Teachers speak out against Indiana high school diploma redesign proposal

INDIANAPOLIS — Many teachers from across the state spoke out against proposed changes to the state’s high school diploma requirements at the latest State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting on Wednesday.

”I believe these changes are a step in the wrong direction,” Gianna Mirowski with the Hammond Area Career Center said. ”By altering these requirements, we risk diluting the quality of education our students receive.”

Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said the diploma redesign (which includes two new diplomas) will help students personalize their career path whether they want to enroll, enlist, or enter the workforce.

”The key is that students see the relevance in their high school experience and can be better set up for pathways ahead that make the best sense for their unique goals,” Jenner said.

But several educators said the proposal could force 7th and 8th grade students to decide what they want their high school career to look like.

”Middle schoolers are not mature enough to choose a specific educational path,” Shaina Liv Terano, a middle school orchestra teacher, said.

”[Students] can basically change once, and if they don’t discover that until they’re a junior or senior, they may not be able to change pathways and still graduate,” Jennifer Smith-Margraf, the Vice President of the Indiana State Teachers Association, said.

One of the proposed new diplomas (called the “GPS Diploma Plus”) requires students to complete a work-based learning requirement. However, several teachers said that work-based learning focus overshadows the importance of providing students with a well-rounded, comprehensive education.

”If [students] cannot take those electives that are what their passion is, we worry about what that means for the absenteeism rates that we are already seeing difficult issues with,” Smith-Margraf said.

One high school special education teacher said the diploma redesign, if approved, could also overwhelm already overworked school counselors.

”When you have two guidance counselors for 600 students, who is going to help them through all these decision-making processes?” Stacy Kurdelak of Renssalaer Central High School asked.

Another public hearing will take place July 30^th to discuss more feedback. Jenner said the second draft proposal is expected to be released in August, and that the final draft must be completed by the end of this year. The final changes are expected to go fully into effect starting with the Class of 2029.