Sec. 14. (a) As used in this section, “Indiana career explorer program and standards” refers to the:

(1) software or Internet based system approved by the department of workforce development; and

(2) standards established by the department of workforce development that are aligned to interdisciplinary employability skills standards prescribed in subsection (c);

that provides students with career and college planning resources.

     (b) To:

(1) educate students on the importance of their future career choices;

(2) prepare students for the realities inherent in the work environment; and

(3) instill in students work values that will enable them to succeed in their respective careers;

each school within a school corporation shall include in the school’s curriculum for all students in grades 1 through 12 instruction concerning employment matters and work values described in subsection (c).

     (c) Each school within a school corporation shall include interdisciplinary employability skills standards established by the department, in conjunction with the department of workforce development, and approved by the state board in the school’s curriculum.

     (d) Each school shall:

(1) integrate within the curriculum instruction that is; or

(2) conduct activities or special events periodically that are;

designed to foster overall career awareness and career development as described in subsection (b).

     (e) The department shall develop career awareness and career development models as described in subsection (f) to assist schools in complying with this section.

     (f) The models described in this subsection must be developed in accordance with the following:

(1) For grades 1 through 5, career awareness models to introduce students to work values and basic employment concepts.

(2) For grades 6 through 8, initial career information models that focus on career choices as they relate to student interest and skills.

(3) For grades 9 through 12, career exploration models that offer students insight into future employment options and career preparation models that provide job or further education counseling, including the following:

(A) Initial job counseling, including the use of job service officers to provide school based assessment, information, and guidance on employment options and the rights of students as employees.

(B) Workplace orientation visits.

(C) On-the-job experience exercises.

     (g) The department, with assistance from the department of labor and the department of workforce development, shall:

(1) develop and make available teacher guides; and

(2) conduct seminars or other teacher education activities;

to assist teachers in providing the instruction described in this section.

     (h) The department shall, with assistance from the department of workforce development, design and implement innovative career preparation demonstration projects for students in at least grade 9.

     (i) Each school in a school corporation and each charter school:

(1) shall include in the school’s curriculum state developed career standards for all students in grade 8 that include instruction in and use of either:

(A) the Indiana career explorer program and standards; or

(B) an alternative Internet based system and standards that provide students with career and college planning resources that have been approved by the state board under subsection (j); and

(2) except as provided in subdivision (1), may include in the school’s curriculum state developed career standards for all students in any grade level that include instruction in and use of the program and standards or system and standards described in subdivision (1)(A) or (1)(B).

     (j) A school corporation or charter school may submit a request to the state board to approve an alternative Internet based system and standards that provide students with career and college planning resources. The state board, in consultation with the department and the department of workforce development, may approve an alternative system and standards if the state board determines that the alternative system:

(1) has an aptitude assessment tool;

(2) contains educational course track information;

(3) has a tool for the preparation and development of the graduation plan prescribed in IC 20-30-4, including a parent sign in component;

(4) allows access to education and career demand information using data prepared by the department of workforce development; and

(5) is aligned to interdisciplinary employability skills standards prescribed in subsection (c).

     (k) Beginning July 1, 2023, the department of workforce development shall, in consultation with the department and commission for higher education, implement an Indiana career explorer program that includes software or an Internet based system that does the following:

(1) Provides access to education and career demand information using data prepared by the department of workforce development.

(2) Provides educational and career assessments or tools that:

(A) must include an aptitude and career assessment;

(B) are aligned to interdisciplinary employability skills standards prescribed in subsection (c); and

(C) may include:

(i) educational course track information; and

(ii) a tool for the preparation and development of the graduation plan prescribed in IC 20-30-4, including a parent sign in component.

(3) Is interoperable with the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system under IC 21-18-19.

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-10.1-4-12.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.246-2005, SEC.171; P.L.230-2017, SEC.9; P.L.57-2018, SEC.1; P.L.76-2020, SEC.2; P.L.202-2023, SEC.18.