INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence on Monday signed into law 20 proposals approved this month by the General Assembly that are intended to boost career education in Indiana, improve job prospects for Hoosiers and make schools safer.
"Hoosiers deserve schools that work for all of our kids, whether they are headed to college or careers, and Hoosiers deserve more access to adult education," Pence said. "It is my privilege as governor to sign several bills into law that renew our state's commitment to education innovation and help to provide Hoosiers of all ages the tools that they need to succeed in college, the workplace and in life."
Potentially the most far-reaching measure, House Enrolled Act 1213, mandates the Indiana Career Council review current high school graduation requirements and recommend to the Indiana State Board of Education possible changes in course requirements, including the creation of a career and technical education diploma.
Pence said the new law, co-sponsored by state Reps. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, and Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, and state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, will ensure "that even while we create a more effective career pathway in our high schools, we're doing that in a way that doesn't, in any way, erode that solid academic foundation that every child needs and deserves."
The Republican governor also signed House Enrolled Act 1028, sponsored by state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, permitting the state's charter school board to once again authorize new adult high schools for the estimated 650,000 Hoosiers over age 18 who never earned a high school diploma.
Funding for any new adult high schools must be separately approved by the Republican-controlled legislature. The law prohibits diverting money now spent on education for children.
Several school safety proposals also won the governor's signature, among them Senate Enrolled Act 222, sponsored by VanDenburgh, Charbonneau, Randolph and state Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, requiring student athletes who suffer a suspected concussion to wait at least 24 hours before returning to play.