State Beefs Up STEM Attraction, Recruitment Programs
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA $9.6 million series of grants will boost recruitment, retention and training for science, technology, engineering and math teachers in high-need districts. The second round of the STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund supports efforts including subject preparation for educators, credentialing and mentoring. In all, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education has announced 10 grant recipients, including the Independent Colleges of Indiana. The organization is working with the University of Indianapolis on its dual-credit, course work and training program called STEM Teach.
UIndy Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning Executive Director Janet Boyle says the program has been in such high demand, a previous iteration ran out of funding. The center also deals with business and economic development initiatives and Boyle says there is a call throughout the state for more resources toward STEM education. "People and hungry and the need is there, we’re proud to be part of the solution, but we could also say we need to have our solution expanded."
Independent Colleges of Indiana received more than $2.1 million to support its work with CELL.
The other organizations and schools receiving grants include:
- Conexus – $226,788
- Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education Districts – $237,556
- Nextech – $277,283
- Purdue Research Foundation – three grants totaling $1,109,947
- Teach for America – $2,154,539
- The New Teacher Project – $1,034,036
- University of Notre Dame – $370,972
- University of Southern Indiana Foundation – two grants totaling $763,437
- Woodrow Wilson Foundation – $1,294,801
Recipients were selected from a committee of what the commission calls K-12, higher education and work force stakeholders.
UIndy Center for Excellence in Leadership Executive Director Janet Boyle says business and economic development officials statewide continue to point to a “driving need” for more STEM teachers.