An initiative that is helping Indiana students envision their future earlier is earning recognition for advancing career literacy among the next generation of leaders in the Hoosier state.
Three years ago, in an effort to help students identify their strengths and interests, The DeBruce Foundation introduced the Agile Work Profiler (AWP) career assessment program into the state’s existing Indiana Career Explorer, a free, online tool developed by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to help residents explore careers and plan their education.
The Foundation recently announced that students from 91 percent of Indiana’s public school districts have now used the program, highlighting the tool’s reach in the state’s broader approach to career exploration. The Foundation noted that there have been more than 90,000 completions of the AWP in Indiana, more than in any other state.
“Indiana is showing what’s possible when a state invests early in equipping students and educators with accessible, research-based tools,” Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and COO of The DeBruce Foundation, said in a press release. “The state’s rapid adoption of the Agile Work Profiler demonstrates a clear commitment to empowering young people to discover their strengths, explore opportunities, and build the skills they need to thrive in their futures.”
According to the Foundation, students who used the “Agilities” tools through the AWP program explored three more careers than did students in other programs. In addition, those students who completed the AWP assessment experienced a 17 percent increase in confidence. That goes a long way in supporting a healthier workforce, economic development and talent retention, the release noted.
National Recognition
The state’s coordinated approach was highlighted in the 2025 Extending the Runway report by the American Student Assistance (ASA), which classified the state as “advanced” in the advocacy category of middle school career exploration. The report pointed to the collaboration between the Debruce Foundation, the IN DWD, Department of Education, Commission for Higher Education (IN CHE), Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, and the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, a partnership that is laying the foundation that supports personal growth for students and long-term talent development for the state’s economic development outlook.
The progress builds on broader efforts to strengthen college and career readiness through another partnership between state agencies and the DeBruce Foundation to train hundreds of career coaches through the foundation’s Certified Agilities Coach Training, which also assists with career literacy.
In a press release published by The DeBruce Foundation, Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, noted that enhancing career coaching is an essential part of helping students reach their goals.
“By providing our educators and career coaches with valuable training and resources, we can better equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in whatever they choose for their future,” Jenner said in the release.
The career exploration tools also align with the state’s updated high school diploma requirements, which give students more clarity and flexibility by selecting coursework, experiences and pathways that match their goals. The AWP can help students make choices more intentionally, as they work toward earning their diploma and planning their next steps after graduation.
