Introduced Version
SENATE RESOLUTION No. ___
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOL UTION
A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department of
Education and all Indiana schools to declare Monday, April 8,
2024, an e-learning day for observance of the total solar eclipse.
BALDWIN
, read first time and referred to Committee on
2024 RR 3503/DI JC Introduced
Second Regular Session 123rd General Assembly (2024)
SENATE RESOLUTION ____
MADAM PRESIDENT:
I offer the following resolution and move its adoption:
1 A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Department
2 of Education and all Indiana schools to declare Monday, April
3 8, 2024, an e-learning day for observance of the total solar
4 eclipse.
5 Whereas, Indiana will experience a solar eclipse on April
6 8, 2024, with many central Indiana communities experiencing
7 a total solar eclipse, during which the moon completely hides
8 the solar surface;
9 Whereas, A total solar eclipse is among the rarest and most
10 spectacular of celestial events, with the last total solar eclipse
11 passing over Indiana 819 years ago and the next not expected
12 to occur for over 100 years;
13 Whereas, This once-in-a-lifetime event presents both a
14 tremendous learning opportunity for students of all grade
15 levels, as well as a tremendous economic opportunity for local
16 communities;
17 Whereas, The Indiana Destination Development
18 Corporation projects the 2024 solar eclipse to be among the
19 largest tourist events ever in Indiana, with an estimated
2024 RR 3503/DI JC 2
1 600,000 visitors expected for this one-day event;
2 Whereas, With this unprecedented economic and
3 educational opportunity will come unprecedented logistical
4 challenges at the local level, including significant traffic and
5 safety concerns; and
6 Whereas, Totality of the eclipse will occur between 3:02
7 p.m. and 3:09 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, coinciding with the
8 release times of many Indiana school corporations, thus
9 compounding the logistical challenges local communities are
10 expected to face and precluding some students from
11 experiencing the total eclipse firsthand: Therefore,
12 Be it resolved by the Senate of the
13 General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
14 SECTION 1. That the Indiana Senate urges the Indiana
15 Department of Education and the 291 school districts in Indiana
16 to declare April 8, 2024, an e-learning day for observance of the
17 total solar eclipse.
18 SECTION 2. That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby
19 directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to the Indiana
20 Department of Education and the Indiana Association of Public
21 School Superintendents for distribution to its members.
2024 RR 3503/DI JC