By Kimba Rund
Indiana’s new high school diploma and readiness seals are designed to ensure students graduate with both knowledge and verified skills in communication, collaboration, and work ethic – the qualities employers and community members consistently say matter most for long-term success. Starting with the class of 2029, all students will graduate under these new requirements, and schools may begin opting in this year.
At the same time, educators are being challenged to think creatively about how students demonstrate competencies, rather than relying solely on traditional coursework. At the 2025 Preparing for College and Careers (PCC) Teacher and Career Coach Conference, IDOE’s Ron Sandlin encouraged schools to think beyond the traditional classroom, using experiences throughout high school to meet PCC standards. That means schools can award PCC credit when students demonstrate the required competencies in new and innovative ways.
Career+ Pathways™ Microcredentials: Aligned and Ready
Here at Career+ Pathways™, we’ve taken that challenge seriously. Our three microcredential series, Next Level, Workplace Communication, and Workplace Leadership, are already fully mapped to the competencies of the PCC course. We are currently working with the IDOE to approve the microcredential series as an alternate pathway to earning the PCC credit.
Even more importantly, these same microcredentials provide a clear and validated way for students to demonstrate the very skills prioritized in Indiana’s new diploma and readiness seals:
- Next Level (8th/9th grade): Helps students explore who they are and what high school has to offer. They investigate dual credit and enrollment, the Indiana College Core, Advanced Placement, Career Scholarship Account programs, and work-based learning. Students also build their four-year high school plan connected to personal goals.
- Workplace Communication (10th/11th grade): Focuses on communication and collaboration, from delivering presentations to working in teams, integrating diverse perspectives, and building professionalism.
- Workplace Leadership (11th/12th grade): Builds employability and leadership skills, helping students set career goals, develop budgets, evaluate postsecondary options, and prepare for interviewing and workplace expectations.
Built-In Industry Connections: Chats and Tours
Each microcredential also requires students to participate in a Career+™ Chat and a Career+™ Tour, ensuring that learning extends beyond the classroom.
- Career+™ Chats are 30-minute virtual sessions where industry professionals speak directly to students and help them discover career opportunities. Topics range from sharing personal career journeys to highlighting company roles, workplace culture, and employability skills.
- Career+™ Tours take students into local employer facilities so they can see firsthand what a “day in the life” looks like, while learning about career opportunities in their own community.
By the time students complete the three-microcredential series, they will have participated in three chats and three tours, connecting them with multiple industries and professionals along the way.
Simple to Implement, Flexible to Use
One of the biggest advantages of the Career+ Pathways™ microcredential series is how easy it is for schools to adopt. Every microcredential comes with ready-to-use lesson materials, pacing guides, student reflections, and rubrics so teachers don’t have to create new curriculum from scratch.
Schools also have flexibility in how they implement the series. Microcredentials can be:
- Embedded in one course, such as Preparing for College and Careers,
- Spread across multiple courses over several grade levels, or
- Integrated into advisory, career exploration, or work-based learning programs.
This flexible design makes the adoption cycle simple for teachers. With all resources provided and aligned to both PCC standards and diploma seal requirements, schools can begin using the microcredentials immediately, without having to overhaul existing programs.
Connecting to Indiana’s Diploma Seals
In addition to PCC credit, these microcredentials help students meet the requirements of Indiana’s new diploma seals. Several seals, such as the Enrollment Honors Plus Seal and Employment Honors Seal, require verified demonstration of communication, collaboration, and work ethic skills.
While not every student must complete these verifications, those pursuing a seal can utilize activities included in the Career+ Pathways™ Microcredential series as evidence of skill development. We provide documentation rubrics for these skills to support the verification process outlined by IDOE. The Career+ Platform work-based learning tracking features also include validation of these skills through employer evaluation.
A Scaffolded Student Journey
By completing the three microcredentials across high school, students:
- Plan early with Next Level
- Strengthen workplace communication
- Demonstrate leadership and employability
- Engage with industry through three employer chats and three on-site tours
This progression helps students graduate with:
- PCC credit earned through a flexible, competency-based pathway
- Readiness to pursue diploma seals where communication, collaboration, and work ethic skills are required
- Authentic exposure to local employers and career opportunities
Why This Matters
The redesigned diploma opens the door for innovation in how schools recognize student learning. Career+ Pathways™ microcredentials give schools a ready-made solution: one series of experiences that counts toward PCC credit, validates essential skills for diploma seals, and connects students directly with employers.
We’re excited to continue working with schools and the state to make this vision a reality for Indiana students.
Bio
Kimba Rund is a workforce training and career development specialist with a background in psychology and a focus on helping students connect education to real career opportunities. She’s currently completing her master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, which informs her work designing programs that support student growth, skill development, and long-term success. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, reading, and spending time with her family, husband, and two dogs.
