ABOUT US
The Southern Indiana Education Center (SIEC) proudly serves as Region 1 of Indiana’s nine Educational Service Centers. With over 50 years of dedicated service, we empower 36 member school districts across 15 counties with innovative solutions, professional development, and workforce readiness programs.
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SIEC: Who We Are
Our Mission
To strengthen education and communities by connecting schools, educators, and students with the resources they need to thrive.
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Our Vision
A thriving educational ecosystem where every student, educator, and community has the tools to succeed.
SIEC's REGIONAL IMPACT
Transforming Education and Empowering Communities Across Southern Indiana
Through innovative programs, dedicated partnerships, and a relentless commitment to student and educator success, SIEC has made a lasting impact across 17 counties and 36 school districts.
By the Numbers:
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53,000+ students served annually through our programs.
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2,767 hours of career coaching delivered to students and families in need.
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123+ students gained work-based learning experiences through internships and apprenticeships.
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94% of K-8 students improved ELA skills, and 88% saw growth in math through targeted instruction.
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85% of educators reported enhanced collective efficacy, leading to stronger classroom engagement.
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100% family engagement in Migrant Education Program activities, fostering lifelong connections to education.
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78 industry-recognized credentials earned by students, preparing them for meaningful careers.
What This Means for Southern Indiana:
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Building the Workforce of Tomorrow: From healthcare to advanced manufacturing, our programs create clear career pathways for students, preparing them to fill critical roles in the local economy.
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Strengthening Communities: By connecting schools, businesses, and families, we ensure long-term growth and sustainability across the region.
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Empowering Educators: Through professional development and collaborative networks, we’re equipping teachers with the tools to inspire the next generation.
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Together, we are shaping a brighter future for education and workforce readiness in Southern Indiana.
IMPACT Reports
Explore, Engage, Experience (3E) Grant
The 3E Grant empowered SIEC to connect students across Southern Indiana with career exploration, work-based learning (WBL) opportunities, and postsecondary credentialing. Through this initiative:
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1,015 students participated in career exploration activities.
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123 students engaged in WBL experiences, earning 78 industry-recognized credentials.
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86% of students gained clarity on their strengths and career goals.
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This grant helped districts build sustainable career pathways, launched Project Protege, and laid the foundation for long-term educational and workforce success.
HB 1008 Student Learning Recovery Grant
The HB 1008 Student Learning Recovery Grant, created to address learning gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, enabled SIEC to deliver impactful educational initiatives across 14 counties. With over $3.2 million in funding, SIEC supported 5,300+ students and provided professional development to educators through three primary initiatives:
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Collective Efficacy: Building collective efficacy among teachers and administrators through intensive professional development.
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Coaches Collaborative: A regional network of educators and administrators working together to build collective efficacy, improve teaching practices, and create sustainable support systems.
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Expanding College and Career Readiness: Career coaches worked directly with secondary students to align them with graduation pathways and prepare them for postsecondary success.
Key Achievements:
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53.7% of students achieved at least one measure of grade-level proficiency or growth.
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52% of middle school students selected and aligned with graduation pathways before entering high school.
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85% of participating educators reported that school conditions supported collective efficacy.
The grant’s innovative solutions successfully addressed pandemic-related disruptions while laying the groundwork for ongoing student success.
HB 1008 Round 2
The HB 1008 Student Learning Recovery Grant, established to address opportunity gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, provided over $820,000 to the Region 2 Migrant Education Program (MEP) housed at SIEC. This grant supported career coaching and career exploration initiatives, significantly expanding access to vocational training and college readiness opportunities for migratory students across 35 counties.
Key Achievements:
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138 migratory students served through individualized and group career coaching.
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2,767 hours of career coaching delivered during school, after school, and through summer programming.
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Significant growth in student understanding:
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22% increase in understanding how interests connect to careers.
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20% improvement in awareness of educational opportunities post-high school.
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15% increase in students visualizing multiple career options.
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Parent Engagement:
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28% increase in parents understanding their child’s career interests.
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25% growth in parents recognizing their child's best working environment.
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These efforts resulted in increased clarity for students and parents regarding career pathways while addressing gaps in confidence and awareness of opportunities.
Looking Forward:
The grant laid the foundation for lasting change but highlighted the ongoing need for tailored career coaching and workforce readiness initiatives to achieve sustained impact.
Migrant Education Program (MEP) Region 2
The Migrant Education Program (MEP) for Region 2, funded by the REACH grant, provides critical academic, social-emotional, and family engagement support to migratory students across PreK-12. Through programming designed to meet both educational and personal development needs, the MEP empowers students to achieve academic success and build meaningful connections within their communities.
Key Achievements (2023-2024):
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Academic Success:
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94% of K-8 students improved their ELA scores by at least 5%.
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88% of K-8 students achieved similar growth in math assessments.
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100% of high school students met or exceeded instructional focus objectives as outlined in their Individual Migrant Plans.
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Family Engagement:
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100% of parents attended at least one school-sponsored family event.
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100% of parents reported regularly discussing learning topics with their children.
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Social-Emotional Development:
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58% of students reported learning healthier habits and improved time management skills.
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Community Connections:
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Programming included partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits (e.g., Purdue Extension, YMCA), fostering students’ integration and understanding of their communities.
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How MEP Makes a Difference:
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Students: Strengthened interpersonal skills, improved attendance, and a better connection with classroom learning.
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Parents: Enhanced involvement in their children's education through multilingual communication tools and events.
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Staff: Improved professional skills, creating a more engaging and nurturing program environment.