For schools in the state of Indiana, the new high school diploma requirements have been unanimously approved by the Indiana State Board of Education. These changes made to the diploma requirements are “…designed to maximize the four years of high school and better connect students to their future goals,” according to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). Even though much of the diploma plan is ready, the new diploma requirements will not take effect until the class of 2029, or students currently in eighth grade.
Though the new diploma track is aimed to give students more unique classes tailored to their interests, every student has minimum course requirements to graduate. Apart from the new diploma requirements, there are also achievements called Readiness Seals which students can earn within their pathway. This new diploma track is meant to also provide increased flexibility and course options for earning credits in core areas of a student’s interests.
People had been allowed to request courses and pitch course ideas for the new diploma plan via a form to critique changes the IDOE was trying to make. These criticisms are reviewed by officials and brought up in actual hearings about the important decisions regarding these diploma changes. This process was used to make sure anyone who may have something to say on the change gets a chance, even if they could not attend an actual hearing.
The new diploma requirements are in response to a few needs the IDOE sees are necessary. Fewer students in Indiana are enrolling in higher education, and even fewer are graduating. According to the IDOE only 76 percent of students say they plan on attending higher education after high school, while the actual percentage that ends up attending is closer to 53 percent. The state says students are also graduating without the skills to acquire rewarding career opportunities after high school.
The IDOE states “58% of Indiana jobs require skills training beyond high school, but not a four-year degree. Just 47% of students have access to the skills training necessary to fill these in-demand careers.”
The current system leads students who plan to enlist in the military to find out that they are disqualified too late in the process. The IDOE explains on their website that 2022 was the worst year for the military all-volunteer force.
Lastly, the rate of absenteeism ramps up as students get to grades nine through twelve. By the time Indiana students get to grade 12, the chronic absenteeism is at a high of 33 percent, as per the IDOE site. That is the highest percentage throughout all of the 13 grades in Indiana’s schooling.
These diploma changes plan to allow students to focus more on their interests and follow a path that prepares them for a certain career path they are wanting to go into when they get out of high school.