Errington testifies at Indiana State Board of Education public hearing about proposed diplomas
INDIANAPOLIS – Today (July 30), the State Board of Education (SBOE) held a public meeting regarding the proposed GPS and GPS Plus high school diplomas. If approved, these would replace the current high school diplomas, including the Core 40 and Academic Honors diplomas. Legislators, educators and concerned parents gathered to voice their concerns about the new diploma requirements.
State Representative Sue Errington (D-Muncie) provided the following statement regarding his testimony:
“Last Friday, I held a town hall meeting in my Muncie district to discuss the GPS and GPS Plus diplomas. 52 people attended on a Friday night because they were invested in the education and well-being of Hoosier children. After speaking with those in attendance, it is clear that their questions are not being answered, and these diplomas do not benefit students. I testified today to relay the concerns of those in my district and to hopefully convince the State Board of Education to rethink this proposal.
“Attendees of my town hall objected to the emphasis on work-based learning dropping required math, arts, sciences and geography courses. We have been told repeatedly that these diplomas would offer more flexibility, but this supposed flexibility centers on pushing our children into the workforce without regard for their academic success. Hoosier students would not meet the admission requirements necessary to attend Purdue or Ball State, and because Indiana is the first in the nation to offer these diplomas, the requirements are not familiar to out-of-state institutions. As a result, we would be putting Hoosier students at a clear disadvantage compared to those applying from other states.
“The prospect of work-based learning comes with a myriad of challenges, and thus far, we have not been provided with any solutions. Parents want to know that if they send their children out into the world, there are provisions to keep them safe. A question I have repeatedly been asked is if background checks will be required of employers working with children and whether students will be sent to potentially dangerous locations such as factories. Without answers to these questions, why should parents believe that their children will be appropriately monitored and protected?
“These concerns don't even scratch the surface of the issue. The cost analysis section of the regulatory analysis shows that schools will be responsible for transportation if students cannot provide their own. Currently, we have no indication of what this venture will cost. Given the resources already needed to safely haul students to and from school, I have no doubt that the expenses would place undue strain on our schools.
“Greater flexibility benefits students, but these proposed diploma options are riddled with complications without clear solutions. Teachers, students, and educators echoed the overwhelming consensus among my constituents today: The diploma rework is too broad, the process is moving too quickly, and it shortchanges collegebound students.