Resources

Work-Based Learning Tools

Developed by Ascend and the Indiana Department of Education, these tools provide step-by-step guidance, examples, and design considerations aligned with Indiana’s graduation requirements.

Form 1

Training Plan & Partnership Agreement Template

The required form to document and manage each work-based learning experience.​

Form 2

Employer Opportunity Assessment Worksheet

A simple planning tool that helps employers and coordinators assess readiness, capacity, and fit for offering a work-based learning experience.

Additional Resources

Developed by Ascend and the Indiana Department of Education, these tools provide step-by-step guidance, examples, and design considerations aligned with Indiana’s graduation requirements.

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Business Generalist Competency Set

Provides a flexible set of employer-informed competencies that can be used to design high school work- based learning experiences in office-based business settings.

Diploma Seals that Require WBL Hours

Summarizes the Indiana high school diploma seals that require work-based learning and the additional criteria students must meet for each.

Educator How to Design a WBL Experience

Offers a step-by-step guide to help educators and partners design high-quality, competency-based work- based learning experiences for students.

Employer How to Design a WBL Experience

Provides employers with a practical guide for creating meaningful, competency-based work-based learning experiences for high school students.

Employer Opportunity Assessment Worksheet

A simple planning tool that helps employers and coordinators assess readiness, capacity, and fit for offering a work-based learning experience.

Generative AI Competency Set

Provides a supplemental competency set that helps employers integrate generative AI-related skills into a variety of work-based learning experiences.

Monthly Microlearnings

Our monthly video microlearning series delivers practical insights, best practices, and guidance across key work-based learning topics.

Requirements for WBL to Count Toward a Diploma Seal

Explains the statewide requirements all work-based learning experiences must meet in order to count toward Indiana high school graduation.

Training Plan & Partnership Agreement Template

The required form to document and manage each work-based learning experience.​

Training Plan Companion Guide

Step-by-step instructions, examples, and key considerations to help you complete the Training Plan Template.

Understanding Types of Work-Based Learning Experiences

An overview of each of the 11 types of WBL experiences.

WBL Planning Team Roles & Responsibilities Template

Clarifies the roles of employers, schools, and intermediaries in planning and supporting high-quality work-based learning experiences.

WBL Roles and Responsibilities Overview

Clarifies the roles of employers, schools, and intermediaries in planning and supporting high-quality work- based learning experiences.

Want to Connect?

Chambers of commerce, workforce boards, and education service centers act as key intermediaries supporting K–12 work-based learning across Indiana. Partnering with an intermediary can help you design and implement meaningful work-based learning opportunities with ease and impact.

Central Intermediaries

Aspire Johnson County

Supports work-based learning by linking schools and more than 165 local employers to create hands-on opportunities that help students explore and pursue regional career pathways.
Counties Served: Johnson, Marion
Supporting: Employers, Schools

East Central Educational Service Center (ECESC)

Provides regional coordination, tools, and training to help schools implement consistent and high-quality work-based learning programs.
Counties Served: Bartholomew, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Henry, Johnson, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Union, Wayne
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Eastern Indiana Works (EIW)

Engages employers, offers workforce insights, and partners with schools to expand student access to work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, Wayne
Supporting: Employers

EmployIndy

Located in Indianapolis, EmployIndy develops career-connected learning systems in Marion County by coordinating employer engagement, work-based learning programming, and youth career pathways.
Counties Served: Marion
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce

Serves as a bridge between businesses and schools to promote internships, employer partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Counties Served: Delaware
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Hendricks College Network (HCN)

Connects schools, employers, and community partners—facilitating ongoing collaborations, coordinating a range of employer involvement opportunities, and providing support to help schools track and manage work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Hendricks
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Invest Hamilton County

Works with employers and schools to connect schools and students to employers offering high-quality work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Hamilton
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce

Leads countywide coordination of work-based learning by unifying schools, employers, and partners to streamline student placements and employer onboarding.
Counties Served: Wayne
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Southern Intermediaries

E-REP (Evansville Regional Economic Partnership)

Counties Served: Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Connects local employers with schools to encourage internships, career exploration, and collaborative work-based learning initiatives.
Counties Served: Monroe
Supporting: Employers

Hub 19

Connects high school students and schools with local employers through career exploration, internships, and hands-on work-based learning experiences.
Counties Served: Dubois
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI)

Located in Bloomington, ROI helps schools and employers throughout their region understand evolving requirements, building partner capacity, fostering regional connections, and coordinating programs that offer students meaningful career-aligned experiences.
Counties Served: Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, Washington
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Southern Indiana Education Center (SIEC)

Supports educators through training, resources, and collaboration structures that help schools and employers organize work-based learning.
Counties Served: Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Southern Indiana Works (SIW, Workforce Region 10)

Engages employers and develops talent initiatives that connect students to meaningful work experiences aligned with regional workforce needs.
Counties Served: Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, Washington
Supporting: Employers

Southwest Indiana Workforce Board (SWIN)

Partners with businesses and schools to expand student access to industry-aligned work-based learning programs.
Counties Served: Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick
Supporting: Employers

Northern Intermediaries

Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI)

Coordinates employer relationships, talent programs, and school partnerships to strengthen work-based learning throughout Northwest Indiana.
Counties Served: Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Starke
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Grow Allen

Supports work-based learning by coordinating student internships and work-based tours, connecting schools with local businesses, and partnering with community organizations to expand training pathways while collaboratively helping partners strengthen their work-based learning efforts.
Counties Served: Allen
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Horizon Education Alliance (HEA)

Partners with schools and employers to provide high school students with career exploration and hands-on work-based learning opportunities.
Counties Served: Elkhart
Supporting: Employers, Schools

Northeast Indiana Workforce Board (NEINW)

Supports regional talent pipelines by linking businesses with schools and promoting work-based learning as part of workforce development.
Counties Served: Adams, Allen, Grant, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, Whitley
Supporting: Employers

Region 8 Education Service Center of Northeast Indiana (R8ESC)

Provides training, coordination, data support, and shared tools to help schools implement and scale consistent work-based learning practices across the region.
Counties Served: Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, Madison, Miami, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, Whitley
Supporting: Employers, Schools

South Bend Regional Chamber

Coordinates employer partnerships, student programming, and large-scale work-based learning initiatives to connect youth with regional career pathways.
Counties Served: St. Joseph
Supporting: Employers, Schools

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