Leaders from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and College Board have announced a new partnership to introduce career-focused courses in high schools across Indiana. The initiative is part of College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Career Kickstart program, which aims to blend traditional AP rigor with industry-relevant skills. The first courses, AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity, are set to launch nationwide during the 2026-27 school year, with plans to expand into other fields such as health sciences.
“A big goal of ours is to further align education with what employers need,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber. “Through our partnership with the College Board, we’re introducing high quality, employer-endorsed courses into Hoosier high schools. That will empower students with in-demand skills and provide teachers with a scalable, effective way to deliver them.”
David Coleman, CEO of College Board, stated: “For decades, students have turned to AP to challenge themselves and get ahead in college. Now, that energy is also being devoted to career learning. Students want to do work that matters. Employers want to hire talent that’s ready. AP Career Kickstart brings those worlds together so every student can earn credentials that count for the future they choose.”
The development of these new AP courses involves input from educators as well as higher education and industry advisors. Companies such as CompTIA, Oracle, IBM, U.S. Bank and Sephora are among those contributing expertise. The Indiana Chamber joins about 400 employers and 75 local chambers from 40 states in supporting these efforts.
Kristin Lidstrom, a business teacher at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers who has been testing one of the new courses, commented: “Field testing AP Business with Personal Finance has given our students practical, real-world business and financial skills while strengthening the critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making abilities employers value,” she said. “The course bridges classroom learning with the realities of the modern workplace, helping students become informed consumers, responsible employees and contributors to Indiana’s long-term economic growth.”
Jason Troutwine, vice president at Reid Health in Richmond added: “By inviting industry to shape AP courses that will be taught nationwide, Career Kickstart creates a dynamic in which we, as employers, know the curriculum is meaningful, appropriate and applicable to our work environments.” He continued: “It’s a win for our economy but most importantly, it’s a win for our students who walk away from these courses with college credit and industry-recognized credentials that put them on the fast track for their careers.”
A recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board found that most hiring managers believe high school graduates are not prepared for today’s workforce; 84% expressed this view according to their survey of 500 employers. Additionally, 92% said more business-related classes should be available at the high school level. Industry-recognized credentials along with soft skills like communication were also identified as important assets for entry-level workers.
Currently offering 40 different AP subjects worldwide across nearly 24,000 schools—including those participating in this initiative—College Board intends for its Career Kickstart assessments to validate both academic achievement for colleges and job readiness for potential employers.
Employers or local chambers interested in advising on course content can find more information at www.indianachamber.com/AP.
The Indiana Chamber’s Institute for Workforce Excellence provides programs aimed at developing skilled workers throughout Indiana; details are available at www.workforceindiana.org.
