Ind. Code ch. 20-30-8.5

in effect

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-1 Application

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to the following school corporations: (1) Richmond Community Schools. (2) Metropolitan School District of Washington Township Schools. (3) Metropolitan School District of Warren Township Schools. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.11-2023, SEC.65.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-2 "Eligible student"

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, an "eligible student" means a student who has completed less than fifty percent (50%) of the required number of credits necessary to graduate upon entering the student's fourth year of high school or any subsequent semester. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-3 "Program"

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the high school equivalency pilot program established by section 6 of this chapter. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-4 "Provider"

Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "provider" means a current grantee receiving WIOA Title II money from the department of workforce development and that provides academic instruction and education services at the elementary or high school level that: (1) include adult education, literacy activities, workplace activities, English language acquisition activities, integrated English literacy and civics education, workforce preparation activities, or integrated education and training; (2) transition to postsecondary education and training; and (3) provide an ability to obtain employment. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.32-2021, SEC.57.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-5 "WIOA"

Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "WIOA" refers to the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-6 High school equivalency pilot program established; purpose; graduation cohort; participation

Sec. 6. (a) The high school equivalency pilot program is established. The purpose of the program is to allow an eligible student to enroll in a program to earn a high school equivalency. (b) An eligible student who successfully completes the program within two (2) years shall be removed from the graduation cohort and will no longer be counted as a dropout. (c) Not more than five percent (5%) of a participating school's cohort may participate in the program at one (1) time. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-7 Participate in lieu of graduation requirements

Sec. 7. An eligible student may participate in the program in lieu of meeting the graduation requirements in IC 20-32-4-1.5. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-8 Program requirements

Sec. 8. In addition to successfully achieving the eligible student's high school equivalency, an eligible student shall: (1) demonstrate employability skills through a: (A) project based learning experience; (B) service based learning experience; or (C) work based learning experience; and (2) complete one (1) of the following: (A) A certification class approved by the department of workforce development. (B) Indiana specific college ready benchmarks set by the commission for higher education that meet or exceed college ready benchmarks set by the college board and ACT. (C) Completion of the ASVAB and enlistment and service in one (1) of the branches of the armed forces of the United States. (D) Entry into an apprenticeship program recognized by the state that includes a post secondary credential upon completion. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.32-2021, SEC.58.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-9 Contracting with a provider for services; requirements

Sec. 9. (a) A school corporation may contract with a provider to provide services for the program. However, the program may not receive money from WIOA Title II or state appropriated adult education funding. If contracting with a provider, the school corporation shall ensure the following: (1) The provider is a WIOA Title II funded organization. (2) Teachers provided by the provider hold a current teaching license from any state, and teachers of core subjects are qualified in the subjects to which they are assigned. (3) The provider has provided one (1) or more dropout recovery or high school equivalency programs and testing for at least two (2) years prior to providing a program under this section. (b) All contracts entered into by a school corporation and a provider shall include requirements for the protection of all personally identifiable student information that shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-10 Funding the program; public hearing; use of state tuition support

Sec. 10. (a) If a school corporation decides to participate in the program, the school corporation shall fund the program from the school corporation's budget or from: (1) gifts, donations, and bequests; (2) grants, including federal grants and grants from private entities; (3) funds from any other source; and (4) a combination of the resources described in subdivisions (1), (2), and (3). (b) Not later than sixty (60) days after the identification of the source of the funds, the governing body of a school corporation shall conduct a public hearing at a location within the school corporation to present and discuss the source of the funds. The governing body may conduct the meeting in conjunction with a regular meeting of the governing body. (c) The school corporation may only use state tuition support received for a student who participates in the program or funds donated to the program to administer the program. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-11 Student of adult education center or adult high school prohibited from participating

Sec. 11. If an eligible student enrolled in a school corporation participates in the program, the eligible student may not be a student of an adult education center (as described in IC 22-4.1-20) or an adult high school (as defined under IC 20-24-1-2.3). As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-12 Report regarding the program

Sec. 12. Not later than July 1, 2021, and not later than July 1 of each year thereafter, participating school corporations shall submit a report to the general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 concerning the program that includes the following: (1) The number of students eligible for the program. (2) The number of eligible students who participated in the program. (3) The number of credits upon entry to the program. (4) The number of eligible students who successfully achieved their high school equivalency through the program. (5) A list of credentials earned upon completion of the program. (6) Information concerning: (A) eligible student: (i) job placement outcomes; and (ii) matriculation into higher education; and (B) any other information concerning outcomes; as of one (1) year and two (2) years after successful completion of the program. (7) Recommendations on improvements to the program. (8) An estimated cost to each school corporation for the program. (9) To the extent possible, the use of the funding received by the school corporation for an eligible student participating in the program during the previous school year and metrics of student achievement and demographics, including: (A) the amount of funding received that was used for each course or program of instruction included in the program; (B) the amount of funding received that was used for transportation costs for students who participate in the program; (C) the amount of funding received that was used for any other purposes relating to the cost of education for an eligible student who participated in the program; and (D) metrics of eligible student achievement and demographic information for those eligible students who participated in the program during the previous school year, including a comparison to the metrics of student achievement and demographic information for those students who were not participants in the program. (10) Any other relevant consideration. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.32-2021, SEC.59.

Ind. Code § 20-30-8.5-13 Expiration

Sec. 13. This chapter expires June 30, 2028. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.150-2024, SEC.34; P.L.27-2026, SEC.3.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026