By KARA BROOKS
State of Indiana

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.

Among schools in Kosciusko County receiving teacher performance grants are:

Akron Elementary, Claypool Elementary, Edgewood Middle, Eisenhower Elementary, Harrison Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Lakeview Middle, Lincoln Elementary, Madison Elementary, Mentone Elementary, Pierceton Elementary, South Whitley Elementary, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Warsaw High School, Washington Elementary, Whitko Middle School and Whitko High School.

From Elkhart County the schools are:

Benton Elementary, Bristol Elementary, Concord Community, Concord east side, Concord Junior, Concord Ox-Bow Elementary, Eastwood Elementary, Elkhart Central High School, Elkhart Memorial High School, Fairfield Junior-Senior High School, Feeser Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary, Jimtown High school, Jimtown Junior High School, Millersburg Elementary, Monger Elementary, Nappanee Elementary, New Paris Elementary, NorthWood High School, NorthWood Middle School, Pinewood Elementary School and Roosevelt ELementary,

“Indiana teachers and schools work each and every day to make a difference in the lives of our children,” said Gov. Mike 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 five 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 percent equals $23.50 per pupil
• 90-100 percent equals $47.00 per pupil
• Above five percent growth equals $47.00 per pupil

Graduation rates:

• 90-100 percent equals $176 per pupil
• 75-90 percent equals $88 per pupil
• Above five percent 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 Dec. 5 of this year.

A complete list of schools that will receive performance grants for teachers can be found here.