Jan. 20, 2017
Contact: Judith Cebula
317.916.7327 | cebulaj@lei.org
Counseling Initiative Planning Grants to Help Indiana Public School Corporations and Charter Schools Strengthen Student Pathways to Success
INDIANAPOLIS – Lilly Endowment Inc. is announcing the recipients of planning grants in the first phase of its Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K-12 Students, a five-year effort to strengthen how public school corporations and charter schools help students from elementary grades through high school prepare for academic, career and personal success.
The Endowment is awarding a total of $9.14 million in planning grants to 284 public school corporations and charter schools in Indiana. The individual grants range from $8,302 to $50,000. The amounts for which the recipients could apply were based on the enrollment of each school corporation or charter school.
As part of the planning grant process, recipients will spend the next three months collecting and analyzing data, assessing their current counseling programs, identifying best practices, visiting promising programs and engaging community partners, among many activities described in their proposals.
After this planning and study, they are invited to submit implementation grant proposals to fund the strategies they develop to move them closer to a comprehensive counseling model that addresses the academic, college, career, and social and emotional needs of their K-12 students.
Although the planning grant phase was not competitive, the implementation grants will be competitive. Implementation proposals, which must be submitted by May 19, 2017, can be used during a four-year grant period. Applicants may request up to $100 per student enrolled, and the amounts may range from $100,000 to $3 million.
Many of the planning grant recipients are engaging consultants to help them with this work, including among others the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI), Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis (CELL), the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation (Indiana Chamber) and Fleck Education.
“The Endowment is very encouraged by the response to the request for planning grants. The number of proposals received exceeded our estimates, which indicates that schools across Indiana want their counseling programs to be as effective as possible. They recognize the importance of counseling to students’ future success and quality of life,” said Sara B. Cobb, the Endowment’s vice president for education.
The Endowment launched the Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K-12 Students in September. Through a request for proposals, the Endowment invited Indiana’s public school corporations and charter schools to submit proposals for planning grants to help them learn more about the best practices for comprehensive counseling programs in Indiana and from around the country, evaluate their current counseling programs, and consider developing plans to enhance the quality and expand the scale of their counseling programs.
“The Endowment is committing funds to this initiative because Indiana needs to increase significantly the number of K-12 students who are emotionally healthy, can realize academic success and graduate from high school,” Cobb said.
“And Indiana’s students need to achieve valuable postsecondary credentials, certificates and degrees that are essential for meaningful employment so they can compete and prosper in the global society in which they will live and work. We continue to hear that many Indiana employers have difficulty finding workers adequately prepared for the jobs they have available.”
Across Indiana, too few schools use a best practices comprehensive counseling model to prepare their students for successful lives beyond high school, according to research conducted by the Indiana Chamber in partnership with CELL. Among the findings: school counselors are often burdened with large caseloads, which limits their ability to help students. According to the National Association of College Admission Counseling, Indiana ranks 45th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the number of K- 12 students per counselor with an average of one counselor for every 620 students.
In addition, students in Indiana struggle with mental health issues at a higher rate than their peers in most other states, which jeopardizes their ability to learn and thrive. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2016 Kids Count Profile, Indiana ranks 30th in the nation in the overall well-being of children and youth. And in its 2014 Issue Brief, the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) reported that in a national survey of 43 states, Indiana ranked first in the percentage of high school students who had considered attempting suicide and second in the percentage of high school students who attempted to take their own lives.
Indiana’s current school counseling challenges are part of a larger landscape of lagging educational attainment and economic prosperity. Too many Indiana students face limited earning potential and weak prospects for satisfying careers, which jeopardizes long-term quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities.
According to U.S. Census data, in 2014 Indiana ranked 43rd in the nation in the percentage of adults, age 25 to 64, with at least a bachelor’s degree. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2015 Indiana ranked 39th in the nation in per capita income, having slipped from 29th in the nation since 1995.
“At the Endowment, we believe that enhancing and expanding in a comprehensive way the academic, college, career, and social and emotional counseling in Indiana’s schools could help reverse Indiana’s negative trends,” Cobb said. “Addressing these challenges is critical to the future quality of life for Indiana residents.”
The following is a list of planning grant recipients in the Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K-12 Students:
Akron
Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation
Albion
Central Noble Community School Corporation
Alexandria
Alexandria Community School Corporation
Anderson
Anderson Community School Corporation
Central Indiana Military Academy
Frankton-Lapel Community Schools
Arcadia
Hamilton Heights School Corporation
Attica
Attica Consolidated School Corporation
Aurora
South Dearborn Community School Corporation
Austin
Scott County School District 1
Avon
Avon Community School Corporation
Bainbridge
North Putnam Community School Corporation
Batesville
Batesville Community School Corporation
Bedford
North Lawrence Community Schools
Beech Grove
Beech Grove City Schools
Berne
South Adams Schools
Bicknell
North Knox School Corporation
Bloomfield
Bloomfield School District
Eastern Greene Schools
Bloomington
Monroe County Community School Corporation
The Project School
Bluffton
Bluffton-Harrison M.S.D.
Bourbon
Triton School Corporation
Bremen
Bremen Public Schools
Brookville
Franklin County Community School Corporation
Brownsburg
Brownsburg Community School Corporation
Brownstown
Brownstown Central Community School Corporation
Bunker Hill
Maconaquah School Corporation
Butler
DeKalb County Eastern Community School District
Campbellsburg
West Washington School Corporation
Canaan
Canaan Community Academy
Carmel
Options Charter School
Cedar Lake
Hanover Community School Corporation
Centerville
Centerville-Abington Community Schools
Chalmers
Frontier School Corporation
Charlottesville
Community School Corporation of Eastern Hancock County
Chesterton
Duneland School Corporation
Churubusco
Smith-Green Community Schools
Clarksville
Clarksville Community School Corporation
Clinton
South Vermillion Community School Corporation
Cloverdale
Cloverdale Community Schools
Columbia City
Whitley County Consolidated Schools
Columbus
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation
Connersville
Fayette County School Corporation
Converse
Oak Hill United School Corporation
Corydon
South Harrison Community School Corporation
Crawfordsville
Crawfordsville Community School Corporation
North Montgomery Community School Corporation
Crown Point
Crown Point Community School Corporation
Culver
Culver Community Schools Corporation
Daleville
Daleville Community Schools
Danville
Danville Community School Corporation
Delphi
Delphi Community School Corporation
Denver
North Miami Community Schools
Dubois
Northeast Dubois County School Corporation
East Chicago
School City of East Chicago
Elkhart
Baugo Community Schools
Concord Community Schools
Elkhart Community Schools
Ellettsville
Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation
Seven Oaks Classical School
Elnora
North Daviess Community Schools
Eminence
Eminence Community School Corporation
Evansville
Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation
Fairmount
Madison-Grant United School Corporation
Ferdinand
Southeast Dubois County School Corporation
Fishers
Hamilton Southeastern Schools
Flora
Carroll Consolidated School Corporation
Fort Branch
South Gibson School Corporation
Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Northwest Allen County Schools
Southwest Allen County Schools
Fortville
Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation
Fountain City
Northeastern Wayne Schools
Fowler
Benton Community School Corporation
Francesville
West Central School Corporation
Frankfort
Clinton Prairie School Corporation
Community Schools of Frankfort
Franklin
Franklin Community School Corporation
Fremont
Fremont Community Schools
French Lick
Springs Valley Community Schools Corporation
Fulton
Caston School Corporation
Garrett
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School District
Gary
21st Century Charter School at Gary
Gary Community School Corporation
Gary Middle College
Lake Ridge New Tech Schools
Lighthouse Academies of Northwest Indiana
Gas City
Mississinewa Community Schools
Gaston
Wes-Del School Corporation
Goshen
Fairfield Community Schools
Goshen Community Schools
Greencastle
Greencastle Community School Corporation
South Putnam Community Schools
Greenfield
Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation
Greensburg
Decatur County Community Schools
Greensburg Community Schools
Greentown
Eastern Howard School Corporation
Greenwood
Center Grove Community School Corporation
Greenwood Community School Corporation
Griffith
Griffith Public Schools
Hagerstown
Nettle Creek School Corporation
Hamilton
Hamilton Community Schools
Hamlet
Oregon-Davis School Corporation
Hammond
Hammond Academy of Science and Technology
School City of Hammond
Hartford City
Blackford County Schools
Hebron
M.S.D. of Boone Township
Hobart
River Forest Community School Corporation
School City of Hobart
Huntingburg
Southwest Dubois County School Corporation
Huntington
Huntington County Community School Corporation
Hymera
Northeast School Corporation
Indianapolis
Avondale Meadows Academy
Christel House Academy
Damar Charter School
Franklin Township Community School Corporation
Global Preparatory Academy
Herron High School
Hoosier Academy
Hope Academy
Indiana Connections Academy
Indiana Math and Science Academy – North
Indiana Math and Science Academy – South
Indiana Math and Science Academy – West
Indiana Virtual Education Foundation
Indianapolis Academy of Excellence
Indianapolis Public Schools
KIPP Indy Public Schools
Lighthouse Academies of Indiana
M.S.D. of Decatur Township
M.S.D. of Lawrence Township
M.S.D. of Pike Township
M.S.D. of Perry Township
M.S.D. of Warren Township
M.S.D. of Washington Township
M.S.D. of Wayne Township
Neighborhood Charter Network
Paramount School of Excellence
Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence
State of Indiana, Department of Correction
Tindley Accelerated Schools
Jasonville
M.S.D. of Shakamak
Jasper
Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools
Jeffersonville
Greater Clark County Schools
Kendallville
East Noble School Corporation
Knightstown
Charles A. Beard Memorial School Corporation
Kokomo
Northwestern School Corporation
Kouts
East Porter County School Corporation
Lafayette
Lafayette School Corporation
Tippecanoe School Corporation
LaGrange
Lakeland School Corporation
Prairie Heights Community School Corporation
Lake Station
Lake Station Community School Corporation
Lakeville
Union-North United School Corporation
Lanesville
Lanesville Community School Corporation
LaPorte
LaPorte Community School Corporation
Renaissance Academy
Larwill
Whitko Community School Corporation
Lawrenceburg
Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation
Lebanon
Lebanon Community School Corporation
Leopold
Perry Central Community School Corporation
Liberty
Union County/College Corner Joint School District
Ligonier
West Noble School Corporation
Lincoln City
North Spencer County School Corporation
Linton
Linton Stockton School Corporation
Logansport
Logansport Community School Corporation
Loogootee
Loogootee Community School Corporation
Lowell
Tri-Creek School Corporation
Madison
Madison Consolidated Schools
Marengo
Crawford County Community School Corporation
Marion
Marion Community Schools
Marshall
North Central Parke Community School Corporation
Martinsville
M.S.D. of Martinsville
Mays
Northern Rush County School
McCordsville
Montessori Academy at Geist
Merrillville
Merrillville Community School Corporation
Michigan City
Michigan City Area Schools
Michigantown
Clinton Central School Corporation
Middlebury
Middlebury Community Schools
Middletown
Shenandoah School Corporation
Milan
Milan Community School Corporation
Mishawaka
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
School City of Mishawaka
Mitchell
Mitchell Community Schools
Monon
North White School Corporation
Montezuma
Southwest Parke Community School Corporation
Montgomery
Barr-Reeve Community Schools
Monticello
Twin Lakes School Corporation
Mooresville
Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation
Morocco
North Newton School Corporation
Mt. Summit
Blue River Valley School Corporation
Mt. Vernon
M.S.D. of Mount Vernon
Muncie
Cowan Community School Corporation
Delaware Community School Corporation
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities
Muncie Community Schools
Muncie Public Charter School for Inquiry
Nappanee
Wa-Nee Community Schools
Nashville
Brown County School Corporation
New Albany
Community Montessori
New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation
New Carlisle
New Prairie United School Corporation
New Castle
New Castle Community School Corporation
New Haven
East Allen County Schools
New Market
South Montgomery Community School Corporation
New Palestine
Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County
Noblesville
Noblesville Schools
Options Charter School
North Judson
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation
North Manchester
Manchester Community Schools
North Vernon
Jennings County School Corporation
Orleans
Orleans Community School Corporation
Osgood
Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation
Ossian
Northern Wells Community Schools
Parker City
Monroe Central School Corporation
Pershing
Western Wayne Schools
Petersburg
Pike County School Corporation
Plainfield
Plainfield Community School Corporation
Plymouth
Plymouth Community School Corporation
Portage
Portage Township Schools
Portland
Jay School Corporation
Poseyville
M.S.D. of North Posey County
Princeton
North Gibson School Corporation
Rensselaer
Rensselaer Central Schools Corporation
Richmond
Richmond Community Schools
Rising Sun
Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation
Rochester
Rochester Community School Corporation
Rockport
South Spencer School Corporation
Rossville
Rossville Consolidated School District
Royal Center
Pioneer Regional School Corporation
Rushville
Rush County Schools
Russiaville
Western School Corporation
Salem
Salem Community Schools
Scottsburg
Scott County School District 2
Sellersburg
West Clark Community Schools
Selma
Liberty-Perry Community Schools
Seymour
Seymour Community School District
Sharpsville
Tri-Central Community Schools
Shelbyville
Shelby Eastern School Corporation
Shelbyville Central Schools
Southwestern Consolidated School District of Shelby County
Sheridan
Sheridan Community Schools
Shoals
Shoals Community School Corporation
South Bend
Career Academy Goodwill LEADS
South Bend Community School Corporation
Spencer
Spencer-Owen Community Schools
St. John
Lake Central School Corporation
St. Leon
Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation
Straughn
South Henry School Corporation
Sullivan
Southwest School Corporation
Switz City
White River Valley School District
Syracuse
Wawasee Community School Corporation
Tell City
Tell City-Troy Township School Corporation
Terre Haute
Vigo County School Corporation
Thorntown
Western Boone County Community School Corporation
Tipton
Tipton Community School Corporation
Topeka
Westview School Corporation
Trafalgar
Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation
Valparaiso
Porter Township School Corporation
Union Township School Corporation
Valparaiso Community Schools
Veedersburg
Southeast Fountain School Corporation
Versailles
South Ripley Community School Corporation
Vevay
Switzerland County School Corporation
Vincennes
South Knox School Corporation
Vincennes Community School Corporation
Wabash
M.S.D. of Wabash County
Wabash City Schools
Walkerton
John Glenn School Corporation
Walton
Southeastern School Corporation
Wanatah
Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation
Warsaw
Warsaw Community Schools
Waterloo
DeKalb County Central United School District
West Lafayette
West Lafayette Community School Corporation
Westfield
Westfield Washington Schools
Westville
M.S.D. of New Durham Township
Wheatfield
Kankakee Valley School Corporation
Whiting
School City of Whiting
Williamsport
M.S.D. of Warren County
Wolcott
Tri-County School Corporation
Yorktown
Yorktown Community Schools
Zionsville
Zionsville Community Schools
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a national, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family — J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Eli — through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.