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Last updated on Thursday, July 5, 2018
(BEDFORD) - NLCS is one of 39 Indiana Schools to receive $12.2 million in grant money from the the Lilly Endowment to beef up counseling programs.
North Lawrence Community Schools will receive $484,129.
Lilly Endowment Inc. has approved a second round of grants to Indiana school corporations and charter schools to help them implement promising strategies to strengthen school counseling programs for their students.
The grants to 39 school corporations and charter schools are part of the Endowment's Comprehensive Counseling Initiative for Indiana K-12 Students (Counseling Initiative).
Schools locally receiving funds:
MARTIN COUNTY
MONROE COUNTY
ORANGE COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Other schools receiving funds:
CARROLL COUNTY
DELAWARE COUNTY
HAMILTON COUNTY
JENNINGS COUNTY
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
LAKE COUNTY
MARION COUNTY
MIAMI COUNTY
MORGAN COUNTY
NOBLE COUNTY
OWEN COUNTY
PUTNAM COUNTY
SWITZERLAND COUNTY
VIGO COUNTY
WAYNE COUNTY
WHITLEY COUNTY
Launched in September 2016, the Counseling Initiative is a multi-year effort designed to encourage the state's school corporations and charter schools to develop new school counseling approaches that address more effectively the academic, college, career, and social and emotional counseling needs of their students. The grants range from $99,368 to $1.39 million. A list of the school corporations and charter schools receiving the second round grants can be found here.
As with the first round, school corporations and charter schools in this second round were able to apply for grants of up to $100 per student enrolled in their schools. Those with enrollments of 1,000 students or fewer were able to request up to $100,000, even though that amount exceeds $100 per student. Grants in the first round were approved in September 2017.
Similar to first round proposals, a majority of proposals in the second round noted that schools are overwhelmed by the social and emotional challenges their students face, which they indicated have worsened in recent years because of the opioid addiction crisis affecting Indiana communities. They report that too often counselors don't have the time they need for academic and college and career advising because they must address their students' urgent social and emotional challenges. Moreover, too many counselors are assigned non-counseling work in their schools, such as administering state tests, assessments and Advanced Placement exams, which takes time away from their counseling responsibilities.
School corporations and charter schools proposed to use the grants to launch a variety of efforts that include, among other strategies:
"The response to this initiative from school corporations and charter schools across Indiana reflects an increased awareness of the crucial need to strengthen and expand school counseling programs," said Sara B. Cobb, the Endowment's vice president for education. "We are impressed with how school leaders have engaged a wide variety of community partners to assess the academic, college, career and social and emotional needs of their students, and respond to them."
Some School Districts Working Together
School corporations and charter schools in six Indiana counties are receiving funding for collaborative proposals. The Endowment recognized their interest in working together to leverage resources and community partnerships. The collaborative efforts are being funded through grants to 17 school corporations and charter schools working in four groups. Two collaborations reflect strong countywide partnerships.
Two others demonstrate interest in working across county lines to help students. They are:
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family -- J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. -- through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders' wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
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