With the rapid emergence of new technologies and industries, many companies face a shortage of workers with in-demand skills. As a result, hiring practices are changing, as more employers prioritize candidates who can demonstrate they have attained relevant skills.1 One way that states are responding to this shift is by expanding their focus on career and technical education (CTE) in high school to support additional education-to-career options, such as apprenticeships and opportunities to earn professional credentials.
In Indiana, REL Midwest’s Employability Skills Partnership (ESP) has been working with state leaders and school districts to support this shift and strengthen high-quality CTE career pathways for high school students.During high school, Indiana students can choose a CTE program or pathway, known as a Next Level Program of Study (NLPS). These CTE pathways often include opportunities for students to participate in work-based learning, earn a credential valued within a career, or obtain college credits through dual enrollment, providing students with multiple paths to success after high school.
A growing evidence base for career and technical education
A growing body of research supports the benefits of an expanded focus on CTE and skills-based learning in high school. In 2023, the CTE Research Network, which is also funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, conducted a systematic review of the most rigorous research on CTE from the past 20 years. The results show that participating in CTE has several positive impacts for high school students’ academic achievement, college readiness, and later employment.1 Key findings include the following:
- CTE has statistically significant positive impacts on several high school outcomes, including students’ academic achievement, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness.
- Participating in CTE improves students’ likelihood of graduating from high school and making the transition to community and technical colleges.
- Compared with similar students who did not participate in CTE, students who did were more likely to enroll in two-year colleges and equally likely to enroll in four-year colleges and make progress in college.
- Students who took CTE courses in high school were more likely than those who did not take CTE to be employed after high school. However, participating in CTE did not have a statistically significant impact on students’ earnings.
To learn more about the systematic review, see the report, abstract, and companion infographic.
Supporting multiple career pathways through CTE in Indiana
Given the value of CTE and the shift to skills-based hiring, Indiana state and district leaders have partnered with REL Midwest to support CTE pathways.
Investigating the challenges to participation in work-based learning
A major focus of the Employability Skills Partnership’s work has been on expanding Indiana high school students’ opportunities for work-based learning. A key component of high-quality career pathways, work-based learning is structured as a continuum of student experiences. As early as elementary or middle school, work-based learning begins with career awareness activities, which may include career interest inventory surveys, workplace tours, or career fairs. After engaging in career awareness, students participate in career exploration, such as presentations from industry guest speakers, job shadowing opportunities, and mock interviews. In high school, work-based learning tends to progress to more immersive career preparation and practical training experiences, such as paid or unpaid internships, apprenticeships, practicums, and school-based enterprises or simulated businesses. These experiences are especially relevant later in high school, after students have made choices about specializing in a CTE pathway or program of study. At its best, work-based learning gives students real-word experience in a career of interest and helps them gain employability skills, such as teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.
Indiana’s focus on work-based learning continues to grow. Within the state’s CTE vision statement in its newest Perkins Plan developed in 2024, work-based learning is named as a key component of what a student should experience in CTE. As a partnership, we’re focused on supporting the conditions for high-quality CTE that is available to students, and well-done work-based learning is an integral part of that.
—Kelly Reese, Employability Skills Partnership Director, REL Midwest
In 2023, REL Midwest partnered with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) on a project to strengthen career pathways and expand student participation in immersive work-based learning (WBL). This effort included engaging career and technical education (CTE) students, teachers, administrators, and counselors through surveys to better understand perceptions of WBL, as well as conducting current- and future-state process mapping and action planning for WBL expansion.
By strengthening work-based learning systems, we’re not only creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience but also addressing barriers to participation. This ensures that all students, regardless of background, can access high-quality career preparation and discover pathways to success. The good news is it's working; we are seeing more students participate in work-based learning activities across the continuum.
—Jennifer Berry, CTE Pathways Director, Indianapolis Public Schools
Expanding awareness of work-based learning opportunities and benefits to strengthen participation
As a strategy to expand awareness of work-based learning broadly at the state level, REL Midwest and Ball State Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Muncie, Indiana, produced a 30-minute documentary to describe work-based learning and its benefits for students, families, employers, and communities. The documentary showcases examples of three types of high-functioning work-based learning programs in Indiana high schools: an internship, an apprenticeship, and a school-based enterprise. Students participating in the programs also describe the value of their experiences. Work-based learning gives students direct experience and opportunity for skill development within in-demand industries such as advanced manufacturing, which is featured in the documentary.
Visualizing career pathways for students and families
REL Midwest is now collaborating with IPS to develop communication materials that raise awareness of the district’s career pathways and programs of study. These resources highlight the pathways available to IPS students and outline related postsecondary and employment opportunities in Indiana. The new materials are designed to help students, families, and counselors make informed decisions about high school options—such as courses, WBL experiences, industry-recognized credentials, and dual-enrollment opportunities—that align with students’ goals and interests. Additionally, the materials will help students envision how the pathways they begin in high school can lead to future education and career opportunities.
These resources don’t just guide students—they also empower counselors to provide more targeted and impactful guidance. By visualizing the connections between high school pathways and future opportunities, we’re equipping students with the tools to dream big and achieve more.
—Jennifer Berry, CTE Pathways Director, Indianapolis Public Schools
Connect and learn more
REL Midwest looks forward to continuing to partner with districts and states across the Midwest to develop projects focused on supporting student engagement in CTE and work-based learning. If you are interested in connecting to learn more and get involved with this work, reach out to Kelly Reese at kreese@air.org.
Browse the following resources to learn more about our work in the Midwest region:
REL Midwest resources:
- Documentary: From Classroom to Career: Work-Based Learning for Indiana’s Students
- Blog post: Preparing students for the careers of tomorrow: New documentary spotlights work-based learning
- Blog post: On the job: Increasing student participation in immersive work-based learning
- Blog post: Gaining real-world experience: Strengthening career pathways through work-based learning
- Webinar: Increasing the Reach of Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Indiana resources:
- Indiana Career and Technical Education, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
- Indiana Career Pathways/Programs of Study, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Endnote
1 Lindsay, J., Hughes, K., Dougherty, S. M., Reese, K., & Joshi, M. (2024). What we know about the impact of career and technical education: A systematic review of the research. American Institutes for Research, Career and Technical Education Research Network. https://cteresearchnetwork.org/resources/2024-systematic-review
