What is the Indiana Core 40 Scholars Initiative?

The Indiana Core 40 Scholars Initiative is an effort by school and area business volunteers to encourage students to complete the challenging high school coursework that will prepare them for jobs and higher education after graduation.

Indiana Core 40 Scholars focuses on three components:

· Encourage students to take rigorous high school coursework (Core 40) by bringing in business professionals and their real-world perspective into classrooms.

· Support students as they take Core 40 throughout high school with incentives,
mentoring, and tutoring.

· Celebrate with students as they complete Core 40 through a community event
honoring the newest group of graduating Core 40 Scholars.

Who are Indiana Core 40 Scholars?

Indiana Core 40 Scholars are students who complete the Core 40 curriculum, a specific sequence of high school academic courses in English/language arts, math, science and social studies that are endorsed by Indiana K-12, business and higher education as the best preparation for success in college and the workforce.

Why Become an Indiana Core 40 Scholar?

Indiana's Core 40 curriculum helps students make the most of high school years by providing the academic foundation they will need to succeed in college and the workforce.  

By providing all Indiana students a balanced sequence of academically rigorous high school courses in the core subjects of English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies; physical education/health and wellness; and electives including world languages, career/technical, and fine arts, the Core 40 requirement gives all our students the opportunity to compete with the best. That's great news for Indiana students.  

Challenging Courses = Big Rewards. Students who take strong academic courses in high school are more likely to enroll in college and earn a degree. That’s important, because higher education pays: On average, college graduates earn more than a million dollars more over a lifetime than those with only a high school education.  High school graduates earn 42 percent more than high school dropouts.

More Career Options - Good jobs require education beyond high school.  That means if students want a job that will support themselves and their future families, provide health benefits, and offer a chance for advancement, , they’ll need to complete a 2- or 4-year degree, apprenticeship program, military training, or workforce certification.  If students are planning to go directly to work after high school graduation, they will still need to be prepared for training and retooling throughout their lifetimes.  Core 40 gives students more options — and more opportunities — to find a career with a real future.

What Employers and Training Programs Want. Employers, apprenticeship programs  and the military all agree – they expect students to arrive with essential skills, including speaking and writing clearly, analyzing information, conducting research, and solving complex problems. The expectations are the same: Students need Core 40.

Preparation for College Success. It’s not just about getting in — it’s about finishing. To succeed in college-level work, students need to complete Core 40 in high school.  Anything less may mean taking remedial (high school) coursework in college, which means it will take students longer to finish and cost  more in college tuition. It also means students will have a greater chance of dropping out before they get their degree.  That’s why Core 40 is a college admissions requirement: In fall 2011 students won’t be able to start at a 4-year public Indiana college without Core 40 (or a documented equivalent). Most private colleges require students to have at least this level of high school academic preparation.  Core 40 is the best preparation for success.

Money for College.  The Core 40 diploma can help students earn money for college.  Indiana students who complete a Core 40 diploma and meet other income-eligible financial aid requirements can receive up to 90% of approved tuition and fees at eligible colleges.  Core 40 with Academic Honors graduates can receive up to 100% and some Indiana colleges also offer their own scholarships specifically for students who earn this diploma.  Core 40 pays.

Core 40 becomes Indiana's required high school curriculum in the fall of 2007. Students entering high school at that time will be expected to complete Core 40 course and credit requirements. To graduate with less than Core 40, a student must complete a formal opt-out process involving parental consent.