Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1201
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-19-3; IC 20-20-50; IC 20-26-5-32;
IC 20-33.
Synopsis: Education matters. Requires the department of education
(department) to do the following: (1) Create a list of best practices for
student discipline and to reduce chronic absenteeism. (2) Study and
submit certain reports and recommendations regarding: (A) excused
absences and unexcused absences; and (B) suspensions and expulsions
categories. Establishes the Indiana next generation high school success
grant program and fund and requires the department to administer the
program and fund. Requires public schools to use the department's
early warning dashboard and take appropriate intervention measures
regarding students with attendance issues. Requires a public school to
hold an attendance conference not later than 10 instructional days
(instead of five instructional days) after the student's fifth absence.
Prohibits a public school from expelling or suspending a student solely
because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Behning
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
2025 IN 1201—LS 7449/DI 110 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1201
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 20-19-3-12.2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.233-2015,
2 SECTION 37, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12.2. (a) The department shall make reduction of
4 absenteeism in schools a policy priority and provide assistance and
5 guidance to school corporations and schools in:
6 (1) identifying contributing factors of absenteeism; and
7 (2) developing chronic absence reduction plans that school
8 corporations may elect to include as a component of the school
9 improvement plans required under IC 20-31-5.
10 (b) The department shall:
11 (1) create a list of best practices to; and
12 (2) provide resources and guidance to school corporations
13 concerning evidence based practices and effective strategies that;
14 reduce absenteeism in schools. However, the department may not
15 mandate a particular policy within a chronic absence reduction plan
16 adopted by a school corporation or school.
17 SECTION 2. IC 20-19-3-36 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2025 IN 1201—LS 7449/DI 110 2
1 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
2 1, 2025]: Sec. 36. (a) The department shall do the following:
3 (1) Study the categorization rationale used by schools to
4 differentiate between excused absences and unexcused
5 absences.
6 (2) Prepare a report that includes the following:
7 (A) Information concerning the study under subdivision
8 (1).
9 (B) Any recommendations by the department regarding
10 what should qualify as an excused absence and unexcused
11 absence.
12 (3) Not later than November 1, 2025, submit the report
13 prepared under subdivision (2) to the legislative council in an
14 electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
15 (4) Post any recommendations under subdivision (2) on the
16 department's website.
17 (b) This section expires July 1, 2026.
18 SECTION 3. IC 20-19-3-37 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
19 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
20 1, 2025]: Sec. 37. (a) The department shall do the following:
21 (1) Study the basis for student suspensions and expulsions
22 categorized as "other" by school corporations.
23 (2) Prepare a report that includes the following:
24 (A) Information concerning the study under subdivision
25 (1).
26 (B) Any recommendation regarding expanding the
27 suspension and expulsion category options.
28 (3) Not later than November 1, 2025, submit the report
29 prepared under subdivision (2) to the legislative council in an
30 electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
31 (b) This section expires July 1, 2026.
32 SECTION 4. IC 20-20-50 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
33 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
34 JULY 1, 2025]:
35 Chapter 50. Indiana Next Generation High School Success
36 Grant Program and Fund
37 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the Indiana next
38 generation high school success grant fund established by section 5
39 of this chapter.
40 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "high school" means a public
41 high school, including a charter high school.
42 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "nonwaiver graduation rate"
2025 IN 1201—LS 7449/DI 110 3
1 means the graduation rate (as defined in IC 20-26-13-6) but
2 excluding students who received a graduation waiver under
3 IC 20-32-3 through IC 20-32-5.1.
4 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the Indiana
5 next generation high school success grant program established by
6 section 6 of this chapter.
7 Sec. 5. (a) The Indiana next generation high school success grant
8 fund is established for the purpose of providing grants to school
9 corporations or high schools for the purposes described in this
10 chapter.
11 (b) The fund consists of the following:
12 (1) Appropriations made by the general assembly.
13 (2) Gifts, grants, devises, or bequests made to the department
14 to achieve the purposes of the fund.
15 (c) The department shall administer the fund.
16 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
17 money in the fund.
18 (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
19 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
20 manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that
21 accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
22 (f) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not
23 revert to the state general fund.
24 Sec. 6. (a) The Indiana next generation high school success grant
25 program is established.
26 (b) The department shall administer the program.
27 Sec. 7. To receive a grant under this chapter, a school
28 corporation or high school must submit an application in a manner
29 prescribed by the department that includes the following
30 information:
31 (1) If the applicant is a school corporation, the high school for
32 which the school corporation is requesting the grant.
33 (2) The applicable high school's nonwaiver graduation rate
34 for the immediately preceding four (4) school years.
35 (3) Information regarding the organization described in
36 section 9 of this chapter with which the school corporation or
37 high school intends to work.
38 (4) Any additional information required by the department.
39 Sec. 8. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the department may award
40 a grant to a school corporation or high school that meets the
41 requirements of section 7 of this chapter.
42 (b) In awarding grants under this chapter, the department shall:
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1 (1) prioritize awarding grants to:
2 (A) school corporations of eligible high schools; and
3 (B) eligible high schools;
4 that have nonwaiver graduation rates that are below the
5 average nonwaiver graduation rate of all high schools in
6 Indiana; and
7 (2) to the extent possible, distribute to school corporations and
8 eligible high schools described in subdivision (1) a total of
9 more than fifty percent (50%) of the funds available for
10 grants under this chapter.
11 Sec. 9. A school corporation or high school that receives a grant
12 under this chapter shall use the grant amount to pay for direct
13 coaching and training of high school administrators and teachers
14 by one (1) or more organizations that have a demonstrated record
15 of success in working with high schools in:
16 (1) increasing:
17 (A) the rate of students in grade 9 who are on track
18 academically; and
19 (B) student participation in academic classes that are
20 leading indicators of postsecondary success, including
21 participation in dual enrollment and advanced placement
22 classes; and
23 (2) lowering rates of chronic absenteeism.
24 Sec. 10. A school corporation or high school that receives a
25 grant under this chapter shall implement a grade 9 success
26 program that, at a minimum, does the following:
27 (1) Uses a data system that provides real time access to a
28 student's behavior, attendance, and grades with the ability to
29 compare the data across demographics.
30 (2) Identifies and prioritizes support for students who are not
31 on track to graduate on time.
32 (3) Ensures that teachers receive data concerning the
33 incoming grade 9 students before the start of the school year.
34 (4) Ensures teachers receive professional development
35 concerning how to use data to inform instruction.
36 (5) Establishes collaborative, cross-disciplinary teacher teams
37 to implement student support.
38 (6) To the extent possible, ensures middle school teachers
39 provide information to grade 9 teachers concerning incoming
40 grade 9 students.
41 (7) Provides a summer orientation for incoming grade 9
42 students and parents of grade 9 students to introduce students
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1 to the behavioral and academic expectations of high school.
2 (8) Evaluates the impact of the interventions provided
3 through the grade 9 success program.
4 Sec. 11. The department shall do the following:
5 (1) Use a portion of the money in the fund to contract with an
6 evaluator to measure the student outcomes and other results
7 of the program.
8 (2) Prepare a report that includes information regarding the
9 program, including the:
10 (A) information provided to the department by the
11 evaluator under subdivision (1); and
12 (B) impact of the interventions provided through the grade
13 9 success program.
14 (3) Not later than December 1, 2027, submit the report
15 prepared under subdivision (2) to the:
16 (A) state board; and
17 (B) legislative council in an electronic format under
18 IC 5-14-6.
19 Sec. 12. The state board may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to
20 implement this chapter.
21 SECTION 5. IC 20-26-5-32, AS AMENDED BY P.L.151-2018,
22 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
23 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 32. (a) The governing body of each school
24 corporation shall work with parents to:
25 (1) develop; and
26 (2) review periodically;
27 an evidence based plan for improving student behavior and discipline
28 in the school corporation after receiving a model plan developed by the
29 department.
30 (b) The model plan developed by the department under subsection
31 (a) must:
32 (1) reduce out-of-school suspension and disproportionality in
33 discipline and expulsion;
34 (2) limit referrals to law enforcement and arrests on school
35 property to cases in which referral to law enforcement or arrest is
36 necessary to protect the health and safety of students or school
37 employees; and
38 (3) include policies to address instances of bullying and
39 cyberbullying on school property of a school corporation.
40 (c) Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the department, in
41 collaboration with parent organizations, teacher organizations,
42 educational support professional organizations, and state educational
2025 IN 1201—LS 7449/DI 110 6
1 institutions, shall, upon a school corporation's request, provide
2 information and assistance to the school corporation regarding the
3 implementation of the school corporation's evidence based plan
4 developed under subsection (a) to ensure that teachers and
5 administrators receive appropriate professional development and other
6 resources in preparation for carrying out the plan.
7 (d) The department shall:
8 (1) create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline;
9 and
10 (2) post the list on the department's website.
11 SECTION 6. IC 20-33-2-48 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
12 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
13 1, 2025]: Sec. 48. Each public school, including a charter school,
14 must:
15 (1) use the department's early warning dashboard under
16 IC 20-19-3-23, if available; and
17 (2) take appropriate intervention measures regarding
18 students with attendance issues.
19 SECTION 7. IC 20-33-2.5-5, AS ADDED BY P.L.125-2024,
20 SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
21 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) A school shall hold an attendance
22 conference described in section 4(2) of this chapter not more than five
23 (5) ten (10) instructional days after the student's fifth absence
24 described in section 1(2) of this chapter regardless of whether:
25 (1) the parent of the student; or
26 (2) a representative described under section 4(2)(D) of this
27 chapter;
28 is able to attend the conference.
29 (b) A school shall make all reasonable efforts to hold an attendance
30 conference as required under subsection (a) on a date and at a time that
31 works with the schedule of the student's parent.
32 SECTION 8. IC 20-33-8-16.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
33 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
34 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16.5. A public school, including
35 a charter school, may not expel or suspend a student solely because
36 the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.
2025 IN 1201—LS 7449/DI 110