Open States

HB 1427

Indiana House Bill

Various education matters. Eliminates references to the "buddy system project" in provisions relating to an income tax credit for computer equipment donations. Changes the registration deadline for school bus owners that are not school corporations from July 29 to September 28. Provides that after May 15, 2013, the state board of education (state board) may take no further actions to implement as standards for the state or direct the department of education (department) to implement any common core standards until the state board conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the common core standards. Provides that, before July 1, 2014, the state board shall adopt college and career readiness educational standards. Provides that the state board shall implement educational standards that use the common core standards as the base model for academic standards to the extent necessary to comply with federal standards to receive a flexibility waiver. Provides that, before July 1, 2013, the department shall provide a written evaluation of the common core standards to the state board and the chairperson of the legislative study committee established to study the common core standards and other standards. Provides that the legislative council shall establish a legislative study committee to study issues relating to common core standards or other standards. Requires the state board to secure an opinion from the office of management and budget concerning the fiscal impact to the state and school corporations if the state board: (1) fully implements the common core standards; or (2) discontinues the implementation of the common core standards. Requires the state board to hold at least three public meetings. Requires the department to administer ISTEP assessments during the 2013-2015 biennium. Provides that, after June 30, 2013, the state, or the state board on behalf of the state, may not enter into or renew an agreement with any organization, entity, group, or consortium that requires the state to cede any measure of autonomy or control of education standards and assessments, including cut scores. Provides that the geographic boundary of an educational service center's region must, to the extent possible, be aligned with the boundary of a regional works council's region. Replaces the definition of "textbook" with a definition of "curricular materials". Provides that the department shall determine the process for evaluating the curricular materials' alignment to academic standards and the appropriateness of the reading level of the curricular materials. Requires the department to describe the method used to evaluate curricular materials. Makes changes to the type of curricular subject matter that the department must review to show that the curricular material is aligned to academic standards. Repeals the requirement that a superintendent of a school corporation forward a list of the curricular materials selected by the superintendent. Abolishes the following programs and entities concerning various education matters: (1) Technology apprenticeship grant program. (2) Education consultant for health and physical education. (3) Corporation for educational technology. (4) Principal leadership academy. (5) School grant writing and fund raising assistance program. (6) School intervention and career counseling development program advisory board. (7) Technology Preparation Task Force. (8) Research and development program concerning various studies and evaluations. (9) Department of education review of professional development programs. (10) Readiness testing. (11) Student services programs. (12) Teacher quality and professional improvement program. (13) Projects on Innovative Education. (14) Committee on educational attitudes, motivation, and parental involvement. (15) ISTEP program citizens' review committee. (16) Twenty-first century schools pilot program. (17) Anti-gang counseling pilot program and fund. Requires the state board to provide for reviews to ensure the validity and reliability of the ISTEP program. Replaces the ambassador for education program with provisions that allow a teacher of the year to serve one year of professional leave with the department of education or a postsecondary educational institution. Requires school bus inspectors to attach to the bus a certificate of inspection and document the certification in the school bus inspection data base. Resolves a conflict in IC 20-28-9-1, which was amended in P.L.229-2011, SEC. 175 (HEA 1001-2011) and repealed by P.L.48-2011, SEC. 39 (SEA 575- 2011). Repeals a provision that requires a school corporation to compile class size data for kindergarten through grade 3 and report the data to the department for purposes of maintaining the primetime program. Requires a school corporation to annually compile class size data for kindergarten through grade 3 and report the data to the department by a date established by the department. Repeals the innovative testing methods pilot program. Provides that the department may not establish criteria for a nonpublic school to be eligible for recognition for the school's performance that are different from criteria used for a public school of the same grade levels. Adds parent members to an academic standards committee. (Currently, the committee is made up of educators in the subject area that is being revised.) Provides that if a school has appealed the school's performance designation and the school's designation changes, the department must change the designation in the department's records, notify the school, and disseminate information concerning the change in the same manner as the information concerning the school's designation was disseminated. Provides that a parent may request a rescoring of a student's responses on any statewide assessment that the student is required to complete. Provides that the state board may require assessments in addition to ISTEP assessments for secondary students. Provides that the state board shall establish a number of categories using an "A" through "F" grading scale, to designate performance based on the individual student academic performance and growth to proficiency in each school. Provides that not later than November 15, 2013, the state board shall establish new categories or designations of school performance which must be based on a measurement of individual student academic performance and growth to proficiency and may not be based on a measurement of student performance or growth compared with peers. Makes conforming changes. Makes technical corrections.