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!

Thank you for supporting the Healthcare Education & Learning Pathways (HELP) initiative. In February, individuals from your district participated in the first HELP event.

We’re excited to offer a second HELP event this summer for both students and teachers.

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Dates: June 2–3, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), with hands-on tours at Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) and Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC)
Extras: Lunch is provided, and transportation assistance is available

Eligible Participants:

• Rising 11th & 12th graders interested in healthcare careers
• Teachers* (especially those in STEM-related areas, grades 6–12) who want to explore healthcare career connections and bring relevant experiences back to their classrooms.

Registration: All registrants should click here to register by May 16th. A follow-up email will be sent to registrants with transportation details, daily schedules, and necessary paperwork.

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We’re asking for your help in sharing this opportunity within your buildings and encouraging those who participated, as well as others who may be interested. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Ever wonder how other districts in Armstrong/Indiana County are doing something? Every month, we will try to compose relevant data based on frequently asked questions. Have a question or idea we could cover? Email me! Sgriffith@iu28.org

Currently implementing Tier 1: 12 buildings

Currently implementing Tier 1-2: 4 buildings

Currently implementing Tier 1-2-3: 3 buildings

Interested in learning more about PBIS? Contact Mariha Shields mshields@iu28.org or Amanda Anderson aanderson@iu28.org.

Armstrong - Indiana Behavioral & Developmental Health Grant purchased 1,000 manuals. There are currently 6 districts currently implementing Teen Mental Health First Aid.

Interested in learning more about Mental Health resources? Contact Mariha Shields mshields@iu28.org or Amanda Anderson aanderson@iu28.org.

On October 29, 2024, Act 117 was signed into law in Pennsylvania. This law, which is effective December 29, 2024, added section 1414.12, related Type 1 Diabetes Education Parental Notification to the Public School Code. Act 117 enables the Department of Health (DOH) to develop informational materials for parents and guardians about Type 1 Diabetes. Under Act 117, the informational materials must be updated periodically as necessary and must be made available on DOH’s public website. Additionally, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, a school entity or non-public school must make this material available in writing, electronically, or on the school entity or non-public school’s public website to the parent or guardian of a student when the student first enrolls in elementary school and again when a student enters grade six.

Please click here for details on upcoming trainings and supports for the STEELS Standards.

Coming Soon from PDE/Workgroups:

• Assessment Toolkit
• Safety Guidelines
• EL&S Curriculum Framework to SAS Portal

Available in-district sessions:

• Paper screening (curriculum resource review)
• Curriculum alignment

Remake Learning Days is a joyful celebration of hands-on learning events across Pennsylvania. RLD launched in May 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA as the largest open-house for families featuring hands-on learning. Your school can get involved with Remake Learning Days in the following ways:

1. Host an event

2. Promote events in your area

3. Register for the Career Ready PA Backpack Challenge

4. Participate in the discoverED design challenge (grades 1-2)

For more information, visit the link below.

Superintendent (SAC) & Principals meetings will be Act 45 eligible for up to 25 hours.

NEW❗Principal Collaborative Virtual Sessions (Act 45)

1. Curriculum Updates (Smore)
2. District Spotlight
3. Student Data
4. Curriculum & TaC Highlights, Offerings, and Discussion

There is a "pre-session work" component to this in order to earn all the hours. The work should take no longer than 2 hours to complete and is relevant to district/building student data. More details to come.

Monthly REMOTE Meeting: 9-11am & 2 hours of pre-work (on your own)

4-5 Act 45 hours per session will be eligible

Tentative session dates will be:

January 9, 2025 9-11

February 13, 2025 9-11

March 20, 2025 9-11

NO APRIL

May 8, 2025 9-11

June 5, 2025 9-11

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.

The Common Ground Framework Guidelines are not required to be included in LEA continuing education plans. However, LEAs are required to comply to 22 Pa. Code §§ 49.16(c) and 49.17(a)(6), which states:

“The continuing professional education plan must include a section which describes how the professional education needs of the school entity, including those of diverse learners, and its professional employees are to be met through implementation of the plan. The plan must describe how professional development activities will improve language and literacy acquisition for all students, including the provision of training in structured literacy for professional employees who hold instructional certificates in Early Childhood, Elementary/Middle, Special Education PK—12, English as a second language and Reading Specialists. The plan must contribute to closing achievement gaps among students, and improve professional employees knowledge of professional ethics and culturally relevant and sustaining education.”

This is true for induction plans as well.

Therefore, LEAs do not need to use the guidelines but are required to have a training in both the continuing education plan and the induction plan.

Please see this DOCUMENT for all Assessment Updates from PDE.

• Firefly Administration Training site
• DRC Online Enrollment
• Transition to Online Assessments
• TEI (Technology Enhanced Items) Software & Device Support
• And More!
• iPad Update

Educator Application: PSSA and Keystone Exams Assessment Committee Reviews

🍏Continuous Improvement Summer Conference (School Improvement) July 30 & July 31 PaTTAN HBG (see image below)

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

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!

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.