Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1282
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-33-2; IC 20-51-1; IC 20-51.4-2-4.
Synopsis: Age of compulsory attendance. Provides that a student is
bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the
beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the
student is six years of age on August 1 of that school year. (Current law
provides that a student is bound by compulsory school attendance
requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school
year in which the student becomes seven years of age.) Makes
conforming amendments.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Pack
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
2025 IN 1282—LS 7164/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. 1282
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 20-33-2-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.242-2005,
2 SECTION 17, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 6. A student is bound by the requirements of this
4 chapter from the earlier of the date on which the student officially
5 enrolls in a school or, except as provided in section 8 of this chapter,
6 the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the
7 student becomes seven (7) is six (6) years of age on August 1 of that
8 school year until the date on which the student:
9 (1) graduates;
10 (2) becomes eighteen (18) years of age; or
11 (3) becomes sixteen (16) years of age but is less than eighteen
12 (18) years of age and the requirements under section 9 of this
13 chapter concerning an exit interview are met enabling the student
14 to withdraw from school before graduation;
15 whichever occurs first.
16 SECTION 2. IC 20-33-2-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005, SECTION
17 17, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
2025 IN 1282—LS 7164/DI 110 2
1 2025]: Sec. 8. A student is not bound by the requirements of this
2 chapter until the student becomes seven (7) six (6) years of age, if,
3 upon request of the superintendent of the school corporation, the parent
4 of a student who would otherwise be subject to compulsory school
5 attendance under section 6 of this chapter certifies to the
6 superintendent that the parent intends to:
7 (1) enroll the student in a nonaccredited, nonpublic school; or
8 (2) begin providing the student with instruction equivalent to that
9 given in the public schools as permitted under section 28 of this
10 chapter;
11 not later than the date on which the student becomes seven (7) August
12 1 of the school year if the student is six (6) years of age on August
13 1 of the school year.
14 SECTION 3. IC 20-51-1-4.3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.201-2023,
15 SECTION 215, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
16 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4.3. "Eligible choice scholarship
17 student" refers to an individual who:
18 (1) has legal settlement in Indiana;
19 (2) is at least five (5) years of age and less than twenty-two (22)
20 years of age on October 1 August 1 of the applicable school year;
21 and
22 (3) is a member of a household with an annual income of not
23 more than four hundred percent (400%) of the amount required
24 for the individual to qualify for the federal free or reduced price
25 lunch program.
26 SECTION 4. IC 20-51-1-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.162-2024,
27 SECTION 27, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
28 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. "Eligible student" refers to an individual who:
29 (1) has legal settlement in Indiana;
30 (2) is at least four (4) years of age and less than twenty-two (22)
31 years of age on October 1 August 1 of the applicable school year;
32 (3) either has been or is currently enrolled in a participating
33 school; and
34 (4) is a member of a household with an annual income of not
35 more than four hundred percent (400%) of the amount required
36 for the individual to qualify for the federal free or reduced price
37 lunch program.
38 SECTION 5. IC 20-51.4-2-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.127-2024,
39 SECTION 3, AND AS AMENDED BY P.L.162-2024, SECTION 28,
40 AND AS AMENDED BY THE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL
41 OF THE 2025 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IS CORRECTED AND
42 AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]:
2025 IN 1282—LS 7164/DI 110 3
1 Sec. 4. "Eligible student" refers to an individual who:
2 (1) has legal settlement in Indiana;
3 (2) is at least five (5) years of age and less than twenty-two (22)
4 years of age on the date in the school year specified in
5 IC 20-33-2-7; on October 1 on August 1 of the applicable school
6 year;
7 (3) is a student:
8 (A) with a disability at the time the account is established who
9 requires special education and for whom:
10 (A) (i) an individualized education program;
11 (B) (ii) a service plan developed under 511 IAC 7-34; or
12 (C) (iii) a choice special education plan developed under
13 511 IAC 7-49;
14 has been developed; and or
15 (B) who is a sibling of a student described in clause (A) who
16 has had an ESA account established in the student's name
17 under IC 20-51.4-4-1; and
18 (4) meets the annual income qualification requirement for a
19 choice scholarship student under IC 20-51-1.
2025 IN 1282—LS 7164/DI 110