School will strengthen student engagement and career-connected learning through federal grant

Indianapolis, Ind.—Decatur Township School for Excellence (a Small Learning Community of Decatur Central High School) has been selected by the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis as a partner high school for the 2026 Indiana Pathways to Careers and Postsecondary (P-CAP) cohort as part of a federal Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) grant. 

With support from CELL, Decatur Township School for Excellence will implement a P-CAP program to transform the pathways of students who possess high potential but are disengaged from high school and are at risk of dropping out, preparing them for in-demand careers in the local economy. 

“We are incredibly grateful and truly Decatur Proud to have been selected for this opportunity. This grant represents more than an investment in our programs; it is an investment in the future of our students and the dedicated staff who work every day to prepare them for success beyond high school,” said Michael Gath, Director of Secondary Education for MSD of Decatur Township. “This opportunity has energized our staff, strengthened our collective purpose, and reaffirmed our commitment to expanding meaningful pathways that prepare every student to be Tomorrow Ready.”

P-CAP launched in 2022 through an Explore, Engage and Experience (3E) grant from the Indiana Department of Education and has since expanded to 15 Indiana high schools. Across those schools, participating students raised their average GPA from a C to a B- while average absenteeism decreased by 33%. With the addition of the 2026 cohort schools, P-CAP now serves 19 Indiana high schools. 

“These schools understand that reaching every student sometimes requires rethinking how learning happens,” said Brooke Marsh, career readiness project coordinator at CELL. “Helping schools develop innovative approaches that improve student outcomes and meet workforce needs is central to CELL’s mission. P-CAP gives these schools another way to reconnect students with learning, build meaningful connections and see a future they are excited to pursue.”

Through a focus on hands-on, relationship-centered learning, P-CAP programs accelerate student engagement and achievement. P-CAP students experience integrated core classes with smaller class sizes, deepening relationships with faculty and other students. The program also brings industry partners into the high school experience through quarterly workplace learning challenges, connecting learning with real-world application. Students have the opportunity to complete a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway while earning credentials of value and dual credit for college. 

As part of the RPED grant, new cohort schools will align their P-CAP programs with valuable CTE pathways available to students. The funding will allow schools to designate a P-CAP classroom space with the equipment needed and cover some of the costs related to implementing the program, such as staffing, supplies, and professional development.

The Rural Possecondary & Economic Development (RPED) project is being funded entirely through federal support, with 100% of the total project costs–amounting to $2,033,672–financed by federal funds. No portion of the project’s cost will be financed by non-governmental sources.

To learn more about P-CAP, visit https://cell.uindy.edu/pcap. 

SCHOOL MEDIA CONTACT:

Emily LeMay, Director of Student & Family Engagement

317-856-5265

elemay@decaturproud.org

CELL MEDIA CONTACT:

Lauren Howard, Communications Manager

(317) 781-5768

lahoward@uindy.edu 

ABOUT MSD OF DECATUR TOWNSHIP:

The MSD of Decatur Township is student invested, community connected. Decatur Township prioritizes student learning, safety and customer service, fostering a support system for our families. Located on the southwest side of Indianapolis, Decatur Township is proud to serve thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students and families. The district vision is Preparing Students to be Tomorrow Ready. Together, we are DECATUR PROUD! Learn more at www.decaturproud.org. 

ABOUT CELL:

The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis bridges the gap between research, policy, and practice by delivering innovative, evidence-based education solutions. CELL’s work empowers educators and improves student success in PK-12 and higher education, transforming lives through learning. Learn more: cell.uindy.edu.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, MSD of Decatur Township has updated its wireless device policy to align with Indiana state law (IC 20-26-5-40.7). The new law requires schools to establish policies that limit student access to personal wireless communication devices during the school day in order to support learning, reduce distractions, and promote student engagement. As a result, all personal wireless devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, and similar electronics, must be powered off, stored away, and inaccessible to students throughout the entire school day. This expectation applies during instructional time as well as  passing periods, hallways, lunch, recess, and other non-instructional times. Middle and high school students will be assigned lockers to store their belongings. Elementary students will continue to have cubbies, lockers, or hooks for their belongings. 

Students should use only school-issued devices when technology is needed for instructional purposes. Parents and students should also be aware that the district is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of personal devices brought to school. 

Consequences:

• Any personal wireless device that is used or accessible during the school day may be confiscated and will only be returned directly to a parent or guardian. 
• Repeated violations of the policy may result in additional disciplinary consequences, including suspension or expulsion.
• Families are encouraged to review the Student Handbook for information regarding any approved exceptions to the policy.

We appreciate your support and partnership as parents/guardians in speaking with your student about this significant policy change mandated by the state of Indiana. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call the school office.

Attention Decatur Township Families: Skyward Update

Although Skyward is working in many ways, the statewide disruption is still currently impacting several of our connected systems. As a result, you may notice that ParentSquare and other platforms are not fully up to date right now.

✔️ Our technology team is monitoring the situation hourly and working closely with Skyward to resolve it. We will share an update as soon as things are back to normal.

✔️If you experience trouble logging into any of our systems in the meantime, please reach out to your school office for assistance. (Skyward login resets, etc.)

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through this!