SYRACUSE — Wawasee Community School Corporation was one of several school corporations throughout the state to receive a K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, Acceleration Grant by the Indiana Department of Education. These grants will allow school corporations to accelerate, scale or implement a STEM curricula grounded in problem/project-based or inquiry-based pedagogy while incorporating teacher training and support.

Wawasee was awarded $75,000 by IDOE.

“Our grant application included providing training for teachers in Project Based Learning (PBL) Gold Standard PBL Projects and supporting them as they implement those projects; partnering with Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation to enhance the programs that are already in place, especially in helping to further inform students about STEM career options in relationship to the programs provided by the WACF; adding Project Lead the Way computer science at Wawasee High School for the start of the 2021-2022 school year, including training for the teacher of that new course; support for the AP-TIP IN training for Wawasee High School AP teachers who teach science, math and English courses,” said Joy Goshert, assistant superintendent for WCSC.

Indiana General Assembly appropriated funding in Fiscal Year 2020 to IDOE for STEM program alignment. A portion of these funds are to be used to improve elementary and secondary student achievement and participation in STEM subjects throughout Indiana. Additionally, this opportunity will allow schools to expand STEM career exposure for students throughout the K-12 educational continuum.