| HB1003 | TEACHER EVALUATIONS. (BEHNING R) Provides that, for a state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016, the amount that a school corporation may receive as part of a performance grant relating to test results shall be calculated using the higher of: (1) the percentage of passing scores on ISTEP program tests for the school for the 2013-2014 school year; or (2) the percentage of passing scores on ISTEP program tests for the school for the 2014-2015 school year. Specifies that if a school's performance grant is calculated using the percentage of passing ISTEP scores from the 2013-2014 school year, the grant amount may not exceed (with certain exceptions) the grant amount that the school received for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015. Provides that the school corporation shall distribute all stipends from a performance grant to individual teachers within 20 business days of the date the department distributes the performance grant to the school corporation. Provides that ISTEP program test scores or a school's category or designation of school improvement for the 2014-2015 school year may not be used by a school corporation as part of an annual performance evaluation of a particular certificated employee unless the use of the ISTEP program test scores or a school's category or designation of school improvement would improve the particular teacher's annual performance rating. |
| | Current Status: | 3/24/2016 - Public Law 2
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1003 |
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| HB1005 | VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS. (DEVON D) Provides that the department of education (department) shall make random visits to at least 5% of schools that are eligible to receive choice scholarships during a particular school year. (Current law provides that the department shall make random visits to at least 5% of eligible schools and charter schools.) Specifies that if a choice scholarship student changes schools during the school year after the December 1 count of special education pupils, any choice scholarship amounts paid to the choice scholarship student for the remainder of the school year after the choice scholarship student enrolls in a different eligible school shall not include amounts that a school corporation would receive as a special education grant for the choice scholarship student. Removes a provision that provides that if the eligible choice scholarship student leaves the eligible school for which the eligible choice scholarship student was awarded a choice scholarship and enrolls in another eligible school, the eligible choice scholarship student is responsible for the payment of any tuition required for the remainder of that school year. Provides that the department shall accept applications for choice scholarship students from September 2 through January 15 for the spring semester of the current school year. Provides that, for the distribution to be valid, the eligible choice scholarship student (or the parent of the eligible choice scholarship student) and the eligible school providing educational services to the eligible choice scholarship student must annually sign a form, prescribed by the department to endorse distributions for the particular school year. Provides that if a choice scholarship student who is receiving a choice scholarship for a school year changes schools after signing the form to endorse distributions for that school year, the choice scholarship student (or the parent of the choice scholarship student) and the eligible school in which the choice scholarship student enrolls must sign the form to endorse distributions for the particular school year. Removes references to charter schools and public schools from the provisions relating to the choice scholarship program. Provides that, beginning with the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, the state board of education (state board) shall fix a second count date in the spring semester to count eligible pupils enrolled in special education programs. Provides that the count is used for informational purposes. Establishes a dual credit teacher stipend matching grant program. Provides that, notwithstanding a confidentiality agreement, a school that receives a request for an employment reference for a current or former employee, from another school, shall disclose to the requesting school any incident, known by the school, in which the employee has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of abuse or neglect. Provides that a school shall not disclose any identifying information concerning a student. Provides that a confidentiality agreement entered into by a school and an employee is not enforceable against the school if the employee committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of abuse or neglect. Provides that the individual in charge of an institution, school, facility, or agency that receives a report of child abuse or neglect shall immediately report the allegation to the department of child services or local law enforcement. Provides that a judge shall provide notification to the state superintendent of instruction and certain school administrators if a person is convicted of certain crimes and is a teacher. Requires schools to conduct checks whether applicants have been the subject of reports of committing child abuse or neglect or had a teacher's license suspended or revoked in another state. Provides that a nonpublic school with one or more employees is required to adopt and implement a policy for applicants to obtain a background check. Urges the legislative council to assign to the appropriate study committee the following topics: (1) Ways to reduce school sexual misconduct violations and methods of improving the reporting requirements of sexual misconduct violations in schools. (2) The effect of the time at which students start the school day. Establishes the career pathways and mentorship program to provide supplemental pay for classroom teachers who demonstrate effectiveness in their work and take on additional responsibilities in advanced roles. Establishes the system for teacher and student advancement grant fund and program to assist school corporation transition to the System for Teacher and Student Advancement (TAP) teacher performance model program or a similar program. Provides that the program is administered by the state board in consultation with the department. Provides that, for the first two full school years that a teacher provides instruction to students in elementary school or high school, the teacher is not prohibited from receiving a raise or increment for the following year if the teacher receives a rating of ineffective or improvement necessary. Provides that, if a teacher provides instruction to students in elementary school or high school in another state, any full school year, or its equivalent in the other state, that the teacher provides instruction counts toward the two full school years. Requires the department to grant a license to an individual who: (1) holds a valid teaching license issued by another state in the same content area or areas for which the individual is applying for a license in Indiana; and (2) was required to pass a content licensure test to obtain the license. Provides that if the individual has less than three years of full-time teaching experience, the individual is granted an initial practitioner's license. Provides that if the individual has at least three years of full-time teaching experience, the individual is granted a practitioner's license. Requires the individual to complete training: (1) in CPR and certain additional emergency skills; and (2) on the prevention of child suicide; not later than 12 months after the date the individual's license is issued. Provides that a school corporation may make a supplemental payment to a teacher who teaches an advanced placement course. Makes technical corrections. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1005 |
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| HB1394 | VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS. (BEHNING R) Establishes enrollment requirements and limitations to enroll in an innovation network charter school. Authorizes a governing body to enter into an agreement with a charter school to reconstitute a traditional school as an innovation network charter school. Provides that an innovation network school may use student growth to determine its category or designation of school improvement for a period of three years. Provides that, if a teacher's contract is canceled, the teacher may request a conference with the superintendent or the assistant superintendent. (Current law provides that the teacher may request a conference with the superintendent.) Provides that a teacher who takes a job with another school corporation after the school year has started is required to give 30 days notice. Requires a charter school to establish and disseminate written discipline rules. Prohibits a charter school from expelling or suspending a student or requesting that a student transfer to another school based on certain characteristics. Provides that a person, organization, or other entity that enters into a contract or an agreement with a school corporation to conduct a feasibility or cost study to assist the school corporation in determining the cost of a controlled project may not enter into a contract or agreement as the design professional on the controlled project with the school corporation to complete any part of the controlled project design unless the person, entity, or organization is awarded a contract as the design professional for the completion of the controlled project. Makes changes to a school's annual performance report publication requirements regarding certain information that must be disaggregated for schools located in a consolidated city. |
| | Current Status: | 3/23/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1394 |
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| HB1395 | ISTEP MATTERS. (BEHNING R) Provides that provisions relating to high ability students apply to performance qualified school districts. Requires that scores of student responses under an ISTEP program test must be reported to the state board of education (state board) not later than July 1 of the year in which the ISTEP program test is administered. Provides that ISTEP gridded items and tech enhanced items may not be released after the ISTEP assessment. Provides that after essay questions from ISTEP program examinations have been released to the public, the state board and department of education (department) shall post the questions and exemplary student answers on their Internet web sites and publicize the posting. Provides that the identities of students who provided the exemplary answers may not be disclosed, and that parental permission must be obtained before posting. Provides that the ISTEP program expires July 1, 2017. Establishes a panel to study school accountability metrics, teacher evaluations, and alternatives to the ISTEP program tests and to make recommendations of its findings. (This conference committee report: (1) provides that after essay questions from ISTEP program examinations have been released to the public, the state board and department shall post the questions and exemplary student answers on their Internet web sites and publicize the posting; (2) establishes a panel to study school accountability metrics, teacher evaluations, and alternatives to the ISTEP program tests and to make recommendations of its findings. |
| | Current Status: | 3/22/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | HB1395 |
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| SB3 | EDUCATION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TRAILER BILL. (MILLER P) Makes technical corrections throughout IC 20 (education law). Resolves conflicts between ESB 500-2015 and other legislation enacted during the 2015 session of the general assembly. Moves a chapter relating to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher recruitment fund from an article in IC 20 relating to transportation to an article relating to scholarships and grants in IC 21. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the code revision commission.) |
| | Current Status: | 3/28/2016 - Public Law 118
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| | State Bill Page: | SB3 |
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| SB9 | CHARTER SCHOOL DATA COLLECTION. (RAATZ J) Removes the requirement that charter schools report certain data to the department of education. |
| | Current Status: | 3/23/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | SB9 |
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| SB93 | VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS. (KRUSE D) Provides that every public school building shall be supplied with safe, potable water from a public water system approved by the commissioner of the department of environmental management. Provides that the financial specialist appointed for the Gary Community School Corporation may perform the duties authorized under the statute for not more than 24 consecutive months (rather than 12 consecutive months, under current law). Amends the definition of "secondary school" to include certain elementary grades for purposes of a federal student loan forgiveness program for highly qualified teachers in high needs areas. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2017, a nonprofit college or university board of trustees shall assign authorization authority and authorization responsibilities to a separate legal entity that functions under the direction of the university's board. Provides that, before an entity may authorize a charter school, the entity must conduct a public meeting with public notice in the county where the charter school will be located. Provides that a charter school is considered a school corporation for purposes of any state or federal funding opportunities administered by the department or any other state agency that are otherwise available to a school corporation. Makes changes to the "school report card". Provides that an authorizer must conduct a public hearing in the school corporation in which a proposed charter school will be located. Provides if the location of the proposed charter school has not been determined, the public hearing must be held within the county where the proposed charter school would be located. Provides for staggered terms for the members of the East Chicago school board. Provides that a charter school organizer must establish certain requirements for the distribution of funds or assets of a charter school that ceases operation. (Current law provides that a charter school organizer must establish certain requirements for the distribution of funds or assets upon dissolution of a charter school.) Provides that if a school corporation or a charter school does not pay taxes due under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act within 30 days after the due date (and any known accrued penalties and interest on those taxes) or does not pay withheld state income taxes (and any known accrued penalties and interest on those taxes) within 30 days after the due date: (1) the school business official or financial officer shall report the failure to pay the taxes and the penalties and interest to the governing body of the school corporation or charter school; and (2) the governing body shall report at a public meeting on the failure to pay the taxes and the penalties and interest. Specifies that if during the following 365 days the school corporation or charter school has a subsequent failure to pay the taxes and known accrued penalties and interest within 30 days after the due date, the school corporation or charter school shall provide notice of its subsequent delinquency to the department of education, the budget agency, and the distressed unit appeal board. Provides that a school corporation may accept a student who does not have legal settlement in the school corporation into an alternative education program even if the school corporation does not otherwise accept transfer students. Removes an intramural athletic contest or competition that is sponsored by or associated with a school from the definition of "athletic activity" for purposes of the requirements concerning sudden cardiac arrest to student athletes. Adds an additional measure by which the depth perception of a school bus driver may be determined. Provides for the revocation of a school bus driver's certificate of completion of school bus driver safety education under certain circumstances. Provides that an individual may enroll in a transition to teaching program and receive a transition to teaching license without passing a content area examination before admission to the program. Voids administrative rules that require passing a content area examination before being admitted to a transition to teaching program. Requests the legislative council to assign the following topics to an appropriate study committee: (1) The extent the school's calendar influences certain school functions. (2) Graduation rates, including the feasibility of amending the definition of "cohort" for purposes of determining graduation rates to exclude students who are pursuing a certificate of completion under an individualized education program. (3) Methods to ensure opportunities for secondary school students to earn college credits while enrolled in high school and to provide incentives for a teacher to obtain a master's degree or at least 18 hours of graduate coursework in the subject matter the teacher is teaching or wishes to teach as part of a dual credit course. (4) The feasibility of allowing a school corporation and an individual teacher to voluntarily enter into an employment contract that contains terms that differ from the terms set forth in a collective bargaining agreement, and issues related to the topic. (5) Issues related to the establishment of special education scholarship accounts and a special education scholarship account fund. |
| | Current Status: | 3/23/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | SB93 |
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| SB200 | MEASURING SCHOOL AND SCHOOL CORPORATION PERFORMANCE. (KRUSE D) Provides that a school's or school corporation's category or designation of performance for the 2014-2015 school year may not be lower than the grade assigned to the school or school corporation by the state board of education for the 2013-2014 school year. Provides that for purposes of determining whether a choice scholarship school has become newly eligible for consequences based on the school's category or designation of performance, the department of education may not apply the consequences unless the school is placed in the lowest category or designation for the 2014-2015 school year. |
| | Current Status: | 1/21/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | SB200 |
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| SB206 | FSSA MATTERS. (MILLER P) Allows the secretary of family and social services (secretary) to delegate appointment authorities, the issuance of certain orders, and other acts to carry out the functions of the divisions to an individual. Authorizes the secretary to adopt rules concerning the implementation and administration of the early education grant pilot program. Changes references from intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded to intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Removes the expiration of the law concerning the waiver to set an emergency placement priority for individuals in certain situations. Allows the office of Medicaid policy and planning to use: (1) a fingerprint-based criminal history check for certain providers under the Medicaid program; and (2) a contractor to obtain the criminal history checks. Adds a representative of the Indiana Academy of Physician Assistants to the Medicaid advisory committee. Creates an exception for state institutions concerning advanced practice nurses acting under a collaborative agreement with a practitioner, requiring that the nurse act under privileges granted by the governing body of the institution. |
| | Current Status: | 3/21/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | SB206 |
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| SB251 | INDIANA OUT OF SCHOOL TIME LEARNING ADVISORY BOARD. (KRUSE D) Establishes the out of school time learning advisory board for a three year period. Provides for ex officio members and members appointed by the secretary of the family and social services administration and the state superintendent of public instruction. Provides that the advisory board considers and reports on existing out of school time programs and recommends to the department and general assembly policies, procedures, funding levels, and eligibility criteria. Requires the advisory board to make an initial report to the general assembly before November 1, 2016. |
| | Current Status: | 3/23/2016 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
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| | State Bill Page: | SB251 |
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