LEGACY OF LEARNING

INDIANAPOLIS IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING AND DIVERSIFYING ITS TEACHER PIPELINE.

CHILDREN NEED a consistent pipeline of high-quality, diverse educators in order to improve achievement. But throughout the state, the pool of educators faces particular challenges. A 2019 report by the Center for American Progress ranked Indiana seventh for declining enrollment in teacher-preparation programs, which had fallen by 54 percent. With fewer students choosing to pursue education as a career, the teacher pipeline is narrowing.

IT’S A REALITY THAT’S CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION AND THE INDIANAPOLIS HOST COMMITTEE, WHO, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL LOCAL PARTNERS, HAVE TEAMED UP TO TACKLE THESE ESSENTIAL ISSUES...

Another prevalent issue is the need for resources that include high-quality curriculum for educators. Extended stay-at-home requirements and school building closures due to COVID-19 have required teachers to rapidly implement new instruction plans. In addition, the transition to digital learning has resulted in new preferences for educators and families on how they engage in learning from home. These challenges impact schools and families regardless if they’re in a public or private school, in an urban or rural sett ing. There is a need for a new method of connecting educators and families to engaging, interactive experiences in order to adapt to this new reality.

It’s a reality that’s caught the att ention of the College Football Playoff Foundation and the Indianapolis Host Committee, who, along with additional local partners, have teamed up to tackle these essential issues through initiatives that will improve teacher recruitment and retention in Indianapolis, aid teachers and families with digital learning, and provide funds for bett ering schools’ media centers.

One such tool is the Indiana Learning Lab, an online hub created to provide meaningful and relevant content and to give educators and families access to learning resources and training, and opportunities for collaboration and sharing of best practices. The learning lab also supports educators statewide in developing and implementing longer-term digital learning solutions that meet the needs of students, parents, and schools. Focal points of the lab include resource and content curation, accessible learning communities, and professional development for educators.

Other focus areas of the CFP Foundation/Indy Host Committ ee partnership include provision of classroom resources and recognition of teachers throughout the state for their hard work every day.

The Indy Host Committee partnered with CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers platform and Teach Indy and Indiana Learning Lab initiatives to improve the learning process for educators and students alike.