1. (a) As used in this section, "Indiana career explorer program and curriculum" refers to the:

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

   2. (2) curriculum established by the department of workforce development;

      that provides students with career and college planning resources.

2. (b) To:

   1. (1) educate students on the importance of their future career choices;
   2. (2) prepare students for the realities inherent in the work environment; and

   3. (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.

3. (c) Each school shall:

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

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

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

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

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

   1. (1) For grades 1 through 5, career awareness models to introduce students to work values and basic employment concepts.
   2. (2) For grades 6 through 8, initial career information models that focus on career choices as they relate to student interest and skills.
   3. (3) For grades 9 through 10, career exploration models that offer students insight into future employment options.

   4. (4) For grades 11 through 12, career preparation models that provide job or further education counseling, including the following:

      1. (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.
      2. (B) Workplace orientation visits.
      3. (C) On-the-job experience exercises.

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

   1. (1) develop and make available teacher guides; and

   2. (2) conduct seminars or other teacher education activities;

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

7. (g) 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.

8. (h) Beginning July 1, 2017, the department, in consultation with the department of workforce development, shall implement a pilot program for instruction in and use of the Indiana career explorer program and curriculum by all students in grade 8 attending schools in fifteen (15) schools. The department shall select the following to participate in the pilot program:

   1. (1) Five (5) urban schools.
   2. (2) Five (5) rural schools.

   3. (3) Five (5) suburban schools.

      The pilot program expires July 1, 2018, unless the department determines that the pilot program should be continued for an additional year to improve implementation in the pilot schools selected under this subsection. If the department determines that the pilot program should be extended, the pilot program expires July 1, 2019.

9. (i) Beginning July 1 in the year in which the pilot program described in subsection (h) expires, each school in a school corporation and each charter school shall include in the school's curriculum a course for all students in grade 8 that includes instruction in and use of either:

   1. (1) the Indiana career explorer program and curriculum; or
   2. (2) an alternative Internet based system and curriculum that provide students with career and college planning resources that have been approved by the department under subsection (j).

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

    1. (1) has an aptitude assessment tool;
    2. (2) contains educational course track information;
    3. (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; and

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

       [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.