This May, Ascend Indiana held its first convening of the Indiana Student-Led Business Coalition, an initiative designed to strengthen and expand student-led business opportunities across the state. More than 40 educators from 31 schools convened to align on work-based learning requirements, share best practices and implement new resources.

Student-led businesses generally fall into three categories – school-based enterprise, workplace simulation and student entrepreneurial experience – and meet the state of Indiana’s approved work-based learning requirements for new diploma seals legislated for high school students beginning with the class of 2029.

During the coalition meeting, Ascend provided an overview of the newly redesigned Indiana high school diploma readiness seals. Ascend also launched the Student-Led Business Toolkit and other work-based learning tools it created in partnership with:

• Brown County Schools
• Career Academy Network of Public Schools
• Indian Creek Schools
• Lincoln Middle/High School
• Perry Central Community Schools
• Regional Opportunity Initiatives

The Student-Led Business Steering Committee led a panel discussion about their schools’ student-led businesses and provided insightful advice for schools looking to start one:

• Start small, focus on the strengths of the teachers and students, along with the assets that you already have in your school – start with an idea and let it grow
• Document procedures, processes and key learnings along the way, so you’ll have resources to refer to as you grow and expand
• Employer engagement starts in many different ways – focus on building relationships in your community, and opportunities will arise

Thank you to our Steering Committee for their leadership and guidance in advancing the Student-Led Business initiative:

• Justin Baney, Career Academy Network of Public Schools
• Jody French, Perry Central Jr./Sr. High School
• Kevin Munchel, Lincoln High School
• Luke Skobel, Indian Creek High School
• Chris Townsend, Brown County High School

Learn more about student-led businesses and access the Student-Led Business Toolkit.