Student success means different things to parents, educators, students, and leaders. For most, that success is demonstrated with a high school diploma showcasing certain academic achievements. What we previously knew as Core 40 and Academic Honors will look very different for the graduating classes of 2029 and beyond.
According to Indiana State Board of Education statistics, the rate of high schoolers attending college upon graduation has declined in recent years – 9% between 2016 and 2021. A nearly one-third (32%) chronic absenteeism rate in grade 12 was logged for the 2023-2024 school year.
To help promote better post-graduation readiness, high school diplomas in Indiana will feature readiness seals intended to show a student’s proficiency in selected areas. Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, said these changes are intended to “make the four years of high school as valuable as possible for students and better connect them to their unique future goals.”
The readiness seals are divided into three categories to signify preparedness for employment, enlistment or education. Six options are available with two levels offered under each category. College readiness will be shown via the seals for enrollment honors and enrollment honors plus. Employment readiness will appear via the employment honors and employment honors plus seals. Finally, military readiness appears via the enlistment honors and enlistment honors plus seals.
These seals were developed in conjunction with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, The Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana National Guard.
Although families have expressed concern over the changes, Rebecca Coffman, Superintendent for Zionsville Community Schools, and other leaders, want to put concerns at ease.
“There are big decisions being made by incoming freshmen,” Coffman said. “We’re really emphasizing for students and families that we want to maintain as many opportunities as possible. We’ll make sure they maintain maximum flexibility as they move through their high school experience.”
The new standards are intended to support students with better readiness strategies before they realize their post-graduation plans aren’t feasible. One major area of concern for educational leaders is the additional work-based hours that are encompassed in the new requirements.
“One of our biggest hurdles is getting people who are willing to take our kids into their business and industry, and help them grow, learn and understand the qualifications they need to succeed in a workplace setting,” said Rob Ramey, Superintendent of Western Boone County Community School Corporation.
The new standards could potentially require between 75 and 650 work-based hours for students seeking a particular pathway.
“We’ve put a lot of information out for families to have as resources,” says Jon Milleman, Superintendent for Lebanon Community School Corporation. “There’s information available online that wasn’t previously available. Rest assured, we’re still meeting with students in person to ensure they understand their options too. And we now have software for our students to help them track their graduation process.”
Educational leaders also stress the importance of parental conversations during this transition.
“Have discussions with your children about potential career paths,” Ramey said. “There’s often a perception that everything falls back on schools, but we need help from everybody to make this work: business, industry, parents, everybody. Working together, this isn’t anything that can’t be achieved.”
All three leaders agree that while the transition may be rocky at first, schools are dedicated to helping students navigate their choices with full confidence.
“We want to reassure families that educators are all here to make sure our students have quality experiences and opportunities, and we are dedicated to making sure that all students are well-prepared for what’s next,” said Coffman.
