As state education officials pump the brakes on a plan to overhaul Indiana’s high school diplomas, concerns from Hoosier teachers, students and families are mounting over the proposed graduation requirements.

With the deadline fast approaching for the State Board of Education (SBOE) to finalize the changes, state leaders are asking for more statewide feedback — including what’s expected to be a lengthy public forum scheduled for next week.

Although the original plan was for the state board to vote on the new diplomas in September, Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said at a board meeting last week that — in response to feedback received already — the process is slowing down, at least somewhat.

Jenner said the board will hear a revised draft proposal at the August meeting, followed by a second round of feedback, including a public hearing, before the board releases a final proposal.

Under a law passed by Indiana legislators in 2023, the state must adopt new diploma requirements by December. 

Schools could choose to opt in and start offering the new diplomas as early as the 2025-26 academic year. The new diplomas will take effect for all Hoosier students beginning with the Class of 2029, who are entering eighth grade this fall.

Paramount to the new plan, according to state officials, is maximized “flexibility” for students to personalize learning pathways and experiences, including with college courses taken while still in high school, as well as the ability to count internships, apprenticeships, military experience and other work-based learning toward their graduation requirements.

While the plan answers repeated calls for the state’s curriculum to better prepare students for post-high school employment and boost the state’s declining college-going rate, the draft plan has garnered increasing criticism for its exclusion of certain course requirements, like those in history, foreign language and fine arts.

Some educators are also worried about plans to eliminate the current Academic Honors diploma, linked to college-going.

What’s proposed, so far?

Currently, Hoosier students can work toward one of numerous diploma designations, including the general, Core 40, academic honors, or technical honors options. Some schools additionally offer the International Baccalaureate diploma, which is dependent on successful completion of specific assessments and examinations during grades 11 and 12.

State education officials conceded that the existing diploma system is outdated and confusing for both parents and students. Jenner previously said it especially lacks options for students to get hands-on training or earn high-value credentials, given the various course requirements. The move now, however, is to be less “course-obsessed.”

As laid out in the proposal, Indiana’s future diplomas would include the “Indiana GPS Diploma” — a more flexible, personalized version of the current Core 40 diploma — and the “Indiana GPS Diploma Plus.”

Three transcript seals added to their diplomas would allow students to show they’re ready for enrollment, employment or enlistment.

Ron Sandlin, the state education department’s senior director of school performance and transformation, said the proposed seals would focus on readiness — but not eligibility. Each seal track would have required courses, and students could earn multiple seals and apply seals to both diploma types.

Students, parents, teachers push back

But students and parents expressed worries about the model during last week’s SBOE meeting, which lasted more than four hours.

That included a trio of Hamilton Southeastern High School students who pleaded for state education leaders to keep fine arts courses as part of the diplomas’ foundational skills requirements.

All rising seniors and members of the high school’s marching band, each highlighted the benefits of music education and asked that marching band, jazz band, symphony, orchestra, drama and choir be considered co-curricular classes — which could count towards foundational graduation requirements — rather than extracurricular activities.

“I can vouch that the skills I learned through playing my instrument every day during marching camp actually gave me more resources and time to grow my abilities compared to my classmates that did not participate in those extra activities,” said Kayla Wease, a 17-year-old senior at Hamilton Southeastern.

Dylan Balka, another of the students, further asked the board to count band activities as work-based learning experiences under the new diploma requirements for juniors and seniors.

“Without the fine arts program,” he said, “I wouldn’t have as strong of a dedication for anything else in my life.”

Separately ,numerous foreign language teachers have spoken against the lack of credits awarded to students who take foreign language courses under the new proposal. Many colleges require foreign language credits or entry.

And parents like Leslie Wells, whose two children attend Perry Township schools, said they’re concerned that requirements under the “GPS Diploma Plus” won’t be attainable for many students.

“Dual credit AP honors courses require more work inside and outside the classroom,” Wells said at last week’s SBOE meeting. “Adding work-based learning requirements on top of that makes it impossible. … If there’s concern about forcing non-college-bound students to take college-ready courses, we should have an equal concern about forcing college-bound students to fulfill these workplace learning requirements.”

Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, additionally called for board members to create diplomas that prepare non-college-bound students, but still offer an equivalent to the current academic honors diploma for those who want to pursue higher education.

Doing so, she said, ensures those students are “competitive applicants for university admissions and prospective scholarships.”

“Our state desperately needs well-rounded, comprehensive diplomas that encourage our youth to be critical thinkers. Students who want to work after graduation must be introduced to skilled trade apprenticeships and employment opportunities. However, we must continue to foster excitement about the arts,” Klinker, a former teacher, said in a statement. 

“I fear our smaller, public high schools will be forced to cut some arts and humanities classes. They are severely underfunded, and if these classes are not required, they are on the cutting block,” she continued. “Let’s give our Hoosier youth the best chance in life by inspiring them to be professionally ambitious and passionately creative.”

How Hoosiers can weigh in

Hoosiers are invited to offer a first round of online feedback through July 30. So far, the state has received more than 6,300 digital feedback submissions.

An in-person public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. the same day in Conference Rooms Four and Five of the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis.

SBOE officials emphasized earlier this month that all comments given online will be reviewed and weighed equally as those provided in-person.

Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, has additionally scheduled a town hall meeting for Friday to discuss the restructuring of Indiana’s high school diploma system.

The meeting, open to the public, will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kennedy Library, located at 1700 W. McGalliard Road in Muncie.

In a news release, Errington said the proposed plan “would completely erase” the state’s existing diplomas and reduce requirements for multiple subjects — “entirely restructuring high school education as we know it.”

She cautioned that there is no academic honors diploma under the plan and said neither of the proposed diplomas’ baseline requirements meet admissions requirements for Ball State University — located in her district — or other in-state universities.

“I have received an outpouring of concern from House District 34 parents and educators about the proposed diploma redesign,” Errington said in a statement. “I hope to see you at a public listening session so you can get your questions answered and share your thoughts on the proposal with stakeholders.”

Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers, is also holding two public listening sessions for district constituents to learn about and discuss the proposal. One focused on Carmel Clay Schools and Washington Township Schools took place Monday evening, and another — from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on July 29, in the Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers — will center around the Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation.

“I have received an outpouring of concern from House District 32 parents and educators about the proposed diploma redesign,” Garcia Wilburn said in a news release. “People move to House District 32 for our great public schools that set students up for success in life, success in higher education and success in their careers. The focus of this plan on career training at the expense of rigorous academic coursework is threatening to derail our district public high schools’ track record of success.”

Indiana Pacers young forward Jarace Walker was one of five players named to the NBA 2K25 All-Summer League Second Team on Monday.

The team is designed to honor some of the best players during 2024 summer league play in Las Vegas. The First Team designates the top performers while the second team — which includes Walker — rewards the next-best five.

Walker is joined by Bub Carrington, Donovan Clingan, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Jalen Wilson on the squad. Despite being on the second team, Wilson — who plays for the Brooklyn Nets — took home summer league MVP honors.

Prior to summer league beginning, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle detailed the many things he hoped to see from Walker in the summer tune ups, with conditioning and physicality being on the top of the list. The second-year forward has the frame to be a bruising, and effective, defensive player.

The Houston product was selected eighth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft but didn’t play much during his rookie season. General manager Chad Buchanan talked about summer league being an important week for Walker in terms of his path to possible rotation minutes in the future. Walker was up for it with his production.

He finished the summer tune ups with averages of 18 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Turnovers (5.5 per night) were a problem, as were some defensive lapses, but Walker was productive and looked like a second-year lottery pick on the floor, which was important.

Walker was playing on the wing, which is something he was exploring for the first time. “I just want to continue to grow and develop my game. And I feel like this is the perfect opportunity to do it,” Walker said before the games began. “Being able to showcase what I can do with players who are hungry, coming into the league, ready to hoops, ready to get after it. So it’s definitely a fun experience. My mindset is just continue to grow, develop, get better.”

He wanted more from himself after his first outing, in which he had 25 points, six rebounds, and four assists. But he had a bunch of turnovers and fouls that he hoped to clean up. “Definitely had a lot of turnovers. Definitely cut down on that. Feel like I’ve got to rebound better. Shot selection was decent,” Walker said of that performance. “Overall, just like a decent game. Next game will be better.”

By the end of summer league, his game looked more refined, and he had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in his final outing. Now, summer league is over, and Walker will look to keep getting better during the offseason.

The 2024 All-Summer League First Team is made up of GG Jackson II, Jordan Miller, Scotty Pippen Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Kel’el Ware.

Indiana voters, political donors and candidates will surely be impacted by President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 election. But the question is how? 

Does Biden, who won the Indiana presidential primary election, have to appear on the ballot this November? If not Biden, then who? And what will be the impact for those who donated to the campaign or who are running for elected office in Indiana? 

State Affairs has the answers to these questions and more. Here’s how Biden’s decision will impact the upcoming general election in Indiana. 

Does Biden have to appear on the general election ballot? 

No. 

Angie Nussmeyer, the Democratic co-director of the Indiana Elections Division, told State Affairs the deadline to certify a presidential nominee to her division is noon Sept. 10. 

“The Democratic Party’s ticket [president/vice president] will be certified to us by the Indiana Democratic Party’s state chair,” Nussmeyer said. “There is no state law that requires the person who won a major party’s primary election be the only candidate that can be certified to the state to appear on the November ballot as the party’s ticket.”

In fact, Indiana law specifies that even if Biden had dropped out after this deadline, votes cast for him would be considered votes cast for whomever the party named as his successor. 

The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office confirmed these facts in a Monday news release, noting  that counties also have until Sept. 16 to print ballots. 

The Sep. 10 deadline falls after the Democratic National Convention, which will take place Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Democrats are expected to name a new candidate slate at the convention. 

Some Republicans, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, have said Democrats will face lawsuits at the state level due to the proposed change. 

“Every state has their own election system, and the Democrat party will face legal challenges in trying to remove Biden from the top of the ticket,” Johnson said in a Sunday evening X post. 

Marc Elias, an attorney who represents national Democrats in election matters, said in his own X post that the new nominee will appear on the ballot in every state. 

“There is no basis for any legal challenge,” Elias said. 

Who will be the new nominee? 

Vice President Kamala Harris is the clear frontrunner. She benefits from already having been a part of the presidential ticket in 2024 and 2020, and Biden endorsed her on his way out of this year’s race. 

She was also endorsed by a host of other high-profile Democrats, including Secretary of Transportation and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. 

Others may opt to challenge Harris at the convention. Ultimately, Democratic National Convention delegates — including the 79 making the trip from Indiana — will select the next nominee. 

What happens to Biden’s campaign money? 

Harris, who was part of Biden’s campaign committee as his running mate, has already filed with the Federal Election Commission to assume control of the account. 

Saurav Ghosh, the director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, told U.S. News & World Report that campaign finance rules would not allow Biden’s account to be passed on to another candidate if Harris is not the nominee. Rather, the campaign would have to either refund donors or transfer the money to the Democratic National Committee, which could spend on behalf of a new candidate. 

Donors may request a refund from any campaign committee through the FEC’s website. 

Will this affect down-ballot races in Indiana? 

There would not appear to be any direct impact on local and statewide candidates, but Biden dropping out may have other effects.

Speaking with State Affairs about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick’s chances in 2024, Laura Merrifield Wilson, an associate professor in the Department of History and Political Science at the University of Indianapolis, said what’s happening at the presidential level can  influence voter turnout and campaign fundraising for Indiana’s down-ballot races. 

A new nominee may encourage or discourage voter turnout for state Democrats, who are seeking to flip a U.S. Senate seat and the governor’s mansion, among other races in largely Republican-controlled Indiana. 

Contact Rory Appleton on X at @roryehappleton or email him at [email protected].