summary
Introduced
01/06/2026
01/06/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
01/29/2026
01/29/2026
Passed
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Department of education and education matters. Makes various changes to education provisions concerning the following: (1) Creating a teaching and learning framework for the implementation of mathematics academic standards. (2) Development of a data science math pathway. (3) Submission of a report to the general assembly concerning recommendations on strategies to support academically and fiscally underperforming schools, and interventions as necessary. (4) Evaluating, approving, and publishing high quality curricular materials time lines. (5) Local board membership for a local centralized school facilities board and local student transportation board. (6) Salary differentiation regarding teachers who possess a literacy endorsement. (7) Amounts expended in participating in an interlocal agreement included in determining amounts school corporations expend on full-time teacher salaries for purposes of teacher salary minimum funding requirements. (8) Summer school program and reimbursement administration. (9) Criteria required for eligibility of a waiver for conducting four day school weeks. (10) Oversight of career and technical education program designation. (11) Uses of teacher appreciation grants. (12) The calculation of operating referendum distributions and school safety referendum distributions to charter schools with regard to virtual instruction. (13) Petitions regarding reconsidering payments of choice scholarships. (14) Membership of the board for proprietary education. (15) The effective date regarding the changes to the definition of "eligible choice scholarship student". (16) Career specialist permit eligibility. Provides that an emergency permit may be renewed up to two times to an individual enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program if the program provides documentation verifying the individual's good standing in the program to the department of education. Creates a new qualification option for a transition to teaching program participant who seeks to obtain a license to teach in grades 5 through 12. Removes a provision that provides that the department may not release less than 10 items per subject matter level per grade level regarding the statewide summative assessment. Removes a requirement that for a parent or student to use a career scholarship account (CSA) annual grant amount for costs related to transportation a CSA participating entity must pay a matching amount for the transportation costs. Requires each state educational institution that offers a two year graduate degree program in mental or behavioral health to evaluate the graduate degree program to determine the feasibility of providing the program in a specifically structured manner to allow full-time students to complete the program within: (1) one year; or (2) five years if the program is combined with a baccalaureate degree program. Requires the Indiana department of education to elect to participate as a covered state in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code (enacted in Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025). Makes conforming changes to the school scholarship tax credit in current law. Requires the governor and the department of workforce development, in consultation with the commission for higher education, to: (1) establish a process to identify eligible workforce training programs; (2) establish a process for institutions and programs to apply for recognition as an eligible workforce training program; (3) coordinate certain workforce training matters; and (4) require eligible workforce training programs to provide certain datasets to the department. Provides that the department of workforce development must maintain alignment with federal rules governing workforce Pell grants. Repeals certain provisions concerning postsecondary career and technical education.
AI Summary
This bill makes numerous changes to education provisions, including establishing a framework for implementing math academic standards and developing a data science math pathway, and requiring a report on strategies to support underperforming schools. It also sets timelines for evaluating and publishing high-quality curricular materials, modifies local board membership for school facilities and transportation, and introduces salary differentiation for teachers with literacy endorsements. The bill clarifies how amounts spent on interlocal agreements contribute to teacher salary minimum funding requirements, adjusts summer school program administration, and sets criteria for four-day school week waivers. It also addresses oversight of career and technical education program designations, the use of teacher appreciation grants, and the calculation of operating and school safety referendum distributions for charter schools with virtual instruction. Additionally, the bill allows for reconsideration of choice scholarship payments, modifies the membership of the board for proprietary education, and updates the definition of "eligible choice scholarship student." It also revises eligibility for career specialist permits, allows for renewal of emergency permits for individuals in alternative certification programs, and creates a new qualification option for transition to teaching program participants. The bill removes a provision limiting the release of statewide summative assessment items and a requirement for matching funds for career scholarship account (CSA) transportation costs. Furthermore, it mandates that state educational institutions offering two-year graduate programs in mental or behavioral health evaluate the feasibility of offering these programs in a condensed timeframe, requires Indiana to participate in the federal tax credit scholarship program, and establishes a process for identifying and recognizing eligible workforce training programs, ensuring alignment with federal rules for workforce Pell grants, and repeals certain provisions related to postsecondary career and technical education.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Education
Sponsors (6)
Bob Behning (R)*,
Tyler Johnson (R),
Sheila Klinker (D),
Julie McGuire (R),
Jeff Raatz (R),
Lonnie Randolph (D),
Last Action
Signed by the Governor (on 03/12/2026)
Official Document
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