The Indiana Department of Education made significant changes to a proposed high school diploma overhaul on Wednesday, including offering just one baseline diploma for all graduates.
The announcement follows waves of criticism from Hoosier teachers, parents and students over earlier diploma proposals that would broadly exclude certain course requirements, like those in history, foreign language and fine arts.
Officials at multiple Indiana colleges and universities additionally warned that the previously proposed high school diplomas would not meet university admission requirements.
The new diploma model — discussed by the State Board of Education during its monthly meeting on Wednesday — has reversed those concerns, earning support from leadership at Ball State, Indiana, Indiana State and Purdue universities, as well as Ivy Tech Community College.
Under the updated draft, students can earn “readiness seals” for enrollment, employment or enlistment that correspond with their future path of continued higher education, workforce or military service.
Each readiness category has two possible seals — honors and honors plus.
The baseline diploma differs slightly from the current Core 40 diploma, requiring 42 credits instead of 40. Students can choose classes above that to meet the separate seal requirements.
Depending on the type of schedule a student is on, they can earn between 56 and 64 credits.
Breaking down the six seals
Coursework options, as well as approved work-based learning and apprenticeships, can translate to achieving seals.
If a student wants to go to a four-year college, they would generally need the enrollment honors seal, according to IDOE officials. The requirements for that seal equate to the existing academic honors diploma, which 35% of students are currently earning.
Those working toward the enrollment honors seal would take additional world languages, social studies, math and science credits. Students will need to earn a C or higher in all courses and certain marks on AP or other college exams.
To go one step further, the enrollment honors plus seal would require students to earn an associate’s degree or similar credential, in addition to 100 hours of work-based learning.
If a student wants to move directly to the workforce, they would likely target an employment honors seal.
For that option, they would need a market-driven credential or three career and technical education courses; 100 hours of work-based learning, skill development and meeting an attendance goal.
An employment honors plus seal would add additional credentials or degrees and increase the work-based learning hours to 650.
Seals are optional, but students who earn one will automatically satisfy the Graduation Pathways requirements — which must be completed in order to receive a high school diploma.
What happens next
State education officials said the diploma plan will be published in the state register, which will trigger a new 30-day comment period. During that window, the state education board is expected to hold several in-person hearings. Comments can also be submitted online.
Changes can still be made after the comment period and before final adoption by the board, however.
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.
This story will be updated.
By Casey Smith — The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, not-for-profit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
