IN students want help with higher education choices

 

    INDIANA NEWS SERVICE - Uncertainty about the current job market is influencing high school graduates' choices for a career.

    Parents are generally the go-to for guidance, but a new poll suggests they have limited knowledge of post-high school educational options such as certification programs or apprenticeships.

    The Indiana Department of Education reports that in 2024, Indiana achieved its highest-ever state high school graduation rate, at nearly 91%.

    Jeff Bulanda, vice president of the American Student Assistance Center for Career Navigation at the nonprofit Jobs for the Future, said too often, family conversations about post-graduation plans occur too late.

    "Young people actually really trust and rely on their parents' guidance," said Bulanda. "Ninety percent of young people said they rely on their parents' guidance when it comes to education and careers."

    The Gallup Panel findings revealed more than half of families know "a great deal" about working at a paid job or earning a bachelor's degree. And just over half of all parents reported they "frequently" have those conversations with their high-school-age child, rising to 65% among parents with high school seniors.

    Experts note without early and well-informed discussions, students are often forced to make life-shaping decisions on their own.

    Working parents' schedules and not enough high school guidance counselors nationwide can add to students feeling unprepared.

    Bulanda added that Jobs for the Future is working to build an online navigation tool to steer students to potential career pathways that align with their interests and inform graduates entering the workforce about the right questions to ask.

    "Does this employer offer tuition assistance or some form of education benefit," said Bulanda, "where they may start in a front-line job but have the ability to earn money, as well as have their employer pay for their education?"

    Bulanda stressed that today, fewer than three in 10 high schoolers say they feel very prepared to pursue postsecondary options.

    He emphasized that the key is to take a step back and consider all potential funding sources at the state and local level, where short-term training program grants often help move students into in-demand careers.

    The Indiana Department of Education reports almost 250,000 students enrolled in Indiana's colleges and universities for the Fall 2024 academic year.

    Terri Dee wrote this article.