INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (July 15, 2005) Indiana is one of 10 states that will receive an Honor States Grant over the next two years from the National Governors Association.

The state sought funds to help provide Indiana communities the opportunity to work with new high school designs that support student success in post-secondary education and work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (called STEM education).

Indiana's proposal focused specifically on STEM-based high school redesign, ensuring that all students entering high school have mastered algebra, and strengthening connections between STEM faculty in Indiana high schools and their subject matter counterparts in higher education.

The award provides that each state will receive up to $2 million over the two-year grant period, but notice of the final dollar amount has not been received. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding the grants, which are intended to stimulate redesign of high schools nationally.

This is not a top down, one size fits all, approach, said the Governor. This generous grant will allow our communities to consider multiple models of high achieving high schools, or design their own. With support to our communities to develop graduates ready for the 21^st Century economy, we help them align their schools with their aspirations for quality of life and economic vitality.

Thirty-one states submitted detailed proposals for achieving high school redesign goals over the next two years. Indiana's proposal, led by the Governor's Office, was built in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the Indiana Student Achievement Institute, and the Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis.

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