Sec. 1. (a) Subject to section 2.5 of this chapter, the state board shall adopt clear, concise, and jargon free state academic standards that are comparable to national and international academic standards and the college and career readiness educational standards adopted under IC 20-19-2-14.5. These academic standards must be adopted for each grade level from kindergarten through grade 12 for the following subjects:

(1) English/language arts.

(2) Mathematics.

(3) Social studies.

(4) Science.

     (b) For grade levels tested under the statewide assessment program, the academic standards must be based in part on the results of the statewide assessment program.

     (c) The state board shall, in consultation with postsecondary educational institutions and various businesses and industries, identify what skills or traits students need to be successful upon completion of high school. The department must conduct a research study to define essential postsecondary skills to promote enlistment, enrollment, and employment. The study must inform a reduction in high school standards to align to essential skills needed for postsecondary success. The study must be submitted to the state board and to the general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 on or before December 1, 2022. Not later than June 1, 2023, the department must provide recommended reductions to the Indiana academic standards with a goal of defining no more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the number of academic standards in effect on July 1, 2022, as essential for grades 9 through 12 to the state board. Additional standards may be included for vertical articulation to ensure academic and postsecondary success, not to exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the academic standards in effect on July 1, 2022. Not later than June 1, 2023, the department must provide recommended reductions to the Indiana academic standards with a goal of defining no more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the number of academic standards in effect on July 1, 2022, as essential for kindergarten through grade 8 to the state board. Additional standards may be included for vertical articulation to ensure academic and postsecondary success, not to exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the academic standards in effect on July 1, 2022. A realignment of the ILEARN assessment reflecting the reduction must be completed not later than March 1, 2025.

     (d) Upon receipt and review of the information received under subsection (c), the state board shall adopt Indiana academic standards for grades 9 through 12 and subsequently for kindergarten through grade 8 relating to academic standards needed to meet the skills or traits identified by the study. The academic standards developed under this subsection must be included within the reduced number of academic standards required by subsection (c). The department shall submit the academic standards to the state board for approval in a manner prescribed by the state board and the state board shall approve academic standards in accordance with the requirements described in this subsection not later than July 1, 2023. Standards approved under this subsection must be implemented for the 2023-2024 school year and each school year thereafter.

     (e) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the state board, in developing academic standards for reading, shall implement academic standards that are:

(1) aligned with the science of reading; and

(2) developmentally appropriate based on student need.

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-10.1-17-3.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.239-2015, SEC.11; P.L.242-2017, SEC.25; P.L.168-2022, SEC.18; P.L.250-2023, SEC.31; P.L.243-2023, SEC.15; P.L.250-2023, SEC.32.