More Indiana high schools are taking learning to the workplace
Every Tuesday, Suriah Pinner will wake up, get dressed and head to school at Providence Cristo Rey on the south side of Indianapolis. But the high school junior doesn’t go to class. Instead, she gets on a bus to Carmel, where she’ll work for about six hours in the accounting department at Integrity Fiber , a paper and recycling company. Providence Cristo Rey places all of its students into an internship, where they work one day a week during school hours. Accounting is not Pinner’s dream job. She wants to go to medical school and eventually, become a general surgeon. But she likes getting to explore a different path and learn what a professional role might look like for her. “Now I get to see a different range of options, and really weigh what’s good for me and what’s not,” the 17-year-old said. In a few years, it’s likely more Indianapolis students will be getting work experience. Indiana recently changed its high school graduation requirements to encourage students to think about what’s next for them after high school — whether it’s college, public service or employment. State officials say these changes make it possible for more schools to think creatively
