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LEISING: Bill to help more students obtain a college degree moves to the governor's desk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kellyn Harrison, Press Secretary
Kellyn.Harrison@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498

Leising: Bill to help more students obtain a college degree moves to the governor's desk

STATEHOUSE (March 7, 2024) — A bill authored by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) that would help more Indiana students obtain a higher education degree will now move to the governor's desk for final consideration.

Senate Enrolled Act 8, which is on the governor's 2024 Next Level Agenda, would:

  • Require each Indiana high school to offer the Indiana College Core or submit a college core feasibility report to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) starting the 2025-26 school year;
  • Allow a high school student who successfully completes a college core course to apply the credit toward their graduation requirements;
  • Require a high school students' transcript to reflect the credit once they complete a college core course; and
  • Require each state higher education institution to review their bachelor's degree programs to determine whether they could be completed in three years by a full-time student.

"CHE's most recent college-going report states only 53% of 2021 high school seniors enrolled in college, which is an 11% decline from 2016," Leising said. "This drop is due in part to seniors being concerned about the cost and long-term commitment a four-year degree requires. Senate Enrolled Act 8 would work to alleviate students' concerns while still ensuring they receive a high-quality education in high school and college."

To track bills on the governor's desk, click here.

To learn more about these and other bills Leising is working on this session, click here.

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State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) represents Senate District 42, which includes Decatur, Fayette, Ripley and Rush counties, and portions of Franklin, Jennings and Shelby counties.

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