INDIANAPOLIS — In the last few weeks, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has received letters from top state universities including Purdue, Southern Indiana, IU, and Vincennes urging it to reconsider the planned updates to be made to high school graduation requirements. The majority of the IDOE’s board members are appointed by the governor.

Among the universities’ concerns is that the new standards slash learning hours dedicated to math, science, social studies, and foreign language, as well as the dissolution of honors programs. As a result, graduating high schoolers may not meet admission requirements needed to continue into higher education. 

Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun called for these changes back in March, when he claimed that Indiana’s education focused too little on career readiness, calling for widespread changes.

Improving career readiness should not mean eliminating the option of university enrollment. Employers want a workforce which is educated and prepared for the world and the workplace. Students should have a fair and equal opportunity to pursue the future they see for themselves, without undue influence from Braun or other Republicans. 

There has also been pointed criticism slamming the bare-bones requirements from Democratic legislators such as State Representatives Chris Campbell and Mike Andrade, and State Senators Shelli Yoder and J.D. Ford.

“Watching Braun push for these changes is incredibly frustrating because the only thing they succeed in doing is giving our high schoolers a less robust educational experience that fails to prepare them for the rigors of university if that’s what they choose to pursue,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl.

“Hoosier students should be able to consider every avenue open to them and every opportunity available. To rob them of that is to rob them of their futures, which no state should force on its people.”

“To combat this, we must elect career educators Jennifer McCormick and Terry Goodin this November, because they stand for the best possible education to grow opportunities for every child’s future.”