Gov. Eric 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, according to a press release from the governor's office.
The order also outlines options for districts to continue education during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 days. The order now requires schools to continue providing instruction via remote learning until they complete either of the following:
- 160 instructional days
- At least 20 additional days of remote learning between April 2 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 e-learning, 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 Jennifer McCormick, superintendent of public instruction, 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 met all of the following requirements:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 and Aug. 31 until Sept. 1.
Other deadlines and requirements for the current school year will be reviewed by 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.
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