By LAURA HAMMACK, guest columnist
This column serves as the second in a series of two columns where I am “unpacking” some of the education bills that will become law in Indiana in 2018 as a result of the most recent convening of the General Assembly.
SEA 172 — Computer science curriculum is an exciting bill that received enthusiastic support from the governor’s office. This bill requires every school corporation in the state of Indiana to include computer science in their curriculum by June 30, 2021. Also, after June 20, 2021, each high school must offer at least one class in computer science. While we are already well ahead of this standard, we would like continue to expand options for students in computer science. Our industry partners have indicated that every in-demand job of the future will require knowledge of computer science principles. We have a responsibility to prepare our students for these integral skills that will apply to success in the post-secondary world, be it in college or the workforce.
SEA 65 — Instruction on human sexuality is a bill that went through several different iterations throughout the legislative process. The final summary includes a requirement that schools will make all instructional materials regarding instruction on human sexuality available for parents to review. Also, student participation in instruction on human sexuality now requires a signed parent consent form that can be an electronic format. Should the school not receive a completed form after 21 days of issue, the school must resend the form. Ultimately, if the school does not receive a response, the student will receive instruction unless the parent decides to opt out. We will be prepared for these processes at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year and welcome parental review of our course materials.
SEA 217 — Dyslexia is a bill that includes several requirements for school corporation action. First, the bill requires that all school districts must have an authorized reading specialist trained in dyslexia by the 2019-2020 school year. Additionally, students in grades K-2 will be screened for dyslexia. That data will then be used by corporations in new reporting requirements, where we will report in our elementary reading plan the number of students initially screened and the number of those indicated to be a risk or some risk of dyslexia. After July 2019, districts will be required to publish on our websites the intervention plans that are used, the number of students receiving intervention, and the number of students identified with dyslexia. We will be spending time researching evidenced-based programming for intervention and identification and will work together with the Indiana Department of Education to implement the stipulations in this bill.
SEA 230 — Suicide prevention is a bill that adds on to requirements passed by the 2017 General Assembly to increase child suicide awareness and prevention. Specifically, SEA 230 requires each school corporation to require all teachers and other “appropriate school employees” in schools with Grades 5-12 to attend or participate in at least two hours of research-based youth suicide awareness and prevention training every three school years. This training is required to be an “effective or promising program” and recommended by the Indiana Suicide Prevention Network Advisory Council. Our district will be working closely with our school counselors and behavioral health partners to identify the highest quality program for use in training our teachers and staff.
Districts across the state are currently in the process of evaluating all of the new laws that have an impact on the educational process. We will work very hard to ensure that all education matters are researched, developed, and implemented according to statute.
Should you have any questions about these legislative issues or anything related to education policy, please know that you can always reach out to me by phone at 812-988-6601 or email at [email protected].
Laura Hammack is superintendent of Brown County schools.
