Building a Mindset: Amp Lab Makes Entrepreneurship, Work Skills Its Mission

Why It Matters

By embedding work‑based learning and skill‑focused assessment, Amp Lab tackles the national shortage of high‑school internships and prepares students for diverse career paths, giving employers a pipeline of job‑ready talent.

Key Takeaways

• Amp Lab serves 400 juniors and seniors in Ft. Wayne.
• Every student completes a real‑world business project or internship.
• Mastery Learning Record tracks durable skills beyond grades.
• School partners with 40+ national sites testing new report cards.
• Projects address diversity hiring, community health, and local manufacturing.

Pulse Analysis

Entrepreneurship‑centric career technical education is gaining traction as schools seek to bridge the gap between classroom theory and workplace demand. Amp Lab exemplifies this shift, converting a former General Electric plant into a hub where 400 high‑school juniors and seniors learn to apply business fundamentals across any industry. By mandating a hands‑on project with a local company or a student‑launched venture, the program ensures that learning is anchored in real market problems, fostering a mindset that can translate to future startups or corporate roles.

The school’s Mastery Learning Record replaces traditional A‑F grading with a granular view of competencies such as problem‑solving, collaborative intelligence, and intuitive agility. This data‑driven approach aligns with emerging state initiatives to report "durable skills" and offers colleges and employers clearer evidence of a student’s readiness. With only about 6% of U.S. high‑schoolers accessing internships, Amp Lab’s model—where half the cohort completes a 10‑15‑hour weekly placement—demonstrates a scalable solution to expand work‑based learning without the usual transportation hurdles.

Policy makers and industry leaders are watching Amp Lab’s pilot closely. Its partnership network, ranging from manufacturing firms to nonprofit health initiatives, illustrates how localized ecosystems can supply both project content and mentorship. As six states and additional districts evaluate the Mastery Learning Record, the model could reshape high‑school transcripts nationwide, making entrepreneurial skill sets a standard credential and strengthening the talent pipeline for mid‑size manufacturers and emerging tech firms alike.