Indiana Legislators Propose Sweeping Changes to Our Schools

It’s the start of the new year and the Indiana General Assembly is back in session. Our state legislature has 1257 newly proposed bills to be amended, passed, or left behind in session. These bills, split between the Indiana House and Senate chambers, have the potential to greatly influence our lives– especially our school and our school corporation. We have identified a minimum of 31 bills that if passed, could see drastic changes to how our schools operate. 

The first set of bills we have identified fall under issues with respect to chronic absenteeism; Senate Bill 319, Senate Bill 482, House Bill 1201, and Senate Bill 16. These bills amend current protocols regarding Student absences, for example Senate Bill 319 requires school corporations to create a comprehensive list on students that the bill outlines as, “chronically absent” or a student who is enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 and is absent at least 10% of school days during a school year for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences. This is in order to coerce schools to develop better systems of intervention and tracking chronic absenteeism. However, they point to reducing student discipline related to student absenteeism, in order to focus on developed intervention strategies rather than suspension or expulsion.

While the first set of bills are directed at reducing punishment to students, the second set of bills focuses on respect to bullying and threats within schools and increasing their repercussions.Senate Bill 308, Senate Bill 359, House Bill 1210, House Bill 1405, and House Bill 1539. An ongoing problem within Indiana schools and outlined in Senate Bill 308, is with the threats made against our schools and the bullying within them. Senate Bill 308 states that any, “Person who communicates a threat with intent” against any non-consenting person, building, property, or vehicle will be subject to a Level 6 felony. This bill greatly affects the consequences of intimidation in order to attempt to rectify the danger within Indiana schools.The other set of bills follow a similar course, further defining what it means to be a bully and refines the punishment for those that follow the definition.

In this day and age physical punishment is not common in public schools like LHS, however there is no direct law against said punishment. One of these bills aimed at rectifying the tradition’s old form of punishment, that being corporal punishment in schools. SB 531 touches on this topic, which would effectively ban this practice in schools. Unbeknownst to many in Indiana, this law has died in committee for Educational and Career Development.

Religion in our schools and even our government is a hot topic, especially between party lines. Many U.S States have made the effort to introduce Christianity into their public schools. For example Oklahoma has pledged to put bibles into all of its schools. Indiana has proposed something similar to that effect– in a six-lined bill mandating that all school libraries and classrooms place a “durable poster or framed picture representing the text of the Ten Commandments.” However, HB 1231 died in the Committee on Education, but despite this bill’s death SB 523, dictates the ability for public and private schools to hire or recruit a volunteer to become a, “School Chaplin.” A role that is able to provide Ssecular advice, guidance, and support services– as well as nonsecular services. The bill states that all communications, with exceptions, are confidential under law.

Many of the bills proposed in our Indiana legislature have been or will be abandoned, either on the floor or in committees. While these bills may no longer be in effect, it is still important to stay informed about the legislation our lawmakers write to represent our interests. We must know whether the people we elect continue to represent us after the polls, so we, as informed voters, can hold them accountable for their actions.