Making certain that our children receive the very best education available is essential to ensure a bright future for students. In an effort to do just that, the U.S. Department of Education announced in September 2010 that Indiana was one of 27 states awarded a Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grant. Of the $442 million awarded nationally, Indiana will receive approximately $48 million over the five-year term of the grant. The grant provides funding to implement TAP™: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement, which is the nationally recognized initiative focused on improving teacher quality to promote student academic growth.

The Indiana Department of Education contracted the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) to facilitate the implementation of TAP™ throughout Indiana. Forty-four schools voluntarily partnered with the Indiana Department of Education and CELL to begin TAP implementation for the 2011–12 school year. In addition to teacher support services, Indiana TAP will work closely with school corporations to help reallocate existing funds and secure additional funds to sustain TAP beyond the conclusion of the federal grant.