(Indianapolis, IN) – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has presented a second draft of a proposal to redesign high school diploma requirements to the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE).
The second draft incorporates significant updates, after months of stakeholder feedback, with a focus on rigor and flexibility for students to personalize their high school experience.
It’s part of the state’s ongoing, collaborative effort to rethink the high school experience to make it more learner-centric and future-focused.
An initial draft of the new diploma rule was first presented to SBOE in March, kicking off the first public comment period designed to enhance the proposed plan. During this time, IDOE and SBOE received more than 8,000 online comments and heard hours of testimony from stakeholders seeking to ensure high school is as valuable as possible for all Indiana students. Feedback emphasized the following key themes:
- Balancing the need for flexibility and student choice, while ensuring a well-rounded education for all students,
- Ensuring diploma requirements are rigorous and attainable and prepare every student for success regardless of their post-high school plans,
- Elevating the importance of experiential learning opportunities, such as work-based learning or a mentorship experience, while increasing access and ensuring safety for all students, and
- Providing sufficient resources needed for school corporations to implement this work statewide.
While the first draft proposal included two diploma options, the revised proposal presented to the SBOE this week has been streamlined and simplified to include one base diploma with minimum requirements for every student, as well as the opportunity for students to earn readiness seals aligned with their unique path.
The proposed base diploma includes increased flexibility and course options for earning credits in core content areas, such as English, math, science, social studies, physical education and health. In addition to these core content areas, students will also take personalized electives which can include a variety of courses, such as career and technical education (CTE courses), performing or fine arts and/or world languages.
To help students focus their coursework in core content areas and electives toward an intentional pathway that connects them to what’s next, they will have the option to earn readiness seals in enrollment, employment and/or enlistment. The readiness seals were developed to provide students and parents with a better understanding of a blueprint for success in whatever path a student may choose.
To ensure every student has access to an intentional and rigorous blueprint for success regardless of their path ahead, IDOE worked with external stakeholders to develop two levels for each readiness seal, as recommended by stakeholders:
- Enrollment honors and Enrollment honors plus seals – Developed with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, in conjunction with colleges and universities
- Employment honors and Employment honors plus seals – Developed with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and insights from Ascend Indiana’s work with employers, in conjunction with the business representatives across multiple industries
- Enlistment honors and Enlistment honors plusseals – Developed with the Indiana National Guard, in conjunction with representatives from each military branch, as well as public safety officials.
The proposed honors seals are similar to the opportunities many Hoosier students have today, such as the current academic honors designation, and are designed to be even more intentional, elevating what truly impacts future success. The honors plus seals reflect the opportunities that exist for some Indiana students today, and that Indiana leaders aim to expand access for more students across the state. The honors plus seals are designed to increase skill development, work-based learning experiences and opportunities for students to increase their educational attainment by earning a credential of value. Under the proposal, students who earn a readiness seal will automatically fulfill all Graduation Pathways requirements. Students who do not earn a seal must still complete components two and three of Graduation Pathways.
Over the next few weeks, the second draft of the diploma rule will be finalized and posted on the IDOE website. This will kick off a second round of public comment prior to a final draft being presented later this fall. This will include 30 days of public comment, which can be submitted online and via an in-person public hearing. State law requires the SBOE to adopt the new high school diploma rule by December 31, 2024.
Per statute, Indiana’s current graduation requirements will sunset October 1, 2028, making final requirements effective for all students beginning with the class of 2029, or students currently in eighth grade. As proposed, schools may opt-in beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Indiana will also continue to offer the federally-required alternate diploma, which is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
To learn more about the proposed, second draft, click here.
