Education Bills to Be Read This Week 2/19, Updated 2/23

Bills We’re Not Fans of:

HB1315 – School corporation financial management. The bill would hand control of Muncie Community Schools over to Ball State University (BSU). The local community would lose control of school as school board as new board would be appointed by Ball State trustees (who themselves appointed by the state of Indiana). For all other teachers in the state, the bill would hold classroom teachers responsible for the state of a school districts' finances by specifically calling for the termination of up to 5 percent of the teacher force by the end of a fall semester, if a district is designated as being in fiscal distress. These actions would no doubt impact student learning, academic goals and increase class sizes in the middle of a school year.  Read more here and here and here and here.

SB33 - Houses of worship and firearms. Permits a person who may legally possess a firearm to possess a firearm on school property, unless prohibited by the house of worship, if the person possesses the firearm: (1) as an employee or volunteer of a house of worship located on the school property; or (2) while attending a worship service or religious ceremony conducted at a house of worship. This has been referred to the House Public Policy committee. GUNS DON'T BELONG ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. 
Update: The bill has passed and will now go to the House.

SB387 – Teacher Licensing. This bill is a potluck bill. Lots going on. Thankfully the 10% unlicensed teachers allowed in public schools line was removed. However, while most teacher salary bills died in committee, this one has a salary element lives on and it's one that does not benefit the collective whole (it does the opposite). A part of this bill would allow administrators to give supplemental pay bonuses to a select few teachers (special needs and STEM), at the expense of others, without bargaining these decisions. The effect would be the loss of some, or all, funds available for the rest of the teacher force. The extra pay comes out of the pockets of every other teacher, as this bill does not include additional funding. Also, stipends could be taken away at any time — they never become part of an employees’ base pay. This erodes bargaining, and the value of bargaining, because annually the interests of all get weighed and decisions are made based upon both short and longer-term interests. 

SB 65 – Instruction on Human Sexuality. The bill would prohibit a school from providing instruction on human sexuality unless parents sign a consent form to opt-in to the class. Read more here. Please note that ACLU is also against this legislation. They state: Senate Bill 65, which would limit instruction on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” in public schools, is so broadly worded that it could prevent schools from discussing any LGBTQ issues without express written permission from parents. UPDATE - It is now opt-out, which is a big improvement. Timeframe for a parent/guardian to respond to opt-out has been adjusted from 45 to 21 days. 

SB384 - Freeway School Corporations and Schools.
This bill is questionable because it could result in more capacity for voucher students. The majority of freeway schools are private schools that accept vouchers. This bill would allow them to be accredited for longer as a Freeway school as they try to improve the minimum educational benefits required to maintain accreditation. 

You can call your legislator by finding his/her info here.  
 
MONDAY

Bills to Be Read by the House on February 19 at 8:30 a.m.
 
SB24 (THIRD READING) - Passed; Roll Call 181: yeas 94, nays 2
Student possession and use of sunscreen. Provides that a student may possess and use a topical, non-aerosol sunscreen product while on school property or at a school sponsored event or activity without being required to: (1) have a physician's note or prescription; or (2) store the topical, non-aerosol sunscreen product in a specific location; if the product is regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use for the purpose of limiting ultraviolet light-induced skin damage. Allows school personnel to assist a student in applying the sunscreen if the school has written permission from the student's parent or guardian. Provides certain civil immunity for school corporations, schools, and school personnel for any action taken to comply with the sunscreen provisions.
 
Bills to Be Read by the Senate on February 19 at 1:30 p.m.
 
HB1001 (SECOND READING)
Education funding. Requires the budget agency to transfer from the K-12 state tuition reserve account to the state general fund the amount necessary to cover the K-12 state tuition distribution amount when it exceeds the appropriated amount. Expires this provision on June 30, 2019. Expires the provision that limits the maximum state distributions for a state fiscal year to the amount appropriated by the general assembly on June 30, 2019. Specifies the ADM count for kindergarten pupils. Makes conforming changes.
 
HB1167 (SECOND READING)
School corporation financial management. Permits money in a school corporation's operations fund at the end of a year to be transferred to the school corporation's rainy day fund. Combines various levies into a single operations fund levy beginning in 2019. Changes provisions concerning the education fund and operations fund. Specifies the items to be included in a school corporation's capital projects plan. Changes the reasons for which a school corporation may appeal to increase the school corporation's operations fund levy for transportation purposes. Requires an appeal to increase or a petition to adjust the maximum operations fund levy for a year to be filed before October 20 of the preceding year. Resolves conflicts among various 2017 acts that take effect before the education funding and accounting changes made by HEA 1009-2017. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation may transfer amounts that are levied for the debt service fund to cover unreimbursed costs of certain curricular materials to the curricular materials rental fund, the extracurricular account, or the education fund. Provides that in carrying out a curricular materials rental program, the governing body may control the program through the school corporation's curricular materials rental fund or education fund. Make technical changes.

TUESDAY

Bills to Be Read by the Senate on February 20 at 1:30 p.m.
 
HB1001 Third reading: passed;
Education funding. Requires the budget agency to transfer from the K-12 state tuition reserve account to the state general fund the amount necessary to cover the K-12 state tuition distribution amount when it exceeds the appropriated amount. Expires this provision on June 30, 2019. Expires the provision that limits the maximum state distributions for a state fiscal year to the amount appropriated by the general assembly on June 30, 2019. Specifies the ADM count for kindergarten pupils. Makes conforming changes.
 
HB1167 THIRD READING, No vote yet.
School corporation financial management. Permits money in a school corporation's operations fund at the end of a year to be transferred to the school corporation's rainy day fund. Combines various levies into a single operations fund levy beginning in 2019. Changes provisions concerning the education fund and operations fund. Specifies the items to be included in a school corporation's capital projects plan. Changes the reasons for which a school corporation may appeal to increase the school corporation's operations fund levy for transportation purposes. Requires an appeal to increase or a petition to adjust the maximum operations fund levy for a year to be filed before October 20 of the preceding year. Resolves conflicts among various 2017 acts that take effect before the education funding and accounting changes made by HEA 1009-2017. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation may transfer amounts that are levied for the debt service fund to cover unreimbursed costs of certain curricular materials to the curricular materials rental fund, the extracurricular account, or the education fund. Provides that in carrying out a curricular materials rental program, the governing body may control the program through the school corporation's curricular materials rental fund or education fund. Make technical changes.

Bills to Be Read by the House Education Committee on February 20 at 8:30 a.m.
 
SB65 - DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 8; Nays: 5; (Voted on 02/20) 
Instruction on human sexuality. Requires each school corporation to make available for inspection to a parent of a student instructional material used in connection with instruction on human sexuality. Provides that, before a school may provide a student with instruction on human sexuality, the school must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent of instruction. Provides that a consent form provided to a parent of a student or a student must accurately summarize the contents and nature of the instruction on human sexuality that will be provided to the student and indicate that a parent of a student or an adult or emancipated minor student has the right to review and inspect all materials related to the instruction on human sexuality. Provides that the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, may return the consent form indicating that the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student: (1) consents to the instruction; or (2) declines instruction. Provides that, if the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, does not respond to the written request provided by the school within 45 days of receiving the request, the school shall provide the parent of the student, or the adult or emancipated minor student, a written notice requesting that the parent of the student, or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, indicate whether the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student: (1) consents to the instruction; or (2) declines instruction. Provides that the parent or the adult or emancipated student may subsequently opt out of the instruction.

SB172 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 12; Nays: 0; (Voted on 02/20) Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
Computer science. Establishes the next level computer science grant program (program) and the next level computer science fund (fund) to award grants, after June 30, 2019, to eligible entities to implement teacher professional development programs for training in teaching computer science. Requires the department of education (department) to: (1) administer the program and fund; and (2) develop, in consultation with the governor's office, guidelines to award grants from the fund to eligible entities. Requires, not later than August 1, 2018, the state superintendent of public instruction to enter into a contract for professional development services. Requires the department to biannually submit a progress report to the governor regarding the: (1) development and administration of the program and fund; and (2) status of public schools in meeting computer science curriculum requirements. Provides that, if the department does not comply with the requirements regarding the program and fund, the state board of education shall assume the department's duties. Requires (beginning July 1, 2021) each public school to offer a computer science course as a one semester elective course in its curriculum at least once each school year to high school students. Requires (beginning July 1, 2021) each public school to include computer science in the public school's science curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

SB217 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 13; Nays: 0; (Voted on 02/20)
Dyslexia. Requires the following: (1) A school multidisciplinary team must include information about dyslexia in a student's educational evaluation if the multidisciplinary team determines that the student is eligible to receive special education and related services and has or has characteristics of dyslexia. (2) Information about dyslexia must be: (A) discussed by the student's case conference committee if information about dyslexia is included in the student's educational evaluation; and (B) included in the student's individualized education program if the case conference committee determines that the information should be included. Requires school corporations and charter schools to screen: (1) each student in kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2; and (2) certain other students. Establishes requirements regarding dyslexia screenings, notifications to parents, and dyslexia intervention services (including instructional approaches). Requires school corporations and charter schools to: (1) use the response to intervention process to address needs of students who are determined to have characteristics of dyslexia; and (2) obtain parental consent before administering a level I dyslexia screening or a level II dyslexia screening. Allows a student's parent to elect to have an independent comprehensive dyslexia evaluation of the student. Requires school corporations and charter schools to report annually to the department of education (department) regarding the number of students who were: (1) administered the initial dyslexia screening during the school year; and (2) determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia. Requires a school corporation and charter school to report on the school corporation's or charter school's Internet web site certain information regarding dyslexia. Requires, not later than July 1, 2019, the department to employ at least one dyslexia specialists. Establishes the: (1) requirements for a dyslexia specialist; and (2) services the dyslexia specialist is required to provide. Requires, not later than the 2019-2020 school year, each school corporation and charter school to employ at least one individual to serve as a dyslexia interventionist for the school corporation or charter school. Requires, not later than the 2019-2020 school year, the department to ensure that each teacher receives professional awareness information on dyslexia. Requires the department to develop and update an Indiana dyslexia resource guide.

SB354 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 12; Nays: 0; (Voted on 02/20)
Freeway school corporations and schools. Provides that the state board of education (state board) shall, upon request by a freeway school corporation or a freeway school, waive certain educational benefit requirements for a period of not more than 36 months. Provides that the state board may not grant a waiver after January 1, 2019. Provides that a freeway school corporation or freeway school may receive a waiver for that freeway school corporation or freeway school only one time. Urges the legislative council to assign to the education interim study committee the task of studying the accreditation of elementary and high schools in Indiana
 
Bills to Be Read by the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee on February 20 at 9:00 a.m.
 
HB1039 (IN COMMITTEE)
Study of tax topics. Urges the legislative council to have the interim study committee on fiscal policy study the following: (1) Whether the annual limit on the adjusted gross income tax credit for contributions to a college choice 529 savings plan should be modified in some way to allow a taxpayer to make greater contributions earlier in the taxpayer's schedule of savings. (2) The implications of changes made by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to the allowable uses of 529 plans. (3) Whether the adjusted gross income tax deduction for education expenditures should be extended to include expenditures made in connection with the enrollment, attendance, and participation in a public school elementary or high school education program.
 
WEDNESDAY

Bills to Be Read by the House Public Policy Committee on February 21 at 9:00 a.m


SB33 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 10; Nays: 0; (Voted on 02/21)
Houses of worship and firearms. Permits a person who may legally possess a firearm to possess a firearm on school property, unless prohibited by the house of worship, if the person possesses the firearm: (1) as an employee or volunteer of a house of worship located on the school property; or (2) while attending a worship service or religious ceremony conducted at a house of worship.

Bills to Be Read by the House Natural Resources Committee on February 21 at 12:30 p.m.

SB236 DO PASS Yeas: 9; Nays: 0; (Voted on 02/21)
Say's Firefly designated as state insect. Designates Pyractomena angulata, also known as "Say's Firefly", as the official state insect of Indiana.

Bills to Be Read by the Senate Education and Career Development Committee on February 21 at 1:30 p.m.
 
HB1024 DO PASS Yeas: 11; Nays: 0 (Voted on 2/21)
Heat preparedness training for coaches. Provides that head coaches and assistant coaches who coach interscholastic sports or intramural sports must complete a certified coaching education course that includes content for prevention of or response to heat related medical issues that may arise from a student athlete's training.
 
HB1074 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 11; Nays: 0 (Voted on 2/21)
Various higher education matters. Makes changes regarding the: (1) conditions required to qualify for the renewal of a twenty-first century scholars program scholarship; and (2) award amounts to twenty-first century scholars program scholarship applicants who attend a private, approved postsecondary educational institution. Makes the following changes concerning the primary care shortage area scholarship: (1) Amends the practice requirements to receive a scholarship. (2) Amends the repayment requirements for noncompliance with a primary care practice agreement. (3) Allows the commission for higher education (commission) to impose and collect interest on unpaid repayment amounts. (4) Provides that, if the commission and a recipient of a scholarship enter into a new written agreement that complies with the primary care shortage area scholarship provisions, the commission and recipient may terminate an agreement entered into or renewed before July 1, 2018. Requires the chairperson of the commission to appoint a: (1) seven member student member nominating committee; and (2) seven member faculty member nominating committee. (Current law requires the chairperson to appoint a ten member nominating committee of five student members and five faculty members.) Modifies the procedures that a state educational institution must use to dispose of real estate (including any real estate acquired by gift, bequest, or devise). Provides that an applicant who: (1) does not maintain satisfactory academic progress as required to be eligible for a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant; but (2) meets other certain conditions; is still eligible for the grant. Repeals certain statutes concerning: (1) the disposition of gifts, bequests, and devises of real estate to state educational institutions; and (2) matters that pertain to the closing process in the disposition of real estate by a state educational institution. Makes conforming amendments. Removes an expired provision.
 
HB1230 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 11; Nays: 0 (Voted on 2/21)
School safety. Requires the department of education (department) to maintain a link on the department's Internet web site providing parents and school officials with resources or best practices regarding the prevention or reporting of bullying and cyberbullying. Requires the state board of education and school corporations to maintain an Internet link to the department's Internet web site on their Internet web sites. Requires the department to maintain a link on the department's Internet web site regarding the identification and reporting of human trafficking. Requires certain employees of a school corporation or an accredited nonpublic school to receive at least one hour of inservice training every two years pertaining to the identification and reporting of human trafficking. Provides that a school corporation's disciplinary rules pertaining to bullying must prohibit bullying through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a computer or through a cellular telephone or other wireless or cellular communications device. (Current law provides that a school corporation's disciplinary rules pertaining to bullying must prohibit bullying through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a computer.) 
 
HB1314 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 11; Nays: 0 (Voted on 2/21)
Students receiving foster care services. Requires the State board of education to, in collaboration with the department of education (department) and the of child services, prepare a report on foster care youth educational outcomes. Requires the department to, before November 1, 2018, and before November 1 each year thereafter, submit the report to the department of child services and legislative council. Requires certain information regarding students receiving foster care to be included in a school corporation's annual performance report. Requires the department of child services to, not later than 10 days after a child who attends public school is placed in foster care, notify the department that the child has been placed in foster care. 
 
HB1398 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 8; Nays: 2 (Voted on 2/21)
Coalition of school corporations. Provides that the state board of education (state board) may approve a coalition of continuous improvement school districts (coalition). Provides that certain statutes or rules may be suspended for a coalition member. Specifies that the state board may approve a plan submitted by a proposed coalition that requests the suspension of all or portions of IC 20-30 (curriculum) only if the suspension is related to a specific goal of the proposed coalition. Requires, not later than November 1, 2019, the department of education to annually report to the legislative council information regarding the impact to aschool in a coalition that includes the following: (1) The fiscal impact on a school that participates in a coalition. (2) The qualifications of each teacher who teaches in a coalition. (3) The type of future employment for which a student in a coalition is trained and the amount and terms of compensation (if applicable) that a student receives through a coalition's partnership with a member of business or industry. (4) The impact of a coalition member's participation in a coalition on the coalition member's graduation rates. (5) Information regarding where a student in a coalition later obtains full-time employment. 
 
HB1426 DO PASS AMEND Yeas: 9; Nays: 0 (Voted on 2/21)
Education matters. Urges the legislative council during the 2018 through 2020 interims to assign to the education interim study committee the task of studying issues relating to a school corporation's ability to provide adequate career counseling to students. Requires the state board of education (state board) to establish one Indiana diploma for individuals who successfully complete high school graduation requirements. (Current law establishes four different diplomas.) Provides that each Indiana diploma must include one of the following designations: (1) General designation. (2) Core 40 designation. (3) Core 40 with academic honors designation. (4) Core 40 with technical honors designation. Requires the state board to create an alternate diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Requires, in adopting Core 40 curriculum models, the state board to consider math course requirements other than Algebra II. Allows the state board to adopt rules to establish: (1) math course requirements; and (2) science course requirements; for the Core 40 curriculum models. Repeals provisions that: (1) require the state board to design a high school diploma for the high school fast track program; and (2) establish a subcommittee to make recommendations regarding diplomas and certain course requirements and develop the requirements for a career and technical education diploma. Provides that, for each school year beginning after June 30, 2019, a high school shall administer as part of the statewide assessment a nationally recognized college entrance exam. Eliminates the requirement of end of course assessments to be administered as part of the statewide assessment program. Provides that a high school shall administer science as part of the statewide assessment. Resolves a conflict in a provision that requires the state board to develop guidelines to assist secondary schools to identify students likely to require remediation. Eliminates a requirement that a student must take a college and career readiness examination if the student is identified under the guidelines developed by the state board to likely be in need of remediation. Provides that certain statewide assessments must use a scale score that will ensure the statewide assessment scores are comparable to assessment scoring used as part of the ISTEP program, before its expiration. Provides that a student may receive a waiver from the postsecondary readiness competency requirements that are part of the graduation pathway requirements if the student meets certain conditions. Provides that the state board of education may authorize the use of the graduation examination as a graduation requirement for cohorts that graduate before July 1, 2023. Adds a provision to the list of purposes for which a charter school may limit new admissions to the charter school. Makes conforming amendments.
 
HB1356 (TESTIMONY ONLY)
Bullying. Provides that a school corporation is not required to report the number of incidents of bullying in the school corporation's annual school performance report. Provides that information reported by a school corporation relating to the number of incidents of bullying that occur may not be used in calculation of a school's annual school improvement grade. Provides that the department of education (department) must annually send notification via electronic mail or a letter to each school corporation explaining: (1) the school corporation's obligation to submit a report to the department containing the number of bullying incidents involving a student; and (2) that the department may conduct an audit of the school corporation to ensure that bullying incidents are accurately reported. Provides that the department may conduct an audit of a school corporation to ensure that bullying incidents are accurately reported. Provides that the department must report discrepancies of an audit on the department's Internet web site. Requires the department to conduct a statewide survey concerning the improvement of school corporation reporting of incidents of bullying involving a student to the department. Requires, not later than November 1, 2018, the department to submit a report to the general assembly. 
 
HB1399 (TESTIMONY ONLY)
Elementary school teacher content area licenses. Provides that, not later than July 1, 2019, the state board of education shall adopt rules to establish one or more elementary school teacher content area licenses that must, at a minimum, include an: (1) elementary mathematics specialist license; and (2) elementary mathematics and science teacher license. Establishes requirements to be eligible for an elementary mathematics specialist license and an elementary mathematics and science teacher license. Requires the department of education (department) to develop an incentive program to assist and reward teachers who pursue and earn an elementary school teacher content area license. Provides that the department shall make recommendations to the general assembly regarding ways to accomplish the goals of the incentive program. 
 
HB1420 (TESTIMONY ONLY)
Various education matters. Makes changes relating to how parents of students are nominated and approved to be members of the commission on seclusion and restraint in schools. Provides that a student with special needs who has a service plan or a choice scholarship education plan may be admitted to the Indiana School for the Deaf. Provides that a student who is withdrawn from enrollment from a virtual charter school for failure to participate in courses pursuant to the school's student engagement policy may not reenroll in that same virtual charter school for the school year in which the student is withdrawn. Defines "education records". Requires an organizer of a charter school that is closing for any reason to establish a charter school protocol that explains to a parent of a student enrolled in the charter school the procedure that the charter school uses to transfer a student's education records. Provides that a Cambridge International course may be used for the following purposes: (1) As the basis for a supplemental payment to a teacher who teaches a Cambridge International course. (2) As one of the assessments that a student in grades 10 through 12 voluntarily plans to take. (3) As an additional curriculum model available to high school students. (4) As a replacement for certain high school courses on a student's high school transcript. (5) For a student's receipt of credits toward graduation by demonstrating proficiency in a course or subject area. (6) To place a student who is a child of a military family in the appropriate course when the student transfers to a new school. (7) For purposes of determining eligibility for various higher education scholarship and awards programs and amounts. Provides that each student who enrolls in a Cambridge course may take the accompanying Cambridge International examination to receive high school credit for the Cambridge course. Requires the department of education and the state board of education to provide that a successfully completed Cambridge course is credited toward fulfilling the requirements of an Indiana diploma that contains the Core 40 with academic honors designation. Subject to certain conditions, provides that an individual or entity must: (1) notify a public school regarding an alleged violation of law; and (2) indicate a proposed remedy; before the individual or entity may file a civil action or an administrative proceeding against the public school. Provides that after receiving a notice from an individual or entity, a public school may take the following actions: (1) Remedy the alleged violation or violations. (2) Make a written offer to settle a dispute. Provides that a proposed remedy offered by an individual or entity must include the following: (1) A specific request for relief. (2) An opportunity for the public school to offer the individual or entity the relief requested before the individual or entity initiates a civil action or administrative proceeding against the public school. Specifies that if an individual or entity does not notify the public school before filing a civil action or administrative proceeding, a court, administrative law judge, or hearing officer shall dismiss the civil action or administrative proceeding without prejudice. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying the impact of litigation on school corporations and charter schools. Provides that an issuing officer shall issue an employment certificate to a student who attends a nonaccredited nonpublic school after receiving: (1) proof of age; and (2) proof of prospective employment. Provides that a child who attends a nonaccredited nonpublic school who is seeking an employment certificate from a school the child does not attend must also present to the issuing officer an attestation from the student's parent that the student is enrolled in school. Provides that a written statement may be submitted to the issuing officer via facsimile or electronic mail. Provide that the student may not work more than three hours on a school day other than a Friday. Repeals a provision concerning the transfer of student records. Makes conforming amendments. Resolves a conflict between P.L.217-2017 and P.L.250-2017.
 
HB1421 (TESTIMONY ONLY)
School discipline. Provides that the department of education's (department) model evidence based plan for improving student behavior and discipline must: (1) reduce out-of-school suspension and disproportionality in discipline and expulsion; and (2) limit referrals to law enforcement or arrests on school property to cases in which referral to law enforcement or arrest is necessary to protect the health and safety of other students or school employees. Provides that, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the department, in collaboration with parent organizations and state educational institutions, shall, upon a school corporation's request, provide information and assistance to the school corporation regarding the implementation of the school corporation's evidence based plan to ensure that teachers and administrators receive appropriate professional development and other resources in preparation for carrying out the plan. Urges the legislative council is urged to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying the use of positive student discipline and restorative justice practices by elementary and secondary schools. Requires the department to conduct a survey of school corporation school discipline policies to determine the extent to which positive discipline and restorative justice practices are being utilized.
 
SR21 (TESTIMONY ONLY)
A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign the topic of autism and public education to the appropriate study committee.

THURSDAY

Bills to Be Read by the House Education Committee on February 22 at 8:30 a.m.

SB303 Reassigned to 2/27
Various Education Matters. Amends dates for the following: (1) The submission of reports regarding the number of full-time equivalent students enrolled in an alternative education program. (2) Student enrollment and attendance and grant distributions regarding alternative education program grants. (3) A school corporation's count of pupils in homebound programs. (4) The submission of reports to the department of education (department) concerning scholarships awarded by a scholarship granting organization in the previous school year. Requires the commission for higher education, in collaboration with the state board of education, to establish a uniform online system of certain staff performance evaluation data. Amends requirements and defines "appropriate vehicle" with regard to the types of vehicles a school corporation may use to transport homeless students to a school of origin. Provides that the same requirements apply to the transport of students in foster care to a school of origin. Amends the conditions that must apply for an original school corporation and a transitional school corporation to be required to enter into an agreement concerning the responsibility for and apportionment of the costs of transporting a foster student to and from a school of origin. Provides that, to drive a school bus, an individual must have a depth perception of at least 80% or 48 seconds of arc or less angle of stereopsis. (Current law requires an individual to have a depth perception of at least 80% or 33 seconds of arc or less angle of stereopsis.) Provides that certain students who are eligible to receive a tuition and fee exemption because the students are children of a veteran must maintain at least a cumulative grade point average that the eligible institution determines is satisfactory academic progress, which may not be less than a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale or its equivalent as established by the eligible institution. (Current law requires the student to maintain at least a cumulative grade point average that the eligible institution determines is satisfactory academic progress.) Removes a provision that requires school corporations to conduct an additional cumulative count of pupils in homebound programs for informational purposes.

SB387 Reassigned to 2/27
Teacher Licensing. Provides that the department of education (department) may grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who: (1) took the content area examination twice and did not pass; (2) received a score that is not more than one standard error of measure lower than the passing score for the examination; (3) has been hired by a school corporation; and (4) meets certain other requirements. Provides that a school corporation may, for open teaching positions in the school corporation each school year, hire not more than 10% of individuals who meet the requirements to be eligible for an initial practitioner license without passing the content area examination. Requires a school corporation to notify the department if the school corporation hires an individual who is eligible for an initial practitioner license without passing the content area examination. Requires an individual who receives an initial practitioner license without passing the content area examination to participate in and successfully complete the Indiana mentor and assessment program. Establishes requirements for renewal of an initial practitioner license for an individual who did not pass the content area examination. Establishes eligibility requirements for a career specialist permit. Provides that an applicant may not obtain a proficient practitioner license unless the applicant has passed the approved content area examination in the subject matter area in which the applicant intends to teach. Provides that, for school years beginning after June 30, 2018, a school corporation may provide a supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan if the teacher: (1) is a special education teacher; or (2) teaches in the areas of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Provides that the supplemental payment is not subject to collective bargaining but must be discussed. Requires the department to post on the department's Internet web site the pass rate of the content area examination for each postsecondary educational institution.

Bills to Be Read by the House on February 22 at 10:00 a.m.

HB1167 Third Reading
School Corporation Financial Management. Permits money in a school corporation's operations fund at the end of a year to be transferred to the school corporation's rainy day fund. Combines various levies into a single operations fund levy beginning in 2019. Changes provisions concerning the education fund and operations fund. Specifies the items to be included in a school corporation's capital projects plan. Changes the reasons for which a school corporation may appeal to increase the school corporation's operations fund levy for transportation purposes. Requires an appeal to increase or a petition to adjust the maximum operations fund levy for a year to be filed before October 20 of the preceding year. Resolves conflicts among various 2017 acts that take effect before the education funding and accounting changes made by HEA 1009-2017. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation may transfer amounts that are levied for the debt service fund to cover unreimbursed costs of certain curricular materials to the curricular materials rental fund, the extracurricular account, or the education fund. Provides that in carrying out a curricular materials rental program, the governing body may control the program through the school corporation's curricular materials rental fund or education fund. Make technical changes.

Bills to Be Read by the Senate on February 22 at 1:30 p.m. 

SB65 Second Reading, amended, ordered engrossed
Instruction on Human Sexuality. Requires each school corporation to make available for inspection to a parent of a student instructional material used in connection with instruction on human sexuality. Provides that, before a school may provide a student with instruction on human sexuality, the school must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent of instruction. Provides that a consent form provided to a parent of a student or a student must accurately summarize the contents and nature of the instruction on human sexuality that will be provided to the student and indicate that a parent of a student or an adult or emancipated minor student has the right to review and inspect all materials related to the instruction on human sexuality. Provides that the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, may return the consent form indicating that the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student: (1) consents to the instruction; or (2) declines instruction. Provides that, if the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, does not respond to the written request provided by the school within 45 days of receiving the request, the school shall provide the parent of the student, or the adult or emancipated minor student, a written notice requesting that the parent of the student, or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, indicate whether the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student: (1) consents to the instruction; or (2) declines instruction. Provides that the parent or the adult or emancipated student may subsequently opt out of the instruction.

SB217 Second Reading (not heard, pushed to next week)
Dyslexia. Requires the following: (1) A school multidisciplinary team must include information about dyslexia in a student's educational evaluation if the multidisciplinary team determines that the student is eligible to receive special education and related services and has or has characteristics of dyslexia. (2) Information about dyslexia must be: (A) discussed by the student's case conference committee if information about dyslexia is included in the student's educational evaluation; and (B) included in the student's individualized education program if the case conference committee determines that the information should be included. Provides that a school corporation and charter school's reading plan shall include indicators to screen for risk factors of dyslexia, using a screening tool approved by the department of education (department). Requires school corporations and charter schools to: (1) use the response to intervention process to address needs of students who are determined to have characteristics of dyslexia; and (2) obtain parental consent before administering a level I dyslexia screening or a level II dyslexia screening. Provides that dyslexia interventions may include certain types of instruction. Requires school corporations and charter schools to report annually to the department regarding the number of students who were: (1) administered the initial dyslexia screening during the school year; and (2) determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia. Requires a school corporation and charter school to report on the school corporation's or charter school's Internet web site certain information regarding dyslexia. Requires, not later than July 1, 2019, the department to employ at least one reading specialist trained in dyslexia. Requires, not later than the 2019-2020 school year, each school corporation and charter school to employ at least one individual to serve as an authorized reading specialist trained in dyslexia for the school corporation or charter school. Provides that a school corporation or charter school may receive a waiver from hiring an authorized reading specialist trained in dyslexia in certain circumstances. Requires, not later than the 2019-2020 school year, the department to ensure that each teacher receives professional awareness information on dyslexia. Requires the department to develop and update an Indiana dyslexia resource guide.

SB297 Second Reading, ordered engrossed
Employability Skills Curriculum Provides that the department of workforce development will establish standards that provide students with career and college planning resources under the Indiana career explorer program and standards. (Current law provides that the department of workforce development will establish curriculum under the Indiana career explorer program and curriculum.) Provides that, not later than July 1, 2019, each school within a school corporation shall include interdisciplinary employability skills standards established by the department of education (department), in conjunction with the department of workforce development and approved by the state board of education, in the school's curriculum. Provides that, if the department determines that the pilot program for instruction in and use of the Indiana career explorer program and standards should be extended, the department, in consultation with the department of workforce development, must increase the number of schools involved in the pilot program by at least 15 additional schools, if possible based on the interest from schools. Provides that the state board of education, in consultation with the department and the department of workforce development, may approve an alternative Internet based system and standards (Current law provides that the department, in consultation with the department of workforce development may approve alternative Internet based system and standards.) Establishes the work ethic certificate program (program). Requires the department of workforce development to administer the program.

SB354 Second Reading, ordered engrossed 
Freeway School Corporations and Schools Provides that the state board of education (state board) shall, upon request by a freeway school corporation or a freeway school, waive certain educational benefit requirements for a period of not more than 36 months..Provides that a freeway school corporation or freeway school may receive a waiver for that freeway school corporation or freeway school only one time. Urges the legislative council to assign to the education interim study committee the task of studying the accreditation of elementary and high schools in Indiana.

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Compiled by Meghann Goetz and Keri Miksza