Education Readiness Grants Open with Focus on IT
Grants available for high schools to expand access to information technology CTE programs
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (Commission), in partnership with TechPoint, has opened applications for Education Readiness Grants, which provide funding for high schools to implement Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in high-demand career fields. The grant is run through the Commission’s CTE team and aims to strengthen partnerships between industry and local schools, while increasing student access to opportunities in these career fields.
Schools seeking to implement or expand select programs of study in information technology (IT) are eligible to apply. Applications are available here and open through March 8, 2024. The maximum grant award is $100,000.
This is the third year of the Education Readiness Grant program, which has also supported grants for advanced manufacturing programs in partnership with Conexus Indiana. Grant applications are currently only being accepted for two IT programs of study, cybersecurity and software development. These two programs are part of Indiana’s recent redesign of secondary CTE programs, Next Level Programs of Study, that launched last school year.
Grant recipients must demonstrate a direct connection with local employers in information technology with the goal of recruiting more students to CTE and graduating job-ready students with experience and credentials needed by local employers. Schools using Education Readiness Grants must partner with a local employer to provide students with a work-based learning experience that directly complements the CTE pathways coursework.
TechPoint is a leader in the IT sector and in 2022 launched its Mission41K initiative dedicated to growing Indiana’s tech workforce by 41,000 by 2030. Grant applications will be reviewed by TechPoint advisory committees, which will make funding recommendations for the Commission’s consideration. The committees comprise of postsecondary, industry, and state leadership partners who represent various industry sectors, technology competencies, and geographic regions.
CONTACT:
Sam Rourke
Director for CTE Outreach and Implementation
CTE@che.in.gov
About the Indiana Commission for Higher Education: Created in 1971, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education plans, coordinates, and defines Indiana’s postsecondary education system to align higher learning with the needs of students and the state. The Commission also administers Indiana’s financial aid programs, including the 21st Century Scholars early college promise scholarship, which celebrated 30 years in 2020.
About TechPoint: TechPoint is the nonprofit, industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s technology companies and overall tech ecosystem. The team is focused on attracting talent, accelerating scale-up companies, activating the community and amplifying stories of success. For more information, please visit www.techpoint.org.
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