Hatfield: Educational opportunities for all ages

Employers in Evansville and throughout the state need well-educated, highly-skilled workers to fill thousands of good-paying jobs – both now and in the future. I have provided information below about programs offered by the state of Indiana that help residents of all ages gain education and skills to compete in today’s workplace.

I hope you will explore the programs listed and pass the information along to family members and friends. Additional information and resources for students, adult learners, military personnel and parents can be found at LearnMoreIndiana.org.

LEARN

Indiana students in the seventh and eighth grade can enroll as a 21st Century Scholar, an income-based scholarship program that pays up to four years of tuition and fees at a state college. Students would complete a number of items during high school to ensure enrollment in the program and help prepare for college. The application deadline is June 30 at the end of a student’s eighth grade year. More information can be found at Scholars.in.gov.

TEACH

The Next Generation Teacher Scholarship program helps 200 future teachers per year with college costs while addressing Indiana’s shortage of classroom leaders. Upon graduation, the students must then teach for five years at an approved Indiana school or repay a corresponding amount of the scholarship. The scholarship provides $7,500 per year for up to four years. More information can be found at LearnMoreIndiana.org/NextTeacher.

ADVANCE

A new state program has more than $20 million in grants available to help Hoosiers get back to work or transition into a better job. The Next Level Jobs initiative, which I supported during last year’s legislative session, is designed to help adults receive the necessary training and education to fill existing and future high-demand jobs around the state. More information can be found at NextLevelJobs.org.