April 2016 Newsletter

SINA Status and AYP for 2016-17
With the authorization of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Iowa Department of Education has elected to freeze the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status of all districts and schools in the state for the 2016-17 school year. This means:
  • Schools will have the same AYP and (School in Need of Assistance) SINA status in 2016-17 that they had in the 2015-16 school year
  • Title I schools are not required to submit a new SINA plan to the state this fall
  • Spring 2016 Iowa Assessment results will be used for state reporting and Iowa School Report Card ratings, but no AYP results will be calculated
Iowa Assessments Key Dates
April 11-14: Turn in answer folders and unused barcode labels. Sign up for a time here.
April 12-18: Central Stores picks up test booklets. Request a transfer of materials on your schedule delivery day here.
May 24: Reports available (estimate). Sample reports are located here.
Complete information about Iowa Assessments administration is located here. 
High Schools: ACT Testing
April 19:Test Day
May 3: Make-Up Test
Contact Cindy Slinger with any questions.
State Accountability Test for 2016-17
If the Iowa legislature does not act on selecting a test during the 2016 session, the Iowa State Board of Education is positioned to adopt Smarter Balanced as the 2016-17 state test. However, Smarter Balanced does not include a science assessment.  A state task force is currently exploring options for science.  For now, we wait...
Mandatory Reporter Notification via Business Plus (IFAS)
A new workflow with email notification will be turned on next week (4/18/16) notifying all mandatory reporters and their supervisors 60 days prior to when their certificate expires.  If the certificate has not been renewed at 10 days prior to expiration, both the employee and supervisor will receive another reminder email.
Business Plus (IFAS) Access
If you need to request new access to Business Plus (IFAS) or would like to change access for yourself of one of your staff members, please use the new request form located here.
The Welcome Center is Moving!
The Welcome Center is moving to 2100 Fleur on May 23.  Therefore, we will be closed to registrations on May 23 and 24.  Please refer any families seeking enrollment to the new location starting on May 25.

Effective May 16, the Welcome Center will stop taking registrations for the 2015-16 school year.  After that date we will only take information for the 2016-17 school year.
2016-17 School Year Registration Dates
Elementary: Thursday, July 28, 1:00-7:00 P.M.
Middle School: week of August 1
High School: week of August 8
Secondary schools: please choose registration dates/times based on the needs of your families school and email those dates/times to Laura Chase by Wednesday, May 11.  Laura will compile a master list to be posted to the district website before school dismisses for the summer.
Online Registration Opens July 5
  • Please ensure all parents have a functioning Infinite Campus portal account before summer break. 
  • Online registration processor training is held April-July.  Online registration processors can register for work sessions here.  Please ensure your schools has an adequate number of processors trained. 
  • Registration applications must be processed and posted by September 26 for state reporting.
Why Be Lean?
The district is working toward a culture of continuous improvement.  Please watch this 5 minute video explaining why we all need to be Lean!
Employee Online Updates
  • NovaTime (employee & supervisor) and Benefit Focus are now linked in Employee Online on the left-hand menu.
  • For teachers, additional information has been added to the Courses link.  This now matches the report HR uses for courses information.
  • Employees can now change their tax withholdings online by clicking on the W2 info link on the left-hand menu.
  • Leave balances no longer show on check stubs, leave balances need to be viewed through NovaTime.

UPCOMING DATES

April 11-14: Iowa Assessments answer folder return
April 12-18: Central Stores picks up Iowa Assessments booklets
April 13: Quarter 3 report cards ready
April 19: Grade 11: ACT Testing
April 20: 2016-17 Kindergarten Sign-Up; 2:30-6:30 PM
April 22: Data Governance & Lean Steward Meeting; 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
May 3: Grade 11: Make-up ACT Testing
May 13: Grades K-3: FAST testing closes
May 20: Grades 6-10 (only): SMI/SRI testing closes
May 20: Elementary: Grade posting deadline for sending report cards home with students
May 24: Grade 12: Grade posting deadline
WAIT. WHAT?
Dear Data Diva, How can I get current in-progress grade information to parents?   -Perplexed Principal

Perplexed Principal,
Encouraging parents to obtain an Infinite Campus parent portal account is the best way for them to access the most up to date in-progress grades for their student(s). BUT…..did you know that the district created a custom progress report that can be emailed to parents at any time? It displays all grades from all buildings in the same report.  Currently, it is set up for the secondary buildings.  The District will be working on the elementary version for next year. Here are the steps to access the report within Infinite Campus: Reporting Services>CICReports>Progress Report>ProgressReport
Sincerely,
Data Diva
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