Dear John,

September and October are some of INPEA's "On the Road Times!" One of my favorite parts of working at INPEA is the opportunity to travel the state and visit our member schools to see the wonderful things going on!

Over the past month, we had the pleasure of visiting Providence Cristo Rey High School (Indianapolis), Colonial Christian School (Indianapolis), Illiana Christian High School (Dyer), Blackhawk Christian School (Fort Wayne), Marian Catholic High School (Mishawaka), Elkhart Christian Academy, and Bishop Chatard High School (Indianapolis). We saw exciting and innovative things happening in the schools we visited. Across the board, enrollments are up with many schools at or near capacity and a number of schools are engaged in building campaigns.

A few of our "tour takeaways" include the extensive Corporate Work Study Program at Providence Cristo Rey, the Bernadette Scholars Program for students with disabilities at Marian, and the building campaign at Illiana that includes, among many things, a new vocational center. Illiana also has a workforce program that features a temperature-controlled growing trailer where basil is grown and sold to local restaurants. Our most recent visit was to Bishop Chatard High School, a newly named National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Although our visits are in and of themselves enjoyable, they also provide us with first-hand experiences to share with legislators at the Statehouse. It also allows us to learn about the best practices at the schools visited that can be shared with other member schools.

Indiana is truly blessed to have many high quality, mission-driven non-public school options for Hoosier families. INPEA considers it a privilege to represent such wonderful schools with IDOE and at the Statehouse.

Hope to see MANY of you in Indy at INPEC next month! It's an event that you and your teachers don't want to miss!

All the best,

John

Register for INPEC 2023!

Thank you to all of the schools that have registered for INPEC 2023! If you haven’t registered yet, what are you waiting for?!?

We have two incredible keynote speakers in Todd Whitaker and Ted Neitzke and 90+ sessions centered around nine learning strands, including one of the best Science of Reading strands available anywhere. And it’s not just for teachers! Multiple learning strands address the challenges and opportunities unique to school leaders with sessions focusing on school culture, teacher pipeline, and fund development, just to name a few! 

Get the most out of your INPEC 2023 experience! We have created an INPEC toolkit, linked below, to help you get the most bang for your buck at the conference. And remember, INPEC is both Title IIA and EANS eligible. If you have funding, registration, or program questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

We hope to see you October 26 and 27 at the Indiana Convention Center for INPEC 2023! 

We hope to see you October 26 and 27 at the

Indiana Convention Center for INPEC 2023!

Grant Opportunity: Free INPEC Registration for Students Enrolled in Teacher Ed programs!

Do you have current teacher ed students serving in your building? Do you know of alumni or even family members enrolled in teacher ed programs? In our efforts to strengthen the teacher pipeline, INPEA received a grant from the James Foundation to help offset the cost for current education students to attend INPEC 2023. Successful applicants will be paired with a seasoned conference attendee who will orient them to INPEC and touch base with them throughout the conference. In addition, they will be invited to attend a coffee talk session with non-public school leaders to learn more about what it’s like to teach in a private school. 

There is a very brief application to complete HERE. Apply by Friday, October 6! Any questions, reach out to Andrea Anderson. 

Capacity Survey Due October 4

Last week, each INPEA member school should have received a link to complete a capacity survey in partnership with EdChoice and the Institute for Quality Education. If you have already completed the survey, THANK YOU! 

We ask that all schools complete the survey by October 4. Gathering comprehensive and accurate data will be critical to our work in the coming years as we work towards universal choice. In addition to identifying capacity in our non-public schools, we also want to identify schools with leadership that are looking to grow their school communities so we can connect them with national organizations who are potentially looking to support K-12 growth, innovation, and entrepreneurialism. 

The survey is linked below for your convenience. Thanks for taking the time for this important work. 

Science of Reading Grant

INPEA elementary schools are encouraged to apply for a competitive Science of Reading grant available through IDOE. State-accredited non-public schools can apply for funds to support one or more of the following activities: 

1. Facilitate high-quality, ongoing, data-driven professional development opportunities for educators and leaders aligned with science of reading;
2. Provide stipends to attend professional development opportunities aligned with science of reading;
3. Employ one full-time (FTE 1.0) K-3 literacy coach trained in science of reading with no shared teaching or administrative responsibilities;
4. Implementation of a multi-tiered support system (MTSS) to reduce the number of struggling readers in grades K-3;
5. Support students identified as struggling readers in grades K-3, including augmenting staff resources in part or full time capacities; or
6. Purchase core literacy curriculum or supplemental materials in grades K-3 aligned with science of reading.

The current grant period is November 3, 2023 through May 31, 2024, which means that all grant funds need to be expended by this date.

For more information and to apply, click here.

Bipartisan Safer Communities: Stronger Connections Grant



In 2022, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), an important first step toward reducing the risk of gun violence in our schools and communities. The goals of the BSCA-SCG are to support evidence-based programs, structures, approaches, and practices that will increase school safety, better meet the increasingly urgent mental health needs of identified youth and to increase the safety and emotional well-being of all students.

The following INPEA member schools are located in school corporations that received grant funding for the 2023-2024 school year:

• Ambassador Christian Academy, Gary
• Annunciation School at Christ the King, Evansville
• Annunciation School at Holy Spirit, Evansville
• Bishop Chatard High School, Indianapolis
• Cardinal Ritter High School, Indianapolis
• Cathedral High School, Indianapolis
• Central Catholic School, Indianapolis
• Central Christian Academy, Indianapolis
• Christ the King Catholic School, Indianapolis
• Corpus Christi Catholic School, Evansville
• Emmaus Lutheran School, Indianapolis
• Evansville Lutheran School, Evansville
• Good Shepherd Catholic School, Evansville
• Greenwood Christian Academy, Greenwood
• Holy Angels Catholic School, Indianapolis
• Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Evansville
• Holy Rosary Catholic School, Evansville
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, Indianapolis
• Lafayette Christian School, Lafayette
• Mater Dei High School, Evansville
• MTI School of Knowledge, Indianapolis
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Indianapolis
• Providence Cristo Rey High School, Indianapolis
• Purpose of Life Academy, Indianapolis
• Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville
• Resurrection Catholic School, Evansville
• Riverview Adventist Christian Academy, Evansville
• Scecina Memorial High School, Indianapolis
• School for Community Learning, Indianapolis
• St. Anthony Catholic School, Indianapolis
• St. Benedict Cathedral School, Evansville
• St. Boniface Catholic School, Lafayette
• St. James Catholic School, Lafayette
• St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, Indianapolis
• St. John Lutheran School, LaPorte
• St. Joseph Catholic School, Corydon
• St. Joseph Catholic School, Evansville
• St. Lawrence Catholic School, Lafayette
• St. Mary Catholic School, Griffith
• St. Mary Catholic School, Rushville
• St. Michael Catholic School, Muncie
• St. Michael-St. Gabriel Catholic School, Indianapolis
• St. Maria Goretti Catholic School, Westfield
• St. Mary Cathedral School, Lafayette
• St. Matthew Catholic School, Mt. Vernon
• St. Philip Catholic School, Mt. Vernon
• St. Philip Neri Catholic School, Indianapolis
• St. Therese Little Flower Catholic School, Indianapolis
• St. Thomas Aquinas School, Indianapolis
• St. Vincent de Paul School, Bedford
• St. Wendel Catholic School, Wadesville
• Sts. Francis and Clare Catholic School, Greenwood
• The Oaks Academy-Brookside, Indianapolis
• The Oaks Academy-Fall Creek, Indianapolis
• The Oaks Academy-Middle School, Indianapolis
• Tabernacle Christian School, Martinsville
• Washington Catholic Schools, Washington
• Westside Catholic School, Evansville

These schools should be consulted with by these LEAs about your participation in the grant. Reach out to your LEA for additional information on the process for ensuring your participation.

HEA 1591 Clarification

As you are aware, the General Assembly extended the null grades for two more years while a new A-F system is developed. In the interim, schools are required to post certain information on their websites. IDOE has provided a report card template. Please note that one category listed is “per pupil cost.” This information is NOT required of non-public schools.

Information should be posted on your website by October 15. The memo from IDOE says the posting is required of state accredited non-public schools. Typically, anything to do with A-F applies to state accredited and choice schools. Since all of the required information can be found on the GPS dashboard, there is no reason a choice school should be hesitant to post. Reach out to INPEA with any questions. 

Updates from the State Ombudsman 

Check out the Title Grants Newsletter which is updated every Thursday. Please check for updates that may affect your local school districts and your equitable share of Title funding. New this week: information about enrollment count dates for Title funding equitable shares and ESEA Title VIII, Part F Guidance. 

To access the Title Grants & Support calendar, visit this link, which will automatically update as changes occur. This calendar features Title I-IV and ESSER deadlines, Title Grants events, and other key dates.

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. 

Garrett has created an Agreement and Consultation document and Waiver of Services Flow Chart and Form for your use.

Marian University Speakers Bureau

The Marian University Center for Vibrant Schools is hosting a Speakers Bureau on Monday, October 16 at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Huntington Hall Family Room (2616 W. 30th Street, Indianapolis IN 46222). School leaders will be discussing how to address school-day challenges and remove barriers to student success. The main speaker will be Kevin Teasley, Founder and CEO of Indianapolis-based Greater Education Opportunities Foundation. A panel discussion will follow. Email questions to vibrantschools@marian.edu.

Opportunities to Promote the Arts

So many of our member high schools have a rich fine arts program. We are excited to get two arts-related items on your radar: The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge and Poetry Out Loud. 

The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), is now accepting submissions for the 2023-24 program, an opportunity for high school students to develop and showcase musical compositions that could be a part of a musical theater production. This year, even more resources and constructive critique opportunities will be available for participating students to cultivate their songwriting skills. The deadline is December 4, 2023. For more information, click here.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. The Poetry Out Loud website includes several resources for students and educators.

Fall 2023 Updates from Ivy Tech 

Get a Head Start with Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment

Each year, more than 70,000 high school students earn college credits through Ivy Tech’s Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment programs. We offer career-focused certificates that prepare students to enter the workforce as soon as they graduate, as well as options like Start as a Sophomore that give students an affordable start on their degree while they’re still in high school.



Taking college courses in high school can benefit students in many other ways too. By enrolling in a college class, students can:

• Get a better understanding of what is expected in college
• Build confidence in their ability to handle college
• Improve their time management skills, study habits, and independence
• Access Ivy Tech resources like the library and tutoring services
• Connect with employers in the fields they’re interested in pursuing

Ivy Tech’s second 8-week term starts October 23. Explore our options for high schoolers and encourage your students to get a head start on their futures this fall!

Innovative Opportunities for Training and Licensure

INPEA Business Partner, MathTrack presented at our September Board of Directors meeting about their innovative approaches to address the national math teacher shortage. MathTrack is now an institute of higher education and a federally-approved Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program through the U.S. Department of Labor. As an approved Education Preparation Provider, MathTrack specializes in training and licensing mathematics teachers for grades 5-12. Their programs are tailored for paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, substitute teachers, and those with emergency licenses. Click on the links below to learn more about these exciting, innovative opportunities. Contact MathTrack for more information at https://www.mathtrack.co/contact. 

AskRose Free Math and Science Tutoring from Rose-Hulman 

For over 30 years, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has offered FREE help with science and math homework for students in grades 6-12. AskRose is a world-class tutoring service that is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. Tutors are Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students who major in math, science, or engineering. They help students work through math and science homework questions. Tutors don’t give out answers; they help students understand concepts. Tutoring is available via phone, live chat, email, and interactive screen share. 

Contact AskRose at 877-275-7673 or at www.askrose.org between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. ET, Sunday through Thursday. 

Want to spread the word to your school community, visit https://askrose.org/educator-resources/ to see a selection of posters, flyers, social graphics, and other tools for you to use to make sure that your students, your stakeholders, or anyone you know who may be fumbling with fractions can receive help from AskRose. 

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