Embedded Files
IU1 Curriculum Department
IU1 Curriculum Department
Buy 9 full PD days and get one free.
IU1 PD HUB
IU1 PD HUB
Save the Dates
Save the Dates
PDE SAS Conference (December 8-10), ACT 45 hours available
PVAAS Statewide training on November 24th
ACT 1 of 2022 Graduation Toolkit
ACT 1 of 2022 Graduation Toolkit
Will be released soon.
Official rollout of Toolkit: Friday, November 21, 10AM-11AM
Online Assessment Updates
Online Assessment Updates
- CDT/Firefly Updates
Upcoming IU1 trainings for CDT's will be held on October 31st.
CDT STEELS Update / Diagnostic Categories
- Online Assessments
This winter retest window is the last paper pencil option for schools.
Videos of learning sessions to come soon.
To have paper and pencil test
Must be documented within the IEP
Or a medical note within 2 weeks of testing windows
Or court order that kid is not allowed a device
Paper/pencil tests are downloaded as a PDF for the kid
Teachers/adults must transcribe student responses into digital format
Schools will securely destroy printed materials
Braille/large print are shipped out to school by PDE
There is an update to the format of Item Samplers. Historically posted as a pdf. Future samplers will be posted in the assessment ‘practice’ platform and replicate the Insight testing engine experience. OEQs will be accompanied w/ sample student responses w/ scores. Answers and analytics will accompany each objective question type as ‘click to enlarge’. These will appear in Home → INSIGHT Training → Online Tools Training → Item Samplers.
ACT 45 Updates
ACT 45 Updates
Principal Induction - Principals that are in year 4 and 5 will take priority.
Act 48 Updates
Act 48 Updates
Level I to Level II Assessment form
ACT 13
ACT 13
Upcoming PDE Act 13 Office Hour Meeting Dates for 2025-2026
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, we are sharing information about Act 13 Office Hours. These sessions are provided monthly. All administrators are welcome to attend. These sessions address frequently asked questions and provide opportunities for attendees to ask questions related to Act 13 Educator Effectiveness implementation and processes.
Sessions are held the fourth Thursday of the month from 12 to 1 p.m. virtually via TEAMS.
No registration necessary. Simply join the meeting. See meeting link and details below:
2025 Dates:
8/28/25
9/25/25
10/23/25
11/26/25*
12/23/25*
2026 Dates:
1/22/26
2/26/26
3/26/26
4/23/26
5/28/26
6/25/26
To Access the Act 13 Office Hours Sessions (No registration is needed.)
School Improvement
School Improvement
New designations and redesignations will be announced by December
Personal Finance
Personal Finance
Timing: The personal finance standards will take effect July 1, 2026.
PVAAS Updates
PVAAS Updates
PVAAS Statewide training on November 24th
Building Level Score located in PEERS now!
PVAAS is working on the Firefly as a local assessment.
PDE Updates
PDE Updates
PSSA data uploaded to Emetric October 15
PDE Content Advisors
PDE Content Advisors
Comp Planning/FRCPP
Comp Planning/FRCPP
Home Education and Private Tutoring
Due November 15, 2025
Interscholastic Athletic Opportunities
Due November 15, 2025
Esports
Esports
TheEsportsCompany - Seth Mason
Working on a Fall/Spring Esports tournament for two different games. This will be held at Waynesburg University.
Esports Lending Library - IU1 has Nintendo Switches and Gaming Computers to loan for a semester at a time.
Jordan Lozosky, Curriculum Specialist (Social Studies)
The American Battlefield History Field Trip Grant Program is designed to help offset the cost of K-12 field trips to sites related to the Revolutionary War, War or 1812, and the American Civil War. Approved applicants can receive up to $3,000 in funding for their field trip. Funds can be applied to transportation to and from the site(s), guide fees, and admissions to the historic sites. We do not provide funding for first-class accommodations, souvenirs, or overnight stays/accommodations. (Please visit our History Field Trip Grant Program page for more information).
Classrooms Without Borders 2025-26 IU1 Sessions PDFWe are pleased to offer the following sessions for the IU1 professional development calendar. These offerings are designed to engage educators in meaningful, inquiry-based learning that integrates historical understanding with practical classroom strategies.
*All sessions will be held at IU1 Central Office (One Intermediate Unit Drive, Coal Center, PA 15423) from 9am-3pm*
*Meets Act 70 School Requirement
***Next Session will be held on Friday, November 7th***
Equipping Schools to Broaden Civics Education in SWPA Fall of 2025 and Beyond!
PA Civics Site Visit Sign Up Link
Civics Education (C70) Regional Training & Informational Meeting at IU1 (Registration Link)
This fall, the Committee of Seventy proposes to facilitate a multi-stage engagement with high schools in Greene and Fayette Counties to lay the groundwork for a sustained program to advance high-quality civics education in Southwest PA.
Many educators want to provide civics instruction to their students but don’t feel like they have the tools to do so, especially without potentially incurring negative reactions from parents, elected school board directors, or the community at-large. C70’s demonstrated success developing and deploying nonpartisan classroom resources and professional development is an essential solution for teachers. We will provide resources to educators and administrators to confront these concerns in a collaborative, productive manner. Ultimately, we aim for teachers in Greene and Fayette County to have the resources to confidently teach high-quality civics, and the peace-of-mind that they can do so with the support of their administration.
If you are seeking additional resources or any information related to enhancing your existing social studies curriculum, please contact:
Jordan Lozosky, Curriculum Specialist
Phone: 724-938-3241 ext. #405
Email: jordan.lozosky@iu1.org
Jordan Lozosky, Curriculum Specialist: Gifted, Induction & Other Updates
Gifted Updates
Gifted Updates
NEW!! To Register for the Gifted Email listserv - IU1 Gifted Listserv Sign-Up Link
This is intended to create email lists for various interests/grade levels regarding gifted education and student opportunities. Please feel free to forward to colleagues that might want to be included.
Regular Ed Teacher slide deck -Slide Deck Link (it will force them to make a copy. That way they can make changes to the slides.)
IU1 Gifted Bootcamp Flyer 2025-26.pdfIU1 Gifted Bootcamp
Our Gifted Bootcamp will be held here at Central Office on January 27th, 2026 from 9am-2pm
Gifted in PA Webinar Series (Virtual)
This introductory webinar series is designed to help educators, administrators, and school staff build a strong foundation in gifted education as it is practiced across Pennsylvania. Participants will gain essential knowledge of state regulations, student supports, and instructional considerations that shape services for gifted learners.
Session Topics Include:
Chapter 16 Overview (October 22) – Learn the key components of Pennsylvania’s gifted education regulations, including compliance expectations, timelines, and the responsibilities of schools in ensuring appropriate services.
GIEP Overview (November 19) – Explore the purpose and process of the Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP), with practical guidance on writing compliant, meaningful, and student-centered goals.
Characteristics of a Gifted Learner (January 21)– Understand the diverse academic, social, and emotional characteristics of gifted students, including how giftedness may present differently across populations.
Whether you are new to gifted education or seeking a refresher, this series will provide the knowledge and confidence needed to support gifted learners and collaborate effectively with families and colleagues.
All sessions are from 10am-11am and will be held virtually.
IU1 Induction 2025-26 Schedule and Registration Links.pdf2025-26 Induction Schedule
2025-26 Induction Schedule
*Participants must register on the hyperlinks on the flyer through Learning Stream.
Directions to Create Learning Stream Accounts
A message from Alyssa Moore, IU1 Curriculum Specialist
Dear Curriculum Coordinators,
As I move on to a new position, I want to sincerely thank you for your collaboration and support over the years. Working alongside such a dedicated and passionate group of educators has been a true joy. I will miss our teamwork and conversations, and I wish you all continued success in the important work you do.
Best regards,
Alyssa Moore
Moonshot Grants | 2025 Pulse Checks Edition
Moonshot Grants | 2025 Pulse Checks Edition
Remake Learning Moonshot Grants invite educators, innovators, and organizations to envision a preferred future of learning and take bold steps today toward making that giant leap a reality.
This round, we’re focusing on region-wide transformations inspired by our Pulse Checks: AI in Education and Outdoor Learning (see funding priorities below).
Grants of up to $50,000 are available.
Letters of intent are due by October 31st.
Priorities for AI in Education
Priorities for AI in Education
Prepare learners for careers in an AI-driven world by connecting them with local employers, mentors, and hands-on experiences that build skills in ethical and creative-technology use.
Use AI tools to spark new creative pursuits—helping young people to imagine, design, and experiment in developmentally-appropriate ways that push their learning.
Leverage AI tools to bring learners together—helping educators and young people to share ideas, co-create designs, projects, and/or solutions; and do something that they might not otherwise be able to do without AI.
Priorities for Outdoor Learning
Priorities for Outdoor Learning
Give learners opportunities to explore career pathways in the outdoors and environmental fields, helping them see themselves as future leaders in these fields.
Create experiences where learning flows across classrooms and the outdoors, inspiring curiosity and creativity.
Build strong partnerships between schools and out-of-school providers around the implementation of the new STEELS Standards so students can benefit from the expertise of environmental educators and the resources of the wider community.
Emily Hughes
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