The Indiana Department of Education hopes to boost the state’s STEM teacher pipeline with a new partnership program with Education Service Centers of Indiana that funds coursework for teachers seeking full licensure.
The Indiana STEM Educator Expansion Initiative will fund tuition, books and material fees for both currently licensed teachers in non-STEM areas, as well as prospective teachers who are not licensed but hold a bachelor’s degree, to become licensed to teach a STEM subject. “In today’s technology-driven world, it has never been more important for every Indiana student to have access to high-quality STEM instruction, and this starts with ensuring we have the very best and brightest educators in the classroom,” said Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner.
Eligible participants may receive free tuition and books, allowing them to complete the I-STEM program at no cost. Additional stipends are also available for the following:
* For prospective educators — a $1,000 enrollment stipend to help support child care, licensure fees, books and other related expenses, a $1,000 commitment stipend upon being hired in an Indiana school district in a STEM-related position, as well as an additional $1,000 commitment stipend, if hired in a rural district.
* For currently licensed educators adding a STEM licensure area — a $1,000 commitment stipend upon adding a STEM endorsement to their existing valid educator license and being hired or retained in an Indiana school district in a STEM-related position.
The I-STEM initiative is being administered by ESCI in collaboration with iteach Indiana, and is funded through $4.8 million from Indiana’s federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and other federal funding.
Eligible STEM content areas include life science, chemistry, earth/space science, physics, physical science, computer science, technology education and mathematics.
Current and aspiring teachers can learn more and apply for assistance by visiting https://keepindianalearning.org/events/istem/.