May 2026 Newsletter

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

We are so proud of our 2026 graduates and thankful for the INPEA educators who have shepherded them along their journey. Pictured above are graduates from Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.

Part of representing Hoosier non-public schools involves serving as Indiana's delegate to the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). It is always interesting to attend these meetings and hear updates from across the country. I often walk away grateful for what we have in Indiana. We have non-public schools that are collaborative and supportive of one another, a state government that understands the important role we play in Indiana’s educational landscape, and positive, working relationships with public school representatives. That is not always the case in other states. It makes me grateful to be a Hoosier.

One prominent agenda item at our recent CAPE meeting was the federal tax credit scholarship program. This program was created as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping budget reconciliation package covering taxes, spending, and other federal priorities, signed into law on July 4, 2025. Although many details are still to be determined, this new federal program could have important implications for Indiana families and the non-public schools that serve them.

The federal tax credit program is notable because it offers a 100% tax credit of up to $1,700 for taxpayers, with eligible donations beginning January 1, 2027. We are hearing that the U.S. Treasury Department may release the first draft of rules this summer—perhaps as soon as May. There are two key questions we are waiting to have answered:

If a bordering state does not opt into the program, can students who reside in those states but attend a non-public school in Indiana be eligible for a scholarship?
Does the $1,700 tax credit mean that if a married couple donates to a federal scholarship-granting organization (SGO), they are eligible for a $3,400 tax credit?

There are additional details we will be watching closely. As always, once draft rules are released, we will communicate with our stakeholders so schools can have informed conversations within their communities.

Wishing everyone a peaceful spring. May God grant you strength for the final leg of the journey.

Warm regards,

James McNeany

INPEA Executive Director

INPEA Summer Special Education Summit

sponsored by

Registration Deadline is TOMORROW!

Summer Special Education Summit

June 5, 2026 ⬥ 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

St. Theodore Guerin High School, Noblesville

Don’t miss out on this important PD! Registration closes on Friday, May 22!

Join INPEA on June 5 for a summer special education summit at St. Theodore Guerin High School. Our keynote will be Dr. Martin Scanlan, author and professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College.

Breakout sessions will be centered around four learning tracks:

Beginning a Special Education Program
Elementary Focus
Secondary Focus
Administrative Focus

The cost to register is $25 per person and you must register by May 22, 2026. Please note, registration is limited to INPEA member schools only. Additional information, including a schedule, is linked below.

Thank you to all the schools that have already registered for the special education summit! Please check your spam folder for your invoice if you don’t see it in your inbox. Everyone who registered by May 18 was sent additional information earlier this week. If you did not receive this email, please reach out to Andrea Anderson.

Download the Summer Special Education Summit Flyer

View the Special Education Summit Schedule

INPAC 2026 Registration Now Open!

Registration for #INPAC2026 is now open! If you have funds available this fiscal year, now is an excellent time to get registered!

INPAC is the ONLY conference designed specifically for non-public school leaders in Indiana.

Here are just a few reasons why you should register for INPAC:

The opportunity to connect or reconnect with colleagues from across the state.
Outstanding keynote speakers that will re-energize you and celebrate how INPEA leaders are “Grounded in Purpose. Guided by Hope.”
An incredible Thursday pre-conference focused on Serving English Language Learners with a keynote from University of Notre Dame’s Dr. Kevin Baxter and four breakout sessions.
Twenty breakout sessions led by nationally-recognized and locally-loved presenters, centered around the learning strands of All Things Indiana, Educational Technology, Instructional Leadership, and Operational Vitality.
Learning opportunities for school administrators, pastors, board members, business managers, development directors, aspiring leaders, and more! Whether you are new to your role or a seasoned administrator, there will be something for you at INPAC!

Can’t come for the full conference? No problem! A variety of registration options are available and INPEA members receive a discount. You can pay via check, credit card, or use Title funds.

We hope you will join us for INPAC 2026 on September 24 & 25, 2026 at the Renaissance Hotel in Carmel. You can find more information at https://bit.ly/INPAC2026.

IDOE Updates

Cambridge International Math and Science Grant Applications Due July 17

The 2026-2027 Cambridge Math and Science Grant, funded by House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1001, is designed to support any school or corporation interested in increasing student enrollment and improving student scores in math and science. The application is now open, and applicants can request up to $25,000 per school. The grant implementation cycle begins on Wednesday, July 1, and ends on June 30, 2027. Applicable expenses made before completing the grant application can be reimbursed. Completed grant applications are due Friday, July 17.

2026 IAS and Content Connectors for K-12 Social Studies Now Available

The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) approved updated K-12 Indiana Academic Standards (IAS) and Content Connectors (CCs) for K-12 Social Studies as part of the regularly scheduled standards revision cycle pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 20-31-3-2. All updated IAS and CCs are now accessible on IDOE’s Indiana Academic Standards webpage.

Standards Revision and Implementation Guidance Now Available

IDOE facilitates the formal revision of IAS at least once every six years pursuant to IC 20-31-3-3. The previously shared Standards Revision and Implementation Guidance is now available on IDOE’s Indiana Academic Standards webpage. It reflects the standards revision and (instructional and assessment) implementation schedule for specific content areas for the next two to five years, as well as implementation details for IDOE’s High Quality Curriculum Materials evaluation process.

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 20, 2026:

Andrean High School, Merrillville

Bishop Chatard High School, Indianapolis

Bishop Noll Institute, Hammond

Blackhawk Christian Schools, Fort Wayne

Cardinal Ritter High School, Indianapolis

Cathedral High School, Indianapolis

Crown Point Christian School, St. John

Evansville Christian School, Newburgh

Heritage Christian School, Indianapolis

Highland Christian School, Highland

Lafayette Catholic School System, Lafayette

Mater Dei High School, Evansville

Providence Cristo Rey High School, Indianapolis

Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville

Roncalli High School, Indianapolis

Scecina Memorial High School, Indianapolis

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.

Congrats to Dr. Chaya Tabor

Congratulations to INPEA board member, Dr. Chaya Tabor, on earning her doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Loyola University Chicago earlier this month. Dr. Tabor is the general studies principal at South Bend Hebrew Day School and serves as the Agudath Israel jurisdiction representative on the INPEA board. We are proud of you, Dr. Tabor!

ADAC Consultation Guide

Our partners at ADAC Advocacy have developed a practical guide to help INPEA member schools prepare for IDEA Equitable Services Consultation with their LEA. This resource is designed to support schools as they prepare for consultation meetings and engage in discussions about services for eligible students.

Download ADAC Consultation Guide

Student to Student® Indianapolis

Indianapolis-area schools are invited to check out an incredible opportunity led by the Indianapolis Jewish Relations Council. The Student to Student® program helps break down stereotypes by putting a human face to members of the Jewish community.

Presenters discuss a range of topics, including:

A typical day in the life of a Jewish teenager
Jewish holidays and the sabbath
The Hebrew language
The Holocaust
Antisemitism

For more information, email the JCRC at rfriedman@indyjcrc.org or yshmukler@indyjcrc.org.

Download More Information

Strengthen Literacy Instruction This Summer with Marian University

Help transform literacy instruction this summer with professional learning opportunities from the Marian University Center for Vibrant Schools. Our Orton-Gillingham Approach trainings equip educators with proven, research-backed strategies designed to strengthen foundational literacy skills and support student success. These sessions are ideal for K-3 educators, interventionists, literacy specialists, and school teams seeking high-quality, practical professional development.

Participants will complete asynchronous online modules before attending two full-day training sessions offered both in person and virtually, providing flexibility for busy summer schedules. Click here to learn more.

Already completed a literacy training with the Center for Vibrant Schools? Join our half-day booster session to refine instructional routines, troubleshoot implementation challenges, and deepen your practice. Click here to learn more.

Five questions before you plan writing PD

The Science of Writing has given us clearer answers than ever about how students learn to write. The harder question — the one that determines whether any of that research shows up in your classrooms — is what it takes to translate the science into changed practice.

Before planning your next writing PD initiative, ask:

Are we changing instruction, or adopting a program?
How long are we willing to commit?
Are we transferring information, or building capacity?
Who's accountable for implementation?
Are teachers following a roadmap they helped build, or making it up, classroom by classroom?

This is the work Smekens Education does. Whether your school is just beginning to build a writing emphasis and wants to register teachers for the Ignite to Write conference, or it's ready for a focused, customized multi-year partnership, Smekens has services to support schools of every size. To talk through where your school is right now and what a sensible next step might look like, contact Brady Smekens directly at 888-376-0448, or use this link to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

As the school year winds down, it can be tempting to ease expectations and simply coast to the finish line — but those final weeks still matter. This blog is a powerful reminder that leadership, consistency, and student impact are often shaped most in the moments when everyone is tired. Read more here → Don’t Let the Finish Line Steal Your Impact

As the school year comes to a close, leadership still sets the tone. This blog is a reminder for school leaders to stay visible, intentional, and consistent — because the way a school finishes the year shapes what staff and students carry forward. Read more here → Finishing Strong Starts with You

Thank You to Our Business Partners!

Contact: Jamie Oancea

Contact: Mike Rivard

Contact: Nathan Davidson

Contact: Joy Roberts

Contact: Mike Collins

Contact: Katie Lash

Contact: Dr. Ken Britt

Contact: Valerie Vallejo

Contact: Brady Smekens

Contact: Cathy Tooley

Would you like to become an INPEA Business Partner or know a business that would be a good fit? Check out our website here or contact Chris Brunson at cbrunson@inpea.org for more information!