20th Anniversary

CELL’s Anniversary Marks 20 years of Education Transformation Across Indiana

20 years. 7,300 days. 175,200 hours. 

Hundreds of schools. Thousands of teachers and educational leaders. Hundreds of thousands of student lives positively affected.

That level of reach and impact deserved a “CELLebration.” 

CELL had the distinct honor of commemorating 20 years of education transformation in 2021. As we reflected on the last two decades, we could not help but recognize how different the world looks today. 

Transforming Education for the 21st Century

The first iPod hit shelves only days before CELL launched in 2001. The smartphone would not exist for another six years. In fact, iPads were not even a thing until 2010. Now Indiana is home to 23 New Tech Schools thanks to CELL. The model sparked both school and community interest when CELL introduced it to Indiana in 2005. Fast forward to today and these state-of-the-art learning environments pair advanced technology with integrated project-based teaching so students become the architects of their own education. These graduates advance to their next chapter in school or work equipped with vital 21st-century skills. 

Gmail and Facebook did not exist until 2004. Merriam-Webster English Dictionary first added “WiFi” in 2005, the same year YouTube made video streaming a reality. The act of “scheduling a Zoom” was not even possible until 2011. Today, these tools are critical for effective virtual schooling. Through an Indiana Department of Education grant, CELL is leading the way in helping schools procure technology and improve connectivity for delivering high-quality virtual education. This support extends to teachers by providing professional development on technology best practices that support student learning. 

Advancing School Rigor & Relevance

Before 2003, most Indiana high schools fell into the category of “traditional,” delivering education that looked like generations before—all while the world rapidly changed. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pushed those boundaries with funding for CELL to create new small high schools. The goal of the work was delivering personalized learning experiences centered on the “the three R’s”: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. Those early efforts launched an unprecedented school evolution. Indiana’s educational landscape today includes expanded school choice between different models, sizes, and specialties. K-12 students benefit from better college access and more career pathways than ever before. 

For many students, college was not a reality back in 2001. CELL changed that. The High School-to-College Transition Project aligned high school curriculum with college degree requirements creating a direct pathway to postsecondary education. Teach Dual Credit Indiana increases the number of high school teachers credentialed for dual credit coursework. Early College High School removes the financial barriers holding so many students back by offering the framework that allows them to graduate with a high school diploma and associate degree. Today, more than 60% of Indiana graduates earn college credit while in high school. 

Preparing Students for College & Careers

When CELL began, jobs like Sustainability Manager or Genetics Counselor did not exist. Neither did Digital Marketing Specialist and App Developer. As recently as 2016, Google found that 75% of all U.S. middle and high schools offered no coding classes as computer science became one of the fastest-growing and highest-paying sectors in the country. Indiana now is challenging that trend. Through CELL’s STEM Teach initiative launched in 2014, K-12 teachers participate in advanced coursework to better infuse science, technology, engineering, and math education into their classrooms. The initiative also includes funding innovative professional development on computer coding. As a result, more Indiana students have access to high-quality, hands-on learning experiences that get them engaged in the ever-expanding possibilities of a STEM career. 

These achievements mark just a few milestones in CELL’s legacy on learning. We plan to “CELLebrate” every major moment throughout 2021. Milestones revisit CELL’s history and our work. CELLebration Stories capture the personal anecdotes, memories, and behind-the-scenes tales of those who helped CELL leave its mark. 

It is true when they say, “The days are long but the years are short.” Thank you for joining us in reflecting on 20 years of educational impact across Indiana. By looking back, we move forward with our mission of ensuring every student graduates prepared for postsecondary readiness, training, and work in the 21st-century global economy.