22-02-2025
Pike County school officials, business community meet to discuss upcoming 'work-based learning' requirements in high schools
PETERSBURG, Ind. (WEHT) — Indiana students entering public high schools next year will choose between three diploma paths. Pike County school officials hope to have the business community involved in what's called 'work-based learning.'
On Friday, a meeting room is full with business owners and other visionaries, all hearing about Indiana's new high school diplomas for the incoming Class of 2029 and beyond.
Those diplomas range from Enrollment, Employment and Enlistment & Service which set students up for college, the workforce and the military, respectively.
'I really feel like this is setting up and opportunity to follow the kids until they do find their home and they're career, and hopefully, keep them around here so that we can keep growing,' says Robin Smith who owns Petersburg Hardware.
Some diplomas require dozens of hours of 'work-based learning' to graduate, like jobs, internships and apprenticeships.
Students can split their day working at a job and learning their core subjects in class, or possibly work on-site for several weeks.
Pike County Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Blake says it's an opportunity for students to pair themselves with their needs.
'We've heard more and more from employers that students are selecting a career field or they're going into the workplace and they might not always be familiar with the expectations as we think, so this is to help increase that,' Dr. Blake says.
Smith is among those who wants to have as many high schoolers working in the store as she can.
' We were pushed towards the college career track, and that wasn't made for everybody. It's nice to have a funnel because a lot of our employees are of the older generations, and they can't do a lot of our jobs: the lifting and getting down on the floor to fix a small engine,' Smith says. 'It's nice to see these younger kids get excited and come out of the school already knowing part of what we do and how we serve our community, but then we can take it to the next level as they join us.'
More information will be available for Pike County parents during the 8th grade parent night likely taking place in April.
Pike County school officials, business community meet to discuss upcoming 'work-based learning' requirements in high schools
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