Every August Hoosier kids head back to school and into classrooms across the state. This year, several new laws and programs are in effect to help students stay focused in the classroom and expand career learning opportunities.
Indiana remains dedicated to providing students opportunities to receive specialized training and apprenticeships for high-demand, high-paying jobs. Since 2023, Indiana has offered expanded high school diploma options tailoring requirements toward students' post-graduation goals. This allows apprenticeships and work-based learning experiences to count toward both high school diploma credits and job training hours. Since the law took effect, Indiana has established more than 22,000 active apprenticeships and ranks fourth nationally. A law passed this year ensures students are entitled to the same workers' compensation as full-time employees, promoting extended protections for experiential learning opportunities.
Additionally, Senate Enrolled Act 78 further reduces classroom distractions and encourages students to remain focused by requiring schools to prohibit student use of wireless communication devices during the school day. Teachers will still be allowed to use school-provided devices for lessons and reasonable exemptions for emergencies and medical needs will give schools the flexibility to develop their device policies as needed.
House Republicans also took steps to reduce the number of regulations schools must navigate so they can focus more on educating our children in House Enrolled Act 1004, and passed social media protections for Hoosier minors.
To learn more about these new laws and others the General Assembly passed to improve education outcomes for Hoosier students, visit iga.in.gov.
