The 2024 Indiana General Assembly approved high-priority legislation aimed at improving student literacy, restricting cell phone use in the classroom, and reducing student absenteeism.
“Even though it was a short session, we were able to address some big issues,” said state Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute.
Literacy, cell phones, and absenteeism were among the most important issues addressed by Congress, but they were by no means the only issues.
The Indiana School Boards Association tracked 116 bills introduced impacting K-12 education, with 32 ultimately enacted. Many are scheduled to go into effect July 1, said ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin.
SEA 1, student literacy
Spradlin said Senate Enrollment Bill 1, which focuses on literacy, was the most hotly debated bill of the 2024 legislative session.
While there was consensus on the need for earlier intervention, many feared the bill could hold back thousands of additional third-graders who fail state literacy tests. expressed.
The law requires that the IREAD3 test be administered in the second year, and successful candidates are exempted from taking it in the third year.
The bill would require school districts to provide remedial summer school based on the Science of Reading after second and third grade for students who are failing or are not expected to succeed.
Students who take the exam three times but do not pass will be retained, but English learners, students with disabilities, and previously retained students will receive some exemptions.
The law has provisions that allow parents to object to the detention of a student.
“We are taking a big step forward by forcing students to take the test in second grade and targeting resources to help students who fail,” Pfaff said. “This part of the bill is good, but I strongly believe that if the state wants to suppress student enrollment, this should be done in kindergarten or first grade. That test should not be used.”
The bill was co-authored by Terre Haute Republican state Sen. Greg Good.
“It is essential that students pass the IREAD3 test by third grade,” he said. “This legislation allows for early assessment and corrective intervention if necessary.”
Overall, South Vermilion Schools Superintendent Dave Chapman said, “This is good legislation and it's exactly what we need, especially given the whole issue of learning loss due to COVID.” states. We are still feeling the effects. ”
A focus on the required second-grade IREAD3 test, intervention and summer school will help identify and remediate troubled readers early, he said.
As for improving retention, “I think that point will be determined locally based on the amount of remediation that will be provided. If so, we will consider all possible remedial avenues before recommending retention.” As long as it's okay,” he said.
He said the district will seek guidance from the Indiana Department of Education regarding the appeal process.
Chapman sees several potential gaps in adequately funding educator professional development in summer school and literacy instruction.
At South Vermilion, second-graders took the IREAD3 test last year. “It really helped us,” he said.
Spradlin said ISBA advocated for a focus on early intervention and supported the bill because it was included.
He said this is an issue that must be addressed.
Last year, approximately one in five third-year students, or 13,840, did not pass IREAD3. Of these, 5,503 were eligible for exemption for good cause and 8,337 were not exempt. According to the Indiana State Department of Education, 95% of students who did not receive a waiver advanced to fourth grade, but only 412 stayed.
Mr. Spradlin believes the mandatory Grade 2 IREAD3 test and early intervention program will help significantly reduce the number of students failing. Schools will also leverage the science of reading to better inform reading instruction.
“If done correctly, it will have a huge impact in the future,” Spradlin said. “It's going to take a lot of work, but we need to do it. We can't ignore this issue and the data.”
Children who lack reading skills are more likely to have absenteeism and discipline problems, and are less likely to succeed academically, he said.
“If we do it right, our kids will be successful in K-12 and ready for college and careers after graduation,” Spradlin said.
The Indiana Teachers Association supported the portion of the bill that focused on intervention, but was critical of the retention portion.
ISTA President Keith Gambill said, “There is a lot of research that shows that simply retaining students does not have the positive effects that we hope for and creates more problems in the future.”
At the hearing, many parents and educators opposed mandatory retention provisions, believing they could have long-term negative social, emotional, and behavioral effects.
ISTA believes legislators should have given more time to fully implement the science of reading so that teachers can be trained and students can benefit from their instruction, he said. Stated.
The Science of Reading was adopted by Congress a year ago, he said. “We need to make sure all educators are trained and prepared in the science of reading and make sure that it is deployed in the right way,” Gambir said. Ta.
mobile phone restrictions
Senate Enrollment Act 185 also passed, requiring schools to implement a policy prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices, including cell phones, during school hours, with some exceptions.
You may use your cell phone or other personal device if your teacher has authorized its use for educational purposes. Students can also use the cells for health care during emergencies or as part of their individualized educational programs.
Mr. Pfaff joined ISBA and ISTA in supporting this bill.
“Cellphones are a huge distraction in the classroom. It's hard to get students to learn when they're constantly checking their phones,” she said. “Now that my student is using her Chromebook in class, the smartphone needs to be out of sight and out of mind so she can focus on learning.”
Good said he has heard from many teachers about the importance of eliminating or at least limiting various distractions in the classroom.
“Mobile devices are on the list of distractions, and I believe it's the right thing to do to support educators who are working so hard to educate our children,” he said.
Spradlin said the law establishes a statewide policy on banning or restricting the use of cell phones in the classroom, adding, “It sets a statewide expectation, which is a good thing. “It will help with enforcement,” indicating consistency in enforcement across the state.
He said many teachers and administrators expressed great support for the bill.
Chapman, the South Vermilion superintendent, said it would be very difficult to completely ban cellphone use in the classroom, given exceptions for multiple issues.
He believes schools need to carefully consider their current policies and review or modify them “based on what works and what doesn't work.”
Chapman said there needs to be a clear line between what is acceptable use and what is not. Students and parents also need to understand the complexities involved in having everyone take out their cell phones in the event of an emergency situation where misinformation is being disseminated.
He said schools and families need to come to an agreement and support each other regarding the appropriate use of mobile phones during school.
Chapman expects South Vermilion may adjust its policies based on the new law. “We are still looking at how we can make this happen.”
Absenteeism
The Legislature also took steps to address student absenteeism through SEA 282, authored by State Sen. Stacey Donato (R-Logansport).
The law requires schools to establish truancy prevention policies for kindergarten through sixth grade, with an emphasis on interventions and increased parent involvement to address attendance issues.
Under the law, if a student has five unexcused absences within a 10-week period, a conference will be held with parents to discuss the problem and develop a plan to prevent future absences.
Schools will develop plans that include wraparound services, counseling and guidance.
The goal is to identify problems before a child becomes absent from school and “see if there are ways to proactively address them,” Spradlin said. ISBA supported this and worked with Donato on the bill.
According to SB 282, if a student is habitually absent from school (defined under current law as 10 or more absences in a school year without an excuse or parental notification), the school district must notify the county attorney's office. There must be.
Additionally, if an affidavit of habitual truancy is filed with the prosecutor's office, the prosecutor must notify the parent.
Under current law, parents can be charged with educational neglect if a student is habitually absent from school.
Another bill, House Bill 1243, includes a provision that would require school boards to adopt policies regarding the participation of chronically absent students in extracurricular activities.
Student absenteeism is a major concern, Pfaff said. “Teaching out-of-school students is a real challenge. This bill covers kindergarten through sixth grade, but it’s just the beginning. In order for us to be able to educate, we need parents to We need to get our kids to school,” she said.
Congress makes 'significant contribution' to new education law
Spradlin said Congress has been “pretty prolific” in passing education bills that affect K-12 schools. The average number passed in recent sessions is 39, he said.
There are continually new laws that school districts must interpret and enforce. ISBA's concern is that the constant addition of new laws “detracts from the goal of student instruction and academic achievement,” Spradlin said.
At some point, “we need to look at the big picture of where we're going as a state and the model we want for K-12 education with standards, assessment, accountability…and that local residents… We need to be able to work on improving student achievement,'' he said.
I support this bill because Vigo County Attorney Terry Modesitt said we were one of the first counties to actually charge parents for not verifying whether their children were attending school. He said he was in favor of it. (It's) sad that we have to make parents do things that they already have to do out of love for their children. ”
