Caroline BeckIndianapolis Star
State education officials Wednesday publicly unveiled the latest proposed changes to Indiana’s high school diploma standards, revising the plan significantly after Indiana college heads expressed concerns that the initial plan would not allow high school students here to fulfill university admission requirements.
Multiple Indiana university officials told state education leaders that the first draft also lacked the flexibility the Indiana Department of Education initially sought. Many teachers and parents have also expressed concerns about earlier versions of the plan.
To satisfy the currently un-named new base diploma requirements, students must earn 42 credits but those credits can also go towards satisfying the different seal requirements. The new seals would satisfy various university and college enrollment requirements, as well as show if a student is ready to enter the workforce or ready to enlist.
This latest iteration of the new diplomas shows significant changes from what was initially proposed by the IDOE in March when the department kicked off the state's biggest effort yet to fulfill the state legislature's goal of "reinventing" high school to be more focused on work-based learning.
Under this new draft, the IDOE is proposing one base diploma – no longer dubbed the Indiana GPS (Graduates Prepared to Succeed) diploma – with the opportunity to earn various “readiness-seals.” Students could earn multiple seals.
In the newest draft, graduates could also earn “plus” versions of each seal for various kinds of work credentials, completing a certain amount of work-based learning hours and other specific requirements for each seal.
At least five state universities have endorsed these latest changes, including Purdue and Indiana Universities.
New base diploma with "readiness-seals"
Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner said earlier this week that one of the main motivations for proposing just one base diploma instead of the two in the earlier plan was to satisfy feedback that the diploma requirements needed to be simplified for students and families to understand.
But university leaders also noted that the new diplomas' focus on work-based learning would leave students without the requisite academic credentials to earn admission to college.
Under the new plan, this is how the state's base diploma would change:
- Students will still have to earn eight English credits, unchanged from the current Core 40 diploma requirements, but now one credit must be a “communications-focused" course.
- Students now need one extra math credit ,going from six credits to seven, but geometry or algebra II would no longer be required for the base diploma.
- Due to a new state law, students will also need to fulfill one personal finance credit as part of their seven math credits.
- Science, technology and engineering credits also increased by one, going from six to seven, with one having to be computer science due to a new state law passed this year.
- The number of social studies credits decreased by one, going from six to five, and economics has been removed as a requirement for the base diploma. However, two “world perspectives” credits, which can include classes like world history, have been added.
- Physical education and health credits have been slimmed down from three in the Core 40 diploma to two credits, with one needing to be PE and the other a health and wellness credit.
- Students will also need to fulfill one college and career credit, part of a new state requirement that will go into effect with the new diplomas.
- The remaining 12 credits will be “personalized electives” credits which students could use to fulfill the requirements for their desired seal or seals. Under those credits, students could take classes like world language, fine arts or performing arts classes and career or technology courses.
New version of academic honors diploma
The proposed enrollment honors seal is essentially a modified version of the existing academic honors diploma, Jenner said in an earlier meeting.
Many objected to plans to eliminate the academic honors diploma, which most Indiana graduates who eventually go on to attend college earn.
More on diploma changes: State of Indiana looks to 'personalize' diplomas as some question motives, lost classes
Some changes under the enrollment seal compared to the existing academic honors diploma:
- The seal only requires four world language credits rather than six in the existing diploma standards.
- The enrollment seal also now requires students to pass the corresponding Advanced Placement exam to receive credit for their AP course, whereas previously students just had to take the exam.
- The proposed enrollment seal does not list any fine arts credit requirements, unlike the current academic honors diploma which requires two.
To get any of the honors seal plus distinctions, students would have to complete a combination of different work-based learning requirements, earn various credentials or certificates, and demonstrate skill development in communication, collaboration and work ethic skills.
Indiana universities approve of latest diploma draft
The IDOE Wednesday shared letters from leaders at Purdue University, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Ball State University and Indiana State University that said they support the new seal proposals.
Purdue University president Mung Chiang said the latest version of the diploma seals meets Purdue’s admission requirements.
Indiana University president Pamela Whitten said that the latest version provides the guidance families will need to develop a high school graduation plan to best fit their student’s needs.
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Multiple statewide education organizations, including the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, Indiana Association of School Principals and the Indiana School Counselor Association also gave their support for the latest proposal.
The Indiana School Counselor Association said this latest version provides more flexibility and simplicity, especially when compared to the original diploma draft.
Jenner said on Tuesday that she had not heard from the Indiana State Teachers Association, which had been highly critical of the earlier changes, about the most recent proposals.
Second public comment period opens
The second public comment period is now open for anyone to submit feedback on this current proposal.
Jenner said that she expects the board to take a final vote on the proposal before the end of this year.
High schools could start to implement the new diplomas as soon as the 2025-2026 school year, but the new diploma will be required for every student starting with the class of 2029.
Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 orCBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X):@CarolineB_Indy.
