Application opens for Expanding What Works grant to support high-quality summer programming across Indiana

Applications are now open for Expanding What Works, a grant program from the Indiana Department of Education that promotes regional partnerships between community organizations, local nonprofits, municipal partners, and/or local school corporations to replicate the successful Indy Summer Learning Labs (ISLL) in communities across the state. Expanding What Works will increase access to high-quality academic and enrichment programming during summer break for Hoosier students with the greatest need.

Awardees will receive support from partners with proven experience in launching and managing effective summer programs. Indianapolis-based education nonprofit The Mind Trust will provide tactical support to selected grantees. Lavinia Group will provide high-quality math and reading curriculum materials and training for summer program facilitators.

Organization eligibility and grant program requirements

Expanding What Works will award funding to a lead regional organization or entity, which will then partner with school corporations, public charter schools, non-public schools, and other regional partners to deploy a summer learning program aligned with the core design principles of Indy Summer Learning Labs. Organizations that are eligible to apply include community-based organizations, education service centers, nonprofit community organizations, and municipal entities. Because school corporations are not eligible applicants, they are encouraged to partner with eligible organizations to apply for funding and implement programming.

The Expanding What Works grant provides funding for programs that will take place in the summer of 2025. All grantees will commit to partnering with the Lavinia Group to implement their high-quality, research-based RISE Summer School math and reading curriculum. Lavinia’s support includes five weeks of reading and math lessons for rising first through ninth grade students, teacher planning resources, pre- and post-assessments, and training and weekly development sessions for teachers.

Additionally, IDOE has partnered with The Mind Trust to administer the Expanding What Works program and provide tactical support to Expanding What Works grantees. The Mind Trust and United Way of Central Indiana launched Indy Summer Learning Labs in 2021. ISLL served 5,300 Marion County students in the summer of 2024 at more than 50 schools, churches, and community-based organizations. The Mind Trust will help grantees apply the core design principles of ISLL and provide support to help grantees successfully launch regional Summer Learning Labs.

In 2024, Expanding What Works grant recipients included:

• Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County in South Bend served more than 2,500 students.
• Urban League of Northwest Indiana in Gary served more than 700 students.
• Creating Avenues for Student Transformation (CAST) in Salem served more than 50 students.
• Wabash County YMCA in Wabash served more than 200 students.

Final funding amounts for summer 2025 are contingent on total grant funding amounts from the state.

For more information about Expanding What Works and to apply, please visit themindtrust.org/ExpandingWhatWorks. The deadline to apply is November 22, 2024.

About Indy Summer Learning Labs

Indy Summer Learning Labs is a five-week, free or low-cost summer academic and enrichment program for Marion County students who will enter into first through ninth grades after a summer break. ISLL is intentionally designed to serve students who lack access to high-quality summer academic and enrichment programming. For every year of programming, students saw double-digit learning gains in ELA and math. 

The Expanding What Works grant aims to replicate the math and reading learning impact of ISLL for additional regions across the state. 

“The Mind Trust is thrilled to partner with the Indiana Department of Education, Lavinia Group, and regional partners to give more Hoosier students access to high-quality summer programming,” said Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust. “We are incredibly proud of the impact this initiative has had on communities across the state and are grateful for the leadership of Secretary Jenner and her team.”