Provides that accredited nonpublic schools are eligible to participate in the following: (1) The establishment of police departments. (2) The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher recruitment grants. (3) The principal institute. Provides that charter schools are eligible to receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher recruitment grants. Establishes, for three school years: (1) a centralized school facilities pilot program; and (2) a student transportation pilot program. Allows: (1) not more than three applications, as selected by the department of education (department), to participate in the centralized school facilities pilot program; and (2) not more than three applications, as selected by the department, to participate in the student transportation pilot program (pilot programs). Establishes a: (1) local centralized school facilities board; and (2) local student transportation board; for participating school corporations and schools and grants the local boards certain powers and duties. Allows school corporations and schools to opt out of the pilot programs by providing a one year notice. Requires the department of local government finance, in consultation with the department, to prepare and submit reports that include certain recommendations. Establishes a mastery based education pilot program administered by the department. Establishes the Indianapolis local education alliance and requires the alliance to conduct a school facilities assessment and establish a school facilities and transportation implementation plan. Allows a parent of a choice scholarship student or an eligible choice scholarship school on behalf of a parent to petition the department to reconsider the eligibility of a choice scholarship student enrolled in the school if the parent has reason to believe that the student was determined ineligible due to enrollment data inaccuracies reported by a school. Provides that a student must be withdrawn from enrollment in a school corporation's virtual education program if the student accumulates 10 consecutive or 18 cumulative unexcused absences (instead of the number of unexcused absences sufficient to result in the student's classification as a habitual truant). Amends eligibility requirements for the high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant. Establishes the: (1) county deputy prosecuting attorney and public defender scholarship program; and (2) county deputy prosecuting attorney and public defender scholarship fund. Provides that a land use application for any approval that is required by a unit for a public or nonpublic school may not be denied for the sole reason that the requesting entity is seeking to establish a public or nonpublic school. Provides that, if Vigo County transfers or gifts any unencumbered funds to a school corporation, the county executive may establish a local board to have oversight and manage the use of the funds. Provides that the expenses of the local board shall be paid by the county. Requires certain individuals and certain schools to ensure that an AED is operational and present at certain events, and that individuals present at certain events are aware of the location of the AED and emergency plans regarding the use of the AED. Adds a requirement regarding certain school emergency action plans for sudden cardiac arrest. Removes certain sudden cardiac arrest training and certificate of completion requirements. Establishes requirements regarding a standardized admissions test for state educational institutions that offer certain health education programs. Requires a public school provide written notification to an employee and parent of a student not later than 14 days regarding certain unsubstantiated or otherwise dismissed allegations. Requires the department to submit a report to the general assembly on the academic readiness of students who enroll in a virtual school or program. Provides that the state board shall adopt rules regarding financial reporting and oversight required by a school corporation and a vendor who enter into or renew a contract relating to the operation of a dedicated virtual education school. Resolves conflicts.
Rep. Bob Behning
Sponsored bills
Requires the department of education (department) to submit a report to the general assembly before November 1, 2025, that provides an analysis of the feasibility and cost of increasing school corporation employee health plan options. Creates the Indiana teacher recruitment program. Beginning June 30, 2025: (1) increases the minimum salary for a teacher employed by a school corporation to $45,000 (current law requires $40,000); and (2) requires a school corporation to expend an amount for teacher compensation that is not less than 65% of state tuition support (current law requires 62%). Amends the requirements for a school corporation and the department if the school corporation determines that the school corporation cannot meet minimum teacher salary requirements. Removes a provision that provides that the matrix rating system may not rank or compare teacher preparation programs.
Repeals certain provisions regarding statewide assessment scores and the establishment of categories or designations of school performance. Requires the state board of education to establish a new methodology for designating school performance. Extends the expiration of certain provisions regarding the posting of school information. Provides that the proposals to align diploma waiver statutes with new diploma requirements may include a proposal to eliminate diploma waivers.
Removes and repeals various education provisions and expired education provisions, including provisions concerning the following: (1) Secretary of education criteria. (2) Certain department of education (department) requirements. (3) The advisory committee on career and technical education. (4) Use of hearing examiners by the state board of education (state board). (5) Credit for retaking a virtual course during certain time periods. (6) Children's social, emotional, and behavioral health plans. (7) Family friendly school designations. (8) The Indiana civic education commission. (9) Discretionary directives to the department. (10) The program for the advancement of math and science. (11) Access to telecommunication services. (12) Elementary school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists program and fund. (13) Grants for mental health counselor licenses for school counselors. (14) The arts education program. (15) The geothermal conversion revolving fund. (16) Clause requirements for certain charter school organizer documents. (17) Required acknowledgment by a current authorizer regarding a proposal by an existing charter school to another authorizer. (18) Requirements regarding a governing body of a school corporation (governing body) providing a noncharter school. (19) Charter requirements, including minimum year and annual performance target requirements. (20) Certain notice requirements from an authorizer to an organizer that is not in compliance. (21) Indiana school for the arts. (22) Allowing the board of trustees of Vincennes University to establish a grammar school. (23) Designation of certain committees by a governing body. (24) Governing body use of funds for associations. (25) Developing and reviewing evidence based plans with parents for improving student behavior and discipline. (26) Township trustees and the sale of schoolhouses. (27) School health advisory councils and adoption of a school corporation policy on child nutrition and physical activity. (28) Certain agreement requirements regarding joint programs. (29) Certain requirements regarding the transfer of a student to another school. (30) Freeway school corporation and freeway school program. (31) Policies, programs, and reports regarding criminal organization activity. (32) Transportation program discretion. (33) Recommendations regarding certain powers and duties of the department. (34) Culturally responsive methods. (35) Certain training and professional development requirements. (36) Certain teacher leave requirements. (37) Ineligibility for state funds for adopting residence requirements. (38) Certain compensation included in computing a teacher's retirement benefit. (39) Penalty for failing to comply with working schedule requirements. (40) Discretionary modification of graduation plan. (41) Required course on safety education. (42) Compilation of leaflets regarding hygiene, sanitary science, and disease prevention. (43) Making a violation regarding teaching certain disease information an infraction. (44) Certain elective courses and teachings. (45) Voluntary summer school program and joint summer school program requirements. (46) Technology preparation curriculum. (47) Community or volunteer service programs. (48) Nonsession school activities. (49) Requirements regarding Indiana academic standards. (50) Strategic and continuous improvement and achievement plans. (51) Cultural competency. (52) Student educational achievement grants. (53) Remediation grant program. (54) Postsecondary workforce training program remediation reduction. (55) Requirement to provide an enrollment form for the twenty-first century scholars program to certain students. (56) Governor's scholars academy. (57) Seminary township school fund. (58) Dual credit teacher stipend matching grant fund. (59) Student enrichment grants. (60) The study of ethnic and racial groups as a semester elective course. (61) Requirements regarding proposed charter school economic interest statements. (62) Certain charter requirements for adult high schools. (63) Required policies on contacting employment references. (64) Certain requirements concerning staff performance evaluations. (65) Authorizer responsibility for charter school compliance with applicable legal standards. (66) Certain nondiscrimination provisions regarding students who transfer from charter schools to public noncharter schools. Merges and amends provisions regarding fund distribution upon the termination of a charter and the cessation of a charter school. Amends the age eligibility for a member of a governing body. Amends the time period by which a governing body must organize by electing officers. Establishes information that must be included in a consolidated audit by an organizer. Provides adult high schools are excluded from all cohort based graduation rate calculations except to the extent required under federal law. Amends the termination and notice requirements with regard to terminating a transportation program. Relocates and amends a provision regarding classroom instruction curriculum in teacher preparation programs. Provides that the secretary of education (instead of the governor) shall appoint the director of special education. Amends required frequency of child abuse and neglect training. Requires the department to make a list of best practices and guidelines regarding classroom behavioral management strategies and a list of best practices to reduce student discipline. Permits the governing body of a school corporation or an organizer of a charter school to assess and collect a reasonable fee for certain supplies and materials. Amends certain financial statement filing requirements regarding school trusts to pool assets for insurance coverage. Repeals a provision regarding requiring certain CSA participating entities to provide evidence of certain unencumbered assets. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Requires the department of education (department), in collaboration with certain other state entities, to collect and maintain certain data and to publish on the department's website timely and relevant information about secondary education programs. Provides that the department shall administer and implement the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system developed by the commission for higher education and administer the career coaching grant fund (fund). Provides certain requirements for an eligible entity to receive a grant from the fund. Requires the department to prepare a report concerning career coaching and submit the report to the governor and general assembly. Requires the department of workforce development to update wage threshold data used to categorize career and technical education programs for use in the subsequent school year. Makes conforming changes.
Requires, not later than October 1, 2025, the secretary of education to compile and prepare a report concerning school bus driver safety education training. Makes certain changes concerning the process of filling a school board vacancy. Provides that a superintendent is preferred (current law says required) to hold a master's degree from certain institutions. Provides that certain covered school buildings are not required to revert to a school corporation if the building is subject to ongoing renovations. Provides that a superintendent must discuss a plan for annual performance evaluations with teachers (instead of teachers or the teachers' representative). Requires, not later than August 1, 2025, the early learning advisory committee, in coordination with the department of education, to assess certain prekindergarten program matters and submit a report to the legislative council. Removes a provision that contracts with certain superintendents must be in a form of a regular teacher's contract.
Provides that certain students have the opportunity to retake the determinant evaluation of reading skills at least twice in the summer before grade 3 retention requirements apply. Requires the department of education to establish a registration process for schools to exempt certain English language learners from compliance with grade 3 retention requirements until the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. Allows required career fairs to be held off of school property if the school provides transportation. Amends agreement requirements with regard to the employment aid readiness network (EARN) Indiana program. Makes a technical correction.
Requires each school corporation and charter middle school to automatically enroll a student who meets certain conditions in a middle school advanced math course. Allows a parent of a student to opt out of automatic enrollment. Requires the department of education to submit a report to the legislative council that includes certain middle school advanced math course student percentage information. Establishes requirements regarding: (1) mathematics screening, evaluation, and intervention; and (2) teacher preparation program math curriculum and content.
Establishes additional duties for the governor's workforce cabinet and requires the cabinet to perform certain duties jointly with other state agencies. Requires the Indiana management performance hub, in collaboration with the department of education (department) and commission for higher education (commission), to: (1) collect and compile certain student income data; and (2) compile into a data product on the department's and commission's websites certain data. Requires the secretary of education to establish a plan to develop a market driven stackable credentials and qualifications framework and submit the plan to the general assembly. Provides that the commission shall (instead of may) approve or disapprove certain branches, campuses, centers, new colleges, new schools, degrees, or programs. Provides that before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information regarding the degree or program. Requires the commission to: (1) review each degree or program for approval or disapproval at least one time every 10 years; (2) outline a process for degree and program monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure; (3) publish certain information; and (4) take official action regarding the approval or disapproval of certain requests within 90 days. Requires a state educational institution to approve for admission Indiana residents who meet certain requirements. Requires the board of trustees of a state educational institution to do the following: (1) When reviewing tenured faculty members, assess and review the staffing needs of the institution based on the branches, campuses, extension centers, colleges, schools, and degree and programs of the institution. (2) Submit to the commission any review of, renewal of, or amendment to the process or criteria regarding the tenured faculty member review. Requires the commission to promptly review the process and criteria and provide feedback to a board of trustees. Requires the commission to prepare and submit an annual report to the legislative council regarding certain student enrollment data. Adds duties for the department of workforce development.
Maddy summaryHR 60 is a commemorative resolution that officially recognizes the first full week of May 2025 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. This bill aims to raise public awareness about Tardive Dyskinesia.