STATEHOUSE — State Representative Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute) is pleased that Edgewood High School in Ellettsville was one of 10 schools selected this year to participate in the Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program (AP-TIP). During a ceremony held at the Indiana Statehouse, Rep. Heaton joined Edgewood High School Principal Dirk Ackerman for the announcement welcoming the school into the program. “The importance of post-secondary education and enhanced job training is undeniable, so I am proud that Edgewood High School was accepted into this cutting-edge program, which will set their students up for success earlier in life,” said Rep. Heaton. Launched in 2012, the AP-TIP, administered by Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives, partnering with the Indiana Department of Education and the National Math and Science Initiative, was established to increase the number of Hoosier students enrolling and receiving qualifying scores on AP math, science and English (MSE) exams, which can earn college credits. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce claims that by 2018, 55 percent of Indiana’s jobs will require some post-secondary education. According the Norte Dame’s website, schools participating in the AP-TIP have increased teacher training and support, more time centered on students taking MSE AP classes and incentives to teachers and students. The AP-TIP is funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation Fund, commonly referred to as i3 funding. After the program’s first year in Indiana, the number of participating students that received qualifying scores on their AP science and math exams increased by 114 percent. “One of our top priorities this legislative session was to better equip students for the workforce, and we accomplished this by passing House Enrolled Act 1003,” said Rep. Heaton. “The Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program is aligned with our goal to bridge the skills-gap in order to help Hoosier students better compete in today’s globally dynamic marketplace.” House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1003 aims to address the skills gap and improve the quality of the state’s workforce by allowing the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to utilize the Training 2000 Fund to award grants to schools that choose to develop and implement partnerships with businesses. This legislation also allows the IEDC to award an Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit to businesses that hire students who have gone through this cooperative program between the business and the college. HEA 1003 repurposes the current Indiana Workforce Intelligence System to the Indiana Network of Knowledge in order to support identifying both current and future job market skill needs. Visit http://iei.nd.edu/programs to learn more about AP-TIP or visit http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans for additional information about Rep. Heaton. -30- Rep. Heaton Edgewood High School accepted into program to boost college readiness.docx |
