As students return to school, we want to share information about new education laws affecting students. We’ve also included some updates to laws passed last year.
Absenteeism: Indiana lawmakers passed two laws in 2024 and 2025 aimed at improving school attendance. When a student misses five or more days of school without an excuse within a 10-week period, they are considered an “absent student” under Indiana law. Schools must notify parents and hold an attendance conference. The law in 2024 only applied to students in kindergarten through 6th grade. The law has been expanded and now applies to students in 7th through 12th grade.
The increased attention on absences has caused some concern among families, especially for parents whose children frequently miss school for medical reasons. The rules do not apply to excused absences or if a student has a note on file from the student’s doctor, therapist, or other professional that states the student will have frequent absences under a special education plan, including a Section 504 plan.
To continue addressing absenteeism, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will develop guidance regarding this issue and create a list of best practices schools can utilize to prevent chronic absenteeism and promote school attendance.
Bullying: Schools are now required to make reasonable attempts to notify both the parent of the student who is being bullied and the parent of the alleged bully that the school is investigating a possible bullying incident. The notice is required by the end of the next school day after the school becomes aware of the incident. Also, schools must inform both sets of parents by the end of the next school day after a bullying investigation has concluded, instead of the previous requirement of five business days.
Discipline and Classroom Management: The IDOE is required to develop and publish a list of best practices to reduce student discipline. The IDOE must also establish a list of best practices and guidelines regarding behavioral management strategies for schools.
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training: Schools must always have at least one employee with nonviolent crisis intervention training present in the school building when school is in session. The IDOE must make recommendations to school corporations regarding nonviolent crisis intervention training programs.
ILEARN Update: This school year, ILEARN will be administered as a through-the-year assessment rather than a one-time summative assessment in Spring. There will be three “checkpoint” assessments during the school year in both language arts and mathematics, with a shortened assessment in the Spring. This should allow schools to catch struggling students and provide academic intervention during the school year.
IREAD Update: Third-grade students who do not pass IREAD will be retained, unless they meet the criteria for a Good Cause Exemption. Examples of students eligible for an exemption include students who are in special education, are English Learners, have passed the math portion of ILEARN, or have been previously retained.
Employers are prohibited from taking actions against Employees who attend case conferences: Employers cannot take adverse action against a parent who is absent from work to attend their child’s case conference committee meeting, expect under certain circumstances.
Recording IEP Meetings: Schools may not adopt a policy or otherwise prevent the parent of a student from recording a meeting concerning the student’s individualized education program (IEP).
If you have any questions about these new laws, please contact us.