Grant Boosts STEM Initiative
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indianapolis-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics organization has secured a $450,000 federal grant. The funding for the College Acceleration Network has led to the creation of its STEM Innovations initiative. The program pairs school corporations with colleges for teacher training. January 22, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indianapolis-based College Acceleration Network has created the STEM Innovations initiative as a result of a $450,000 federal Mathematics and Science Partnership grant administered by the Indiana Department of Education to enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education over the next three years. Seven Northwest Indiana school corporations will share the grant which partners school systems with higher education institutions to assist teachers in strengthening their STEM skills to help impact student academic performance. The initiative is partnering with Purdue University North Central, which will develop key tools and implement training for teachers and administrators.
“We need to ensure that our students have the best STEM education possible and in order to do that teachers and administrators need the necessary tools and training from experts in their field,” said Nancy Sutton, executive director, College Acceleration Network. “This grant will help provide those necessary resources.”
More than 200 teachers in the seven school corporations in grades seven through nine will participate in summer institutes and key sessions throughout the school year to learn a number of skills including how to create more effective lessons that will enhance current Indiana Common Core standards and Indiana academic requirements. The school corporations participating in the initiative are: Crown Point Community School Corporation (Crown Point, Ind.), Gary Community School Corporation (Gary, Ind.), Merrillville School Corporation (Merrillville, Ind.), M.S.D. of Boone Township (Hebron, Ind.), School City of Hammond (Hammond, Ind.), School City of Hobart (Hobart, Ind.) and the School Town of Munster (Munster, Ind.). The school corporations are part of the ReadyNWI initiative.
“The STEM Innovations initiative will only strengthen the successful work we have already accomplished in Northwest Indiana but our work doesn’t stop there. Providing leadership coaching and skills to teachers in school districts throughout the state is vital to helping students be college and career ready and to fill the STEM jobs in our regional economies,” said Eric J. Ban, president and CEO, College Acceleration Network.
The grant will also help the school corporations continue to build on the work they are already doing as part of a Math Innovations grant that provides professional development and leadership coaching in algebra and assessment data to teachers. The Math Innovations grant increases knowledge of the Common Core State Standards, focusing on the importance of math as an indicator of post-secondary success.
“The critical work we have been doing with the Math Innovations grant has created a strong foundation to launch the new STEM Innovations initiative in Northwest Indiana as a model for the state,” said Dr. Mark Sperling, superintendent of the Merrillville Community School Corporation. “Strengthening STEM instructional strategies and driving interest in STEM careers is key to our students’ achievement and to our regional economies. The STEM Innovations initiative also supports our Governor’s strong agenda in the development of STEM curriculum in schools.”
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana) said in a press release, “I am very happy to see Indiana school corporations and institutes of higher learning working together to provide our kids with the education and skills they need to succeed in today’s job market. I want to thank the Indiana Department of Education for making this investment in our children’s future.”
Source: College Acceleration Network