The Indiana Department of Education will collaborate with educators and schools across the state to implement Indiana’s Priorities for STEM Education in an effort to provide access to high-quality, integrated STEM instruction and to increase student participation and achievement related to integrated STEM learning opportunities. In a constantly evolving world, STEM education will prepare all students to contribute to society through innovative problem solving as the next generation of thinkers, creators, advocates, and entrepreneurs.
- STEM Grants & Awards
STEM Acceleration Grant
The Indiana General Assembly appropriated funding in Fiscal Year 2022 to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) for STEM Program Alignment. A portion of these funds are to be used to distribute grants to high need schools. The STEM Acceleration Grant is designed to improve elementary and secondary student achievement and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning experiences across the state of Indiana. Through these targeted funds, IDOE will help grantees enhance student success by accelerating students’ exposure to and learning in the STEM disciplines. This grant opportunity will support districts that have an interest in accelerating, scaling, or implementing STEM curricula that are:
- Grounded in standards-based STEM content,
- Driven by integrated pedagogical practices, such as problem-based or inquiry-based approaches to learning, and
- Incorporate teacher training and support.
STEM Acceleration Grant Cohort 6 Winners
PRIME Grant
The Indiana PRIME (Postsecondary Ready Investigative Mathematics Experience) math transitions course was conceived in a collaborative effort with the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). The PRIME course utilizes the curriculum developed by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), which includes and reinforces the Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Statistics skills necessary for postsecondary success. To support professional development and technical assistance for educators teaching the PRIME course, funds appropriated through Indiana’s STEM Program Alignment Fund are allocated as PRIME Grants of up to $10,000 each and awarded in collaboration with Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
PRIME Grant 2022 Recipients
Governor’s STEM Team
The Governor’s STEM Team program honors four outstanding high school students for their exceptional efforts and accomplishments in one of the STEM disciplines. Winning students each receive a $1,000 deposit into an Indiana CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings plan and letterman jackets identifying them as members of the Governor’s STEM Team. The application process is launched each January. Please contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
Governor STEM Awards 2022 Recipients
- Math Modernization
Indiana has the opportunity to be a national leader in expanding options for students setting them up for postsecondary success whether pursuing a STEM degree, an industry certification, or an assortment of other education and training options that lead to a sustainable career. A task force of K-12 administration, higher education, and community partnerships was created to address this need.
Based on task force recommendations, multiple entry-level postsecondary mathematics opportunities and middle school supports for math pedagogy will be created.. An existing pilot of a grade 12 mathematics transition course, Postsecondary Ready Investigative Mathematics Experience (PRIME), helps students build their math knowledge and skills and was designed for students who have currently achieved the minimum math requirements for a Core 40 diploma but may still require additional assistance as they prepare for their next steps after high school. Indiana hopes to expand on this work with future 4th year math courses.
For many students, Algebra II is the precursor to this struggle, and significant efforts can be made to overcome the following deficits:
- In 2019, almost 25,000 high school students did not take a mathematics class
- 38% of grade 11 and 12 students were enrolled in Algebra II or Pre-Calculus: Algebra
- 26% of students in the graduating class of 2019, 2020, and 2021 had a last math enrollment of Algebra II (standard pathway)
The task force seeks to ensure all students have access to a rigorous mathematics curriculum that promotes meaningful exploration of applicable, problem-based learning and create diverse pathways for a broad set of postsecondary goals, taught by teachers equipped to offer modernized, research informed instruction. The following professional learning opportunities, housed in the Indiana Learning Lab represent the initial efforts to support the teacher’s role in this modernization effort.
Learning Lab Courses for educators:
Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices: High School Self-Paced Course
Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices: Middle School Self-Paced Course
- STEM School Certification
IDOE’s STEM Certified Schools program prioritizes the integrated STEM approaches to teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Certification process exemplifies the importance of inquiry, problem-based learning, community engagement, student-centered classrooms, and out-of-school STEM activities. Schools receiving the distinction of an Indiana STEM Certified School have aligned their programs with the mission, vision, and three priorities outlined in Indiana’s Priorities for STEM Education.
The following schools went through a rigorous application and review process in order to earn the designation as STEM Certified Schools!
Congratulations to the following schools for achieving Full STEM Certification!
View the STEM Certified Schools on an Indiana map, download a PDF or view a list online.
K-8 schools working to achieve STEM School Certification should review the following materials:
- 2022-2023 K-8 STEM School Certification Guide
- 2022-2023 K-8 STEM School Certification Evaluation Rubric
- 2022-2023 K-8 STEM School Certification Site Visit Evaluation
- 2022-2023 K-8 STEM School Certification Change Guide for Required Evidence
- References
Secondary schools, including junior/senior high schools, high schools, and career centers, working to achieve STEM School Certification should review the following materials:
- Computer Science
IDOE is committed to expanding quality computer science education in Indiana. Indiana has prioritized computer science education through the passage of Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 172 (2018), requiring every school, by 2021, to incorporate computer science in the school's curriculum for students in grades K-12. In 2022, Indiana revised existing K-8 computer science standards to closely align with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Standards for K-12 education to prepare students for a variety of computer science course offerings available for high schools. IDOE is committed to providing every student in Indiana with the opportunity to learn computer science, as this is an increasingly necessary step in preparing students to be productive citizens in an ever-changing, technology-driven world.
More information about computer science in Indiana can be found here.
Visit us in the Learning Lab!
STEM in the 
New to the Learning Lab?
- New users will be able to create an account and access the “Tour the IN Learning Lab with Our Team” resource to better understand how to navigate the Learning Lab.
- New users will need to follow these steps:
Step 1. Register for a Learning Lab account
Step 2: After registering, click the Learning Lab button again to learn how to navigate the Indiana Learning Lab