INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has selected schools to receive Residency Planning Grants to develop teaching residency programs.

Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation was one of six public school corporations selected to receive a $1,000 Residency Planning Grant to develop future teacher residency programs. TVSC partnered with Huntington University. The grant will be used to cover costs as the school corporation works with Huntington to develop a teacher residency program that will begin in the 2021-2022 academic year, said a news release from Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation.

If TVSC and Huntington decide to move forward past the planning stage, the two may apply for a Teaching Residency Pilot Program grant.

The Teacher Residency Grant Pilot Program was created in 2019 by the Indiana General Assembly. Modeled after medical residency and apprenticeship programs, teacher residency programs are full-year, paid teaching experiences for student educators.

Students teach alongside an experienced mentor teacher, preparing them for the classroom after graduation. Two types of grants are supported through the program: residency grants and planning grants.

“These resident teachers are going to have an immersive experience and learn the true day-to-day workings of a classroom and a school under the guidance of a mentor teacher,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “It is encouraging to see a mix of school types and district sizes throughout Indiana with the partnership and participation of a number of public and private higher education partners represented in this program.”

Other Planning grant recipients are listed with the respective higher education partner in parentheses:

•  Elkhart Community Schools (Indiana University South Bend)

• Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School District (Purdue University Fort Wayne)
• Griffith Public Schools (Indiana University-Purdue University-Northwest) 
• Indianapolis Public Schools (Relay Graduate School of Education)
• Warsaw Community School (Grace College)

Planning grant recipients who decide to move forward with the teacher residency program must apply for the residency grant funding for the 2021-22 academic year no later than January 31, 2021.