Gov. Holcomb, Superintendent McCormick Outline Education Changes for the Remaining School Year
Thursday, April 2, 2020
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today signed an executive order
requiring all K-12 schools in Indiana to provide instruction via remote
learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and outlines options
for districts to continue education during the fight against COVID-19. Click
here for a link to the executive order: www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm
“Students are the future of our state and teachers are the heart of our
schools,” Gov. Holcomb said. “While COVID-19 is impacting every classroom,
our teachers, administrators, school board members and school staff are
going to extraordinary levels to deliver quality learning to students all
across our state, even while school buildings are closed. We’ll continue to
do everything we can to empower educators and parents, while protecting
students’ health.”
To complete the school year, all schools previously received a 20-day waiver
to reduce the number of required in-person or remote instruction days to
160. Schools must continue to provide instruction via remote learning until
they complete either:
* 160 instructional days or
* At least 20 additional days of remote learning between the date of
the executive order (today) and the end of the school year. If a school
completes 20 days and falls short of the required 160 instructional days,
the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) can waive the difference.
All K-12 schools will need to submit a plan for review and approval by IDOE
by April 17. The plan can include eLearning, extended learning,
project-based or portfolio learning, competency-based learning, partnerships
with higher education for increased student supports, and other similar
methods.
The governor, in conjunction with Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr.
Jennifer McCormick, also directed the Indiana State Board of Education
(SBOE) to provide flexibility for school corporations for students who are
to graduate in 2020. A school corporation may issue an Indiana diploma to a
student who has done all of the following:
* Has met all of the course and credit requirements for the specific
diploma designation based on a combination of high school credits earned
prior to and the course in which a student was enrolled as of March 19, when
the governor issued the statewide school closure.
* Meets any virtual or remote learning participation requirements
established by the governing body of the local school corporation in
response to the statewide school closure order issued by the governor.
* Meets any additional graduation requirements established by the
governing body of the local school corporation prior to the school closure
order issued by the governor.
The executive order also extends teacher licenses expiring between March 1,
2020 and Aug. 31, 2020 until Sept. 1, 2020.
Other deadlines and requirements for the current school year will be
reviewed by Dr. McCormick, the executive director of SBOE, and relevant
state agencies. They will submit recommendations to the Governor by April 7
for review and further action.
Click here to download public service announcements (PSAs) recorded by the
state for your use:
www.dropbox.com/sh/egf210ognxxyx4h/AADYd7E-tBn7P6gtiLSZUiVBa?dl=0
More information may be found at the ISDH website at coronavirus.in.gov
<coronavirus.in.gov/> and the CDC website at
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.