INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) today awarded 48 school districts and charter schools across the state with more than $2.6 million in STEM Acceleration Grant funding, which schools will deploy during the upcoming school year to accelerate students’ learning across science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
“As our students explore, engage, and gain experiences in STEM, they’re learning to solve real-world problems while building skills such as critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and teamwork,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Schools that receive this grant are leaning-in to increase intentional STEM learning and opportunities. This important work is the first step that may further lead to additional strategic community partnerships, state STEM certifications, and students earning additional exploration and engagement in STEM careers.”
School districts and charter schools receiving the grant to implement in the 2022-2023 school year are:
- Anderson Community School Corporation – $74,660
- Believe Charter School – $25,000
- Benton Community School Corporation – $50,000
- Christel House Academy South – $25,000
- Circle City Prep – $25,000
- Clay Community Schools – $25,000
- Concord Community Schools – $54,052
- Dekalb County Central United School District – $50,000
- Fort Wayne Community Schools – $99,930
- Greater Clark County Schools – $100,000
- Greensburg Community Schools – $75,000
- Griffith Public Schools – $74,399
- Indiana School for the Deaf – $25,000
- Indianapolis Public Schools – $74,738
- Kokomo School Corporation – $25,000
- LaPorte Community Schools – $75,000
- Linton-Stockton Community School Corporation – $50,000
- Logansport Community School Corporation – $75,000
- Madison Grant United School Corporation – $50,000
- Manchester Community Schools – $24,869
- Marion Community Schools – $75,000
- Milan Community Schools – $25,000
- Mississinewa Community School Corporation – $75,000
- Mitchell Community Schools – $49,138
- MSD Lawrence Township – $74,928
- MSD Pike Township – $75,000
- MSD Warren Township – $66,870
- MSD Washington Township – $73,728
- Muncie Community Schools – $75,000
- Northeast School Corporation – $75,000
- Pike County School Corporation – $50,000
- Plymouth Community School Corporation – $50,000
- Randolph Eastern School Corporation – $25,000
- Salem Community Schools – $49,175
- School City of Hammond – $100,000
- School City of Mishawaka – $74,987
- Shoals Community School Corporation – $25,000
- South Bend Community School Corporation – $74,000
- South Harrison Community Schools – $75,000
- South Henry School Corporation – $25,000
- South Vermillion Community School Corporation – $50,000
- Southeast Fountain School Corporation – $23,500
- Southwestern Jefferson County Consolidated Schools – $49,853
- Steel City Academy – $25,000
- Victory College Prep Academy – $24,760
- Vigo County School Corporation – $100,000
- Western Wayne Schools – $25,000
- White River Valley School District – $24,717
First launched in the 2018-2019 school year, the STEM Acceleration Grant is a competitive grant that helps schools increase students’ access to STEM courses, programs and resources. The grant focuses on helping schools implement research-based, high-quality teaching practices and professional development for educators that helps build a culture of STEM leadership in schools.
This year, more than 70% of school districts awarded a STEM Acceleration Grant have one or more schools that are currently working to become STEM Certified Schools, which recognizes schools for their focus on inquiry, project-based learning, community engagement, entrepreneurship, student-centered classrooms, and out-of-school time STEM activities.
While students continue to recover from COVID-19-related learning disruptions, schools were encouraged to focus their grant proposals on learning recovery for students most impacted academically by these disruptions.
This grant is funded by state appropriations to IDOE for STEM program alignment. More than 150 schools have been awarded STEM Acceleration Grants since 2018, with grants totaling more than $9.2 million. The awardees for the 2022-2023 school year include 18 first-time recipients.
The STEM Acceleration Grant is one of several IDOE-led initiatives focused on STEM education. These include the STEM Certified School program, as well as the state’s recently-developed priorities for STEM education. To implement these priorities, IDOE is working with educators and schools across the state to provide high-quality, integrated STEM learning opportunities to all students. Schools can currently opt into the voluntary coalition with IDOE to integrate high-quality STEM instruction through a locally-managed coaching model. Schools can learn more about this program here.
