INDIANAPOLIS — In the last few weeks, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has received letters from top state universities including Purdue, the University of Southern Indiana, IU, and Vincennes urging it to reconsider the planned updates to be made to high school graduation requirements. On Aug 14th, the IDOE proposed a new plan that reverses many of the changes first proposed. However, it does not take back the tax dollars and time wasted on a proposal that failed to meet the basic requirements from Indiana’s state-funded universities.

The majority of the IDOE’s board members are appointed by the governor. 

The revised requirements out today return the honors options, but still reduce social studies credit hours needed, and makes foreign language optional for the non-honors diploma tracks. Most colleges around the country require language learning. It also would keep students from the extra benefits they would earn in the military for knowing multiple languages.

Among the concerns raised by local school districts and state colleges is that the original proposed changes to diploma standards slashed 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 would not meet requirements needed to continue into higher education or be successful in the workforce.

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 bolster, not eliminate 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 with robust education that prepares them for the military, the workforce, or higher education.

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.

“Twenty years of Republican control in state government has failed our local public schools, raised taxes on Hoosier families, and lowered the quality of life in Indiana,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl. “Hoosiers won’t forget that Mike Braun encouraged the disastrous proposed changes to diploma requirements through his comments earlier this year.”

“When Hoosiers elect Jennifer McCormick as Indiana’s next governor, our students, educators, and parents will have a champion in the Statehouse. We must give our students a robust education that prepares them for the workforce, military, or university enrollment, and expand opportunity and options for lifelong success.”