summary
Introduced
01/13/2025
01/13/2025
In Committee
04/09/2025
04/09/2025
Crossed Over
01/29/2025
01/29/2025
Passed
04/16/2025
04/16/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/06/2025
05/06/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Education matters. Requires the department of education (department) to grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who: (1) holds a bachelor's degree with a major in any combination of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; (2) successfully completes a total of at least nine academic credits regarding certain instruction in teaching; and (3) meets other specified requirements. Provides that the department may grant a license to teach a high school level course or grades 5 through 9 to an individual who completes a licensure pathway established by the department. Requires a principal to allow a student who is enrolled in a public secondary school to receive religious instruction for a period or periods that do not exceed the amount of time that is equivalent to attending one elective course at the public secondary school during the week. (Current law provides for a period or periods of not more than 120 minutes in total in any week.) Provides that a public secondary school may award academic credit to a student who attends religious instruction if: (1) the religious entity providing the instruction agrees to certain conditions; and (2) the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that allows the awarding of credit (current law only provides that a public secondary school may award academic credit to a student who attends religious instruction if the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that allows the awarding of credit). Changes certain requirements regarding the reporting of a bullying "incident" to the reporting of a bullying "investigation". Requires discipline rules to include a provision to make a reasonable attempt to notify both the parent of a targeted student and the parent of an alleged perpetrator that the school is investigating a possible incident of bullying or similar misconduct before the end of the next school day after the school becomes aware of the possible incident.
AI Summary
This bill makes several significant changes to education regulations in Indiana, focusing on teacher licensing, religious instruction, and bullying reporting. The bill introduces a new pathway for obtaining an initial practitioner license for individuals with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees, allowing them to teach high school or middle school courses after completing nine academic credits in teaching-related courses and demonstrating proficiency through examinations. It expands the existing religious instruction provisions for students, increasing the allowed time for secondary school students from 120 minutes to the equivalent of one elective course per week and establishing new conditions for awarding academic credit for religious instruction, including background checks and liability insurance for religious instruction providers. The bill also modifies bullying reporting requirements, changing the focus from reporting "incidents" to reporting "investigations" and mandating that schools make a reasonable attempt to notify parents of both the targeted student and the alleged perpetrator about a potential bullying investigation before the end of the next school day. These changes aim to provide more flexible teacher licensing, accommodate religious instruction, and improve school response to potential bullying situations.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
Public Law 194 (on 05/06/2025)
Official Document
bill text
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bill summary
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