IndianaSB 373First Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2025)Senate

Various education matters.

Sponsored By: Jeff Raatz (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Provides that the department of education (department) is the proper authority to accept federal funds appropriated to aid in the education of children with disabilities (current law provides that the state board of education is the proper authority). Removes the member of the Indiana Transportation Association from the list of nonvoting members on the state school bus committee. Provides that an individual seeking an initial practitioners license through an alternative certification path must successfully complete an applicable teacher licensing exam as approved by the state board of education (board) (current law requires the successful completion of a Praxis Subject Assessment). Provides that summer school funding may be differentiated based on the course or length of time of the program. Moves the establishment of the division of special education from the board to the department. Changes certain duties for the secretary of education and the director of special education. Provides that the department may suspend or terminate the certification of a scholarship granting organization if the department establishes that the organization has not granted a scholarship within certain time frames.

education and career developmentthe houseeducation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Inactive scholarship groups risk losing certification

Indiana's Department of Education can suspend or end certification for scholarship groups that award no school scholarships for three consecutive years. It can also act when a group awards none within its first two years as a certified organization. These activity rules do not directly change families' scholarship eligibility or award amounts.

New standards for alternative teacher licenses

Alternative-route teacher candidates must pass an applicable licensing exam approved by Indiana's State Board of Education, replacing the Praxis Subject Assessment. Beginning July 1, 2024, alternative teacher programs must align their courses with the science of reading. Programs must also prepare elementary candidates for kindergarten–grade 5 and early childhood candidates for prekindergarten–grade 3 for the required literacy endorsement. These rules strengthen reading preparation while adding training requirements for programs and candidates.

Summer funding prioritizes early reading help

Indiana funds approved summer school programs per student, with amounts allowed to vary by course and program length. Priority goes to science-of-reading courses for second graders at risk of not reading proficiently and third graders who are not proficient. An approved reading-skills evaluation identifies these students. The law also removes the former exemption that kept all eligible costs outside the funding formula.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jeff Raatz

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Linda Rogers

    Republican • Senate

  • Robert Behning

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 274 • No: 105

Senate vote • 4/24/2025

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate

Yes: 31 • No: 19

House vote • 4/24/2025

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House

Yes: 91 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 76 • No: 20

House vote • 4/14/2025

Amendment #2 (DeLaney) failed

Yes: 27 • No: 66

Senate vote • 1/28/2025

Third reading: passed

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 201

    5/6/2025Senate
  2. Signed by the Governor

    5/6/2025Senate
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/29/2025Senate
  4. Signed by the Speaker

    4/25/2025House
  5. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 549: yeas 91, nays 0

    4/24/2025House
  6. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    4/24/2025Senate
  7. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 508: yeas 31, nays 19

    4/24/2025Senate
  8. CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

    4/23/2025Senate
  9. CCR # 1 filed in the House

    4/23/2025House
  10. Senate conferees appointed: Raatz and Hunley

    4/21/2025Senate
  11. Senate advisors appointed: Qaddoura and Rogers

    4/21/2025Senate
  12. House advisors appointed: McGuire, Davis, DeLaney, Klinker and Smith V

    4/17/2025House
  13. House conferees appointed: Behning and Pfaff

    4/17/2025House
  14. Motion to dissent filed

    4/17/2025Senate
  15. Senate dissented from House amendments

    4/17/2025Senate
  16. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    4/16/2025House
  17. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 448: yeas 76, nays 20

    4/15/2025House
  18. Amendment #1 (Ireland) motion withdrawn

    4/14/2025House
  19. Amendment #4 (Behning) prevailed; Division of the House: yeas 66, nays 27

    4/14/2025House
  20. Amendment #5 (Behning) prevailed; voice vote

    4/14/2025House
  21. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    4/14/2025House
  22. Amendment #2 (DeLaney) failed; Roll Call 437: yeas 27, nays 66

    4/14/2025House
  23. Amendment #3 (Behning) prevailed; voice vote

    4/14/2025House
  24. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    4/9/2025House
  25. First reading: referred to Committee on Education

    3/3/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (S)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (H)

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