DEAR INDIANA PARENTS OR GUARDIANS,

Learn More isn’t just for kids. We encourage you to read this magazine with your child as a way to talk about college and career readiness. It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s future, including career choices, college options and how to pay for it all.

If you’re thinking about going back to school yourself, now is a great time to start researching the many opportunities Indiana has to offer adult students. Visit NextLevelJobs.org to get connected with jobs, education and training and other supports, including the Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant, which pays full tuition for short-term, high-value certificates in: Advanced Manufacturing, Building and Construction, Health and Life Sciences, Information Technology and Business Services and Transportation and Logistics.

Visit LearnMoreIndiana.org/statefinancialaid to learn more about all Indiana state financial aid programs.

Sincerely,

eric-holcomb

Eric Holcomb

Governor, State of Indiana

katie-jenner

DR. KATIE JENNER

Indiana Secretary of Education

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CHRIS LOWERY

Commissioner, Indiana Commission for Higher Education

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD PREPARE AND PAY FOR COLLEGE AND THEIR FUTURE CAREER?

  • Consider applying for the 21st Century Scholars program. Visit Scholars.IN.gov for eligibility information. Applications must be received by June 30 of your child’s 8th grade year.
  • Connect with teachers, counselors and administrators to partner in helping your child succeed
  • Get involved in your child’s choice of classes in middle school and high school. Make sure they are taking academically challenging courses that align with their interests, skills and goals.
  • Help your child build good study skills and do everything you can to encourage reading
  • Learn more about Indiana’s new Graduation Pathways requirement on page 10. This will impact what your child will need to do in high school.
  • Have conversations with your child about the subjects they enjoy, the hobbies they love, and how they can translate these into their future college and career choices.
  • Encourage your child to get involved in extracurricular activities that can build employability or soft skills, and potentially help them earn a scholarship.
  • Start saving now. Consider setting up an Indiana CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan. CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan helps families save for future education in a tax-advantaged way. Funds can be used at any school that accepts federal financial aid, including tech, trade, two-year, four-year and registered apprenticeship programs. Earnings grow tax-deferred and Indiana residents may be eligible for a 20% tax credit. For more information about the CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan, call 866.485.9415 or visit CollegeChoiceDirect.com.

INDIANA HAS YOUR BACK SO YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD.

Your Next Step provides a one-stop shop for resources in Indiana that can help you take the next step in your career, education and life. Think of the website as a lobby, with doors you can choose to walk through and connect to the help you need to move forward.

Get started today at YourNextStepIN.org

A partnership of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, Indiana Department of Education and Indiana Department of Workforce Development