Establishes a safe baby court as a type of problem solving court. Provides that a child in need of services is an eligible individual for purposes of a problem solving court program.
Requires a state educational institution to prominently display hyperlinks to certain college scorecard information on the state educational institution's website and degree web pages.
Requires each school corporation and charter school to: (1) adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that governs student use of a wireless communication device; and (2) publish the policy on the school corporation's or charter school's website.
Provides that the department of education (department) may grant certain individuals a waiver that provides an exception to the literacy endorsement requirements if the department submits a report to the legislative council by a specified date. Requires certain schools, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, to offer summer school courses for students who are not reading proficient or are at risk of not being reading proficient as indicated on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board of education (evaluation). Expands eligibility for funding for summer school courses. Requires certain summer school courses to be taught by a teacher, instructor, or tutor who is trained in the science of reading. Provides that if a student does not achieve a 90% attendance rate in a summer reading course, the student is required to participate in an individual reading plan in the following school year. Requires the department of education to procure a universal screening assessment (assessment) that meets certain criteria. Requires certain schools to administer the assessment to students in kindergarten through grade 2 who are not on track for reading proficiency by grade 3 as determined by the department. Requires the state board of education to establish a method for virtual administration of the ILEARN statewide assessment. Provides that a vendor must supply a student's assessment results to the student and the student's parents. Applies the reading deficiency remediation plan (plan) to public schools, charter schools, state accredited nonpublic schools, and eligible schools. Makes the following changes to the plan: (1) Beginning with evaluations administered in the 2024-2025 school year, requires retention of a student in grade 3 in addition to remediation if the student has not achieved a passing score on the evaluation. (2) Requires schools to notify a student's parent of certain assessment results, interventions, or remedial actions provided to the student. (3) Requires schools to monitor the progress of students who have failed to achieve a passing score on the evaluation or the statewide assessment program test. (4) Requires schools to provide reading instruction aligned with the science of reading to all students in kindergarten through grade 8. (5) Requires schools to administer the evaluation to students who are in grade 2. (6) Requires a student to take the evaluation until certain conditions are met. (7) Requires school reporting on interventions for certain students at risk of not being reading proficient and for certain students who do not a achieve a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills. Creates exceptions to the grade 3 retention requirement for a student who meets certain criteria. Requires the governing body of a school to establish a procedure allowing a parent or guardian of a student to appeal the student's retention under the plan. Requires the department to notify the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in kindergarten of the retention requirements under the plan.
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and Ireland.
Supporting Israel.
Requires each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum. Provides that a school corporation may include instruction regarding Internet safety in the school corporation's curriculum. Requires the department of education to develop, or approve previously developed, age appropriate curricula in Internet safety for use at multiple grade levels not later than July 1, 2025. Amends requirements regarding: (1) eligibility for career coaching grants; and (2) instruction on career awareness. Repeals a provision that provides that each school corporation may include cursive writing in the school corporation's curriculum.
Defines "governing authority" of a school. Defines "school" as a school maintained by a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school. Provides that, if a school instructs students on human sexuality, the school's governing authority must first approve and publish certain information concerning the instruction in a conspicuous place on the website of the school, and requires a school to provide a direct link to that information in a school's written request for consent for instruction on human sexuality. Prohibits a school from using learning materials for instruction on human sexuality unless approved by the school's governing authority.
Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met. Provides that a school chaplain may only provide secular support to a student or an employee of the school unless permission is given by: (1) the student receiving services if the student is an emancipated minor or adult; (2) the employee of the school receiving services; or (3) a parent of the student and the student receiving services if the student is an unemancipated minor; to provide nonsecular support. Provides that a school chaplain is not required to divulge privileged or confidential communications with a student under certain circumstances. Provides that a school chaplain and a school counselor are subject to duties to report or disclose certain information.
Provides that, for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, a school shall ensure that at least 60% of a school counselor's aggregate time performing the counselor's job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school shall ensure that at least 80% of a school counselor's aggregate time performing the counselor's job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Exempts schools that have a school counselor/student ratio that is not more than one school counselor to 350 students from the school counselor time requirement provisions. Allows school corporations to provide certain notices regarding expulsion meetings by electronic mail.
