*EH1515.3*
Reprinted
April 11, 2025
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1515
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1515 (Updated April 10, 2025 6:47 pm - DI 143)
Citations Affected: IC 20-19; IC 20-51; IC 21-12; IC 21-13;
IC 21-41; IC 36-7.
Synopsis: Education and higher education matters. Provides that
accredited nonpublic schools are eligible to participate in the
following: (1) The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
teacher recruitment grants. (2) The principal institute. Provides that
charter schools are eligible to receive science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics teacher recruitment grants. Allows a parent of a
choice scholarship student or an eligible choice scholarship school on
behalf of a parent to petition the department of education to reconsider
the eligibility of a choice scholarship student enrolled in the school if
the parent has reason to believe that the student was determined
(Continued next page)
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Behning
(SENATE SPONSOR — BUCHANAN)
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
January 30, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
February 3, 2025, read second time, ordered engrossed.
February 4, 2025, engrossed.
February 6, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 57, nays 28.
SENATE ACTION
February 19, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
March 20, 2025, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass; reassigned to Committee on
Appropriations.
April 3, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
April 10, 2025, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 Digest Continued
ineligible due to enrollment data inaccuracies reported by a school.
Provides that a student must be withdrawn from enrollment in a school
corporation's virtual education program if the student accumulates 10
consecutive or 18 cumulative unexcused absences (instead of the
number of unexcused absences sufficient to result in the student's
classification as a habitual truant). Amends eligibility requirements for
the high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant. Provides that a
land use application for any approval that is required by a unit for a
public school, charter school, or nonpublic school may not be denied
for the sole reason that the requesting entity is seeking to establish a
public school, charter school, or nonpublic school.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 Reprinted
April 11, 2025
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.
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1515
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 20-19-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.250-2023,
2 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. A school corporation that operates a virtual
4 education program must require that if a student who attends a school
5 corporation's virtual education program accumulates the number of ten
6 (10) consecutive or eighteen (18) cumulative unexcused absences,
7 sufficient to result in the student's classification as a habitual truant, the
8 student must be withdrawn from enrollment in the school corporation's
9 virtual education program.
10 SECTION 2. IC 20-51-4-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
11 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
12 1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. (a) A parent of an eligible choice scholarship
13 student or an eligible school on behalf of a parent of an eligible
14 choice scholarship student may petition the department to
15 reconsider the eligibility of a choice scholarship student enrolled in
16 the eligible school if the parent has reason to believe that the
17 student was determined ineligible due to enrollment data
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 2
1 inaccuracies reported by a school.
2 (b) If the department determines that a student described in
3 subsection (a) is eligible for a choice scholarship under this
4 chapter, the department may adjust the enrollment count of choice
5 scholarship students for the applicable eligible school.
6 (c) If the department adjusts a count used for a distribution
7 under this chapter, the department shall adjust subsequent
8 distributions to the eligible school that is affected by the adjusted
9 count, on the schedule determined by the department, to reflect the
10 differences between the distribution that the eligible school
11 received and the distribution that the eligible school would have
12 received if the adjusted count had been used.
13 SECTION 3. IC 21-12-8-9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2020,
14 SECTION 100, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
15 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. (a) This section applies to an
16 applicant who attends or has attended any of the following:
17 (1) An approved secondary school.
18 (2) A state accredited nonpublic school.
19 (3) A nonaccredited nonpublic school.
20 (b) An applicant is eligible to receive a high value workforce ready
21 credit-bearing grant if the following conditions are met:
22 (1) The applicant is domiciled in Indiana, as defined by the
23 commission.
24 (2) The applicant:
25 (A) has received a diploma of graduation from a school
26 described in subsection (a);
27 (B) has been granted a:
28 (i) high school equivalency certificate before July 1, 1995;
29 or
30 (ii) state of Indiana general educational development (GED)
31 diploma under IC 20-10.1-12.1 (before its repeal),
32 IC 20-20-6 (before its repeal), or IC 22-4.1-18; or
33 (C) is a student in good standing who is completing a final
34 year of study at a school described in subsection (a) and will
35 be eligible upon graduation to attend an approved institution
36 of higher learning.
37 (3) The applicant is enrolled in an eligible certificate program, as
38 determined under section 2(4) of this chapter, at Ivy Tech
39 Community College, Vincennes University, or a program
40 approved by the commission.
41 (4) The applicant enrolls at least half-time for purposes of federal
42 financial aid.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 3
1 (5) The applicant has not received any grant for the maximum
2 number of academic terms specified for the grant in
3 IC 21-12-13-1 or IC 21-12-13-2.
4 (6) The applicant is not eligible for any state financial aid
5 program described in IC 21-12-13-1(a) or IC 21-12-13-2(a).
6 (7) The applicant is identified as financially independent from the
7 applicant's parents as determined by the Free Application for
8 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
9 (8) The applicant has correctly filed the FAFSA and, if eligible
10 for aid, accepts all offered federal scholarships and grants.
11 (9) Except as provided under subsection (c), the applicant
12 maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
13 eligible institution.
14 (10) The applicant has not previously received a baccalaureate
15 degree or an associate degree. or an eligible certificate.
16 (11) The applicant meets any other minimum criteria established
17 by the commission.
18 (c) This subsection applies to an applicant who does not maintain
19 satisfactory academic progress under subsection (b)(9) but meets all the
20 other conditions required under subsection (b). An applicant is eligible
21 to receive a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant if the
22 applicant meets one (1) of the following:
23 (1) The applicant has not attended an eligible institution for the
24 immediately preceding two (2) academic years.
25 (2) The applicant:
26 (A) attended an eligible institution at any time during the
27 immediately preceding two (2) academic years; and
28 (B) maintained satisfactory academic progress, as determined
29 by the eligible institution, during the period described in
30 clause (A) in which the applicant attended the eligible
31 institution.
32 (d) If an applicant is identified as dependent as determined by the
33 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the applicant must:
34 (1) meet the criteria specified in subsection (b), except for
35 subsection (b)(4), (b)(7), and (b)(9);
36 (2) enroll full time for purposes of federal financial aid;
37 (3) maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
38 eligible institution; and
39 (4) complete a workforce ready grant success program, as
40 determined by the commission, if the applicant graduates from
41 high school after December 31, 2018.
42 (e) If the demand for high value workforce ready credit-bearing
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 4
1 grants exceeds the available appropriation, as determined by the
2 commission, the commission shall prioritize the applicants identified
3 as independent as determined by the Free Application for Federal
4 Student Aid (FAFSA).
5 SECTION 4. IC 21-13-11-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
6 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
7 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter,
8 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
9 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
10 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
11 that is recognized by the Indiana state board of education.
12 SECTION 5. IC 21-13-11-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.118-2016,
13 SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
14 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. The commission may use money in the fund to
15 provide grants to Indiana organizations that recruit science, technology,
16 engineering, and mathematics teachers for employment by Indiana
17 school corporations, charter schools, or accredited nonpublic
18 schools in Indiana.
19 SECTION 6. IC 21-13-11-10, AS ADDED BY P.L.118-2016,
20 SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
21 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The commission shall develop an application
22 process for grants under this chapter that identifies recruiting
23 organizations and programs:
24 (1) that produce high student achievement and effective and
25 highly effective teachers; and
26 (2) that match science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
27 teachers with Indiana school corporations, charter schools, or
28 accredited nonpublic schools in Indiana that would otherwise
29 encounter a shortage of qualified teachers in science, technology,
30 engineering, and mathematics.
31 SECTION 7. IC 21-41-11-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
32 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
33 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter,
34 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
35 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
36 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
37 that is recognized by the Indiana state board of education.
38 SECTION 8. IC 21-41-11-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
39 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
40 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. The principal institute is established within the
41 university to achieve excellence in teacher and student performance by
42 strengthening leadership and management skills of practicing Indiana
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 5
1 public and accredited nonpublic school principals.
2 SECTION 9. IC 21-41-11-7, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
3 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
4 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) The director of the institute shall, with staff
5 support, develop a plan to accomplish the goals of the institute. The
6 plan must be approved by the advisory board and must include
7 procedures to teach principals the following:
8 (1) How to develop the leadership skills and management
9 techniques necessary for providing quality education in Indiana
10 schools.
11 (2) How to improve teacher and student performance, including
12 how to conduct meaningful and relevant staff evaluations.
13 (3) How to strengthen communication and leadership skills
14 required for the establishment of a broad based support for public
15 education.
16 (4) Management skills for use in improving curriculum and
17 instruction.
18 (5) How to improve the school environment.
19 (b) The director of the institute shall, with staff support, and subject
20 to approval by the advisory board, develop a plan for continuing
21 education by the institute of public and accredited nonpublic school
22 principals who have completed initial training at the institute.
23 SECTION 10. IC 21-41-11-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
24 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
25 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. To be eligible for admission to the institute, a
26 participant must be a practicing public or accredited nonpublic school
27 principal for a public or accredited nonpublic school located in
28 Indiana. Admission preference must be given to those school principals
29 who have at least three (3) years of administrative experience in
30 Indiana public or accredited nonpublic schools and intend to continue
31 as public or accredited nonpublic school principals.
32 SECTION 11. IC 36-7-2.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
33 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
34 JULY 1, 2025]:
35 Chapter 2.4. School Corporations and Charter Schools
36 Sec. 1. This chapter only applies to planning and zoning
37 ordinances or regulations under IC 36-7-4.
38 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "charter school" has the meaning
39 set forth in IC 20-24-1-4.
40 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "nonpublic school" has the
41 meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-12.
42 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "public school" has the meaning
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 6
1 set forth in IC 20-18-2-15(1).
2 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
3 town.
4 Sec. 6. A public school, charter school, or nonpublic school shall
5 be considered a permitted use in all zoning districts of a unit.
6 Sec. 7. A land use application for any approval that is required
7 by a unit for a public school, charter school, or nonpublic school
8 may not be denied for the sole reason that the requesting entity is
9 seeking to establish a public school, charter school, or nonpublic
10 school.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 7
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Education, to which was referred
House Bill 1515, has had the same under consideration and begs leave
to report the same back to the House with the recommendation that said
bill be amended as follows:
Page 1, between the enacting clause and line 1, begin a new
paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 1. IC 20-19-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.250-2023,
SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. A school corporation that operates a virtual
education program must require that if a student who attends a school
corporation's virtual education program accumulates the number of ten
(10) consecutive or eighteen (18) cumulative unexcused absences,
sufficient to result in the student's classification as a habitual truant, the
student must be withdrawn from enrollment in the school corporation's
virtual education program.".
Page 4, between lines 20 and 21, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 10. IC 21-12-8-9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2020,
SECTION 100, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. (a) This section applies to an
applicant who attends or has attended any of the following:
(1) An approved secondary school.
(2) A state accredited nonpublic school.
(3) A nonaccredited nonpublic school.
(b) An applicant is eligible to receive a high value workforce ready
credit-bearing grant if the following conditions are met:
(1) The applicant is domiciled in Indiana, as defined by the
commission.
(2) The applicant:
(A) has received a diploma of graduation from a school
described in subsection (a);
(B) has been granted a:
(i) high school equivalency certificate before July 1, 1995;
or
(ii) state of Indiana general educational development (GED)
diploma under IC 20-10.1-12.1 (before its repeal),
IC 20-20-6 (before its repeal), or IC 22-4.1-18; or
(C) is a student in good standing who is completing a final
year of study at a school described in subsection (a) and will
be eligible upon graduation to attend an approved institution
of higher learning.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 8
(3) The applicant is enrolled in an eligible certificate program, as
determined under section 2(4) of this chapter, at Ivy Tech
Community College, Vincennes University, or a program
approved by the commission.
(4) The applicant enrolls at least half-time for purposes of federal
financial aid.
(5) The applicant has not received any grant for the maximum
number of academic terms specified for the grant in
IC 21-12-13-1 or IC 21-12-13-2.
(6) The applicant is not eligible for any state financial aid
program described in IC 21-12-13-1(a) or IC 21-12-13-2(a).
(7) The applicant is identified as financially independent from the
applicant's parents as determined by the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
(8) The applicant has correctly filed the FAFSA and, if eligible
for aid, accepts all offered federal scholarships and grants.
(9) Except as provided under subsection (c), the applicant
maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
eligible institution.
(10) The applicant has not previously received a baccalaureate
degree or an associate degree. or an eligible certificate.
(11) The applicant meets any other minimum criteria established
by the commission.
(c) This subsection applies to an applicant who does not maintain
satisfactory academic progress under subsection (b)(9) but meets all the
other conditions required under subsection (b). An applicant is eligible
to receive a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant if the
applicant meets one (1) of the following:
(1) The applicant has not attended an eligible institution for the
immediately preceding two (2) academic years.
(2) The applicant:
(A) attended an eligible institution at any time during the
immediately preceding two (2) academic years; and
(B) maintained satisfactory academic progress, as determined
by the eligible institution, during the period described in
clause (A) in which the applicant attended the eligible
institution.
(d) If an applicant is identified as dependent as determined by the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the applicant must:
(1) meet the criteria specified in subsection (b), except for
subsection (b)(4), (b)(7), and (b)(9);
(2) enroll full time for purposes of federal financial aid;
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 9
(3) maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
eligible institution; and
(4) complete a workforce ready grant success program, as
determined by the commission, if the applicant graduates from
high school after December 31, 2018.
(e) If the demand for high value workforce ready credit-bearing
grants exceeds the available appropriation, as determined by the
commission, the commission shall prioritize the applicants identified
as independent as determined by the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).".
Page 6, after line 5, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 16. IC 36-7-2.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]:
Chapter 2.4. School Corporations and Charter Schools
Sec. 1. This chapter only applies to planning and zoning
ordinances or regulations under IC 36-7-4.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "charter school" has the meaning
set forth in IC 20-24-1-4.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "construction" has the meaning
set forth in IC 22-12-1-7.
Sec. 4. (a) As used in this chapter, "educational facility" means:
(1) a building containing classrooms;
(2) a structure or facility:
(A) located on the same property as a building described in
subdivision (1); and
(B) used in support of the use of the building; or
(3) a building providing office and related space to school
administrative personnel.
(b) The term does not include land or a structure, including land
or a structure for inventory storage, equipment storage, food
processing or preparing, vehicle storage or maintenance, or similar
use that is not:
(1) located on the same property as; or
(2) used in support of the purposes of;
a building described in subsection (a).
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "roadway" means that part of a
highway or street that is:
(1) publicly maintained; and
(2) improved, designed, or ordinarily used by the public for
vehicular travel.
The term includes an alley in a city or town.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 10
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "school" means a school
corporation or charter school.
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter "school corporation" has the
meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-16(a).
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
town.
Sec. 9. A unit may not impose requirements on school property
regarding any of the following:
(1) Landscaping.
(2) Fencing.
(3) Aesthetic considerations.
(4) Construction methods or materials.
(5) Additional building inspections.
Sec. 10. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a unit may not
require a school to participate in the cost of:
(1) constructing a roadway or sidewalk; or
(2) a study on the impact of a school on a roadway or
sidewalk.
(b) A unit may require a school to participate in the costs
provided in subsection (a) if the roadway or sidewalk meets at least
one (1) of the following requirements:
(1) The roadway or sidewalk is:
(A) reasonably necessary for the safety of the school's
students; and
(B) is:
(i) located on; or
(ii) shares a common boundary with;
the school property.
(2) The roadway or sidewalk is required to connect an
otherwise isolated school to an existing roadway.
Sec. 11. (a) This section does not apply to construction of a Class
1 building or structure for which a design release is required under
675 IAC 12-6.
(b) A school may choose to have a private inspector conduct an
inspection of a school construction project, if the private inspector:
(1) meets the qualifications established by the secretary of
education; and
(2) is not the architect or contractor of the school construction
project.
The unit may not assess a fee or other charge, if a school hires a
private inspector to conduct the inspection.
(c) If the unit does not hire a private inspector, the unit may:
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 11
(1) conduct the inspection or provide for an inspection of the
school construction project; and
(2) assess a fee or other charge for the inspection services.
Sec. 12. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a unit may not
impose a regulation regarding:
(1) building use for educational purposes; or
(2) location or use of an educational facility, including
temporary classroom facilities.
(b) A unit may regulate the location of an educational facility,
if the regulation is necessary to avoid unreasonable risks to health
or safety.
Sec. 13. (a) This section applies only to the regulation of a land
use or structure that is:
(1) owned or operated by the school; and
(2) is not an educational facility.
(b) A unit may not regulate a land use or structure described in
subsection (a) if:
(1) other similar land uses or structures in the same zoning
district are not subject to the same regulation; or
(2) the tax exempt status of the school is a criteria for
prohibiting or regulating the land use or structure.
Sec. 14. A charter school shall be considered a permitted use in
all zoning districts of a unit.
Sec. 15. A land use application for any approval that is required
by a unit for a charter school shall be processed by the unit on a
first priority basis.".
Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1515 as introduced.)
BEHNING
Committee Vote: yeas 7, nays 4.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 12
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career
Development, to which was referred House Bill No. 1515, has had the
same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
Senate with the recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as
follows:
Page 8, delete lines 15 through 42, begin a new paragraph and
insert:
"Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "nonpublic school" has the
meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-12.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "public school" has the meaning
set forth in IC 20-18-2-15(1).
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
town.
Sec. 6. A public school, charter school, or nonpublic school shall
be considered a permitted use in all zoning districts of a unit.
Sec. 7. A land use application for any approval that is required
by a unit for a public school, charter school, or nonpublic school
may not be denied for the sole reason that the requesting entity is
seeking to establish a public school, charter school, or nonpublic
school.".
Delete pages 9 through 10.
and when so amended that said bill do pass and be reassigned to the
Senate Committee on Appropriations.
(Reference is to HB 1515 as printed January 30, 2025.)
RAATZ, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 4.
_____
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to which
was referred Engrossed House Bill No. 1515, has had the same under
consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with
the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 13
(Reference is to EHB 1515 as printed March 21, 2025.)
MISHLER, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 9, Nays 4
_____
SENATE MOTION
Mr. President: I move that Engrossed House Bill 1515 be amended
to read as follows:
Page 1, delete lines 10 through 17.
Delete pages 2 through 3.
Page 4, delete lines 1 through 9.
Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
(Reference is to EHB 1515 as printed April 4, 2025.)
BUCHANAN
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110