*ES0255.3*
April 9, 2025
ENGROSSED
SENATE BILL No. 255
_____
DIGEST OF SB 255 (Updated April 9, 2025 11:42 am - DI 152)
Citations Affected: IC 20-28; IC 20-33.
Synopsis: Education matters. Requires the department of education
(department) to grant an initial practitioner license to an individual
who: (1) holds a bachelor's degree with a major in any combination of
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; (2) successfully
completes a total of at least nine academic credits regarding certain
instruction in teaching; and (3) meets other specified requirements.
Provides that the department may grant a license to teach a high school
level course to an individual who completes a licensure pathway
(Continued next page)
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Deery, Rogers, Johnson T, Ford J.D.,
Yoder
(HOUSE SPONSORS — DAVIS, CULP)
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
January 23, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
January 27, 2025, read second time, ordered engrossed. Engrossed.
January 28, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 49, nays 0.
HOUSE ACTION
March 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
March 27, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
April 1, 2025, referred to Committee on Education pursuant to Rule 126.2.
April 9, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 Digest Continued
established by the department. Changes certain requirements regarding
the reporting of a bullying "incident" to the reporting of a bullying
"investigation". Requires discipline rules to include: (1) provisions to
make a reasonable attempt to notify the parents of the involved students
that the school is investigating a possible incident of bullying or similar
misconduct before the end of the next school day after the school
becomes aware of the possible incident; and (2) timetables for
reporting the conclusion of a bullying investigation to the parents of
both the targeted student and the alleged perpetrator in an expedited
manner that is before the end of the following school day after the
conclusion of the investigation.
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 April 9, 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
SENATE BILL No. 255
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 20-28-5-12, AS AMENDED BY P.L.243-2023,
2 SECTION 10, AND BY P.L.245-2023, SECTION 9, IS AMENDED
3 TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 12. (a)
4 Subsection (b) does not apply to an individual who:
5 (1) held an Indiana limited, reciprocal, or standard teaching
6 license on June 30, 1985; or
7 (2) is granted a license under section 12.5, 16.5, or 18 of this
8 chapter.
9 (b) Except as provided in section sections 12.5 and 16.5 of this
10 chapter, the department may not grant an initial practitioner license to
11 an individual unless the individual has demonstrated proficiency in the
12 following areas on a written examination or through other procedures
13 prescribed by the department:
14 (1) Pedagogy.
15 (2) Knowledge of the areas in which the individual is required to
16 have a license to teach.
17 (3) If the individual is seeking to be licensed as an elementary
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 2
1 school teacher, comprehensive scientifically based reading
2 instruction skills aligned to the science of reading.
3 (c) An individual's license examination score may not be disclosed
4 by the department without the individual's consent unless specifically
5 required by state or federal statute or court order.
6 (d) Subject to section 22 of this chapter, the state board shall adopt
7 rules under IC 4-22-2 to do the following:
8 (1) Adopt, validate, and implement the examination or other
9 procedures required by subsection (b).
10 (2) Establish examination scores indicating proficiency.
11 (3) Otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.
12 (e) Subject to section 18 of this chapter, the state board shall adopt
13 rules under IC 4-22-2 establishing the conditions under which the
14 requirements of this section may be waived for an individual holding
15 a valid teacher's license issued by another state.
16 SECTION 2. IC 20-28-5-16.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
17 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
18 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16.5. (a) The department shall
19 grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who meets the
20 following requirements:
21 (1) The individual holds a bachelor's degree with a grade
22 point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited
23 postsecondary educational institution with a major in any
24 combination of the following:
25 (A) Science.
26 (B) Technology.
27 (C) Engineering.
28 (D) Mathematics.
29 (2) The individual successfully completes a total of at least
30 nine (9) academic credits in courses that include instruction
31 on the following:
32 (A) High impact practices in:
33 (i) lesson planning;
34 (ii) instructional design;
35 (iii) instructional activities;
36 (iv) integrating learning modalities; and
37 (v) developing laboratory experiments.
38 (B) The use of:
39 (i) digital media;
40 (ii) learning management software; and
41 (iii) technology to maximize learning.
42 (C) Teaching:
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 3
1 (i) inductive and deductive reasoning;
2 (ii) metacognition;
3 (iii) problem framing;
4 (iv) interpreting results; and
5 (v) data based decision making.
6 (D) Best practices to evaluate student learning through:
7 (i) diagnostic assessment;
8 (ii) direct and indirect assessment; and
9 (iii) formative and summative assessment.
10 (E) Creating feedback loops.
11 (F) Fostering engagement and using peer to peer learning
12 and other small group strategies.
13 (G) Providing constructive feedback and preventing
14 disruptive behavior.
15 (H) Early intervention strategies and professional
16 standards.
17 (I) Teaching students with disabilities.
18 (3) The individual demonstrates proficiency through a written
19 examination in the knowledge of the areas in which the
20 individual is required to have a license to teach, as described
21 in section 12(b)(2) of this chapter.
22 (4) The individual holds a valid cardiopulmonary
23 resuscitation certification from a provider approved by the
24 department.
25 (5) The individual has attended youth suicide awareness and
26 prevention training.
27 (6) The individual participates in one (1) or more of the
28 following, as determined by the department:
29 (A) Job shadowing.
30 (B) Field experiences.
31 (C) Teaching cooperatives.
32 (D) Full-term student teaching.
33 (b) An individual who receives an initial practitioner license
34 under this section:
35 (1) may only teach in any combination of grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
36 10, 11, or 12, as determined by the department;
37 (2) shall be treated in the same manner as an individual who
38 receives an initial practitioner license after completing a
39 traditional teacher preparation program; and
40 (3) must be treated in the same manner as a traditional
41 teacher preparation program graduate during the transition
42 from an initial practitioner license to a practitioner license.
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 4
1 (c) The state board may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to
2 administer this section.
3 SECTION 3. IC 20-28-5-29 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
4 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
5 1, 2025]: Sec. 29. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the
6 department may grant a license to teach a high school level course
7 to an individual who completes a licensure pathway established by
8 the department.
9 (b) A licensure pathway established by the department under
10 subsection (a) must be aligned to a course content area that is part
11 of student diploma requirements established by the state board
12 under IC 20-19-2-21.
13 SECTION 4. IC 20-33-8-13.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.238-2023,
14 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
15 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 13.5. (a) Discipline rules adopted by the
16 governing body of a school corporation under section 12 of this chapter
17 must:
18 (1) prohibit bullying; and
19 (2) include:
20 (A) provisions concerning education, parental involvement,
21 and intervention;
22 (B) a detailed procedure for the expedited investigation of
23 incidents of bullying that includes:
24 (i) appropriate responses to bullying behaviors, wherever the
25 behaviors occur;
26 (ii) provisions for anonymous and personal reporting of
27 bullying to a teacher or other school staff;
28 (iii) provisions that require a school to prioritize the safety
29 of the victim;
30 (iv) timetables for reporting the conclusion of a bullying
31 incidents investigation to the parents of both the targeted
32 student and the alleged perpetrator in an expedited manner
33 that is not later than five (5) business days before the end
34 of the next school day after the incident is reported;
35 conclusion of the investigation;
36 (v) timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to school
37 counselors, school administrators, the superintendent, or law
38 enforcement, if it is determined that reporting the bullying
39 incident to law enforcement is necessary;
40 (vi) discipline provisions for teachers, school staff, or school
41 administrators who fail to initiate or conduct an
42 investigation of a bullying incident; and
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 5
1 (vii) discipline provisions for false reporting of bullying; and
2 (viii) provisions to make a reasonable attempt to notify
3 the parents of the involved students that the school is
4 investigating a possible incident of bullying or similar
5 misconduct before the end of the next school day after
6 the school becomes aware of the possible incident; and
7 (C) a detailed procedure outlining the use of follow-up
8 services that includes:
9 (i) support services for the victim; and
10 (ii) bullying education for the alleged perpetrator.
11 (b) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) may be applied
12 regardless of the physical location in which the bullying behavior
13 occurred, whenever:
14 (1) the individual committing the bullying behavior and any of the
15 intended targets of the bullying behavior are students attending a
16 school within a school corporation; and
17 (2) disciplinary action is reasonably necessary to avoid substantial
18 interference with school discipline or prevent an unreasonable
19 threat to the rights of others to a safe and peaceful learning
20 environment.
21 (c) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) must prohibit
22 bullying through the use of data or computer software that is accessed
23 through a:
24 (1) computer;
25 (2) computer system;
26 (3) computer network; or
27 (4) cellular telephone or other wireless or cellular
28 communications device.
29 (d) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) must include
30 policies to allow a parent of a child in the school corporation to review
31 any materials used in any bullying prevention or suicide prevention
32 program.
33 (e) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) may include
34 provisions to determine:
35 (1) the severity of an incident of bullying; and
36 (2) whether an incident of bullying may warrant the transfer of the
37 victim or the alleged perpetrator to another school in the school
38 corporation.
39 (f) This section may not be construed to give rise to a cause of
40 action against a person or school corporation based on an allegation of
41 noncompliance with this section. Noncompliance with this section may
42 not be used as evidence against a school corporation in a cause of
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 6
1 action.
2 (g) A record made of an investigation, a disciplinary action, or a
3 follow-up action performed under rules adopted under this section is
4 not a public record under IC 5-14-3.
5 (h) The department shall periodically review each policy adopted
6 under this section to ensure the policy's compliance with this section.
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 7
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career
Development, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 255, 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.
(Reference is to SB 255 as introduced.)
RAATZ, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0
_____
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Education, to which was referred
Senate Bill 255, 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 3, line 20, delete "." and insert ", as described in section
12(b)(2) of this chapter.".
Page 3, line 34, after "grades" insert "5,".
Page 4, between lines 1 and 2, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 3. IC 20-28-5-29 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]: Sec. 29. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the
department may grant a license to teach a high school level course
to an individual who completes a licensure pathway established by
the department.
(b) A licensure pathway established by the department under
subsection (a) must be aligned to a course content area that is part
of student diploma requirements established by the state board
under IC 20-19-2-21.".
Page 6, line 17, delete "before the end of the" and insert "or similar
misconduct before the start of the next school day after the school
becomes aware of the possible incident; and".
Page 6, delete lines 18 through 19.
Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110 8
(Reference is to SB 255 as printed January 24, 2025.)
BEHNING
Committee Vote: yeas 9, nays 0.
_____
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Education, to which was referred
Engrossed Senate Bill 255, 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 4, delete lines 13 through 42.
Page 5, delete lines 1 through 36.
Page 6, line 15, strike "not later than five (5) business days" and
insert "before the end of the next school day".
Page 6, line 25, after "notify" insert "the parents of the involved
students that the school is investigating a".
Page 6, delete lines 26 through 27.
Page 6, line 29, delete "start" and insert "end".
Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to ESB 255 as printed April 1, 2025.)
BEHNING
Committee Vote: yeas 10, nays 0.
ES 255—LS 6741/DI 110