Recognizing the need to better support students for their transitions after high school, education officials in Indiana have taken major steps over the last year by implementing initiatives that place an emphasis on student higher learning and workforce readiness.
Late in 2024, the Indiana State Board of Education approved the Final Diploma Rule, which allows for more course flexibility and personalization and increased access to work-based learning opportunities for high school students. Supporting that initiative, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) and the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) have partnered with a national foundation that works to strengthen and expand career paths for students.
In collaboration with the state agencies, The DeBruce Foundation is training hundreds of career coaches from 28 intermediaries through the foundation’s Certified Agilities Coach Training. Trained coaches work with students from pre-k through grade 12 in schools across the state to assist with career literacy. The initiative, which is funded by a $25 million Career Coaching Grant from the Indiana General Assembly, helps students reach milestones outlined in a college and career framework developed by ICHE. The goal is to help students better prepare for decisions regarding college and career readiness by graduation.
Greg Harrell, ICHE assistant commissioner for public policy and strategic partnerships, said the grant was a great way to come alongside school counselors and complement the work they are doing.
“Through this program, students can be intentional when working with a career coach. And the business community should be excited about that. Our career coaches are experts in their local and regional communities and understand the labor market trends, what is growing, and what the high-wage jobs are,” he said. “By and large, the different pieces of students learning more about themselves, aligning themselves with occupations and dream jobs, and the coaches guiding them through the steps of achieving that sets up a strong foundation.”
IDENTIFYING A FUTURE
DeBruce has been working with Indiana students since 2022, offering the Agile Work Profiler© (AWP) career assessment to over 35,000 students. The partnership with the ICHE and DOE is an extension of that, according to Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, executive director and chief operating officer of DeBruce.
Knight said Indiana’s push to ensure students have a more thorough career navigation plan in place is key to creating a healthier, sustainable workforce. She said it is imperative that students identify where their strengths lie and what their interests are early on so that they can build from that and discover pathways they may not have considered otherwise.
“This program improves the ability of students to make informed career decisions. We are playing the long game – from students to employees,” said Knight. “It empowers them as they get to know more about themselves, puts them on a path of preparation, and helps them land in careers that they feel are more meaningful to them.”
In the framework, the earliest learners engage in activities that help them explore good work habits and their interests. Annual one-on-one career coaching sessions begin at grade 3. Students in grades 3-5 are first exposed to a presentation about college savings plans, known as a 529, as well as career simulation activities. Students in grades 6-8 are required to create a graduation plan and receive real-world industry experiences. During the next two years, students have the opportunity to revise graduation plans, attend career fairs, enter a career and technical program, create resumes, and schedule required courses in personal finance and career assessments. Their last two years of high school involve job shadowing, college preparation and work-based learning experiences.
It is about creating a vision, Knight noted, and the residual effect of that for employers is a workforce that is good at what they do and enjoys what they are doing.
“The end game here is to drive Indiana’s economy. For businesses, they know they have a talented pipeline coming of students who have put more thought and consideration into the career they have chosen.”
STRAIGHT TO WORK
Over 250 career coaches have been trained so far in Indiana. Training involves a comprehensive two-day, in-person session and support with online resources. Summer Runyan, director of career coaching for Horizon Education Alliance, wrapped her training in October 2024 and immediately stepped into the classroom to put the lessons to work during the fall semester.
Runyan said involvement with the initiative to further career guidance was a natural fit with the work that Horizon Education Alliance has been doing in Elkhart County. Five coaches from Horizon, including Runyan, are actively working in five of the seven school districts in the county four days a week. So far, the coaches have been working with juniors and seniors, helping to refine their interviewing and resume-building skills and growing their confidence about their abilities.
Two months after bringing the initiative to the high schools in Elkhart, Runyan said a snapshot of what has been accomplished so far reveals the program is making a difference.
“Our career coaches have been able to accomplish over 2,000 activities in just two months,” she said. “This has made us even more excited for the future. If we can accomplish that much in just two months, imagine when we really get good at this what we are going to be able to do. We can take it to the next level. This is a tremendous opportunity for our children in Indiana.”
Harrell said the Career Coaching Grant period lasts through December 2025, but he is hopeful the success of the initiative will push further financial support.
“There is strong support for this program, and we have a strong foundation across the state,” he said. “We are excited to share our successes and are hopeful for the future.”
