Advocating for Your Child

Advocacy Alert

The IAG Advocacy Team is working on several different issues to help meet the needs of Indiana's gifted youth. Please see the information below for an update.

HB 1001 (Indiana Budget) / Resolved

In Governor Braun's proposed budget, the Gifted & Talented line item (the budget line that funds the High Ability grants) was cut from $15M to $13M. The Advanced Placement line item (the budget line that pays student fees for AP exams) was cut from $5.6M to $5M. IAG testified before the Ways & Means Committee and organized a grassroots campaign to contact legislators. The campaign was successful! (THANK YOU to everyone who took time to reach out.) Rep. Thompson proposed an amendment to reinstate the funding for both line items. The Committee passed the amendment. Rep. Porter proposed an amendment to raise the Gifted & Talented line item to $18M. Unfortunately, that amendment failed. The full House passed HB 1001 with the Gifted and Talented line item restored to $15M and the AP line item restored to $5.6M. IAG will continue to monitor.

RESOLVED: HB 1002 (Education Matters)

HB 1002 is an effort to "clean up" the education code. Originally, this bill removed all the high ability plan requirements currently contained in IN Code 20-36-2-2. IAG testified at the hearing on this bill and met with legislators to try and protect the plan requirements. Rep. Behning proposed an Amendment on the floor of the House to leave the plan requirements as they are and the Amendment passed.

HB 1634 (Math)

HB 1634 seeks to enhance math education in Indiana. Section 3 provides that any student who scores "at" or "above proficiency" on the math section of the ILEARN in 5th, 6th or 7th grade or performs on grade level or higher in math shall be automatically enrolled in an advanced math course (subject to a parent's opt out). IAG supports the spirit of math acceleration and auto-enrollment, however IAG has raised concerns regarding the selection criteria and local plan to address the gaps caused by the acceleration. IAG testified on this bill and has suggested alternate language to the bill's author.

Accountability

In 2023, HEA 1635 directed the IDOE to develop a proposal for revising school performance designations utilizing an "A" through "F" grading scale that is based on data contained in the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS) dashboard. Please see the Presentation and recording of the January 15 SBOE Meeting for more information. IAG will be closely following this rulemaking process.

Indiana Diploma Update

Changes Coming to Indiana High School Diplomas

Learn More and Advocate

Indiana Association for the Gifted

PO Box 84, Whitestown, IN 46075

Help us advocate for gifted youth!

IAG supports gifted students, parents, and educators. Join today for free and be sure to attend our annual conference on December 9-10, 2024, at the Indianapolis JW Marriott.