STATEHOUSE (July 9, 2025) – Gov. Mike Braun recently ceremonially signed new education laws authored and sponsored by State Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) to update school accountability metrics, streamline regulations and processes and boost efficiency.
House Enrolled Act 1002, a House Republican priority bill authored by Behning, removes outdated, unnecessary and duplicate text in Indiana's education statutes to help schools with compliance and give them more control over local decisions. Behning said the new law reduces Indiana's education code by nearly 10 percent.
"Cleaning up our education regulations will make them easier for teachers and administrators to understand and give them more time to focus on providing quality academics for our children," said Behning, chair of the House Education Committee.
Hoosier K-12 schools have not issued letter grades since 2020 because of the pandemic. Through Behning's House Enrolled Act 1498, A-F grades will resume to ensure high standards for schools and the State Board of Education will determine needed changes for school metrics so the framework is current and emphasizes educational improvement.
"From an online database tracking graduation rates and student metrics to revamping high school diplomas to provide more options, Indiana's education leaders have been working hard to strengthen our academic offerings and provide more information to families," Behning said. "By bringing back letter grades, we can give officials and parents a more accurate picture of how their schools are performing."
Senate Enrolled Act 448, sponsored by Behning, gives the Indiana Commission for Higher Education additional oversight over academic programs at public colleges and universities to ensure they align with market needs and fuel economic growth through a workforce-ready talent pipeline.
Additionally, Behning sponsored Senate Enrolled Act 373. The new law shifts authority to accept federal funds for educating children with disabilities and oversight of the Division of Special Education from the SBOE to the Indiana Department of Education. The IDOE already handles federal compliance for laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and with the state serving more than 180,000 students with disabilities, Behning said the agency is better positioned to oversee national mandates as well as optimize resource allocation and promote equitable access to services.
To learn more about these and other new laws signed by the governor, click here.
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State Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) represents House District 91,
which includes a portion of Marion County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Mike Braun (seated) ceremonially signs into law legislation authored by State Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) (third from left) to reinstate letter grades for Hoosier K-12 schools and update Indiana's education metrics on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Statehouse. Others pictured include law sponsor State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) (far left), law co-sponsor State Sen. Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) (second from right), State Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger) (far right) and Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner (second from left).
