Indiana General Assembly 2018
Bills related to K-12 Education (from IGA website as of 1-12-2018)
Senate Bills
SB 7: School calendar. Prohibits public schools and accredited nonpublic schools from beginning student instructional days for the school year before the last Monday in August, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. (Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure)
SB 8: School curriculum. Requires each school corporation, charter school, and accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 18: Notice of school immunization exemptions. Provides that at the beginning of each school year, each accredited school shall send each student's parent written notice of the student's rights not to receive immunizations, treatment, testing, or examinations if the parent objects on religious grounds or a physician certifies that the immunization, treatment, testing, or examination is or may be detrimental to the student's health. (Committee on Health and Provider Services)
SB 24: 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. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 29: Prekindergarten pilot program eligibility. Removes the requirement that, for an eligible child to qualify for a grant under the prekindergarten pilot program, the eligible child reside with a parent or guardian who is: (1) working or attending a job training program or educational program; or (2) actively seeking employment. Removes a provision that allows priority for a grant to an eligible child whose parent or guardian is involved in: (1) activities that improve the parent's or guardian's education; or (2) job training. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 65: 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. Prohibits a school from providing a student with instruction on human sexuality unless the parent of the student or the student (if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor) consents to the instruction. Establishes requirements regarding the consent form. Requires the department of education and the governing body of a school corporation to give parents and students notice of these requirements. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 115: Tax credit for teachers' classroom supplies. Increases the income tax credit for an individual employed as a teacher for amounts expended on classroom supplies from $100 to $500 per taxable year. (Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy)
SB 117: Limits on expulsions and long-term suspensions. Requires a determination that a student's school suspension or expulsion will prevent or reduce the risk of interference with an educational function or school purposes, disruption of the learning environment, or physical injury to the student, other students, school employees, or school visitors and, in the case of an expulsion, a determination that all other available and appropriate disciplinary and behavioral interventions have been exhausted. Requires inclusion of the rationale for the use of school suspension or expulsion in the statement to a student's parent. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 118: School City of East Chicago loan. Transfers, not later than July 1, 2018, to the school disaster loan fund from the state general fund an amount sufficient to pay off the loan that was made to the School City of East Chicago school corporation from the school disaster loan fund. (Committee on Appropriations)
SB 133: Individual education program students. Requires public schools to provide curricular materials to students with an individualized education program at no cost to the student. Makes conforming changes. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 135: Required DCS notifications for schools. Requires a law enforcement agency that participates in a child abuse or neglect assessment (assessment) involving a child who attends kindergarten through grade 12 to provide information to the department of child services (DCS) if a person who resides in the home of the child is arrested during the course of the assessment. Requires DCS to provide information to the school a child attends if a person who resides in the home of the child is arrested during the course of an assessment. Requires DCS to notify a child's school if the child is removed from the child's home. Makes conforming amendments. (Committee on Family and Children Services)
SB 143: Study of student performance grades. Requires the department of education (department) and the commission for higher education (commission) to study and submit a report describing as to whether there is any disparity in determining enrollment eligibility in an approved postsecondary educational institution or educational program offered by the approved postsecondary educational institution that is caused by the use of different grading scales by public secondary schools. Requires the department and commission to submit the report to the general assembly. Requires a secondary school to submit certain information to the department regarding the calculation of a student's grade. Requires an approved postsecondary educational institution to submit certain information to the commission regarding the use of a secondary student's grade point average for determining enrollment eligibility. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 157: Real world career readiness program. Establishes the real world career readiness program (program). Provides that the state board of education (state board) shall establish the program to provide a real world career readiness student with career and technical education credentials necessary to transition from school to the workforce. Provides that the state board, in consultation with the department of workforce development, may create an authorized program, or approve high or moderate value career and technical education programs administered by one or more school corporations or charter schools. Provides that a real world career readiness student may attend an authorized program for a period of not more than one school year after the student's cohort's expected graduation year in order to obtain an industry recognized certification, credential, or postsecondary degree. Provides that a program must include an apprenticeship program, a cooperative program, or a work based learning program. Provides that a student may participate in an authorized program if the student: (1) participates in the Indiana career explorer program or curriculum or an alternative Internet based system and curriculum approved by the department of education, in consultation with the department of workforce development, that includes an aptitude assessment that demonstrates the student's aptitude, in a manner prescribed by the state board, on the aptitude assessment administered for the applicable field of study; or (2) meets alternative qualification requirements for the student's applicable field of study established by the state board in consultation with the department of workforce development. Provides that not later than July 1, 2019, each school corporation or charter high school, either solely, or in a cooperative or consortia with one or more school corporations or charter high schools, must participate in an authorized program beginning with a cohort with an expected graduation year of 2023. Provides that an eligible pupil, for purposes of calculating state tuition support, includes a student enrolled in a program. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 171: Computer science curriculum. 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 state board of education to: (1) administer the program and fund; and (2) develop guidelines to award grants from the fund to eligible entities. Requires (beginning July 1, 2021) each public school, including a charter 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, including a charter school, to include computer science in the public school's curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Makes conforming changes. Makes a continuing appropriation. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 172: Computer science curriculum. 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 state board of education to: (1) administer the program and fund; and (2) develop guidelines to award grants from the fund to eligible entities. Requires (beginning July 1, 2021) each public school, including a charter 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, including a charter school, to include computer science in the public school's curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Makes conforming changes. Makes a continuing appropriation. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 177: The Indiana high school diploma. 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 an Indiana diploma may include one of the following distinctions: (1) Core 40 distinction. (2) Core 40 academic honors distinction. (3) Core 40 technical honors distinction. Provides that each student must meet course and credit requirements for an Indiana diploma. (Current law requires each student to meet Core 40 course and credit requirements and allows a student to be exempted from these requirements.) Removes certain requirements that a student may, if the student fails to meet a graduation pathway requirement, elect to complete to be eligible to graduate. Makes conforming changes. Repeals provisions that: (1) require the state board to design a high school diploma for the high school fast track program; (2) establish a subcommittee to make recommendations regarding diplomas and certain course requirements and develop the requirements for a career and technical education diploma; and (3) allow a student to be exempted from Core 40 curriculum requirements. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 189: K-12 funding. Permits the budget agency to transfer from the state tuition reserve account to the state general fund the amount necessary to offset a reduction in basic tuition support, special education grants, or career and technical education grants as a result of actual enrollment counts exceeding the enrollment projection estimates. Limits the transfer to $25,000,000 in a state fiscal year. (Committee on Appropriations)
SB 205: School choice scholarships. Provides that, if an eligible choice scholarship student (student) leaves an eligible school during the school year and transfers during the same school year to a different eligible school that has a choice scholarship available for that eligible school, the student may use the amount remaining of the choice scholarship awarded to the student for that school year to pay the tuition at the eligible school to which the student has transferred for the remainder of the school year. Provides that the student may not use the amounts if the student has previously transferred eligible schools during that same school year. Provides that any amounts distributed may not exceed the cost of tuition at the eligible school to which the student transfers. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 217: 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 education 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 three 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. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 220: Reading assessments. Requires, after June 30, 2019, that the state superintendent of public instruction's reading deficiency remediation plan (IREAD) must include a reading evaluation for students by grade 2. Provides that a student who requires remediation after the student is evaluated in grade 2 must receive remedial action and be reevaluated in grade 3. Provides that if the student remains below standard after receiving remedial action and being reevaluated in grade 3, the student, after other methods of remediation have been evaluated or used, or both, may be retained as a last resort. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 234: Education foundation tax credit. Provides for an adjusted gross income tax credit for donations to a public school foundation. Provides that the maximum individual taxpayer credit is $1,000 in the case of a single return or $2,000 in the case of a joint return. Provides that the maximum corporate taxpayer credit is the greater of 10% of the corporation's total adjusted gross income tax liability or $10,000. (Committee on Appropriations)
SB 235: Tax credit for education contributions. Provides for an adjusted gross income tax credit for donations to: (1) a public elementary school or public secondary school; or (2) a public school foundation. Provides that the maximum individual taxpayer credit is $1,000 in the case of a single return or $2,000 in the case of a joint return. Provides that the maximum corporate taxpayer credit is the greater of 10% of the corporation's total adjusted gross income tax liability or $10,000. (Committee on Appropriations)
SB 255: Mental health education and screenings. Requires a school corporation's health education curriculum to include mental health wellness education. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation may provide mental health screenings to students if the governing body receives written consent from a student's parent or guardian to provide a mental health screening to the student. Requires the department of education to provide a school corporation with resources regarding mental health wellness upon request by the school corporation. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 267: School administrator contracts. Provides that, unless a provision in a contract entered into or renewed between the governing body of a school corporation and a principal or an assistant principal before July 1, 2018, provides otherwise, the governing body of a school corporation may not pay to a principal or an assistant principal to buy out a contract an amount that exceeds an amount equal to the principal's or assistant principal's salary for any one year under the contract. Provides that, unless a provision in a contract entered into or renewed between the governing body of a school corporation and an assistant superintendent before July 1, 2018, provides otherwise, a governing body may not pay to an assistant superintendent to buy out a contract an amount that exceeds an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the assistant superintendent's salary for any one year under the contract; or (2) $250,000. Requires that an initial employment contract entered into between the governing body of a school corporation and an assistant superintendent, a principal, or an assistant principal be at least one year and not more than 3 years. (Current law requires the initial contract between the governing body of a school corporation and a principal or assistant principal be the equivalent of at least two years.) Provides that a contract with an assistant superintendent, a principal, or an assistant principal may be extended for an additional three years. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 272: Age for compulsory school attendance. Provides that a student is bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student is five years of age on August 1 of that school year. (Current law provides that a student is bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student becomes seven years of age.) Makes conforming amendments. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 282: Workforce development matters. Requires the state board of education, when establishing an apprenticeship as a graduation pathway requirement, to establish as an apprenticeship only an apprenticeship program registered under the federal National Apprenticeship Act or another federal apprenticeship program administered by the United States Department of Labor. Requires the state workforce innovation council, not an advisory committee, to approve all applicable federal and state workforce related programs. Defines apprenticeship program and work based learning course for career and technical education purposes. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 295: School property and religious institutions. Permits a sex offender to enter school property if: (1) a religious institution or house of worship is located on the school property; and (2) the person enters the school property for the sole purpose of attending worship services or receiving religious instruction. (Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law)
SB 297: Employability skills 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 workforce development, in consultation with the department of education and approved by the state board of education, in the school's curriculum. Establishes the work ethic certificate program (program) and fund. Requires the department of workforce development to administer the program. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 303: 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 state board of education, in collaboration with the commission for higher 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. Requires that a contract entered into by a teacher and a school corporation must contain the minimum number of hours per day the teacher is expected to work. (Current law requires that a contract entered into by a teacher and a school corporation include the number of hours per day the teacher is expected to work.) 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.) Removes a provision that requires school corporations to conduct an additional cumulative count of pupils in homebound programs for informational purposes. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 314: Student meals and lunch shaming. Requires public schools, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that participate in the national school lunch program or national school breakfast program, or both, to provide a meal that meets the reimbursable meal requirements established by the United States Department of Agriculture to a student if: (1) the student requests a meal; and (2) the student's parent or guardian has not submitted a written request that the school not serve the student a meal. Prohibits the schools from the following: (1) Requiring a student to dispose of a meal because of the student's inability to pay for the meal or the student owes meal debt for previous meals. (2) Publicly identifying or stigmatizing a student of the school who is unable to pay for a meal or owes a meal debt. (3) Requiring a student of the school who is unable to pay for a meal or owes a meal debt to perform chores or other work for the purposes of paying for the meal or meal debt. Requires the schools to take certain actions if a student owes money to the school for more than four meals. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 315: Requirements for charter schools. Provides that certain charter school authorizers that issued a charter for a charter school before July 1, 2015, are required to be approved by the state board of education (state board) before the authorizers may authorize a new charter or renew an existing charter for a charter school. (Current law provides that certain charter school authorizers that have not issued a charter for a charter school prior to July 1, 2015, are required to be approved by the state board before they may authorize a charter school.) Provides that an authorizer may not accept a proposal to establish a charter school from an organizer that already operates a charter school if a charter school that the organizer operates does not meet certain thresholds regarding its school accountability grade. Provides that a charter school may not enroll new students who are not currently enrolled in the charter school if the charter school does not meet certain threshholds regarding its school accountability grade. Provides that the provisions allowing an administrative fee of not more than 3% for certain authorizers do not apply to charters granted or renewed after June 30, 2018. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 350: Various education matters. Requires the board of a charter school to consist of at least two members who reside within the geographic boundaries of the school corporation in which the charter school is located. Prohibits an authorizer from accepting a proposal to establish a charter school from an organizer that already operates a charter school in Indiana unless the organizer provides evidence of improvement and achievement of student academic performance at the charter school. Requires the department of education (department) to establish requirements or criteria to prevent charter school and organizer financial and enrollment fraud, waste, and abuse. Requires a charter school and organizer to obtain annually an independent audit. Provides that, not later than July 1, 2019, and each July 1 thereafter, each charter school and organizer shall submit a report to the department. Requires the department and each charter school to post a copy of the report on their respective Internet web sites. Provides that, if the department finds that a charter school or organizer has misrepresented facts or committed fraud, waste, or abuse, the department shall issue findings and may make recommendations to the state board of education to take certain action, including withholding distributions or requiring an authorizer to revoke the charter school's charter. Requires that at least 50% of the public meetings of a charter school be held in the geographic boundaries of the school corporation in which the charter school is located. Provides that increases or increments in a local teacher salary range are not required to be equal for all teachers even if the salary increases or increments are based on the same combination of weighted factors. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 352: Privacy of students and families. Provides that computer programs and assessments used in connection with a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey are included in the instructional materials that a school corporation must make available for inspection by students' parents. Provides that a student may not be required to participate in a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey that reveals or attempts to affect the student's attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings concerning sexual orientation (in addition to the list of other matters that a student may not be required to participate in regarding a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey). Provides that a school corporation or school shall obtain prior written consent from the parent of a student who is less than 18 years of age and not emancipated before the student may participate in any medical health assessment or service, mental health assessment, or mental health service that is conducted in connection with the school corporation or school. Requires that, before obtaining the consent of a parent, a school corporation or school shall provide the parent informed written notice describing in detail the medical health assessment or service, mental health assessment, or mental health service. Provides that a school corporation or school may not require, without prior consent from the student's parent, a student to submit to a psychiatric or psychological examination or test or psychiatric or psychological treatment in which the purpose of the examination, test, or treatment is to reveal certain information. Establishes requirements regarding student education records, personally identifiable information of a student, and certain other information concerning a student. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 354: Freeway school corporations and schools. Provides that the state board of education 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 if the freeway school corporation or freeway school meets certain thresholds regarding its school accountability grade. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 358: Annual notice of teachers' rights. Provides that the attorney general is required to send by electronic mail the annual letter to teachers summarizing teachers' rights and protections under state and federal law. (Current law requires the letter to be sent by first class mail to the teachers' homes.) Charges the department of education (department) with developing a method to provide the attorney general with the names and electronic mail addresses of current teachers in Indiana. (The law currently requires the department to provide the attorney general with the teachers' residential addresses.) (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 364: Income tax credit for K-12 education donations. Provides a 50% income tax credit to donors who donate to a public school foundation. Sets forth standards that apply to taking the credit and to public school foundations that receive contributions. Limits the total credits that may be claimed during a state fiscal year using a three year phase in period. (Committee on Appropriations)
SB 365: Teacher compensation. Provides that a school corporation may increase a teacher's base salary that exceeds the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan if the teacher possesses a master's degree that is: (1) directly related to the content area of a dual credit course or another course taught by the teacher; or (2) approved by the governing body of the school corporation. (Current law provides that a school corporation may provide a supplemental payment to a teacher that exceeds the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan if the teacher has earned a master's degree in a content area directly related to the subject matter of a dual credit course or another course taught by the teacher.) Provides that a school corporation may increase the base salary of an elementary school teacher who possesses a master's degree in math, reading, or literacy. (Current law provides that a supplemental payment may be made to an elementary school teacher who earns a master's degree in math or reading and literacy.) (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 366: Collective bargaining. Provides that increases or increments in a local teacher salary range are not required to be equal for all teachers even if the salary increases or increments are based on the same combination of weighted factors. Provides that teacher working hours are subject to collective bargaining. Provides that an employer is required to discuss: (1) working conditions; and (2) student learning; with the exclusive representative of certificated employees. Removes teacher evaluations from the list of items that are required to be considered to determine teacher salary increases or increments. Makes changes to the term "deficit financing" for purposes of determining the amount of money that is available for teacher contracts. Makes conforming changes consistent with 2017 legislation. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 367: Trauma sensitive schools. Requires the department of education to conduct a statewide needs assessment survey concerning student service providers and how schools are addressing the social and emotional needs of students. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 368: School financial condition analysis. Provides for a coordinated effort by the department of education, the department of local government finance, the state board of accounts, the management performance hub (MPH), and the distressed unit appeal board (DUAB) in identifying whether a school corporation needs technical assistance in addressing its financial condition. Requires the MPH to submit a preliminary report of its findings to the interim committee on fiscal policy before submitting a final report to the DUAB. Requires the DUAB to make a determination whether a school corporation identified by another agency needs technical assistance, and requires the DUAB to initiate contact with the school corporation governing body chairperson and superintendent to offer the technical assistance. Provides that if a school corporation accepts the assistance, a technical assistance team is created. Requires the team to perform a thorough review of the school corporation's financial condition and recommend actions the school corporation could take to address its financial condition. Requires the team leader to meet with the school corporation officials to review the report. Requires the team leader to include any written response by the school corporation officials in the final report to the DUAB. Specifies that the governing body, the superintendent, and the DUAB may enter into an agreement setting forth the actions that will be taken to implement the recommendations. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 387: Teacher content area examination waiver. Provides that the department of education (department) may grant an initial practitioner's license to an individual who: (1) took the content area examination twice and did not pass; and (2) meets certain other requirements. Limits the number of individuals who may be granted an initial practitioner license without passing the content area examination. Provides that a postsecondary educational institution determines which individuals who have completed the institution's teacher preparation program are eligible. Establishes requirements for renewal of an initial practitioner license for an individual who did not pass the content area examination. 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. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 406: Charter school requirements. Requires that the board of a charter school must consist of at least two members who reside within the geographic boundaries of the school corporation in which the charter school is located. Prohibits an authorizer from accepting a proposal to establish a charter school from an organizer that already operates a charter school in Indiana unless the organizer provides evidence of improvement and achievement of student academic performance at the charter school. Removes certain provisions that allow charter schools to: (1) limit new admissions; and (2) give preference to children of the charter school's founders, governing body members, and charter school employees. Prohibits a charter school authorizer or organizer from interfering with or discouraging employees who seek to organize and bargain collectively. Requires all full-time teachers in a charter school to hold a teaching license or to be enrolled in a transition to teaching program. Requires the department of education (department) to establish requirements or criteria to prevent charter school and organizer financial and enrollment fraud, waste, and abuse. Requires a charter school and organizer to obtain annually an independent audit. Provides that, not later than July 1, 2019, and each July 1 thereafter, each charter school and organizer shall submit a report to the department. Requires the department and each charter school to post a copy of the report on their Internet web sites. Provides that, if the department finds that a charter school or organizer has misrepresented facts or committed fraud, waste, or abuse, the department shall issue a summary of the department's findings and may make recommendations to the state board of education to take certain actions, including withholding distributions or requiring an authorizer to revoke the charter school's charter. Requires that at least 50% of the public meetings of a charter school must be held in the geographic boundaries of the school corporation in which the charter school is located. Establishes the charter school market assessment board (board). Requires the board to: (1) conduct a market assessment; (2) provide notice of public meetings and conduct public meetings to receive public input on the market assessment topics; and (3) before January 1, 2019, prepare and submit a report to the legislative council of the board's findings and any recommendation by the board concerning the market assessment. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
SB 434: Study committee. Urges the legislative council to assign to the education interim study committee the task of studying: (1) the current regulatory framework and methods to streamline regulatory compliance; and (2) the use of innovative solutions and public-private partnerships in delivering educational services and sharing of best practices. (Committee on Education and Career Development)
House Bills
HB 1016: Student journalism. Provides freedom of speech and freedom of press protections for grades 7 through 12 and state educational institution student journalists. Requires each school corporation and charter school to adopt a policy concerning student journalist protections. Requires a student media adviser to, each school year, supervise student journalists in grades 7 through 12 in the creation of certain school sponsored media policies. Provides that a public school or school corporation may not suppress school sponsored media unless certain conditions apply. Provides that public schools, school corporations, and state educational institutions are immune from civil liability for any injury resulting from school sponsored media produced by a student journalist, except for acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or willful, wanton, or intentional misconduct. (Committee on Education)
HB 1040: Muncie Community Schools. Provides that, not later than June 30, 2020, the Muncie Community Schools may request an interest free loan from the common school fund. (Committee on Ways and Means)
HB 1042: Early childhood education. Removes the requirement that, for an eligible child to qualify for a grant under the prekindergarten pilot program, the eligible child reside with a parent or guardian who is: (1) working or attending a job training program or educational program; or (2) actively seeking employment. Removes a provision that allows priority for a grant to an eligible child whose parent or guardian is involved in: (1) activities that improve the parent's or guardian's education; or (2) job training. (Committee on Education)
HB 1068: Protection of special education students. Requires each school corporation and charter school to maintain video surveillance with a camera containing auditory capability in each classroom used to provide instruction to students with a disability. (Committee on Elections)
HB 1124: Sale of school buildings. Provides that if: (1) two or more school corporations consolidate or reorganize; and (2) a school building becomes closed, unused, or unoccupied as a result of the consolidation or reorganization; the governing body of the consolidated or reorganized school corporation may request from the department of education (department) a waiver from the requirements for making the vacant school building available to a charter school before the school corporation may sell or exchange the building. Requires the department to grant the waiver if requested. Resolves conflicts between P.L.217-2017, P.L.241-2017, and P.L.244-2017. (Committee on Education)
HB 1164: Military education benefits. Changes the definition of "eligible student" to expand who may participate in the course access program under which educational courses are permitted to be delivered through any method, including online technologies. Provides that an eligible student who is an adult student pursuing a diploma to qualify for enlistment in the armed forces of the United States may use course access program courses to meet graduation requirements at the school corporation that the eligible student previously attended. Provides that a student who is eligible to receive a tuition and fee exemption because the student is a child 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.) Provides that if the Indiana department of veterans' affairs approves a determination of eligibility for a request from a person after the person initially enrolls in a state educational institution and while the person attends the state educational institution, the determination of eligibility shall be made retroactive to the date the application to recognize the person's mother's or father's service related death or disability is submitted to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides that the applicant may receive a refund equal to the amount of the tuition and fees paid to the state educational institution by the applicant. Provides that the amount of tuition and fee exemption for a child of a veteran is reduced by any amount of assistance received by the student under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (G.I. Bill). Repeals a provision that limits the tuition exemption amount for a child of a veteran who serves in the armed forces after June 30, 2011, based on the percentage of the parent's disability rating. Makes conforming amendments. (Committee on Education)
HB 1165: School buses. Establishes the school bus safety equipment grant fund (fund), administered by the department of education, to provide grants to school corporations seeking to purchase or equip school buses and special purpose buses with 3-point lap and shoulder safety belts or, if recommended by the state school bus committee, other proven safety equipment. Provides that a governing body may apply for a grant from the fund in an amount equal to 50% of the cost of purchasing or equipping a school bus or special purpose bus with 3-point lap and shoulder safety belts or other safety equipment. Requires a governing body seeking to purchase a school bus or special purpose bus to request information concerning the cost of purchasing a school bus or special purpose bus equipped with 3-point lap and shoulder safety belts. Requires the governing body to hold a public hearing on the costs and benefits of purchasing a school bus or special purpose bus with 3-point lap and shoulder safety belts before voting on whether to purchase a school bus or special purpose bus equipped with 3-point lap and shoulder safety belts. Allows a school corporation to use a portion of a grant from the safe schools fund or the secured school fund toward purchase or equipping school buses and special purpose buses with safety equipment. Requires each occupant of a school bus or special purpose bus that has a 3-point lap and shoulder safety belt to have the 3-point lap and shoulder safety belt properly fastened about the occupant's body at all times when the bus is in motion. Provides for an exception to the laws concerning other types of passenger restraint systems. Makes an appropriation. (Committee on Education)
HB 1166: Teacher evaluations. Defines the term "qualified school district". Provides that each qualified school district shall develop and maintain a teacher performance plan that must be in writing and approved by the department of education (department). Provides that teacher evaluations must be based on statistically verifiable measures of student instructional improvement goals that are approved by the qualified school district after discussing and receiving input from the teachers. Provides that certain teachers who teach at a school that has not been identified by the department as a school subject to comprehensive support and improvement pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act may be required to receive an evaluation only once every two years. Requires certain teachers to receive annual evaluations. Provides that the department may issue compliance orders to a qualified school district that fails to comply with the provision regarding teacher performance evaluations or the terms of the qualified school district's teacher performance evaluation plan approved by the department. Provides that if a qualified school district does not comply with a compliance order within the time frame established by the department, the department may withhold the distribution of state money, including grants designated for the qualified school district. Provides that a qualified school district may dismiss a new teacher after the teacher's third year of teaching if the teacher received any combination of ratings of "needs improvement" or "ineffective" during the teacher's initial three years of teaching. Repeals a current provision establishing requirements for a school corporation's staff performance evaluation plan. Repeals certain definitions relating to school staff performance evaluation plans. Makes conforming amendments. Makes technical corrections. (Committee on Education)
HB 1167: School corporation financial management. Provides that a school corporation's rainy day fund may be used to pay for teacher bonuses and stipends. 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. Resolves conflicts among various 2017 acts that take effect before the education funding and accounting changes made by HEA 1009-2017. (Committee on Ways and Means)
HB 1169: Textbooks. Requires public schools to provide curricular materials to students at no cost to a student. Establishes the curricular materials fund (fund) to provide state reimbursements for costs incurred by public schools to provide curricular materials to students at no cost. Provides that the department of education shall administer the fund. Provides that money in the fund is continually appropriated. Makes conforming changes consistent with 2017 legislation and other corresponding changes. (Committee on Ways and Means)
HB 1185: Teacher salaries. Provides that, for a compensation plan adopted after June 30, 2018, one factor on which a school corporation must base an increase or increment in a local salary range for a teacher is the teacher's possession of a master's or doctorate degree or completion, at any time, of credit hours necessary to obtain a master's or doctorate degree. Provides that a school corporation may negotiate an increase or increment for salaries of teachers who make less than the greater of: (1) $50,000; or (2) the state average for teacher yearly salaries; if the teacher worked at least 120 days for the school corporation during the previous school year. Provides that a school corporation must demonstrate that providing an increase or increment will not place the school corporation in a position of deficit financing. (Committee on Education)
HB 1208: School discipline. Provides that an evidence based plan for improving student behavior and discipline in a school corporation: (1) may not contain any zero tolerance requirements; (2) must reduce disproportionality in discipline or inappropriately high rates of in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and expulsion; and (3) must limit referrals to law enforcement or arrests on school property to those necessary to protect the health and safety of other students or school employees. Adds a definition of "exclusion". Adds a definition of "positive discipline". Provides that a school's discipline policy must include a graduated system of discipline and incorporate positive discipline principles and establish clear limits for referring students to law enforcement officials only in cases necessary to protect the safety of other students or school employees. Makes various changes to provisions relating to school discipline to reduce student exclusion from school. Repeals a provision that provides that a principal may require a student at least 16 years of age who wishes to reenroll in school after an expulsion to attend certain alternative educational programs. (Committee on Education)
HB 1216: Loan forgiveness for distressed schools. Provides that certain school corporations that are distressed political subdivisions may qualify to have common school fund loans or advances forgiven. Provides that the budget agency may approve to deposit reversions to the state general fund into the common school fund to offset advances or loans forgiven. (Committee on Ways and Means)
HB 1230: 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 cyberbullying. 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 annually 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.) (Committee on Education)
HB 1264: Competency based high school education. Establishes the competency based high school education pilot program (pilot program) to provide grants to school corporations for the design and implementation of competency based education programs in high schools. Provides that the department of education (department) administers the pilot program. Requires a school corporation to apply and provide certain information to the department to participate in the pilot program. Requires the Indiana state board of education to establish requirements and standards concerning the competency based education programs. Provides that, after June 30, 2019, a school corporation is eligible to receive a grant for participation in the pilot program. Prohibits a school corporation to which an eligible pupil who received credit under a competency based education program transfers from: (1) requiring the eligible pupil to repeat the course work for which the eligible student received the credit; (2) changing the grade or credit that the eligible pupil received from participating in the competency based education program; or (3) otherwise penalizing the eligible pupil regarding the eligible pupil's previous attendance of a competency based education program. Requires, with exceptions, a school corporation to repay to the department a grant awarded for an eligible pupil who: (1) fails to attain a Core 40 diploma or, for students with disabilities, a high school diploma or certificate of completion in accordance with the student's individualized education program; or (2) is considered a dropout. Requires the department to: (1) before June 30, 2020, and before June 30 each year thereafter, evaluate and prepare a report concerning implementation and pupil outcomes of the competency based education programs; and (2) submit the report to the legislative council. Requires state educational institutions to recognize and accept credits awarded under a competency based education program and a diploma awarded to a student who successfully completes an education program that includes, in whole or in part, a competency based education program. (Committee on Education)
HB 1279: Mandatory testing of students for lead poisoning. Mandates that the governing body of a school corporation require students to be tested for lead poisoning. (Committee on Education)
HB 1294: Education study committee. Urges the legislative council to assign to the education study committee during the 2018 legislative interim the topic of studying a diploma option that would replace the Core 40 diploma and general education diploma requirements. Urges the legislative council to assign to the education study committee during the 2018 legislative interim the topic of studying whether Indiana should replace the "A" through "F" grading scale to designate school performance because of changes in federal school accountability requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act. (Committee on Education)
HB 1314: Students receiving foster care services. Requires the department of education (department) to, in collaboration with the department of child services and the state board of education, 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 the department to: (1) identify each student who attends a public school and is placed in foster care; and (2) provide notice to a principal of a public school when either of the following occur: (A) A student attending the public school is placed in foster care. (B) A student in foster care enrolls in the public school. 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. (Committee on Education)
HB 1315: School financial management. Allows the distressed unit appeal board (DUAB) to delegate board authority and responsibilities to the executive director by resolution of the board. Permits only the emergency manager to petition the DUAB to terminate a political subdivision's distressed status. Allows the DUAB to adopt rules. Requires the attorney general to represent a member of the fiscal management board, an emergency manager, a chief financial officer, or a chief academic officer if the individual requests the representation. Specifies restrictions on school corporations that are designated distressed. Specifies that waivers regarding the allocation of protected taxes apply only to distressed school corporations. Makes changes concerning the Gary Community School Corporation and its operation. Removes the laws concerning the Muncie Community Schools being a fiscally impaired school corporation. Permits the DUAB to recommend to the state board of finance that the state board of finance make an interest free loan to the Muncie Community Schools. Requires the DUAB to make a request for information on whether a state educational institution, educational organization, or other community group has an interest in partnering with the Muncie Community Schools. Allows state educational institutions to establish one or more laboratory schools within a school district or establish a laboratory school district by agreement with a school corporation. Allows the state educational institution to use property of the school corporation for a laboratory school. Requires the management performance hub (MPH) to determine the fiscal and qualitative indicators to be used in analyzing the financial condition of school corporations. Specifies certain factors that must be used. Requires the MPH to determine the financial condition of each school corporation. Requires the MPH to present the information on its Internet web site. Sets minimum standards for presenting the information. Permits the DUAB to enter into an agreement with a school corporation showing fiscal distress to establish a corrective action plan. Requires the DUAB to create a watch list of school corporations that show fiscal distress. Allows the DUAB to revoke or suspend a superintendent's license if a school corporation remains on the watch list for four consecutive years. Establishes the fiscal and qualitative indicators committee (committee) to make the initial determination of factors to be used for evaluating the financial condition of each school, the initial determination of the information to be presented by the MPH, and the initial determination of the frequency for updating the indicators, information, and presentation. Expires the committee on June 30, 2019. Requires various reports. (Committee on Ways and Means)
HB 1326: School discipline. Provides that an evidence based plan for improving student behavior and discipline in a school corporation must seek to: (1) reduce out-of-school suspensions and disproportionality in discipline and expulsions; 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. Adds a definition of "exclusion". Adds a definition of "positive discipline". Provides that discipline policies established by a superintendent or member of the superintendent's administrative staff must be consistent with positive discipline practices. Provides that a school's discipline policy must include a graduated system of discipline and incorporate positive discipline principles and establish clear limits for referring students to law enforcement officials. Makes various changes to provisions relating to school discipline to reduce student exclusion from school. Repeals a provision that provides that a principal may require a student at least 16 years of age who wishes to reenroll in school after an expulsion to attend certain alternative educational programs. (Committee on Education)
HB 1356: 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 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. (Committee on Education)
HB 1362: Curriculum. Requires each: (1) school corporation; (2) charter school; and (3) accredited nonpublic school; to offer computer coding as a one semester elective course in its high school curriculum at least once every school year. Provides that the course may be offered through a course access program administered by the department of education. Requires that a computer coding course must be counted as fulfilling an elective or required world languages credit for a high school diploma unless the course counts as fulfilling another required credit for a high school diploma. (Committee on Education)
HB 1392: Mandatory school age. Provides that, after June 30, 2019, a student shall enroll in a kindergarten program not later than the fall term of the school year if the student is five years of age on August 1 of that school year. Makes conforming amendments. (Committee on Education)
HB 1398: Coalition of school corporations. Provides that the state board of education may approve a coalition of continuous improvement school districts (coalition). Provides that certain statutes or rules may be suspended for a coalition member. (Committee on Education)
HB 1399: 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. (Committee on Education)
HB 1410: Civics education. Requires a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or eligible school (school) to administer a final exam that is developed by the state board of education at the completion of a United States government course. Provides that a school must assign to a student a grade for the exam as a component of the student's grade for a United States government course. Allows a school to determine the weight assigned to the grade on the exam for the course. (Committee on Education)
HB 1420: 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 closure 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 to: (1) a new school in which the parent plans to enroll the student; (2) the student's school of legal settlement (if the parent does not know in which school the parent plans to enroll the student and the parent provides consent for the disclosure); and (3) the department of education. 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. (Committee on Education)
HB 1421: School discipline. Provides that an evidence based plan for improving student behavior and discipline in a school corporation must aspire to: (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. Adds a definition of "exclusion". Adds a definition of "positive discipline". Provides that discipline policies established by a superintendent or member of the superintendent's administrative staff must be consistent with positive discipline practices. Provides that a school's discipline policy must include a graduated system of discipline and incorporate positive discipline principles. Makes various changes to provisions relating to school discipline to reduce student exclusion from school. Repeals a provision that provides that a principal may require a student who is at least 16 years of age and wishes to reenroll in school after an expulsion to attend certain alternative educational programs. (Committee on Education)
HB 1426: Education matters. 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, 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. Makes conforming changes. 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 a nationally recognized college entrance exam shall be administered as part of the statewide assessment program for high school students. Eliminates the requirement of end of course assessments to be administered as part of the statewide assessment program. 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 the state board may approve a local graduation pathway. Establishes the local graduation pathway fund (fund). Provides that the state board may award development grants from the fund for proposed local graduation pathways. (Committee on Education)