Curriculum Updates

📹Watch this quick video to see what Alludo can offer!

IU28 is so excited to offer asynchronous professional development ranging in topics from mandatory trainings to content specific and everything in-between! This learning management system (LMS) already contains hundreds of professional development learning modules designed for our region, our initiatives, and our students. Indiana and Armstrong county districts are invited to subscribe to this new option for ongoing, continuously growing, personalized option for teachers, support staff, administrators and more!

✅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 Griffith sgriffith@iu28.org for more information on subscriptions and offerings!

The Curriculum & TaC Departments are both covered in this SMORE. For special ed (TaC: Training and Consultation) services, click the button below!

ARIN has hosted the Instructional Coaches Network for over a decade, with both mentors being former participants. Our coaching districts have included Indiana, Freeport, Homer Center, Marion Center, Punxsutawney, Penns Manor, Purchase Line, United, and ICTC.

Our focus is on instructional strategies to increase student engagement in all content areas, as well as building teacher leadership skills. Teachers not only receive best-practice strategies from the facilitators, but also from the teachers participating from other districts. Many teachers walk away with strategies they can use the next day in their classroom, possible trainings they can take back to their district, as well as time to plan with other top educators from Indiana and Armstrong counties.

*This is an ongoing series that requires a board resolution and approval in order to participate.*

For more information about particpation, please contact Lacie Cook, lcook@iu28.org or Stacie Isenberg, sisenberg@iu28.org.

ARIN is hosting a two day retreat in October, the 23rd and 24th, for those who work the most with mental health in your district. This includes, school counselors, school nurses, teachers who work the most with behaviors, etc. Districts that send 4-5 team members to both days will receive a mini grant for attending. Participants will receive breakfast and lunch both days, as well as learning from various guest teachers. There will be discussion about PAYS data and the state lead for PAYS data will be with us on Friday. There is NO COST for districts to send teams to the retreat, but registration is required. Please click on the link below for more information, and to register a team if you have not already done so. If your district is choosing not to participate, please indicate that on the form at the bottom of the Smore as well so that interested districts can send additional teams.

ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 is gathering information about the innovative technology and STEM programs running in our member districts. Your responses will help us understand the landscape of programs like esports, competitive robotics, and drone certifications, allowing us to tailor our support, facilitate collaboration, and connect you with valuable resources. Please forward this form to the person or people in your district best equipped to answer these questions. Thank you for your time and input!

Take flight with us! Whether you’re seeking certification, ready to build a comprehensive drone curriculum, or looking for a professional network, we have a program for you.

Click HERE for more information and registration information.

🔥Curious what jobs are HOT in Indiana and Armstrong/Butler Counties? Every year, the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board (TWIB) publishes high demand jobs by region. You can order posters to share with your schools, counselors, students, etc. directly from the website. Here's a preview 👉!

WIB Career Posters website.

Are you a building administrator wanting to learn more about AI:

⭐Policy

⭐Tools

⭐Instruction

⭐Best Practice

⭐And More!

Join us for our 2nd Annual offering of AI and Admin, a collaborative approach to learn and apply Artificial Intelligence practice into your professional life and your district. This course meets in-person 4 days and 1 day virtual.

August 6 8:30-11:30

October 3 8:30-11:30

November 5 8:30-11:30

February 12 8:30-11:30

April 15 8:30-11:30 VIRTUAL

Cost: $300

Registration/More Information

AI and Admin PART TWO Coming Soon in 2025/2026!

As districts have received their preliminary state assessment results, a number of curriculum leads have reached out asking if we've heard of how other schools have fared. We (Western PA IUs) have created a brief, anonymous survey, to allow districts to share general trends and insights. The results will be aggregated and shared back with all of you within the next few weeks. Please consider completing this anonymous survey. Thank you!

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

Curious what trainings are mandated by PDE? Check out the new webpage on PDE's site that outlines Who/What/When! State Mandated Training Timeline | Department of Education | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Public entities (or “state and local governments”) offer many services on their websites and mobile applications (or “apps”). But these services are not always accessible to people with disabilities.

In April 2024, the Department of Justice (or “Department”) published a rule that sets technical requirements for state and local governments to follow to make sure that their websites and mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities. This resource can help state and local governments figure out what they should do to comply with the rule.

🍎 PASCD Summit 25 August 3-5 @ Nittany Lion Inn & State College Area High School

🍏SAS Conference 2025 December 8-10 @ Hershey Lodge

October 2025-June 2026

Lead IDEA Leadership Academy | Lead IDEA

The Lead IDEA Center is excited to launch the 2025-2026 Lead IDEA Leadership Academy — a dynamic leadership development experience for local early intervention (EI) program and PreK-Grade 12 school building administrators.

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!

Mark your calendars for an in-person session with the PVAAS team. This will be held November 25 at ARIN IU28. More details to come!

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

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.

“Updates on Pennsylvania’s IDEA-Funded State System of Support: Customized Professional Development and Technical Assistance.”

If you missed it—or would like to revisit key details—the full recording is now available:
Watch the Webinar

This session outlines the range of technical assistance and professional development available via PaTTAN, including:

• Tiered levels of support tailored to LEA needs
• A step-by-step walkthrough of the systemic application for the 2025–2026 school year

Reminder: Systemic Applications are due by September 2, 2025

To learn more and access the application, visit: supports.pattan.net

We encourage all LEAs to take advantage of this opportunity to engage in customized, evidence-based supports aligned with district priorities and student success.

Updates on Pennsylvania’s Customized Professional Development and Technical Assistance