State education officials in Indiana are embarking on a comprehensive effort to broaden high school students' access to college-level courses and technical career certifications before they earn their diplomas. The initiative seeks to bridge existing gaps between the classes students currently take and the tangible postsecondary credentials they are capable of finishing prior to graduation.
While Indiana currently holds the top spot nationally for the share of high school students who finish at least one college-level course, state leaders have identified critical shortcomings in credential completion. State data shows that numerous students complete substantial coursework but end up just one or two classes short of obtaining a formal postsecondary credential by the time they graduate.
At the same time, educational leaders have observed significant missed opportunities within career and technical education programs. Many high schoolers across the state are enrolled in technical courses that award standard secondary school credit, even in instances where dual-credit arrangements granting simultaneous college credit are available for the very same subjects.
To address these disparities, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education has formally issued a Request for Information. This administrative move is intended to solicit practical strategies to expand student access to both career technical classes and the structured curriculum known as the Indiana College Core.
The Indiana College Core serves as a specialized, 30-credit package of dual-credit coursework structured to transfer seamlessly into degree programs at participating postsecondary institutions. High school students who successfully finish the complete 30-credit sequence can secure the equivalent of an entire year of collegiate coursework at a fraction of standard higher education tuition expenses.
Completing the 30-credit block also carries significant implications under Indiana's updated high school graduation structure. Satisfying the Indiana College Core fulfills the foundational credential prerequisite for the state’s newly established Enrollment Honors Plus diploma seal.
Securing the Enrollment Honors Plus seal offers substantial long-term academic value to graduating seniors. Earning this distinction provides recipients with guaranteed admission to every public university across Indiana, along with guaranteed entry into a substantial roster of participating private colleges and universities throughout the state.
In conjunction with the commission's recent administrative actions, state lawmakers have directed Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner to conduct a thorough evaluation of the state's existing course catalog. Her review will examine dual-credit options, career and technical programs, and Advanced Placement offerings across all Indiana high schools in advance of the upcoming legislative session.
A primary goal of this comprehensive review is ensuring that Indiana’s $30 million early college funding investment directly supports and aligns with the new graduation diploma seals. State policymakers want to verify that public funds are effectively channeled into programs that translate directly into completed credentials for participating students.
Education Secretary Katie Jenner emphasized that expanding early college coursework is central to tackling the broader challenges of higher education affordability and statewide postsecondary attainment. She noted that state leaders have an unprecedented opportunity to open up rigorous, high-quality college pathways to every high schooler across the state.
Jenner further highlighted the importance of eliminating the financial barriers associated with secondary-level college programs. She stated that providing access to early college credit at no cost serves as an indispensable tool for guiding students toward appropriate academic and vocational trajectories while significantly enhancing their long-term economic and educational outcomes.
At present, the Indiana College Core is actively implemented in 328 high schools statewide. These participating institutions coordinate with partner colleges and universities to deliver coursework through traditional dual-credit formats, dual-enrollment programs, and online platforms at minimal or zero expense to enrolled teenagers.
Despite that extensive footprint, substantial geographic and institutional gaps remain throughout the state. Findings published by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education reveal that approximately 22 percent of all Hoosier high school students are enrolled in schools where the Indiana College Core is completely unavailable.
State officials have linked this lack of access to specific logistical and structural hurdles within local school districts. Sam Rourke, the state's assistant commissioner for career and technical education, pointed out that the 22 percent gap is largely driven by low course enrollment numbers in certain districts and a persistent shortage of high school teachers certified to teach dual-credit collegiate classes.
Over the coming months, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education will analyze the responses submitted through its Request for Information to identify viable models for dismantling these barriers to early college programs. A comprehensive report from Secretary Jenner detailing the state’s course offerings and recommended adjustments is scheduled for delivery later this year.
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