The momentum in Indiana for scaling work-based learning is real. Youth apprenticeship took center stage last week at the National Youth Apprenticeship Summit in Indianapolis. A consortium of nearly 200 Indiana leaders released the iLab strategic plan, outlining key steps to make available apprenticeship opportunities for Hoosier students. And work-based learning is a hallmark of the Indiana Department of Education’s high school redesign proposal.
There is significant interest among high school students to participate in work-based learning experiences, and data show that college students who have internships are less likely to be underemployed. The benefits for students are undisputed.
But statewide success of work-based learning can happen only if employers are active participants. That begins with being co-creators of work-based learning experiences and extends to offering quality internships, apprenticeships and other hands-on experiences at the workplace.
One statewide program that helps employers off-set the cost of hiring students is EARN Indiana, which is administered by the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) in partnership with Work and Learn Indiana.
EARN, which stands for Employment Aid Readiness Network, is Indiana’s work-study program that provides eligible students with access to paid internships. For employers, it provides matching funds – 50 percent of a student’s hourly rate – to employers who hire a high school or post-secondary student for a qualified, high-quality work-based experience.
EARN Indiana was established in 2013 to serve post-secondary students. In 2019, the state expanded the program to include high school students.
Career Scholarship Accounts (CSAs) can also be used to pay for certain work-based learning experiences for students in 10th through 12th grades. Up to $5,000 annually per student is available through the Indiana Treasurer of State (TOS) in partnership with Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and the CHE to fund the eligible costs of postsecondary education and training, transportation and equipment, career coaching and navigation services, and certification and credentialing examinations.
CSA was created by the Indiana General Assembly in 2023. Funding for the 2024-25 school year has been allocated, enrolling nearly 2,000 students.
As part of our mission to ensure all Hoosiers and all employers are equipped to thrive in Indiana’s evolving economy, we are squarely focused on helping employers develop talent and realizing the benefits of available resources, such as EARN and CSA. But it also takes active participation from each and every employer to build a strong talent pipeline. To do that, I encourage companies to work with their local high schools, regional intermediaries, or Ascend Indiana to become a co-creator of talent.
As we close out 2024 and enter 2025, Ascend’s work to help students discover work-based learning opportunities will increase in intensity. Our efforts to help businesses deliver quality work-based learning opportunities will also be front and center. We’ll be rolling out new programs, resources and data to ensure the statewide work-based learning momentum continues.
48.5%
Increase in odds of underemployment for college graduates who had no internships compared to college grads who had at least one internship.
79%
Share of high school students who expressed interest in participating in work-based learning experience.
Source: “High School Work-based Learning: Best Practices Designed to Improve Career Readiness Outcomes for Today’s Youth,” American Student Assistance, Boston, 2022, https://asa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ASA_WBLPlaybook_Final.pdf.
