2010 is the year of Science in Indiana! Only 60% of Indiana K-12 students pass ISTEP+ and meet the expectations set by our state science standards. Now is the time for our schools across the state to adopt research-based curricular materials, provide appropriate professional development, hire highly qualified teachers, and use ISTEP+ and other formative and summative assessments to evaluate progress. This website will be your one stop resource for all updates and communications regarding the Indiana Science Initiative.

Find out why Indiana science reform is a priority.

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This problem impacts all Indiana residents and businesses - find out how you can help!

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Stay up to date with what people are saying and contribute your own ideas!

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Indiana Workforce

Almost 400,000 people in Indiana are employed in the life and health sciences industry. Whether they work in a hospital, a lab or in a manufacturing operation, they all need a strong preparation in K-12 science to qualify for the post-secondary training required in this sector.

Science-related occupations, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, LPNs, scientists, surgical technologists, dental hygienists, and physicians, are on the Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs list for every region and are needed everywhere in the state.

Indiana Education

Only 60% of Indiana K-12 students pass ISTEP and meet the expectations set by our state science standards and those results are not showing improvement.

2010 -11 represents a critical window for science education reform in Indiana because new curricular materials will be adopted in 2011 that will be used for the next six years. Indiana must broadly adopt those curricular materials that are backed by research that demonstrates their effectiveness.

Inquiry-based curriculum requires the use of hands-on materials so that students can perform experiments in the classroom and learn by doing rather than lecture. Distributing and refurbishing these kits represents another logistical challenge for most districts.

Science teachers will need to learn how to utilize these new curricular materials through participation in widely available intensive professional development.

There is Good News

Indiana has the capacity to make these changes because we have the I-STEM Resource Network to provide rigorous and widely available professional development through their higher education partners around the state. We have a State Superintendent who will work to see that the best curricular materials are adopted.

The Superintendent's proposed new licensure policy for teachers also underscores the importance of content knowledge in science. Eli Lilly and Company is working with I-STEM and the Department of Education to develop a science materials support system. Indiana already has a solid assessment program in place with world class Academic Standards for Science and ISTEP+ testing. Indiana is competing for multiple sources of federal funding for STEM teaching and learning.

Now is the time for our schools across the state to adopt research-based curricular materials, provide appropriate professional development, hire highly qualified teachers, set up a materials distribution process, and use ISTEP+ and other formative and summative assessments to evaluate progress.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, BioCrossroads, and the Indiana Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (I-STEM) Resource Network, today held the first Indiana Science Summit at Lilly's Corporate Center. The event brought together industry, education and community stakeholders and experts to highlight the significant gap between Indiana's economic dependency on science-related industry and students' academic achievement.

"Today's Summit kicks off 2010 as The Year for Science Education Reform," Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett said. "Our department is making science education a high priority so all students leave school prepared for success. I am confident if all stakeholders commit to moving the needle on science achievement, our entire state will benefit."

The Science Summit presented video comments from President Barack Obama, Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lilly Chairman, President and CEO, John Lechleiter, Ph.D, who each drew attention to the central role science education plays in our state and national economy and the critical need for investment and advocacy.

Also, the event brought renowned presenters such as Sally Goetz Shuler, executive director of the National Science Resources Center and Dr. Mike Klentschy, an expert on inquiry-based science instruction and former superintendent of El Centro School District in California.

There is strong research supporting the benefits of inquiry-based instruction, which allows students to explore and problem solve to develop deep knowledge and understanding of concepts—not just in science but every academic subject. One of the Summit's primary goals was to present best practices for implementing an inquiry-based curriculum in Indiana's classrooms to help Hoosier students catch up to their peers nationwide.

Indiana students lag behind other states in science achievement; the National Assessment of Educational Progress ranks Indiana 24th in the United States for students at or above proficiency in science. This presents a number of concerns for our state's health and life science industry.

"More rigorous science education to prepare students for the future is vital to our state," said David Johnson, President of CEO of BioCrossroads, Indiana's initiative to grow, invest and advance the life sciences. The organization is also playing an integral role in the state's science education reform efforts. "Bringing together corporate, university, K-12, and state leaders in a setting like today's Summit is important as the Hoosier State continues to compete in a tough global economic environment and to build opportunities in the life sciences industry."

Indiana schools will adopt new science materials in 2011, and this presents unique challenges and opportunities to local schools and science teachers. The Summit stressed the importance of community, business, and philanthropic engagement to support this critical transition in the way science is presented and learned in schools across the state.

"At the Science Summit, we shared a vision for high-quality science instruction for all students in Indiana," said Bill Walker, I-STEM's executive director. "Through the upcoming curricular materials adoption, K-12 schools in Indiana have an opportunity to select research-tested science materials which is a significant step in improving achievement, literacy, and preparation for tomorrow’s STEM workforce. The I-STEM Resource Network is committed to working with the Indiana Department of Education so that professional development for K-12 teachers of science will be readily available. Schools will also need encouragement and support from business and community leaders so that significant improvements in science literacy can take place."

To help all summit participants take ownership and action to improve science education, all attendees gathered in facilitated groups to share ideas as to how all stakeholders can work successfully to improve science instruction and student achievement.

"We all have an enormous stake in improving science education in Indiana. We're talking about lives and livelihoods," said Lilly Chairman, President and CEO, John Lechleiter, Ph.D. "Those of us in the private sector can—and must—play a productive role in supporting collaborations and interventions that can make a meaningful difference. We at Lilly will do our part, and I encourage my business colleagues to make the same commitment."

Moving forward, IDOE will pilot hands-on inquiry-based materials and curriculum in nine regions across the state. In conjunction with the summit, the I-STEM network has launched a comprehensive science-focused Web site with resources and information for students, teachers, parents as well as industry and community stakeholders.

View video from the 2010 Science Summit here

As a continuation of our efforts to have open discussions about science education reform in Indiana and the science strategic plan, we have established a collaboration tool here.

Discussions have been set up to answer questions that you may have or thoughts on this very important topic. Enter the discussions here

You may also contact I-STEM or the Indiana Department of Education with any specific questions about science education in Indiana.

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Presentations from the Summit

"Changing a School District and Community Through Science Education"
Mike Klentschy, Ph.D.
Former Superintendent, El Centro School District

"Implementing a Statewide
Inquiry-Based Science Program"
Brandon Sorge
Director of Operations, I-STEM Resource Network
Karen Heilman
Six Sigma Black Belt, Eli Lilly and Company

For additional highlights from the Summit...please click more

including videos, speaker bios, and the agenda.

Regional Meetings
Locations and Times

Region 1 - February 12th Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM CST Location: University of Southern Indiana Science Center 3251   Meeting Minutes	Region 2 - February 22nd Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: Wilson Educational Service Center Meeting Minutes
Region 3 - February 24th Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: Walden Inn Meeting Minutes	Region 4 - February 25th Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: Ball State University Alumni Center - Meeting Room 2   Meeting Minutes
Region 5 - February 16th Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: Purdue University, Hass Hall Meeting Minutes	Region 6 - March 2nd Time: 8:30AM - 11:30AM CST Location: Northwest Indiana Education Service Center Meeting Minutes
Region 7 - February 18th Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: School City of Mishawaka Central Office Meeting Minutes	Region 8 - February 23rd Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: IPFW - Chancellors Conf. Room 235 Meeting Minutes
Region 9 - February 17th Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM EST Location: Marian University - Wheeler-Stokely Mansion Meeting Minutes