State Awards Millions to Schools

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The state of Indiana has awarded a total of $30 million to more than 1,300 schools as part of a teacher performance reward program. The funding is based on standardized test scores and graduation rate growth. You can see the list of schools receiving grants by clicking here.

Indianapolis, Ind. — In its first distribution of teacher performance grants, the State of Indiana today awarded more than 1,300 schools with $30 million to reward thousands of high-performing teachers.

“Indiana teachers and schools work each and every day to make a difference in the lives of our children,” said Governor Pence. “This commitment to excellence brightens both the futures of our young people and that of our state, and I fully support, as I did on day one in office, rewarding their tireless work. I applaud the efforts of the schools and teachers who will benefit from these grants and urge all Hoosiers do the same.”

Schools with students earning ISTEP+ or end of course assessment passing scores of 72.5 percent or above or with a 5 percent or more growth in graduation rates from the previous year qualified for grant funds for teachers. The bonuses will be awarded to teachers who are rated effective or highly effective under Indiana's teacher evaluation system for the 2013-14 academic year. Schools will receive the following dollar amounts based on performance for the sole purpose of distributing among effective or highly effective teachers:

ISTEP+/ECA passing rates:

— 72.5 – 90% equals $23.50 per pupil

–90-100% equals $47.00 per pupil

–Above 5% growth equals $47.00 per pupil

Graduation rates:

–90-100% equals $176 per pupil

–75-90% equals $88 per pupil

–Above 5% growth equals $176 per pupil

The Governor's 2013 recommended budget originally proposed the concept of school performance awards. The awards were signed into law as part of the biennial budget, HEA 1001, which allocated $30 million in grants to schools based on school proficiency or improvement for only state fiscal year 2015. Per Indiana Code 20-43-10-3, the performance grants must be distributed before December 5 of this year.

Source: Office of Indiana Governor Mike Pence