Welcome to the Educational Awareness podcast. I am excited to kick off our series, America’s Education Past and Future. This is a topic I have wanted to discuss for a while now, and I finally found books written by experts that helped me put it all together.

In this episode, Melissa discusses the recent executive order signed by President Trump aimed at expanding educational freedom and opportunities for families. The order emphasizes parental rights in education, highlights the need for school choice, and outlines various provisions to support educational alternatives. The conversation also touches on the current state of K-12 education in the U.S., the impact of school choice programs, and the administration's commitment to improving educational outcomes for all children.

In this episode, Melissa discusses recent federal legislation regarding education, focusing on an executive order aimed at ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schools. She highlights concerns about indoctrination practices, the importance of parental rights, and the reestablishment of the 1776 Commission to promote patriotic education. The conversation emphasizes the need for compliance with anti-discrimination laws and the role of federal funding in education.

In this episode, Melissa welcomes Alisa from IXL Learning to discuss the innovative educational resources available for teachers and students in Indiana. They explore the ILEARN Checkpoint Skill Plans, which align with state assessments, and the comprehensive features of the IXL platform that support personalized learning and progress monitoring. Alisa shares insights on the importance of data-driven instruction and the tools available for educators to enhance student learning outcomes.

A quick update on Indiana legislation pertaining to education.

In this episode, Melissa discusses the Teacher ILEARN data spreadsheet, designed to assist educators in analyzing student performance and creating effective instructional plans. She explains the process of entering student data, the significance of color coding for performance analysis, and how to utilize the centralized reporting dashboard. The conversation also covers the importance of checkpoints in assessing student growth and the benefits of joining the membership for access to educational resources.

In this episode, Melissa discusses the educational bills being presented to the Indiana legislature for 2025. She provides an overview of both Senate and House bills, highlighting key proposals and their implications for education in Indiana. The conversation emphasizes the importance of staying informed about legislative changes and encourages listeners to engage with their representatives.

In this episode, Melissa discusses the use of Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) in educational settings, focusing on how teachers and administrators can utilize these resources to analyze student performance data effectively. She provides a detailed walkthrough of navigating the Centralized Reporting System, understanding student performance data, and the importance of grouping students for remediation and enrichment. Additionally, she covers practical tips for printing performance data and accessing educational resources through her membership program.

In this episode, Melissa introduces the ILEARN mini series, focusing on the resources provided by the Indiana Department of Education (DOE) for assessments, particularly the ILEARN checkpoints. She discusses the Indiana Learning Lab, the DOE assessment site, and the various resources available for educators. The conversation covers the importance of understanding test blueprints, reading comprehension specifications, and math assessment frameworks. Melissa emphasizes the significance of performance level descriptors and shares her initiative to create a comprehensive resource document for educators. She also invites listeners to join her educational awareness membership for additional support and resources.

In this episode, Melissa discusses recent updates in education legislation, particularly focusing on the ILEARN Checkpoints and the flexibility allowed for assessments. She highlights the significant changes that permit instructional assistants to administer checkpoints, the importance of data analysis in informing instruction, and introduces a membership program that provides resources for educators. The conversation emphasizes the collaborative efforts in education and the need for multiple data points to assess student performance effectively.

IDOE sent out updates on the required literacy endorsement. I apologize for the delay in covering these changes. As we all know, the end of the school year gets a wee bit busy.

I am going to read through the documents that were emailed and then share my thoughts. It is evident that legislators and IDOE members have acknowledged our concerns and are taking steps in response. I appreciate the changes they have made but would like to continue to work towards fully fixing the issues together.

The IDOE sent out an announcement on May 8, 2024 with and update on the required training provided by Keys to Literacy. There is a screenshot of this memo in the blog post for this episode, if you would like to read it yourself.

I have received some answers from the IDOE to questions I sent to the Literacy Center. Hopefully, you find this helpful.

Paige Miller discusses the process of creating a local teachers union and the benefits it can provide. She shares her experience of transitioning from a union tied to ISTA and NEA to a local union in Carmel. She emphasizes the importance of teachers having a voice in decision-making and the need for a union that truly represents their interests. Paige also discusses the challenges and potential pushback that may arise when starting a local union. The lack of personnel is a major roadblock in education, with one aid having to share their support among multiple teachers. This leads to unqualified individuals working with low-performing students. More funding is needed to support the number of personnel required to meet students' needs. One solution proposed is to bring retired teachers back into the schools and pay them a stipend to provide support in K-3 classrooms. Another suggestion is to provide mentors for first and second-year teachers, offering them a life license and a financial incentive to mentor others. The conversation also highlights the importance of involving teachers in decision-making and highlighting successful teaching practices.

Unfortunately, the IDOE’s live webinar on April 18th created more of a divide between the department and educators. I think the IDOE, and legislators would find that teachers would extend grace if they would come to the table and talk. Educators want this training, but on a more reasonable timeline and without the Praxis exam. As it is educators do not feel heard, while their career and lively hood are being threatened.

There have been some interesting developments surrounding SEA No. 1 and the literacy endorsement requirement. In this episode I will clarify who needs the endorsement, what your training options are, and address new information from the IDOE and ISTA. I believe all of you put enough heat on the IDOE and ISTA to have them backpedaling.

On April 5, 2024 the DOE released more information on the training requirements for teachers who already completed training prior to the passing of SEA No.1. This update also covers how these teachers can receive a voucher for their Praxis exam and how to submit their records of completion.

Welcome to another Educational Awareness podcast. There has been a bit of confusion on the new requirements for renewing a teacher’s license in Indiana. I wanted to address some of those items and give an overview of the Keys to Literacy required training for all teachers.

Welcome back to another episode of Educational Awareness. In this episode we will dig into section 8 of SEA No. 1. This section covers part of the summer school requirements for students who do not pass IREAD. Additional summer school requirements are listed in section 7.

Welcome back to the Educational Awareness podcast. In this episode we will look at a couple of requirements listed under sections 13 and 14 of Indiana SEA No. 1. These sections cover ILEARN and formative assessments. Many items are not new or alarming, so this will be a quick overview.