Indiana

The information contained on this page has been codeveloped with the Indiana Department of Education, but due to the changing nature of this work, all plans and project information on this page should be considered a DRAFT

Technical Assistance in Indiana: Year 1

Overview of Planned Work

 

Project 1: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) believes that STEM education creates innovative thinkers, increases disciplinary literacy, and builds the next generation of innovators. With strong academic standards for English language arts and mathematics and the development of the Next Generation Science Standards, IDOE will help districts across the state implement the standards in a more comprehensive and cohesive way. IDOE’s STEM initiative has become a major priority with aims to increase gender and demographic equity of access to and participation in STEM education, and to provide students with solid knowledge bases in the STEM content areas. 

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center's objective for this project is to Build IDOE organizational capacity to design and implement a STEM model for Indiana secondary schools.

The strategies for technical assistance that Great Lakes will use for this project include: 

  • Assisting Indiana in organizing an internal structure to provide leadership and assistance to STEM programs and establishing a leadership role in the Indiana STEM Task Force.
  • Assisting Indiana in building relationships with STEM educators and advocates from across the state.
  • Assisting Indiana in connecting with experts and resources on STEM education.
  • Assisting Indiana in designing and conducting programs and events to address gender equity and gender-balanced participation in STEM.
  • Collaborating with the Center on College and Career Readiness and Success, Center on Standards and AssessmentImprovement, and Center on Building State Capacity and Productivity.

Project 2: Response to Instruction (RTI)

RTI in Indiana has been a major initiative since 2009. Recently, IDOE conducted a statewide survey of RTI practices and needs. Survey responses indicated that there is a considerable need for continuous guidance and professional development. IDOE has requested technical assistance in improving instruction and achievement for all Indiana students by providing leadership and assistance to districts in creating and implementing RTI models.

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Centers Objective for this project is to build IDOE organizational capacity to provide expertise, assistance, and models of RTI.

The strategies for technical assistance that Great Lakes will use for this project might include: 

  • Assisting Indiana in creating a new, improved RTI guidance document.
  • Identifying and supporting a cadre of school districts that model RTI.
  • Building and implementing systems of support for schools and districts, including developing regional outreach support programs.
  • Identifying the relationships of effective formative assessment models and RTI models.
  • Collaborating with assessment staff and curriculum staff at IDOE, and with the Great Lakes Equity Center.

Project 3: Formative Assessment

Indiana’s Formative Assessment initiative started in December 2011, when IDOE brought a team of staff and leaders from five Indiana school districts to a regional Formative Assessment conference hosted by Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest, Great Lakes East Comprehensive Center, and Great Lakes West Comprehensive Center. Following the conference, IDOE organized a Formative Assessment leadership team that included IDOE and Great Lakes East staff, representatives from four lead districts, and representatives from mCLASS Wireless Generation and Acuity McGraw Hill. In May 2012, three more districts were invited to join the leadership team, which went on to present a series of 13 workshops over seven days in seven different regions to more than 500 Indiana educators. Workshop survey responses indicated that across the state, there is considerable need and interest in scaling up the Formative Assessment initiative in 2013 and IDOE expressed an interest in Great Lakes Comprehensive Centers support.

Assessment staff members at IDOE and their leadership team, including seven Indiana districts, are convinced that the effective practice of formative assessment by classroom teachers has a significant positive impact on student achievement. IDOE promotes the work of Margaret Heritage, assistant director for professional development at the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) at the University of California, Los Angeles. GLCC will work closely with the Center on Standards and Assessment Improvement to provide research-based resources to IDOE.

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center's Objective for this project is to build IDOE organizational capacity to provide expertise and assistance in the creation and implementation of formative assessment models in Indiana schools.

The strategies for technical assistance that Great Lakes will use for this project include: 

  • Assisting Indiana in developing a Formative Assessment leadership team.
  • Establishing a statewide Formative Assessment Community of Practice.
  • Codesigning and providing help to sponsor professional learning events on formative assessment.
  • Identifying the relationships of effective formative assessment models and RTI models.
  • Collaborating with RTI and curriculum staff at IDOE, seven lead Formative Assessment school districts, and the Center on Standards and Assessment Improvement.

Project 4: Support for Districts Not Meeting Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs)

Indiana assists and monitors the progress of districts not meeting Title III AMAOs. With the support of Great Lakes East, IDOE has provided workshops for these districts. IDOE has recently requested the help of Great Lakes Comprehensive Center to develop and provide additional support for districts not meeting AMAOs.

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center's objective for this project is to build IDOE organizational capacity to provide technical assistance for districts not meeting AMAOs.

The strategies for technical assistance that Great Lakes will use for this project include: 

  • Assisting Indiana in identifying districts and their needs.
  • Codesigning a systems of monitoring districts progress toward meeting AMAOs.
  • Codesigning and coconducting professional learning opportunities for districts not meeting AMAOs.
  • Designing a process to be used annually for districts not meeting AMAOs and districts that are in danger of falling into this category. 
  • Collaborating with Great Lakes Equity Center, Center on College and Career Readiness and Success, Center on Innovations in Learning, Center on Building State Capacity and Productivity

Project 5: Support for Migrant Education

The Indiana Department of Education intends to improve educational and support services to migrant students and their families. Across the state of Indiana there are approximately 1,000 eligible migrant students. IDOE has requested technical assistance from Great Lakes Comprehensive Center in planning and implementing migrant education services.

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center's objective for this project is to build IDOE organizational capacity to identify needs and begin responsive programs and services.

The strategies for technical assistance that Great Lakes will use for this project might include: 

  • Assisting the SEA in building an internal team, creating and implementing a process of identifying instructional and support needs for migrant students and their families, and creating and implementing strategies and programs to deliver services.
  • Collaborating with the Great Lakes Equity Center.

Map of Indiana with a pin.