Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 34
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-28-5-19.7.
Synopsis: Literacy endorsement. Provides that the department of
education may not renew a practitioner license or an accomplished
practitioner license issued to an individual unless the individual
receives a literacy endorsement by completing 40 (instead of 80) hours
of evidence based professional development. Removes written
examination requirements to receive a literacy endorsement for
individuals renewing a practitioner license or an accomplished
practitioner license. Provides that the state board of education may not
require certain individuals to take or pass a written examination to be
eligible to receive a literacy endorsement.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Leising, Glick, Becker
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
2025 IN 34—LS 6262/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
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 34
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 20-28-5-19.7, AS AMENDED BY THE
2 TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL OF THE 2025 GENERAL
3 ASSEMBLY, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
4 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 19.7. (a) Not later than July 1, 2024, the state
5 board shall establish and require a literacy endorsement for individuals
6 first licensed after June 30, 2025, to teach a content area involving
7 literacy instruction, including special education, in prekindergarten
8 through grade 5.
9 (b) Except as provided in section 19.8(a) 19.8 of this chapter,
10 beginning July 1, 2027, the department may not renew a practitioner
11 license or an accomplished practitioner license, or a comparable license
12 under prior rules, issued to an individual who, based on the content
13 area for which the individual is licensed, including special education,
14 provides literacy instruction to students in prekindergarten through
15 grade 5 unless the individual receives a literacy endorsement under this
16 section.
17 (c) To be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement, an individual
2025 IN 34—LS 6262/DI 110 2
1 described in subsection (a) must meet the following:
2 (1) Complete eighty (80) hours of evidence based professional
3 development that is:
4 (A) aligned to the science of reading;
5 (B) provided by an organization that is:
6 (i) accredited by the International Dyslexia Association; or
7 (ii) aligned with Knowledge and Practice Standards for
8 Teachers of Reading (KPS) as determined by the
9 department; or
10 (C) approved by the department.
11 (2) Demonstrate proficiency in scientifically based reading
12 instruction skills aligned to the science of reading on a written
13 examination or through other procedures prescribed by the
14 department in accordance with this section.
15 (d) To be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement, an
16 individual described in subsection (b) must complete forty (40)
17 hours of evidence based professional development that is:
18 (1) aligned to the science of reading;
19 (2) provided by an organization that is:
20 (A) accredited by the International Dyslexia Association;
21 or
22 (B) aligned with Knowledge and Practice Standards for
23 Teachers of Reading (KPS) as determined by the
24 department; or
25 (3) approved by the department.
26 (d) (e) The eighty (80) hours of evidence based professional
27 development required under subsection (c)(1) (c) or (d) must provide
28 individualized and on demand support. The evidence based
29 professional development required under subsection (c)(1) (c) or (d)
30 must:
31 (1) promote explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction as the
32 primary approach to literacy instruction;
33 (2) align with both word recognition and language
34 comprehension;
35 (3) promote an understanding of how language, reading, and
36 writing relate to each other;
37 (4) promote strategies for differentiated instruction for:
38 (A) students with:
39 (i) reading difficulties; or
40 (ii) disabilities; and
41 (B) English language learners;
42 (5) focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,
2025 IN 34—LS 6262/DI 110 3
1 and comprehension; and
2 (6) allow participants to implement the strategies into a classroom
3 environment with the opportunity for feedback throughout the
4 professional development experience.
5 (e) (f) The written examination required under subsection (c)(2)
6 shall ensure the individual demonstrates the ability to:
7 (1) effectively teach foundational reading skills, phonemic
8 awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension;
9 (2) implement reading instruction using high quality instructional
10 materials aligned to the science of reading; and
11 (3) provide effective instruction and interventions for students
12 with reading deficiencies.
13 (f) (g) The department shall approve and provide the evidence based
14 professional development necessary for an individual to receive a
15 literacy endorsement under this section.
16 (g) (h) The department shall establish the procedure for an existing
17 teacher to add the literacy endorsement established under this section
18 to the teacher's license.
19 (i) The state board may not require an individual described in
20 subsection (b) to take or pass a written examination to be eligible
21 to receive a literacy endorsement under this section.
22 (h) (j) The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to do the
23 following:
24 (1) Adopt, validate, and implement the examination or other
25 procedures required by subsection (c)(2).
26 (2) Establish examination scores indicating proficiency.
27 (3) Otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.
2025 IN 34—LS 6262/DI 110