Hoosiers have until Nov. 8 to comment on the second draft of Indiana’s high school diploma redesign, the state Department of Education said Wednesday.
The revised draft, originally presented in August, is more streamlined and simplified in response to public feedback, according to a DOE release.
Per a state law, the second draft was published Wednesday in the Indiana Register, which kicked off the comment period.
Parents, educators, community members and other stakeholders are invited to provide feedback via Jotform, an online survey tool.
In-person feedback can be made during a State Board of Education public hearing at 9 a.m. (CST) Nov. 8 in the Indiana Government Center South Conference Room B, in Indianapolis.
After the State Board of Education received an initial draft of the diploma changes in March, the public comment period drew more than 8,000 online comments as well as hours of public testimony.
Many of the comments focused on the disappearance of the state’s honors diploma with many state college officials saying the diploma wouldn’t meet their admission standards.
Teachers and parents also complained the diploma draft lacked flexibility and choice.
The state’s newest draft, endorsed by several universities, calls for one base diploma, instead of two in the previous version.
The base diploma would require 42 credits, up from 40. It would go into effect with the Class of 2029.
In the newest draft, students can earn “readiness seals” aligned with their chosen career pathway with plus versions signifying job certifications, or work-based learning hours as required for each diploma seal.
The seals provide additional credits between 56 and 64 for pathways including college, employment, or enlistment. Each readiness category has an honors and honors plus seal.
The honors plus seal requires students to earn an associate’s degree in addition to 100 hours of work-based learning.
The others include an employment honors seal for students heading immediately into the workforce. It requires technical courses and 100 hours of work-based training.
Students who earn any of the seals will satisfy the graduation pathway requirement for a diploma.
State law requires the SBOE to adopt the new high school diploma rule by Dec. 31.
The online Jotform survey link is: https://t.ly/2SpiZ.
For more information, visit: www.in.gov/doe/diplomas.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
