Contact: Lindsey Ross, Senior Press Secretary
Lindsey.Ross@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
STATEHOUSE (April 11, 2019) – A bill sponsored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) that would allow certain work-based learning and career and technical education (CTE) to replace required courses needed in order to receive a high school diploma recently passed the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development by a vote of 9 to 1.
House Bill 1404 would allow a high school to count work-based learning or CTE courses approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE), state educational institutions or other entities approved by the state, as satisfying requirements for a Core 40 with Academic Honors Diploma, if the courses are of equal or greater rigor.
“Providing our students with career preparation opportunities while they are in high school is important in order to start them on a path to success,” Raatz said. “Allowing work-related and CTE courses to fulfill a diploma requirement would help incentivize students to take these classes, gain skills and expose them to the workforce.”
HB 1404 would also require the SBOE to create new metrics for measuring school performance before July 1, 2022. These new metrics may include things such as graduation rates and the successful admission of students into a postsecondary educational institution without the need for remediation.
The bill will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Raatz, click here.
