Nearly all of Indiana’s public universities have criticized the state’s proposed high school diplomas, letters sent to top state education officials show.
Education officials have published a draft rule that would create two high school diplomas: the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed diploma and the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed Plus diploma. They would replace Indiana’s four current diplomas and are designed to give students more coursework flexibility. They also place a greater emphasis on students earning college credit and completing work-based learning opportunities in high school.
At the request of education officials, Indiana’s public universities have shared their feedback on the proposed diplomas. Letters to Indiana’s top education officials show most of the universities are wary of the proposed diplomas in their current state.
Their responses came during the draft rule’s first comment period, which closed Tuesday. Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner has said education officials will make changes to the proposed diplomas based on feedback and open a second comment period. The Indiana State Board of Education is expected to unveil the adjustments during its Aug. 14 meeting.
In the letters, many of the universities lauded the state’s goals but questioned if the proposed diplomas would result in unintended consequences. Several universities noted the diplomas, as proposed, appear to conflict with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s HOPE Agenda, particularly its goal of improving the state’s slumped college-going rate.
Tony Hahn, Vincennes University’s vice president of government and legal affairs, and Lori Pence, its associate provost of K-12 programs and partnerships, wrote earlier this month that the proposed diplomas should, at a minimum, have equivalent math and English requirements to Indiana’s current Core 40 diploma. They also argued work-based learning opportunities should have credits and grades attached to them to ensure consistent outcomes.
“We applaud the effort to include new opportunities for credit, but we must not lose sight of the need for rigor and baseline mastery to ensure that every high school graduate, regardless of ZIP code, socio- economic status, high school size, or family situation has an opportunity to succeed at Vincennes University,” Hahn and Pence wrote.
Aaron Trump, vice president for government affairs and general counsel at the University of Southern Indiana, wrote that the proposed diploma’s “lack of required, global knowledge is concerning.” In his letter, he suggested Indiana retain the Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma or produce an equivalent diploma.
“Historically students with the Core 40 Honors diploma have been most prepared and most successful in post-secondary education,” Trump wrote. “Eliminating this rather than replacing it creates a gap for best achieving and most ambitious students.”
In June, education officials put forward three optional diploma seals — one each for enrollment, employment and enlistment — as a solution to critics’ worries and a way to signal a student’s competency. The seals would be jointly developed with corresponding experts and would appear on a student’s transcript, the officials say.
The universities’ letters indicate the institutions have coalesced around a tiered enrollment seal in an effort to address their concerns.
Purdue University President Mung Chiang sent a letter to Jenner and Chris Lowery, commissioner of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, explaining the state’s proposed diplomas do not meet his university’s admission requirements in the subject areas of math, lab sciences, social studies and world language. In another letter, Purdue asked education officials to consider a tiered enrollment seal. Under Purdue’s recommendation, one tier would incorporate Indiana’s Core 40 diploma requirements. A second tier would incorporate most, but not all, of the state’s Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma requirements.
Ball State University also suggested a two-tiered enrollment seal, along with course sequencing and a comprehensive communications campaign for students, families and schools. Indiana University President Pamela Whitten, in a letter to Jenner and Lowery, called for the universities to be involved in crafting the enrollment seal.
Indiana State University President Mike Godard, in another letter, indicated a tiered enrollment seal is being contemplated. He expressed reservations about the approach, though, saying it could confuse students and families.
“We don’t have any concerns about the current diploma options,” Godard wrote.
For months, educators, students and parents have criticized the state’s plan to “reinvent” high school, arguing the proposed diplomas lack rigor and present many financial, transportation, equity and safety challenges.
Education officials have listened to hours of public comments and invited the public to submit feedback online. In addition, they have met with stakeholders and industry leaders who have shared their thoughts.
“This feedback is an indispensable and statutorily required part of the process and is helping to shape not only the foundational courses and competencies required for all students, but also the proposed and still in-development enrollment-ready seal, specifically designed to guide and academically prepare students who will or may want to go to college,” an Indiana Department of Education spokesperson said in an email to State Affairs.
The department believes the enrollment seal “will be key to ensuring every Hoosier student and their parents clearly understand the specific courses and experiences they need in high school in order to be successful in higher education. Continued partnership with higher education institutions, as well as the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, will be essential to this process.”
Contact Jarred Meeks on X @jarredsmeeks or email him at [email protected].
