Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced the renewed commitment to expanding college and career pathways for Hoosier students Oct. 21. As part of this commitment, the Department is applying for a grant of up to $1.8 million to support My Path My Choice, a college and career readiness plan, according to a department press release.
“Every student should graduate high school understanding the relevance of their learning, with the skills and credentials to be successful in college or career,” Ritz said.
The Indiana Department of Education received a $100,000 New Skills for Youth Grant from JPMorgan Chase. The Department has worked with a group of state leaders, educators and members of the business community to develop the My Path My Choice college and career readiness initiative.
If put in place, the My Path My Choice initiative will enable more Hoosier students to complete career readiness courses and obtain industry certifications, credentials and postsecondary degrees.
Twenty-four states, including Indiana, received a New Skills for Youth grant in March. The grants are one part of a five-year initiative put in place by JPMorgan Chase and the Council of Chief State School Officers and Advance CTE. The grant is designed to increase economic opportunity for young people by making career-focused education a priority, according to the release.
This initiative will begin in high school and end with postsecondary degrees or credentials. JPMorgan’s committee for the grant recommended grant recipients after review processes looking at states’ proposed plans, partnerships between different departments,and demonstrated commitment and capacity to change their systems of career preparations, according to the grant guidelines.
Ritz said in the release she is excited to renew the Department of Education’s commitment to expanding college and career pathways by submitting the New Skills for Youth proposal. She said this will allow Indiana to implement a high-quality career readiness plan.
“No matter their zip code, students deserve to have access to high-quality college and career readiness opportunities during their PK-12 career,” Ritz said.
