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.

Join the Center for Vibrant Schools for an Interactive Speakers Bureau

The Marian University Center for Vibrant Schools is hosting an interactive Speakers Bureau at 9 a.m. EST on Tuesday, June 20 at Alumni Hall on Marian University’s campus in Indianapolis. Julia Freeland Fisher, public speaker and author of Who You Know: Unlocking Innovations That Expand Students’ Networks, will lead an interactive workshop on how to grow a student’s social capital. This workshop will provide valuable insight and tools for school leaders to support students throughout their K-12 experience and beyond. There will be an opportunity to network with other educators.

This event is open to the public. Please RSVP here by June 5, and email vibrantschools@marian.edu. 

Spring 2023 Updates from Ivy Tech:

Free Ivy Tech Courses for High School Students

Did you know that current, incoming, and graduating high school students are all eligible for FREE college courses this summer through Ivy Tech’s Crossing the Finish Line program? This initiative is a partnership between Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana Department of Education, the Commission for Higher Education, and the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet. Completing coursework at Ivy Tech is a great option for students and their families to explore potential careers, get an introduction to the college classroom, earn college credit, and save money.

Interested students should complete this short form. Classes start June 5! Students and families can visit IvyTech.edu/CrossingTheFinishLine for more information.  

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