Editor’s note: This proposal is outdated. See officials’ latest proposals introduced on Aug. 14.
State education officials are revealing more details about their plan to rework Indiana high school graduation requirements. The officials recently submitted a detailed proposal of what courses students would need to graduate amid a push to create more flexible diploma paths that encourage teens to seek more workforce experience in high school.
Teachers and parents have asked state education officials for more specificity after they first presented a broad framework of changes earlier this spring. Early reaction shows this new roadmap leaves unaddressed some educators’ concerns about academic rigor as recent proposals show no requirement for classes such as world history and foreign language.
Officials’ latest proposal, submitted last month to the Indiana Register, kicks off a public comment period as Indiana Department of Education leaders look to revise this first draft of their plan. A final draft of diploma changes is not expected until the winter and new requirements would begin with the class of 2029, or this year’s class of incoming eighth graders.
Mirror Indy created a guide to these proposals breaking down which courses and activities students might need to complete to graduate. Keep checking back with Mirror Indy for updates as officials revise their proposals.
This guide was last updated at 4 p.m. July 12, 2024
How to earn an Indiana high school diploma
To graduate, all Indiana high school diploma seekers would need to complete all of the following foundational skills:
Academic mastery
- Four credits of science
- Two must be in biology
- Two must be in physical science, life science or Earth and space science
- Four credits of math
- Two must be in algebra
- If a student earns math credit before ninth grade, they must still take four math credits in high school
Career and postsecondary readiness
- One credit in career preparedness
- Complete at least three of the following:
- A career aptitude test
- Work-based learning
- A virtual or in-person college visit approved by the student’s school or a career fair
- A dual-credit or enrollment course
- A career or postsecondary readiness activity approved by the state
Communication and collaboration
- Four credits in English
- Two of these must be in English 9
- Four verifications
- One verification must be external and align with ninth and 10th grade standards
Work ethic
- Two credits in physical education or health and wellness
- Complete at least three of the following:
- An attendance rate of at least 94% in the ninth and 10th grades
- A 3% increase in a student’s attendance rate between ninth and 10th grade
- Two seasons of a co-curricular or extracurricular activity
- A 3.0 GPA by the time a student enters 11th grade
- 160 hours of paid employment
- A work ethic activity approved by the state
Civic, financial and digital literacy
- Two credits in U.S. history
- One credit in U.S. government
- One credit in personal finance
- One credit in computer science
- One external verification of one of the following:
- digital literacy aligned to state standards
- financial literacy aligned to state standards
- civic literacy aligned to state standards
PLUS, students would need to meet requirements for one of the following diploma types:
Indiana GPS Diploma
Earn 20 points from the following:
- One point for each math credit
- One point for each English credit
- One point for each science credit
- One point for each world language credit
- One point for each fine arts credit
- One point for each social studies credit
- One point for every 60 hours of work-based learning
- One point for each dual-credit course
- One point for an Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International course
- Three points for achieving a college ready benchmark score on the SAT or ACT
- Four points for completing a JROTC program
- Four points for completing a career and technical education concentrator
- Four points for earning an industry recognized or a postsecondary credential
Four of these points must be English credits and two must be math credits. No more than two points can be earned through work-based learning.
Demonstrate college or career readiness by completing both:
- A project-based, work-based or service-based learning experience
-and-
- At least one of the following postsecondary readiness competencies:
- Score at or above the national college ready benchmark on the SAT
- Score at or above the national college ready benchmark on the ACT
- Earn a qualifying score on the ASVAB exam and show intent to enlist in the military
- Earn an industry recognized or postsecondary credential approved by state officials
- Complete a federally recognized apprenticeship
- Earn at least a “C” average in at least three AP, IB, dual-credit or Cambridge International courses
- Complete a state board approval and locally created pathway
Indiana GPS Diploma Plus
Complete a work-based learning experience
The state defines this as an experience that involves an employer assigning a student meaningful job tasks to help develop skills, knowledge and work readiness. The experience would include a work agreement between the student and their employer, a structured learning component and a final assessment or recognition of skills.
Demonstrate college and career readiness with one of the following:
- Earning an industry recognized or postsecondary credential approved by state officials
- Completing a modern youth apprenticeship
- Earning the AP Scholar with Distinction award
- Earning the Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma
- Completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
- Completing the Indiana College Core
- Completing the requirements for an associate degree
Additionally, students could choose, but would not be required, to earn one or more of the following seals, details for which are still forthcoming:
Enrollment Ready Seal
Officials are expected to develop requirements in consultation with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. The seal is expected to help students meet the minimum entrance requirements for enrollment at most state educational institutions.
Employment Ready Seal
State officials are expected to develop the requirements of this seal in consultation with business leaders across multiple industries. Officials say this seal will show students are ready to enter the workforce.
Enlistment Ready Seal
State officials are expected to develop the requirements of this seal in consultation with the Indiana National Guard. Officials say this seal will help show students are ready to enter careers in the military.
How to share feedback
The state’s current public comment window is open through July 30. Educators, parents, business leaders and community members can share their feedback on the IDOE’s website.
Feedback can also be provided in person. The Indiana State Board of Education meets at 9 a.m. July 17 in the Indiana Government Center South in Conference Room B. Education department officials will also take feedback in a public hearing at 10 a.m. July 30 in the Indiana Government Center South in Conference Rooms Four and Five.
Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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