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!

HELP Mini-Med Camp was held June 2 & 3 with students/teachers from 10 districts across Indiana and Armstrong Counties. Participants rotated among stations:

• Post-secondary options / The journey to becoming a healthcare provider
• Hands on demonstrations from healthcare providers
• Tour and deep dive behind the scenes of IRMC
• Medical simulations and presentations at IUP and WCCC

This was the second Healthcare Education Learning Pathway event and the 3rd is set for Lenape Tech on February 23, 2026!

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.

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.

Please see this DOCUMENT for all Assessment Updates from PDE

Firefly final counts / updates

1. 24/25 has been aligned to Math 3-8 and Algebra 1, ELA 3-8 and Literature

2. 25/26 will open on October 6th (6 weeks earlier than this year) and will include Science Grade 5 and 8, Biology

3. Mathematics totals 199,940 assessments delivered; ELA, 178,871 total assessments delivered

4. Individual student reports samples are on the PDE website (math) (Literature)

5. Educator committee meetings are occurring to review the various questions (bias and sensitivity, item reviews, data reviews); happening for all content and subjects for PSSA/Keystone/ CDT and Firefly is now going through the same processes.

1. Summer will be the development of a predictive model for PSSA ELA/Math in 25-26 but Science / Bio will be one year behind

1. Transition to online testing

1. Winter Keystone 2025/26 is last opportunity for paper/pencil testing.

2. All tests in spring 2026 will be online.

3. About half of the state participated in online testing this Spring (24/25)

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• 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.