Several new Indiana education laws took effect this month, aimed at improving student attendance, career readiness, and teacher retention. The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) said these changes could bring measurable improvements—especially for students facing chronic absenteeism and those seeking affordable postsecondary options.
Tami Silverman, president and CEO of IYI, said chronic absenteeism remains one of the state’s most urgent educational challenges—especially for students in K–12.
“One in five kids in Indiana are chronically absent for a significant portion of the year,” Silverman said. “We’re talking about students that are missing a day or two every single week. The compounding loss of education that comes with chronic absenteeism is significant.”
Silverman said pandemic disruptions changed perceptions of attendance and made asynchronous or at-home learning seem more feasible than it is—especially for younger students.
“Being in class, in proximity with other students, is crucial,” she said, “not only for academic success, but also for social and emotional well-being.”
A new state law requires schools to standardize definitions of excused and unexcused absences, identify at-risk students earlier, and improve communication with families. Silverman said these steps are key to catching problems before they become chronic.
“Let’s clean up the easy cases first,” she said. “Then we can focus more energy on students who need deeper support.”
The new laws also address college access. The Enrollment Honors Plus Seal guarantees admission to any Indiana public college or university for high school students who meet certain academic and career readiness criteria.
“For students who’ve done the work, this removes the uncertainty,” Silverman said. “It tells them, ‘You’re ready. You’re in.’”
The state also expanded Earn Indiana, a work-study program that offers financial support for paid internships—an effort to reduce the trade-off between income and career development.
“There’s increasing pressure for students to get internships,” Silverman said. “This says: why not both? Why not gain experience and get paid?”
For students entering military service, a new law allows grants and scholarships—such as the 21st Century Scholars program and National Guard tuition assistance—to be stacked, helping to cover costs beyond tuition like room and board.
Silverman said it is a subtle but important shift that honors students’ service and removes key financial barriers.
Teacher recruitment and retention are also priorities. Indiana has set a $45,000 minimum teacher salary, though many districts already exceed that. The state also revamped Teacher Appreciation Grants, offering additional stipends to educators mentoring peers or working in high-need schools.
“There’s probably not enough pay in the world we could give teachers,” Silverman said. “Is this everything they need? No, of course not. But the fact that it was taken up as a major issue this session is hopeful—it signals more support could be coming.”
To address teacher shortages in high-demand fields such as STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math), a new law opens alternative licensure pathways for professionals with subject-area expertise, while still maintaining credentialing standards.
“It’s not just an open door,” Silverman said. “But it does recognize that some professionals already bring valuable experience into the classroom and just need support to translate that into teaching.”
The state is also investing in early math intervention—mirroring earlier literacy efforts. A new law will require K–2 students to be screened for math readiness starting in the 2026–27 school year, giving schools time to prepare.
“Math is a building block system,” Silverman said. “If you miss foundational skills early on, you’re likely to struggle later. This gives us a chance to intervene when it matters most.”
Silverman said the Indiana Youth Institute is working to ensure that youth-serving organizations outside the classroom—such as the YMCA or summer camps—are equipped to reinforce the same messages students hear at school.
“When everyone’s aligned—schools, families, and community programs—we build stronger systems of support for kids,” she said.
The Indiana Youth Institute recently hosted a webinar outlining the full scope of legislative changes, available at Changes in Indiana Law Impacting Our Students. Additional data can be found in the 2025 Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book, published by the Indiana Youth Institute.
