Education matters., the official text

First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)

PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
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 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
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a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

  HOUSE ENROLLED ACT No. 1499

   AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

   SECTION 1. IC 20-30-5.6-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.202-2023,
SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. (a) During each school year, a school that is a
high school must hold, during regular school hours, at least one (1)
career fair.

   (b) A school may satisfy the requirement of this section by hosting
or participating in a:

      (1) joint career fair involving at least one (1) other school if
      transportation to the joint career fair; or
      (2) career fair that is not on school property if transportation
      to the career fair;
is provided to every student in grade 11 and grade 12.
   SECTION 2. IC 20-32-8.5-2, AS AMENDED BY THE
TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL OF THE 2025 GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the
plan required by this chapter must include the following:
      (1) Reading skill standards for grade 1 through grade 3.
      (2) A method for making determinant evaluations by grade 3 that
      remedial action is required for a student, including:

         (A) except as provided in subsections (c) and (g), beginning
         with evaluations administered during the 2024-2025 school

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         year, and except as provided in subsection (c), retention of the
         student in grade 3 if the student has not achieved a passing
         score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved
         by the state board after the student has had an opportunity to
         retake the determinant evaluation at least twice in the
         summer; and
         (B) the use of curricular materials and supplemental materials
         aligned to the science of reading that are designed to address
         deficiencies in reading;
      after other methods of remediation have been evaluated or used,
      or both, if reading skills are below the standard. Appropriate
      consultation with parents or guardians must be part of the plan.
      (3) A requirement that schools notify a student's parent of the
      following:
         (A) The student's assessment results regarding skill level in:

            (i) phonemic awareness;
            (ii) phonics;
            (iii) fluency;
            (iv) vocabulary; and
            (v) comprehension.
         (B) The student's assessment results on the determinant
         evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board.
         (C) Any intervention provided to the student or any remedial
         action taken.
      (4) A requirement that schools monitor the progress of students
      who failed to achieve a valid passing score on the:
         (A) determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the
         state board; or
         (B) statewide assessment program test.
      (5) A requirement that schools provide reading instruction that
      includes a core reading program aligned with the science of
      reading to all students in kindergarten through grade 8.
      (6) A requirement for the administration of the determinant
      evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board to
      students in grade 2.
      (7) A requirement that all students take the determinant
      evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board until the
      student:
         (A) receives a passing score, regardless of the student's grade
         level; or
         (B) enters grade 7.
      (8) A requirement that a school report the following to the

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      department:
         (A) The literacy interventions that will be used for students in
         grade 2 who are at risk of not being reading proficient and
         students in grade 3 who do not achieve a valid passing score
         on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by
         the state board.
         (B) The literacy interventions in use before the adoption of the
         plan for students in grade 2 who are at risk of not being
         reading proficient and students in grade 3 who do not achieve
         a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading
         skills approved by the state board.
         (C) The literacy interventions in use before the adoption of the
         plan for students who do not achieve a valid passing score on
         the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the
         state board.
         (D) The number of students being served by the interventions
         described in clauses (B) and (C).
         (E) The cost of providing the interventions described in
         clauses (B) and (C).
         (F) Any other information requested by the department.

      (9) Requirements for a school in which fewer than seventy
      percent (70%) of students of the school achieved a valid passing
      score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by
      the state board that must include the following:

         (A) Use of curriculum that is:
            (i) based on the science of reading; and
            (ii) approved by the department.

         (B) Employment of the following:
            (i) Before July 1, 2025, an instructional coach who is trained
            in the science of reading, as determined by the department.
            This item expires January 1, 2026.
            (ii) After June 30, 2025, an instructional coach with a
            literacy related endorsement who is trained in the science of
            reading.

         (C) Use of only benchmark, formative, interim, or similar
         assessments that:

            (i) show alignment with Indiana's academic standards; and
            (ii) are approved by the department.
         (D) Use of a screener procured under IC 20-32-5.1-17(j).
      (10) The fiscal impact of each component of the plan, if any. In
      determining whether a component has a fiscal impact,
      consideration shall be given to whether the component will

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      increase costs to the state or a school corporation or require the
      state or school corporation to reallocate resources.
   (b) A school may receive a waiver of the requirements provided in
511 IAC 6.2-3.1-4(a)(2) if the state board approves an alternative
reading plan provided by the school.
   (c) Except as approved by the department under subsection (g),
a student who would otherwise be subject to retention in grade 3 under
the plan is not subject to the retention requirement only if the student
meets one (1) of the following criteria:
      (1) The student was subject to retention and has been retained in
      grade 3 for one (1) school year.
      (2) The student has an intellectual disability or the student's
      individualized education program specifies that retention is not
      appropriate, and the student's case conference committee has
      determined that promotion to another grade is appropriate.
      (3) The student is an English learner who has received services
      for fewer than two (2) years and a committee consisting of:

         (A) the student's parent;
         (B) a building level administrator or designee;
         (C) a classroom teacher of service;
         (D) an English learner teacher of record, if one exists; and
         (E) an English learner district administrator, if one exists;
      determines that promotion is appropriate based on the
      implementation of research based instructional practices outlined
      in the student's individual learning plan.
      (4) The student received a score of proficient or above proficient
      in grade 3 math on the statewide summative assessment.
      (5) The student:
         (A) has received intensive intervention as determined by the
         department in reading for two (2) or more years; and
         (B) was retained more than one (1) time throughout
         kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2.
   (d) A student who is not subject to the retention requirement as
provided under subsection (c) must be provided with additional
reading instruction that is aligned with the science of reading until the
student achieves a passing score on the determinant evaluation of
reading skills approved by the state board.
   (e) This subsection applies after June 30, 2024. Before October 1 of
each school year, the department shall:
      (1) identify each incoming student (as defined in section 0.7 of
      this chapter) enrolled in kindergarten in a school in Indiana; and
      (2) notify the parent or guardian of the student of the retention

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      requirement under this chapter for grade 3 students who do not
      achieve a passing score on the Indiana reading evaluation and
      determination (IRead3).
   (f) The department shall establish a standard reporting process and
reporting window for schools to report students who qualify for an
exemption under subsection (c).
   (g) The department shall establish a registration process for
schools to exempt an English language learner who:
      (1) does not achieve a passing score on the determinant
      evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board; and
      (2) attends a school that has a student population comprised
      of at least fifty percent (50%) of English language learners in
      grade 3, as determined by the department;
from compliance with the requirements under subsection (a)(2)(A)
until the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. This subsection
expires July 1, 2028.
   SECTION 3. IC 21-16-2-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.37-2020,
SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. An agreement entered into under this chapter
must:
      (1) provide for employment by the eligible employer of eligible
      students and eligible secondary school students:

         (A) for a minimum average of twelve (12) ten (10) hours per
         week; and
         (B) a maximum average of:

            (i) twenty (20) hours per week, if the student is enrolled in
            courses at the time of employment; or
            (ii) forty (40) hours per week if the employment occurs
            during the summer term;
      (2) provide for the reimbursement, to the extent possible under
      the then current biennial appropriation, by the state to the
      employer of at least fifty percent (50%) of the federal minimum
      hourly wage for each hour worked by the student for the
      employer;
      (3) provide that any work performed by a student under this
      chapter must not result in the displacement of employed workers
      or impair existing contracts for services;
      (4) provide that any work performed by a student under this
      chapter shall not involve any partisan or nonpartisan political or
      sectarian activities;
      (5) provide that wage rates must be established by the eligible
      employer, but must not be less than the current federal minimum

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      wage rate; and
      (6) contain any other provisions necessary to carry out this
      chapter.

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Speaker of the House of Representatives

President of the Senate

President Pro Tempore

Governor of the State of Indiana

Date:                             Time:

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