Curriculum Updates
March 2026 Newsletter
Coming Soon @ ARIN IU28:
TaC Needs Assessment
Please take 3 minutes to complete our annual survey to determine needs for 2026-2027 related to special education coaching and professional development. Your responses are so valuable to us!
Alludo! IU28 & IU7 Learning Management System is HERE!
Asynchronous, on-demand, accessible, and relevant!
🏆🏆🏆Regionally, we have uploaded 9,000 Act 48 hours this school year! Way to go users!🏆🏆🏆
✅Trainings are created by your trusted (local) IU Curriculum & TaC teams.
✅Personalized professional learning tracks are made possible, giving educators agency in their own learning!
✅Topics are relevant, offer ready to implement strategies, meet compliance regulations, and can be customized to meet your district's needs!
✅Act 48 is managed within the system
✅No substitutes required - this is an asynchronous option for professional development!
Contact Susan Manz (Griffith) smanz@iu28.org for more information on subscriptions and offerings!
🪧❗Accessibility 101: Get your district ready for accessible media!
Unsure of how you will meet the new laws regarding accessibility? Our partners at IU7 created an accessibility training to educate districts/IUs on how to best approach these changes!
Timeline:
Law Passed: April 2024
Law Enforced: April 2026/2027*
*Based on size
State and local governments that contract with other entities to provide public services for them (like non-profit organizations that run drug treatment programs on behalf of a state agency) also have to make sure that their contractors follow Title II.
Examples of state and local governments include:
- State and local government offices that provide benefits and/or social services, like food assistance, health insurance, or employment services
- Public schools, community colleges, and public universities
- State and local police departments
- State and local courts
- State and local elections offices
- Public hospitals and public healthcare clinics
- Public parks and recreation programs
- Public libraries
- Public transit agencies
Coming Soon - Soft Skills Challenge
4th Annual Soft Skills Challenge
April 7-9, junior and senior students from Indiana and Armstrong County school districts will participate in the Soft Skills Challenge! We have over TWENTY businesses excited to open their doors and expertise to students as they practice their "soft skill". Moreover, we have sponsors and giveaways again this year to make the event competitive and fun!
Coming Soon - Armstrong-Indiana Career Fair
March 2026 @ West Shamokin High School
- 70 Registered Employers (with a wait list!)
- Guest Speakers: Dr. Justin Aglio "The Godfather of AI for Kids Across America" & tentatively Robin Gorman with the Homer City Redevelopment
- Light refreshments
- Transportation / Substitute Reimbursement available
Happy Birthday America! 250!
America250PA! Coming Soon!
It's not too soon to begin planning your district and community celebrations of our country turning 250 years old! This is a huge milestone that we are excited to celebrate with you! Visit America250PA for resources and events!
Principal Induction Program
Interest Form Now Live for the 2026-27 PDE Principal Induction Program
If you are a current Assistant/Vice Building or Building Principal who needs to complete principal induction to apply for your Administrative II certification, visit the SAS PD Center and complete the 2026-27 Principal Induction Interest form. Administrators who sign up through the interest form will be notified when registration opens for the 2026-27 induction year. The induction program is one year in length, and participants will earn 80 Act 45 Continuing Education hours upon completion of the induction program.
Arts Education Data Project- Dashboard is here!
The Arts Education Data Project is a partnership between the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education and Quadrant Research. The nationwide project coordinates with participating state departments of education to collect and report arts education data from State Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) and other state department of education datasets on an annual basis.
©2026 Quadrant Research
Regional Information
Remake Learning.... near you!
Interested in connecting students and families to local learning & creating events aligned to STEM - OR - are you trying to get the word out about a local event? Look no further! Remake learning days are happening in May and you can register YOUR event or check out the website to FIND an event!
Host an Event for Remake Learning Days 2026! (Funding Available)
As we head into 2026, I am thrilled to invite you to be part of the 10th Anniversary of Remake Learning Days! This hands-on learning festival returns to Indiana and Armstrong counties from May 1–23, 2026, and we want to showcase the great work happening in our schools, libraries, museums, nonprofits, and local businesses.
Why Host an Event?
Share what you already do with families and the community
Showcase student work, programs, or summer opportunities
Connect with parents and caregivers in a meaningful way
Events can be for any age and are free or low-cost
Interested in hosting?
• Submit your event (choose Northwestern PA) — Marketing deadline: Feb 23
• Apply for funding to support your event — Deadline: Feb 13
A full preview of the host and funding applications is attached for reference.
Need inspiration? Check out some of these events from last year’s celebration.
Come One, Come All to the Careers Collaborative: A New Offering by ARIN
ARIN IU is excited to launch the Careers Collaborative, a new initiative designed to bring educators together to strengthen career readiness opportunities for students across our region.
The Careers Collaborative will provide a space for collaboration, shared resources, and meaningful discussion focused on career exploration, workforce connections, and postsecondary planning.
Upcoming Dates:
-
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
We encourage educators interested in career development and student pathways to participate.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Katie Monsour, (kmonsour@iu28.org).
Curriculum Updates
Cursive
Legislation requires cursive to be implemented in your writing curriculum by 2026-2027.
Structured Literacy- new mandates
By 3/31/2026, all LEAs must report current curricula to PDE.
By 2027-2028, all school entities must adopt the approved curriculum and train educators in evidenced-based reading practices.
Universal K-3 reading screening 3x per year using PDE-approved tools
Reading deficiency notification and intervention plans required for identified students
FAQ: Can we continue to use the Intermediate Unit for PD? YES! Although IU's are not listed as approved providers, we can provide your trainings. PDE could not list IUs since not all IUs offer the same services.
Contact Katie Monsour kmonsour@iu28.org (Curriculum Specialist) or Nicole Cornman ncornman@iu28.org (TaC) for Structured Literacy Support!
Certification Updates!
The grade spans and age levels for Instructional Certificates shall be as follows:
- Primary – prekindergarten, kindergarten, grades 1 through 6 or ages 3 through 11
- Secondary – grades 7 through 12 or ages 11 through 21
- Specialized areas – prekindergarten through grade 12 or ages 3 through 21
*** Immediately allows educators holding a PK-4 certificate to teach 5th and 6th grade.
***Immediately allows educators holding a 7-12 secondary school certificate to teach 6th grade in the subject area for which the secondary certificate is endorsed.
- Requires PDE to develop alternative pathways for teachers with an elementary/middle instructional certificate to expand the scope of their current certificate to include the secondary grades through add-on testing or professional development.
Biliteracy: Industry- Based Credential
For more information on this industry-based credential, visit: PSMLA (PA State Modern Language Association)
PA Seal of Biliteracy, an industry-based credential, can be earned upon high school graduation by students who have intermediate-high or advanced proficiency in English and a second language.
Upcoming Conferences
🍎2026 Stronger Connections Conference March 17-20 @ King of Prussia (Safe Schools)
🍏 Continuous School Improvement Conference July 28 & 29 @ PaTTAN Harrisburg (open to all LEAs)
🍎Summit 26 (PAEdge & PA Principals Association) Aug 2-4 @ Renaissance and Parkland HS, Allentown
Western PA Student Centered Learning Conference
Date: June 17, 2026
Location: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Event Registration: bit.ly/WPASCL2026
Want to present? Click here.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
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Western PA ELit Summit - The Learning Landscape
The Learning Landscape summit will bring together educators and environmental professionals from across western PA for a high-energy day of learning, collaboration and inspiration.
Date: June 11, 2026
Location: Grove City College
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Event Registration: bit.ly/WPASummitReg
Want to present? Click here.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Supporting Practice-Based Instruction: Instructional Leadership for Student-Centered Learning (Act 45)
This no-cost Act 45 program is a 40-hour leadership learning experience designed to strengthen instructional leadership and support practice-based instruction across content areas. Participants engage in asynchronous learning, in-person collaborative sessions, and job-embedded application to examine how leadership routines and professional learning support equitable, high-quality teaching and learning. The program includes two in-person learning days on June 24–25, 2026, held at Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13, along with asynchronous pre-work and a culminating assignment. Learn more and register for the Act45 course.
Staying Power Roundtable Series
Student Attendance & Teacher Retention
Join us (PDE) for a collaborative series for LEA leaders focused on innovative strategies to strengthen student attendance and educator retention!
February 18 @ 1:00 Remote
May 20 @ 1:00 Remote
CEW Standards
Webinar Opportunity
Skills That Matter: Employability and the New Career Education and Work (CEW) Standards
Feb 5 3-4:15
Feb 6 10-11:15
RESOURCES
PVAAS
Want a 1:1 Consult with the PVAAS Team? Click HERE to schedule!
Users can now select the focus for the consultation that best meets their goals or professional learning objectives.
Great Learning Opportunities Coming Up:
PVAAS Professional Learning Page
Digging Deeper Guides- these are a great resource for identifying root cause and diving deeper into your data! User friendly for all users!
Here are several links to resources to help build your understanding of this change:
- PVAAS Methodology Transition
- Changes in PA’s Assessment System: Impact on PVAAS
- PVAAS Methodologies (see pages 10-13 for predictive model information)
- eLearning – District/School Value-Added (view section on Predictive Methodology in menu)
DRC / Firefly / Keystone / PSSA : Online Tools
The PA online testing landing page has been updated in order to be accessible. Educators and students will see this change in two ways:
- Through the secure test engine
- Through the public version used to access Online Tools Training and Tutorials
With regards to the secure test engine and administration of CDT, Firefly, PSSA and Keystone exams, LEAs do not need to take any action. The software has been updated already.
The public version of the landing page, which is used for the Online Tools Training (OTTs) and Online Tools Tutorials (videos) required a new URL. Educators and students can now access the OTTs and Online Tools Tutorials using this link: https://portal.te.drcedirect.com/PA
Updates sent to DACs and SACs
- Item and Scoring Samplers
The Item and Scoring Samplers for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Algebra I, Biology, and Literature have been released. The format for the samplers will vary from previous years. Students, educators, and parents can access the sample questions online using this link https://portal.te.drcedirect.com/PA. Note, this is the same link used to access the Online Tools Trainings (OTTs) and Test Sign In. You will now see a third option: Item Samplers. To access the questions, select Item Samplers, then select a content area and grade level.
The alignment, answer key, Depth of Knowledge, p-values, and annotations for answer options will appear by selecting the Select to Enlarge button for each multiple-choice question. For the open-ended questions, the alignment, Depth of Knowledge, possible points, and mean score will appear by selecting the Select to Enlarge button.
Summary data for all multiple choice questions as well as sample responses to open ended and constructed response questions are posted as PDF documents on the PSSA webpage and Keystone Exams webpage alongside previously released Item and Scoring Samplers.
The Item and Scoring Samplers do not represent a practice test for the PSSAs or Keystone Exams, but rather a sample of questions from previous assessments
2. Online Tools Trainings
Updates to the Online Tools Trainings will be published on March 11, 2026. These updates will contain Spanish versions, updates to the Equation Builder for grades 5&6, 7&8, and Algebra I as well as updates for students navigating passages within English Language Arts and Literature assessments.
FRCPP
FRCPP Support: Office Hours every 1st and 3rd Tuesday via TEAMS. CLICK HERE
The newest edition of “The CP Tip Jar” newsletter has been released. 🚩🚩
Click here to access the most current Comprehensive Planning/FRCPP information.
Team Smores
More Professional Development Opportunities
Contact Us
Susan Griffith
Director of Curriculum- School Improvement, AICPP/Careers, PVAAS, Act 89/NonPub
TaC Supervisor
sgriffith@iu28.org
Stacie Isenberg
Curriculum Specialist - STEM, STEELS, Instructional Coaches, Artificial Intelligence
sisenberg@iu28.org
Lacie Cook
Curriculum Specialist - Math, Gifted, Instructional Coaches, School Improvement, PVAAS, CDT, SEW, Induction
lcook@iu28.org
Katie Monsour
Curriculum Specialist- ELA, Counselors, AICPP/Careers
kmonsour@iu28.org