Teaching and Licensing Bills
Prepared by: Keith Clock
Phone: 317-407-7885
E-mail: kclock@ista-in.org
Report created on March 29, 2024
 
HB1528NEXT GENERATION HOOSIER EDUCATORS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. (HEINE D) Provides that an individual enrolled in a transition to teaching program may apply for a one time scholarship under the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship program. Establishes requirements to qualify for the one time scholarship. Provides that the maximum amount of a scholarship is $10,000. Provides that the total annual amount of scholarships awarded from the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship fund to individuals enrolled in a transition to teaching program may not exceed $1,000,000. Requires that an awarded scholarship must be repaid under certain conditions.
 Current Status:   5/4/2023 - Public Law 242
 Recent Status:   5/4/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
4/28/2023 - Signed by the President of the Senate
 State Bill Page:   HB1528
 
HB1635VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS. (BEHNING R) Requires each school corporation to publish on the school corporation's website the graduation rate for each high school in the school corporation. Amends the: (1) definition of "graduation" for the high school graduation rate determination; and (2) graduation rate calculation. Allows charter schools and nonpublic schools to issue an adjunct teacher permit to certain individuals. Provides that an individual who holds an adjunct teacher permit may teach in a career and technical education content area in which the school corporation, charter school, or nonpublic school allows the individual to teach based on the individual's experience. Requires the state board of education (state board) to: (1) develop algebra I, algebra II, and geometry courses that include real world application and project based and inquiry based learning; and (2) implement the courses not later than the 2025-2026 school year. Provides that, if the state board establishes an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery as a graduation pathway, the state board shall require a student who elects the pathway to submit documentation that demonstrates the student's intent to enlist in the military as a condition of meeting the pathway requirements. Requires the state board to, not later than July 1, 2023, review and update any guidance issued by the state board regarding the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery as a graduation pathway requirement. Provides that a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school may not require a student enrolled in the school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school to participate in any particular graduation pathway to be eligible to graduate. Removes a provision that provides that not more than 1% of students of a cohort may receive an alternate diploma. Provides that, for purposes of determining a school's or school corporation's graduation rate, not more than one percent of a school's or school corporation's graduation cohort that receives an alternate diploma may be counted as having graduated. Removes a requirement that a school corporation record or include certain immunization information in the official high school transcript for a high school student. Removes a provision that allows a school corporation to include additional information on a student's high school transcript. Provides that any notification or materials provided or distributed by the Indiana department of health or a school to a parent of a student regarding required or recommended immunizations for the student must clearly delineate or label immunizations that are required and immunizations that are only recommended. Provides that the department of education shall develop a proposal for a revised school performance designation not later than December 1, 2024.
 Current Status:   5/1/2023 - Public Law 160
 Recent Status:   5/1/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
4/26/2023 - Signed by the President of the Senate
 State Bill Page:   HB1635
 
HB1637TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. (BEHNING R) Increases the annual scholarship amount that the commission for higher education (commission) may award under the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship program from $7,500 to $10,000. Removes limits on the number of next generation Hoosier educators scholarships that may be awarded. Establishes the next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship program and fund. Provides that the commission may award a next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship to an eligible applicant in an amount of $10,000 each academic year for not more than four academic years. Establishes criteria an applicant must meet and terms an applicant must agree to in order to receive a next generation Hoosier minority educators scholarship. Increases the annual scholarship amount that an Earline S. Rogers student teaching scholarship for minority students recipient may receive from $4,000 to $5,000.
 Current Status:   5/1/2023 - Public Law 161
 Recent Status:   5/1/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
4/26/2023 - Signed by the President of the Senate
 State Bill Page:   HB1637
 
SB342TEACHER HIRING. (FREEMAN A) Requires a school corporation, charter school, or nonpublic school to consider using a more comprehensive expanded criminal history background check for employment. Repeals current law concerning a school corporation or charter school's employment of, or contracting with, certain individuals, and establishes a new section that: (1) prohibits a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school from employing or contracting with specified individuals; (2) after June 30, 2023, allows a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school to employ or contract with certain other individuals with a majority vote of the school board, or the equivalent for a charter school, or with a notification of the appointing authority. Specifies that "misconduct" includes certain specified acts. Requires a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school that receives a reference request from another school to disclose specified incidents to the requesting school. Makes conforming changes.
 Current Status:   5/1/2023 - Public Law 110
 Recent Status:   5/1/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
4/26/2023 - Signed by the President of the Senate
 State Bill Page:   SB342
 
SB486EDUCATION MATTERS. (ROGERS L) Repeals teacher training requirements regarding: (1) criminal gang organizations awareness; (2) certain information concerning homeless students; and (3) recognizing the signs and symptoms of seizures and the appropriate steps to be taken to respond to the symptoms; and requires that information concerning these subjects be included within the curriculum of teacher preparation programs. Provides that the department of education (department) may establish or license for use an online platform to provide information and training concerning these and other subjects. Removes certain requirements regarding annual performance evaluation plans for certificated employees, including: (1) certain content requirements; and (2) certain requirements that a plan be discussed. Amends requirements to be considered a probationary teacher and professional teacher. Provides that, after a school corporation has assigned an evaluator to perform a certificated employee's evaluation, the certificated employee may request the school corporation to assign another evaluator. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying current school assessments in an effort to reduce and streamline assessments for Indiana students. Removes a provision that requires a school employer to discuss certain items with the exclusive representative of certificated employees and provides that a school employer may discuss: (1) with a certificated employee or group of certificated employees; or (2) at one or more meetings that are open to all certificated employees; any topic that significantly impacts a certificated employee's working conditions or impacts the educational quality of the school employer's students. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) requirements regarding the adoption of model evaluation plans and an approval process for the plans; (2) the obligation to discuss certain items not requiring either party to enter into a contract, agree to a proposal, or make a concession; and (3) the definition of "discuss" for purposes of the collective bargaining provisions.
 Current Status:   5/4/2023 - Public Law 200
 Recent Status:   5/4/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
4/28/2023 - Signed by the President of the Senate
 State Bill Page:   SB486
 
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