Curriculum Updates

🏆🏆🏆Regionally, we have uploaded 214 Act 48 hours this Quarter! 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!

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

Our 2nd Annual HELP event for students in grades 10-12 interested in health related fields is scheduled for February 23, 2026. We can't wait to learn more about health fields from professionals in a variety of careers related to health!

REGISTER YOUR DISTRICT HERE

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!

America250PA

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.

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

Click Here To Visit the Dashboard

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!

Remake Learning Days

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.

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, January 27, 2026

• 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).

1. By 3/31/2026, all LEAs must report current curricula to PDE.

2. By 2027-2028, all school entities must adopt the approved curriculum and train educators in evidenced-based reading practices.

3. Universal K-3 reading screening 3x per year using PDE-approved tools

4. 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!

The grade spans and age levels for Instructional Certificates shall be as follows:

1. Primary – prekindergarten, kindergarten, grades 1 through 6 or ages 3 through 11
2. Secondary – grades 7 through 12 or ages 11 through 21
3. 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.

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.

🍏Special Education PaTTAN Conference Feb 25-27 @ Hershey Lodge

🍎PETE & C 2026 February 1-4 @ Hershey Lodge

🍏PA Curriculum Leadership Summit February 23 8am-5pm (FREE) @ Hershey Lodge

🍎2026 Stronger Connections Conference March 17-20 @ King of Prussia (Safe Schools)

🍏Summit 26 (PAEdge & PA Principals Association) Aug 2-4 @ Renaissance and Parkland HS, Allentown

When we put students at the center of the learning, real change happens. Join us at IUP on June 17, 2026 for a day of learning at the Western PA Student Centered Learning Summit. Details for lodging and the conference program will follow in the new year.

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

Click Here for more information!

Skills That Matter: Employability and the New Career Education and Work (CEW) Standards

Click HERE to register

Feb 5 3-4:15

Feb 6 10-11:15

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)

Upcoming Webinars: Learn With Us

Register to join us live. Can’t make the live broadcast? Register anyway and we’ll send you the on-demand session when it’s available!

How PVAAS Data Supports Decisions in MTSS Tier 2 and Tier 3 Programming
Live Broadcast: 1/13/26 | Time: 9:00 am | Register Here

Using PVAAS Projections with Purpose: Guiding Course Recommendations and Supports

Live Broadcast: 1/28/26 | Time: 9:00 am | Register Here

Top Resource Picks of the Month

Prepare to work in PEERS (Pennsylvania Educator Effectiveness Rating System) when SY25-26 information is pre-populated in the next several weeks. Familiarize yourself with how to complete Act 13 evaluations in PEERS and check out the new features released this summer!

Key Documents:
Using PEERS: A Getting Started Guide for Evaluators

PEERS Frequently Asked Questions

Webinar Recording:

PEERS Refresh: A Hands-On Tour of What’s New

Prefer a 1:1 conversation? Book a 1:1 Online Session with a PVAAS Team Member

The PA online testing landing page has been updated in order to be accessible. Educators and students will see this change in two ways:

1. Through the secure test engine
2. 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

Firefly reporting will expand significantly for ELA, Mathematics, Algebra I and Literature this year.

Individual Students:

• Student Group Roster – 10/6/25
• Individual Student Reports will contain predictions for PSSA or Keystone performance – 10/6/25
• Instructional Strategies – Fall/Winter
• Longitudinal Roster – 2/2026

Group Results:

• Longitudinal Roster – 2/2026
• Content Area Comparison – 11/2025
• Group Performance – 1/2026
• Group Performance – 1/2026

PA Assessments Training Site https://sites.google.com/datarecognitioncorp.com/psa-assessments/home/

• PA Troubleshooting Guide

• Quick Start Guide to Online Testing

• DRC INSIGHT Portal User Guide

• Technology Training and Technology User Guide

• Preparing Students for Online Testing

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.

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