Our rigorous curriculum and robust student support structures are tailored to foster individual growth and meet state educational benchmarks. This section provides an overview of the annual assessment schedule across all grade levels and details our comprehensive, inclusive continuum of special education programs. 

Academic Resources & Website Information

Our district website hosts a comprehensive repository of academic information designed to keep families fully informed and engaged. We encourage families to explore these online resources, which include:

• State Standards: Direct access to the official academic benchmarks for each grade level.
• IDOE Dashboards: Up-to-date performance and school data from the Indiana Department of Education.
• Instructional Resources: Learn more about how resources are selected and utilized.

Assessments

We adhere to all state assessment requirements to ensure your student’s academic success. If you have any questions, please visit our Assessments page for details or contact your student's school directly. 

• Acadience (Grades K–5) | Foundational reading skills snapshot, administered 3 times/year
• Forefront Math (Grades K-2) | Foundational math skills snapshot, administered 3 times a year
• ILEARN (Grades 3–8 & High School) | Measures achievement and growth related to Indiana Academic Standards.  
• ILEARN Checkpoints (Grades 3–8) | Quick checks for understanding in ELA and Math; used by teachers to inform and guide instruction.  
• IREAD (Grades 2–3) | All second graders take this statewide assessment of reading abilities. Third graders retake it if they did not pass in 2nd grade or did not take it in 2nd grade at an Indiana school. Individual reports are sent to families via SchoolMessenger.
• PSAT (Grades 9–11) | October 22, 2026
• SAT (Grade 11) | March 4, 2027; Grade 11 reports to school for assessment; all other grades have an E-learning day.

Special Education Programs

Carmel Clay Schools is a destination district for students with disabilities, serving over 2,400 students (15% of our student population) from ages 3 through 21. We provide a comprehensive continuum of programs and intervention levels designed to meet a wide range of students' unique needs.

We are committed to the least restrictive environment, meaning the vast majority of our students attend their neighborhood schools and learn alongside their peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

If you have questions about your student's services, accommodations, or goals for the upcoming school year, please reach out directly to your student’s Teacher on Record (TOR) or your school's building staff.

We encourage families to subscribe to our monthly communications for updates on special services, community events, and unique student opportunities.

We want to partner with you to make attendance as smooth as possible. To help keep all of our families on the same page, here is a quick guide to what Indiana state law requires for school absences: 

• 5 Unexcused Absences: The school will send a text/email alert and require a meeting to discuss support strategies.
• 10 Unexcused Absences (per year): Mandated referral to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office (ACES Form) for potential court involvement regarding truancy.
• Reporting & Documentation: Report illnesses via School Dismissal Manager; doctors' notes are strongly encouraged and required for chronic conditions to maintain state compliance.

We appreciate your partnership in promoting strong attendance and academic success. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your school’s attendance office.

Change brings new routines. As we adapt to the recent Indiana state law that bans personal devices during the school day, we know this represents a meaningful shift for our students, staff, and families. While we recognize there are varying perspectives on this new rule, our priority is to maintain a focused classroom environment and minimize digital distractions.

To make this transition successful, students will need to be more proactive in planning their day, and families will need to prepare in advance for things like appointments.

General Expectations: What to Expect Daily

In accordance with state law, personal wireless devices (including cell phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and smart glasses) may not be used during the school day. Only school-issued Chromebooks or course-specific school devices are permitted.

• What "Stored" Means: Devices must be completely powered off and stored in a locker or backpack. To avoid temptation, we encourage students not to keep phones in their pockets or anywhere easily accessible.
• The School Day Timeline: Devices must remain off and stored for the entire school day, which includes lunch and passing periods. Students may use their personal devices before the school day begins and after the final bell rings.
• Approved Exceptions: Personal device use is strictly prohibited unless required for documented medical, 504, or IEP accommodations (as identified by the school support team), offsite work-based learning/internships, or two-factor authentication for dual-credit course logins. 

Communication, Passes, and Dismissals

Because students will not have immediate access to their screens, families and students will need to plan ahead and utilize school tools to stay connected during the day.

• Planning for Appointments: Please use School Dismissal Manager to proactively notify the school of appointments, late arrivals, or early dismissals. To minimize classroom interruptions and ensure your student is dismissed on time, please use School Dismissal Manager whenever possible. Elementary and middle school protocols remain in place for students to report to the office to sign out.
• Reaching Each Other: To maintain a focused learning environment, texting a student during school hours is not permitted. However, families can still connect when needed through official school channels, depending on the urgency of the message.

For all urgent needs, parents should call the student's school main office to have a message delivered promptly. If a student needs to contact home during the day, they may use the phones located in the front office, the nurse’s office, the counseling offices, or as allowed by administration.

Messaging through Canvas is available for non-urgent needs only for middle school and high school students. Canvas messaging should never be used as a time-sensitive mode of communication, as students do not consistently use their Chromebooks throughout the day. (View instructions to create an Observer Account and utilize Canvas messaging.)

• Hall Passes (Minga): If your student’s school previously used Minga passes, they will continue to do so this year. However, these passes must now be accessed exclusively via school-issued Chromebooks, as personal phones may no longer be used to display them. 

Accountability and Enforcement

We want to give our students room to build these new habits, but we must ensure a distraction-free environment for everyone.

• First Offense: The student will receive a warning.
• Repeated Violations: Will result in device confiscation.
• Severe or Continued Non-Compliance: If violations become chronic or repeated, additional disciplinary actions will be taken.

Thank you for your cooperation and your partnership in keeping our classrooms focused on learning. 

Digital Safety

When we talk about digital safety, we’re referring to the comprehensive ways we work to protect students, staff, and our community in today’s digital world. This includes the people, processes, and technology that support our data governance and online security. 

We are proud to be one of the first districts in Indiana to hire a dedicated data privacy expert, underscoring our commitment to protecting student information and promoting safe digital learning.

To explore topics like data privacy, responsible digital citizenship, internet filtering, and more, please visit our Digital Safety website.

Lightspeed Parent Portal

The switch to Lightspeed Systems for internet filtering adds a new parent portal feature, providing visibility into and control over students’ internet usage on school-issued devices off campus. 

Each Sunday, parents and guardians will receive an email summary of each student’s online activity for the past week. Users may also opt to create an account to access the Lightspeed parent portal to view more details about online activity and set specific rules for CCS Chromebooks at home, such as turning off internet access at a specific time each night. 

Learn more about accessing the portal and the available controls. 

Starting on August 12, the email connected to your PowerSchool account will receive a welcome message from do_not_reply@lightspeedsystems.com with the subject Welcome to Parent Portal. Weekly usage summary emails will start on Sunday, August 16, with the subject line "Filter Portal Weekly Report."

Mass Email Communications

Carmel Clay Schools utilizes SchoolMessenger and Finalsite for sending mass communications, including school-wide and district-wide announcements. These messages are delivered directly to your email inbox. While the option to unsubscribe from these emails is available, please be aware that unsubscribing from one message will unsubscribe you from all mass communications from your school and the district. We understand email fatigue is a genuine concern, and our staff works diligently to limit, consolidate, and prioritize information to reduce message volume.

Preferred Language for Mass Messages

Large-scale messages can be delivered in your preferred home language, as selected during annual registration. To update your preferred language setting, please log into PowerSchool and follow these instructions.

Individual and Classroom Communications

For individual or classroom-specific messages, teachers typically use standard email or Canvas messages. Parents are strongly encouraged to register for a Canvas Observer account to ensure they receive these important updates regarding their student's classroom activities and progress.

Emergency and Time-Sensitive Notifications

Carmel Clay Schools utilizes SMS text messages and phone calls for urgent or time-sensitive information. This includes, but is not limited to, school closures or delays, unverified student absences, and critical safety updates. Parents and guardians are automatically enrolled in receiving these important messages.

Carmel Clay Schools provides students with the necessary school supplies. By ordering in bulk, we achieve significant cost savings for all families, ensure classrooms have the necessary supplies, and reduce waste year to year.

Families will receive a materials fee during the school year, which is based on grade level and course registration. The state of Indiana assists with curricular materials.

Ensuring that nearly 16,000 students arrive and depart safely requires precise coordination and strict adherence to neighborhood traffic patterns. Here you will find crucial details regarding bus route availability, carpool expectations, and how the district manages driver shortages through intentional routing. 

Bus Times & Routes

Bus stop locations and times will be available in PowerSchool starting the morning of August 3. While rare, please review for any last-minute changes before the first day of school. Concerns or questions should be submitted through our Transportation Form. As always, please be patient during the first few days as delays are expected. 

Carpool

• Please review your school's Traffic Patterns to ensure safe, efficient arrival and dismissal. Always follow the on-site staff's guidance.
• Students should be ready to get out of the car when parents pull up. Please have coats on, breakfasts eaten, and hugs given before pulling into the lot. Parents should not get out of the car; our staff will be available to assist.
• Parents, please do not drop off or pick up students in nearby neighborhoods. 

Elementary School Drop-off

Carpool drop-off begins at 7:25 a.m. at all 11 elementary schools on regular schedule days. On Late Start days, drop-off begins at 8:05 a.m. For families needing earlier care on Late Start days, Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation offers a paid before-school program that you can register your student for online. Please contact CCPR directly with any questions about their program.  

Transportation FAQ

Does CCS have a Transportation App?
No. On average, fewer than 1% of our 700 daily routes run late! If a bus is expected to be delayed by 10 minutes or more in the morning or afternoon, parents will receive a text and email message. 

Why do we have No-Bus Zones?
Carmel Clay Schools managed the critical nationwide bus driver shortage by implementing No-Bus Zones for students closest to our schools, impacting 10% of our students. By creating No-Bus Zones, we can provide consistent, reliable transportation to 90% of our 16,000 students every day. While we do not see an end to No-Bus Zones, our team reevaluates each year based on ridership needs and adjusts as needed. 

What is the district doing to hire more drivers?
Hiring has increased, but annual retirements remain steady. Driving is a great position for those pre-retirees with flexible schedules throughout the day. Drivers can earn up to $180/day. On average, it takes 4-6 weeks to complete the necessary CDL training, enhanced background checks, and paperwork to drive a bus. We want (and have!) the best drivers who are committed to the safety and well-being of our students. If you or someone you know is looking to join the team, email or call 317.844.8201.

The countdown is officially on for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 12! Use this final checklist to double-check your student's devices, load lunch funds, and review the support resources available to ensure your family is completely ready for day one. 

Family Checklist

Welcome Week events are underway, ice cream socials are on the horizon, and hallways are filled with talk of how fast the summer flew by!

✅ Be sure to check your PowerSchool Parent Portal once more this weekend. While schedules and transportation times are mostly locked, small changes may occur. 

✅ Power on all Chromebooks and connect to Wi-Fi to automatically install any required updates. All students should bring Chromebooks on the first day of school. High school students should bring their Chromebooks to Welcome Week (August 4-6) to ensure updates are completed before the first day of class. 

✅ Load funds to EZSchoolPay for student meals (instructions if needed).

✅ Review traffic patterns for your school and always follow staff guidance. Please have students ready to exit the vehicle at drop-off. 

✅ Engage with your school's PTO! If you are new to the district or a veteran of CCS, our PTOs are a great way to get involved and support the community. Whether you donate with your treasure or your time, our PTOs depend on you and need your support.

✅ Stay connected: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest highlights, celebrations, and updates from around the district!

We’re Here to Help

We understand—families today are navigating full schedules, academic classes, extracurriculars, practices, performances, and everything in between. Add in nonstop emails, apps, updates, and reminders, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

At Carmel Clay Schools, we’re here to support you. We’ve worked hard to guide families through important tools like Canvas and PowerSchool, and our website is filled with helpful resources.

Our Counseling & Social Work page includes key contacts, tips, and services to support students and families alike.

If you’re ever unsure where to turn, start by reaching out to your child’s teacher or principal.

Or, email communications@ccs.k12.in.us, and we’ll make sure you’re connected to the right person. We’re a large district, but we’re also a team of people ready to help because - Together We Achieve! 

Here’s to a positive and successful 2026–2027 school year.