RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ind. – A regional partnership is reshaping how rural schools in Randolph County help students prepare for life after high school.

RAZ-32, which stands for Rural Alliance Zone-32, brings together schools, businesses, community partners and local leaders to create expanded career and workforce opportunities for students across East Central Indiana.

The initiative connects the founding school districts of Monroe Central, Randolph Central and Randolph Eastern along State Highway 32.

“RAZ-32 represents the belief that rural schools do not have to work in isolation,” said Neal Adams, Randolph Eastern Superintendent. “By working together, we can create opportunities for students that no single district may be able to provide alone.”

The partnership was created to address growing concerns shared by rural schools and employers alike. It focuses on how to provide students with access to high-quality career pathways, work-based learning and future-focused opportunities despite limited resources, spread across smaller districts.

“The goal was to build a regional model that would enable schools to collaborate rather than compete,” Adams explained. “Rather than each district creating every pathway on its own, RAZ-32 enables us to think countywide and regionally.”

The program also aims to support the long-term workforce needs of Randolph County and East Central Indiana by connecting students with local employers earlier.

“Our businesses and industries need skilled, prepared, and motivated young people who can see a future right here in Randolph County and East Central Indiana,” he said. “…we hope to give students a reason to stay, return, and build their adult lives in the communities that helped raise them.”

The collaboration emerged from years of conversations among school officials and community leaders focused on strengthening the county’s economy and future workforce. As Indiana shifted its diploma expectations toward career pathways, credentials and work-based learning, the discussions gained momentum.

The effort became more formalized after Randolph Eastern received a School Improvement Grant, helping launch deeper planning and partnership development efforts.

“We also knew that rural communities needed to be proactive,” Adams said. “If we wanted our students to have access to the same kinds of opportunities available in larger districts or urban areas, we needed to design a different kind of system.”

Under the program, students remain enrolled in their home schools while accessing shared opportunities across district lines. First-year students typically attend pathway classes during either a morning or afternoon block at one of the participating schools. Second-year students move into advanced work-based learning experiences, often spending three to four days each week at business or partner sites.

Adams said the work requires strong coordination among school leaders, community partners and everyone involved.

“The goal is simple: remove barriers to students can access meaningful learning opportunities,” he said.

Transportation has become a central piece of the partnership, ensuring students can travel between schools, career centers and work sites. Local businesses have also become key partners by offering internships, work-based learning placements and industry insight.

Student participation has grown steadily since the program’s launch. In its first year, RAZ-32 served 16 shared students and 81 total pathway students. During the 2025-2026 school year, participation increased to 60 shared students and 139 total pathway students. Organizers project that number will rise again in the following school year, to 87 shared students and 221 total pathway participants.

Current career pathways include Health Care, Media Production, Early Childhood, Precision Agriculture, Welding, Marketing and Sales, Precision Machining, Agriculture Capstone, Enlistment and Service Program, and CDL training. Future additions may include Cybersecurity/IT and Construction Trades.

“The larger goal is to make sure every student graduates with a plan, a purpose, and evidence of real skills that can help them take their next step with confidence,” Adams said.

Adams said the partnership has already sparked a cultural shift among participating districts.

“The districts involved are now thinking beyond individual boundaries and asking what is best for students across the region. That is a major cultural shift,” he said.