Indiana § 20-19-12-6 - Career coaching grant; eligibility requirements; preference

§ 20-19-12-6. Career coaching grant; eligibility requirements; preference

Sec. 6. (a) Subject to available funding and subsections (c) and (d), the department may award a career coaching grant from the fund to an eligible entity that meets the requirements under subsection (b).

(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity must do the following:

(1) Apply to the department in the manner prescribed by the department.

(2) Meet any eligibility requirements or parameters established by the department.

(3) If the eligible entity is a school corporation or school described in section 2(a)(2) through 2(a)(3) of this chapter, partner with:

(A) an approved intermediary; or

(B) a career coaching provider approved by the department under section 7 of this chapter.

(4) If the eligible entity is:

(A) an approved intermediary; or

(B) a career coaching provider approved by the department under section 7 of this chapter;

partner with a school corporation or school described in section 2(a)(2) through 2(a)(3) of this chapter.

(5) Agree to:

(A) use the grant to establish or implement a comprehensive career navigation and coaching system;

(B) provide career coaching services through a career coach who:

(i) is at least twenty-three (23) years of age;

(ii) has a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma; and

(iii) holds a certification in individual personality and interest inventory interpretation and career navigation or completes training that is equivalent to the training required to receive a certificate described in this item and is recognized or approved by the department;

(C) use evidence based assessments or student exploration, engagement, and experience resources to advise students about careers and college pathways;

(D) provide coaching based on aptitude assessment results, which may include the Indiana career explorer program, to each student at least once during grade 7 or 8 and once during grade 10 or 11;

(E) have a career coach meet with a student individually, either in person or virtually;

(F) include:

(i) employer site visits or equivalent virtual visits; and

(ii) individual conversations;

in areas of student interest or aptitude;

(G) comply with section 9 of this chapter; and

(H) provide a minimum of thirty (30) minutes of career coaching services to students in:

(i) grade 7 or 8; and

(ii) grade 10 or 11.

(c) To the extent possible, the department shall award grants under this section to eligible entities located in:

(1) geographically diverse communities, which must include rural, suburban, and urban communities; and

(2) each region described in section 9 of this chapter.

(d) In awarding grants under this chapter, the department shall give preference to eligible entities that provide career coaching services through career coaches who have work experience outside of teaching.

As added by P.L.134-2025, SEC.3.