The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis gives Indiana educators one free adult admission ticket on select dates, which it calls Free Days for Teachers. It’s for Indiana educators only: the museum’s page says Preschool–12 Hoosier educators show a valid Indiana school teacher or staff ID badge at the Box Office on those days, and that the discount doesn’t include homeschool parents, out of state teachers, or day care and childcare workers. It’s a handful of free days, not a teacher discount you can use any day of the year.
If you teach in Indiana and want to walk the exhibits before you plan a field trip, or you’d like a day at the museum with a colleague, these are the days to look for. The museum says the point of them is to let classroom teachers see the exhibits as a preview before bringing groups of students and chaperones on a school trip.
How To Get The Children’s Museum Of Indianapolis Teacher Discount
The Free Days for Teachers page says no pre-registration is required. On one of the Free Days for Teachers dates, go to the Box Office and show your valid educator or staff ID badge from an Indiana school, and you’ll receive your ticket for that day. When we checked, the page listed the current year’s dates and said the following year’s were to be announced, so look at it before you choose a day to go.
The badge is what the museum asks for, so it’s worth finding yours the night before. The museum’s educators page also lists Free Days for Teachers as free admission for P–12 Indiana educators, which makes it a second place to check for the next date.
Who Counts As An Educator
The page names PreK–12 teachers from Indiana public and private schools. It also names school and district professionals, such as principals, coaches, multilingual assistants, classroom aides and counselors, who are eligible with a valid Indiana school or district staff ID badge. Three groups are left out: homeschool parents, out of state teachers, and day care or childcare workers.
The page acknowledges that many different professions educate children, including home educator parents and guardians. It says these days are meant for classroom teachers to preview the museum before a school field trip.
Bringing Family And Colleagues
The ticket is one free adult admission for you. The event page says you’re welcome to bring family and friends, and that teacher friends and colleagues also need to bring their own school staff ID badge. Family members, children or other guests can buy regular price tickets online or at the Box Office, so a day with your own kids is a mix of one free ticket and however many paid ones you need.
On The Other Days
The Plan Your Visit page lists no teacher discount. It says tickets are date specific and admission prices vary based on season and day of the week, so check the price for the day you’re going. It also says general admission for Access Pass cardholders is discounted to $5 per person, which is a separate program from the teacher days.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The event page doesn’t say what the free adult ticket covers beyond admission, so we can’t say whether anything that carries a separate charge is included. It also doesn’t say whether substitute teachers count, and the Plan Your Visit page doesn’t say who qualifies for the Access Pass. For questions, the event page lists schoolprograms@childrensmuseum.org.
Q&A
Does the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis give teachers a discount?
Yes, on select dates. Indiana educators with a valid Indiana school teacher or staff ID badge receive one free adult admission ticket for that day. We didn’t find a teacher discount for the other days.
Do I have to teach in Indiana?
Yes. The page says the discount doesn’t include out of state teachers.
Can homeschool parents use it?
No. The page says the discount doesn’t include homeschool parents, and it also leaves out day care and childcare workers.
Do I need to register first?
No. The page says no pre-registration is required.
What do I show at the Box Office?
A valid educator or staff ID badge from an Indiana school.
Is a classroom aide eligible?
The page lists classroom aides among the school and district professionals who are eligible with a valid Indiana school or district staff ID badge.
Do my kids get in free too?
No. The page says family members, children and other guests buy regular price tickets, and teacher friends bring their own badge.
Who do I ask if I have more questions?
The event page lists schoolprograms@childrensmuseum.org.
More Information:
The details above come from the museum’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and the free dates change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.