EARN Indiana Program Names High School Awardees
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More than 20 high schools and regional partnerships have been selected for the EARN Indiana program, which was previously limited to college students. The pilot program will match students and employers to work-based learning opportunities through the Employment Aid Readiness Network Indiana grant.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce says high schoolers with financial need will now have access to resume-building opportunities, including experiential and paid internships. Employers will receive state matching funds, which is 50% of the student’s hourly rate, for hiring the students.
“The history of the EARN Indiana program is serving students that might not otherwise be able to participate in work-based learning experiences,” said Todd Hurst, executive director of the Institute for Workforce Excellence. “With this investment, we look forward to helping hundreds of Indiana high school students be able to take advantage of this opportunity and create meaningful resume-building experiences, networking opportunities, career exploration and increased graduation pathways.”
School awardees are listed below:
- Career Academy, Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Columbia City High School, Whitley County Consolidated Schools
- Community School Corp. of Eastern Hancock
- Daleville Community Schools
- East Central Educational Service Center
- Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. OptIN
- Gary Community School Corp.
- Hendricks College Network Inc.
- Lincoln Middle/High School
- Lost River Career Cooperative
- Monroe County Community School Corp. and Richland Bean-Blossom
- MSD Lawrence Township
- MSD Washington Township/North Central High School
- North Lawrence Career Center
- Oak Hill United School Corp.
- Pike Career and STEM Center
- South Bend Regional Chamber
- Tri-Creek School Corp., Lowell High School
- Washington High School – College & Career Academy
- Whitko Career Academy
- Winchester Community High School
“Whether a student is working towards employment, enrollment or enlistment leading to service, our students deserve to have access to pathways leading them towards their unique goals,” said Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner. “By expanding access to the EARN Indiana program into high school, more students will gain work-based learning experiences before graduation, better preparing them for a successful future ahead.”
The chamber says awardees will undergo an implementation phase with the Work and Learn Indiana team, Indiana Department of Education and Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and will receive supplemental funds to support implementation.
The program is funded by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and managed through the state’s partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Work and Learn Indiana.