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2019 Indiana Legislation Update
The 2019 Indiana legislative session is over. Listed below are the 2019 Indiana bills that applied to some non-public schools and accredited non-public schools. You can click the links for each bill for additional information at iga.in.gov. These bills were passed this session. Bills don’t become law until the Governor signs them, and all bills have not yet been signed yet.
HB1001 (Budget)
This included the 70% voucher tier, increases in the tax credit cap to $15 million next year and $16.5 million in the second year, the addition of a second count date and two voucher windows. There was also an additional $5 million allocated for the Secured School Safety matching grant fund.
HB1004 (School Safety)
Provides that an accredited non-public school may receive a grant from the Indiana Secured School Safety fund. Makes changes to the maximum grant amounts that a school corporation, charter school, accredited non-public school, or coalition of schools may receive from the fund. Establishes minimum grant match percentages necessary to be eligible to receive a grant from the fund. Provides that, before July 1, 2021, each school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school has conducted a threat assessment for each school building used by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school before applying for a fund matching grant. Requires that at least one of the man-made disaster drills that is required to be conducted by each school in a school corporation during each semester must be an active shooter drill and must be conducted within 90 days after the beginning of the school year. Provides that each: (1) accredited non-public school; and (2) charter school; must conduct at least one active shooter drill during each school year.
HB1005 (State Superintendent)
Amends the date on which the office of the state superintendent of public instruction is abolished. Provides for the appointment of the secretary of education by the governor beginning January 11, 2021. (Current law provides that the governor does not appoint the secretary of education until January 11, 2025.) (Signed by the Governor 4/3/19)
HB1225 (Safe Schools)
Provides that school corporations, charter schools, and accredited non-public schools with the sheriff for the county in which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is located, may apply for a grant from the Indiana secured school fund to provide for the initial set up costs for an active event warning system. Requires guidelines published by the department of homeland security to include information about implementing: (1) universal electronic access to school property for law enforcement in all schools within each county; and (2) access to closed circuit cameras from a central location to be used in an emergency situation. (Signed by the Governor 4/18/19)
HB1400 (Deregulation Study)
Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on education during the 2019 through 2022 interims the following: (1) The study of how to: (A) eliminate, reduce, or streamline the number of education mandates placed on schools; and (B) streamline fiscal and compliance reporting to the general assembly on a sustainable and systematic basis. (2) The review of certain provisions relating to professional development, development of policies, reporting requirements, and curriculum requirements of schools.
HB1628 (Pre-K Pilot)
Provides that, after June 30, 2019, in addition to the counties currently participating in the pre-kindergarten pilot program, the program includes eligible providers in any county in Indiana. Amends the definition of an "eligible child". Adds definitions of: (1) "extended enrollment period"; (2) "priority enrollment period"; and (3) "limited eligibility child". Provides that up to 20% of the grants provided may be used to provide grants to limited eligibility children. Provides that, during the priority enrollment period, the office of the secretary of family and social services shall provide grants to eligible children in the program on a first come, first-served basis. Provides that a limited eligibility child may qualify for the grant if the child resides with a parent or guardian who receives Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Requires the office to include certain information in the office's annual report regarding the prekindergarten pilot program. Repeals a provision relating to income eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
HB1629 (Various Ed. Matters)
Contains various different education pieces. Most important to state accredited non-pubs is the section that deals with the admission of non-pub students to Career Tech Ed Centers. The exact language is:
Each governing body must provide equal access to students who attend a charter school or state accredited non-public school utilizing the same admittance practices that are currently in place if the charter school, state accredited non-public school, student, or school corporation (if the student is a dual enrollment student) provides the governing body tuition for the student, which may not be greater than the per capita cost of operating the system of industrial or manual training. However, the admission of a charter school or state accredited non-public school student may not result in the denial of a placement for a student enrolled in the school corporation or an entity established under IC 20-37-1-1.
There is a section dealing with ILEARN accommodations:
The department shall make every reasonable attempt to provide the same voice-to-text, screen reader, or human reader accommodations to a particular student on every section of the statewide assessment program as provided as part of the student's: (1) individualized education program; (2) service plan developed under 511 IAC 7-34; or (3) choice scholarship education plan developed under 511 IAC 7-49. (b) This subsection expires January 1, 2020. The state board shall provide a report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, explaining in detail the extent that: (1) individualized education programs; (2) service plans developed under 511 IAC 7-34; or (3) choice scholarship education plans developed under 511 IAC 7-49 were altered to align to the statewide assessment program.
HB1640 (Accreditation) died at the end of the session. The Senate inserted a creative writing requirement into the accreditation bill. Because in the end the House author and Senate sponsor could not agree, the bill died. **This will make it imperative that any Freeway school whose accreditation expires this year and can not meet current performance standards must immediately apply for the performance waiver. If the school fails to do so, they will lose accreditation and lose their eligibility to participate in any choice program.**
SB2 (School Bus Safety)
This bill deals with a variety of school bus safety issues. Included below are a few sections relevant specifically to non-public schools that operate buses:
Requires a school bus to be equipped with black reflective tape mounted on certain areas of the school bus. Provides that if a school bus is in operation and transporting passengers, the driver of the school bus shall have the daytime running lights illuminated at all times.
Provides that on or before September 1, 2019, and each September 1 thereafter, each school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school that provides transportation for students must review each school's school bus routes and school bus safety policies to improve the safety of students and adults. Provides that a school corporation, charter school, or non-public school (collectively, referred to "qualified school district") with at least one employee may purchase, install, and operate school bus stop arm cameras.
SB132 (Civics)
Provides that as part of the United States government credit awarded for the general, Core 40, Core 40 with academic honors, and Core 40 with technical honors designation, each high school shall administer the naturalization examination provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Requires an enhanced study of the Holocaust in each high school United States history course.
HB1001 (Budget)
This included the 70% voucher tier, increases in the tax credit cap to $15 million next year and $16.5 million in the second year, the addition of a second count date and two voucher windows. There was also an additional $5 million allocated for the Secured School Safety matching grant fund.
HB1004 (School Safety)
Provides that an accredited non-public school may receive a grant from the Indiana Secured School Safety fund. Makes changes to the maximum grant amounts that a school corporation, charter school, accredited non-public school, or coalition of schools may receive from the fund. Establishes minimum grant match percentages necessary to be eligible to receive a grant from the fund. Provides that, before July 1, 2021, each school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school shall certify to the department of homeland security that the school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school has conducted a threat assessment for each school building used by the school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school before applying for a fund matching grant. Requires that at least one of the man-made disaster drills that is required to be conducted by each school in a school corporation during each semester must be an active shooter drill and must be conducted within 90 days after the beginning of the school year. Provides that each: (1) accredited non-public school; and (2) charter school; must conduct at least one active shooter drill during each school year.
HB1005 (State Superintendent)
Amends the date on which the office of the state superintendent of public instruction is abolished. Provides for the appointment of the secretary of education by the governor beginning January 11, 2021. (Current law provides that the governor does not appoint the secretary of education until January 11, 2025.) (Signed by the Governor 4/3/19)
HB1225 (Safe Schools)
Provides that school corporations, charter schools, and accredited non-public schools with the sheriff for the county in which the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school is located, may apply for a grant from the Indiana secured school fund to provide for the initial set up costs for an active event warning system. Requires guidelines published by the department of homeland security to include information about implementing: (1) universal electronic access to school property for law enforcement in all schools within each county; and (2) access to closed circuit cameras from a central location to be used in an emergency situation. (Signed by the Governor 4/18/19)
HB1400 (Deregulation Study)
Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on education during the 2019 through 2022 interims the following: (1) The study of how to: (A) eliminate, reduce, or streamline the number of education mandates placed on schools; and (B) streamline fiscal and compliance reporting to the general assembly on a sustainable and systematic basis. (2) The review of certain provisions relating to professional development, development of policies, reporting requirements, and curriculum requirements of schools.
HB1628 (Pre-K Pilot)
Provides that, after June 30, 2019, in addition to the counties currently participating in the pre-kindergarten pilot program, the program includes eligible providers in any county in Indiana. Amends the definition of an "eligible child". Adds definitions of: (1) "extended enrollment period"; (2) "priority enrollment period"; and (3) "limited eligibility child". Provides that up to 20% of the grants provided may be used to provide grants to limited eligibility children. Provides that, during the priority enrollment period, the office of the secretary of family and social services shall provide grants to eligible children in the program on a first come, first-served basis. Provides that a limited eligibility child may qualify for the grant if the child resides with a parent or guardian who receives Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Requires the office to include certain information in the office's annual report regarding the prekindergarten pilot program. Repeals a provision relating to income eligibility requirements to participate in the program.
HB1629 (Various Ed. Matters)
Contains various different education pieces. Most important to state accredited non-pubs is the section that deals with the admission of non-pub students to Career Tech Ed Centers. The exact language is:
Each governing body must provide equal access to students who attend a charter school or state accredited non-public school utilizing the same admittance practices that are currently in place if the charter school, state accredited non-public school, student, or school corporation (if the student is a dual enrollment student) provides the governing body tuition for the student, which may not be greater than the per capita cost of operating the system of industrial or manual training. However, the admission of a charter school or state accredited non-public school student may not result in the denial of a placement for a student enrolled in the school corporation or an entity established under IC 20-37-1-1.
There is a section dealing with ILEARN accommodations:
The department shall make every reasonable attempt to provide the same voice-to-text, screen reader, or human reader accommodations to a particular student on every section of the statewide assessment program as provided as part of the student's: (1) individualized education program; (2) service plan developed under 511 IAC 7-34; or (3) choice scholarship education plan developed under 511 IAC 7-49. (b) This subsection expires January 1, 2020. The state board shall provide a report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, explaining in detail the extent that: (1) individualized education programs; (2) service plans developed under 511 IAC 7-34; or (3) choice scholarship education plans developed under 511 IAC 7-49 were altered to align to the statewide assessment program.
HB1640 (Accreditation) died at the end of the session. The Senate inserted a creative writing requirement into the accreditation bill. Because in the end the House author and Senate sponsor could not agree, the bill died. **This will make it imperative that any Freeway school whose accreditation expires this year and can not meet current performance standards must immediately apply for the performance waiver. If the school fails to do so, they will lose accreditation and lose their eligibility to participate in any choice program.**
SB2 (School Bus Safety)
This bill deals with a variety of school bus safety issues. Included below are a few sections relevant specifically to non-public schools that operate buses:
Requires a school bus to be equipped with black reflective tape mounted on certain areas of the school bus. Provides that if a school bus is in operation and transporting passengers, the driver of the school bus shall have the daytime running lights illuminated at all times.
Provides that on or before September 1, 2019, and each September 1 thereafter, each school corporation, charter school, or accredited non-public school that provides transportation for students must review each school's school bus routes and school bus safety policies to improve the safety of students and adults. Provides that a school corporation, charter school, or non-public school (collectively, referred to "qualified school district") with at least one employee may purchase, install, and operate school bus stop arm cameras.
SB132 (Civics)
Provides that as part of the United States government credit awarded for the general, Core 40, Core 40 with academic honors, and Core 40 with technical honors designation, each high school shall administer the naturalization examination provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Requires an enhanced study of the Holocaust in each high school United States history course.
Graduation Pathways and Policies
Below is the 4-page Graduation Pathways and Graduation Pathways - Policy Guidance. If you have any questions or would like an update regarding the new Graduation Pathyways, please contact Mr. Kenny Roll, Administrator at Tabernacle Christian School, 2189 Burton Lane, Martinsville, IN 46151, by email kroll@mbttcm.org or phone (765) 349-5950.
| Graduation Pathways - Final |
| Graduation Pathways - Policy Guidance |
AACS Achievement Testing Program Update for 2018-19
Reminders About the AACS Achievement Testing Program
- Updated order forms and program guides are now posted on the AACS website.
- Use the 2018-19 Test Materials Order Form to order test materials and use the 2018-19 Scoring Services Order Form to order scoring services when answer documents are sent back to the AACS for scanning.
- The 2019 AACS Achievement Testing Program Guide has been updated and placed on the AACS website. Each school should download a copy of this guide for staff reference.
- Use the 2018-19 Test Materials Order Form to order test materials and use the 2018-19 Scoring Services Order Form to order scoring services when answer documents are sent back to the AACS for scanning.
- Please note that the AACS Office, including the Scoring Center, has moved. The new address is 6170 Shallowford Road, Suite 103, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
- Please note the following important dates for the achievement testing program:
- November 1, 2019—Last day to order materials without incurring a 3% late fee
- March 18, 2019—Testing window opens
- April 26, 2019—Testing window closes
- May 15, 2019—Answer documents sent back to the AACS Office must be postmarked by this date. Answer documents received after this date will incur a 5% late fee ($35 minimum).
- Supplemental Content Classification Guides are posted on the AACS website. This is a great new resource that Iowa developed at our request. The guides provide relevant core content standards for levels 5–14 (Grades K5 through 8th) in the areas of math and language arts.
- Iowa Assessments™ Individual and Group Performance Profile reports are now available digitally in “Scoring Service Print Style” format directly from the DataManager Report Center. These long-popular reports display test scores by skill domain and cognitive level using convenient graphs and narrative text for ease of interpretation. Skill domain achievement reports such as the performance profiles enable educators to identify strengths and weaknesses, inform instruction, and monitor growth. These reports are also included in the Iowa Report Package B on the 2018-19 Scoring Services Order Form.
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