Five Major Issues with the New High School Diploma Proposal

Submit your thoughts on the proposal by July 30

Dear Neighbor,

Earlier this year, Gov. Holcomb’s administration proposed a new high school diploma framework called the “GPS Diploma” and “GPS Diploma Plus.” After countless conversations with educators, parents and prospective employers/job skill trainers, I have major concerns with the GPS Diploma framework, which I have detailed for you below.

Parents and community members have until July 30 to provide comments on the current diploma proposal to the Indiana Department of Education. I urge you to submit your thoughts so that your input on this proposal that will shape the future of education in Indiana is considered. The form to comment is linked here.  

#1 Required Job Placements

The Indiana GOP’s proposed high school diploma plan introduces mandatory work requirements for students, forcing them to balance academics with employment and job shadowing either during school hours, after school or both. Students shouldn’t have to worry about how to manage their academics alongside work obligations and participation in extracurricular activities just to complete their high school degree. (Yes, extracurricular involvement is also a mandatory part of this proposed degree.) Workplace minimum age requirements, coupled with limited job placement opportunities and challenges related to transportation, further complicate the situation. Students should have one focus: being students and excelling in their classes. The work requirement component of the GPS Diploma plan risks students’ educational outcomes and overall well-being.

While it’s great that many Hoosiers students go above and beyond to participate in jobs and internships during high school, other students may still be finding their way or simply limited by their families’ financial means. Students should be encouraged to pursue these opportunities, but their graduation should not hinge on it.  

Additionally, it is not at all clear that there are positions available to support these work requirements, let alone assurance that such positions, if available, will provide real value to students, such as the skills provided in a professional apprenticeship program.  

#2 Counselor Shortage and Burdensome Additional Requirements

The implementation of Indiana’s new high school diploma worsens the already-significant shortage of school counselors, increasing the existing challenges within our education system. Indiana currently ranks worst in the country, with a student-to-counselor ratio of 694 to 1.

These diplomas come with an increased workload for counselors, including keeping record of extracurricular attendance and helping students organize external job shadowing and internships. But schools will receive no additional funding to hire additional counselors so they can fully implement the diploma curriculum, even though a fiscal analysis of the proposed requirements showed that there would be immense additional costs associated with these changes. Under-resourced counselors will almost certainly struggle with the additional workload of guiding students through the complexities of the new diploma framework.

#3 Fast Timeline

The IDOE’s accelerated timeline for implementing the new diplomas has raised understandable apprehension among stakeholders. Critical questions regarding curriculum changes, graduation requirements, and the overall impact on students’ educational experiences remain unanswered. The accelerated timeline feels like the IDOE is building the plane while flying it… and Hoosier students and parents are on it.

#4 Admission Standards at Indiana Universities

Preparing students to enter careers and apprenticeships immediately following high school graduation is a good thing, but the proposed diploma requirements have overcorrected to the point that students who logically follow the diploma requirements will not meet current admissions standards for many of our in-state universities. This new approach will disadvantage Indiana graduates seeking admission to competitive in-state universities that seek a well-rounded academic background and holistic skill sets from applicants.

This need not be a zero-sum game: We can have high school degrees that both prepare students for paths to college and the trades. 

#5 Indiana Will Fail to Compete with Other States

The new diploma proposal completely undermines the state's ability to compete nationally and globally. By narrowing our education focus to workforce training, Indiana risks neglecting the development of critical thinking, creativity and cross-cultural understanding necessary for success in an interconnected world. This unbalanced approach will leave graduates less prepared to navigate competitive job markets and pursue wide-ranging career opportunities, placing them at a disadvantage compared to their peers from states with more comprehensive high school degrees. We need to ensure our degree framework creates well-rounded citizens – not just “employees.”

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Again, the State Board of Education is accepting public feedback through the end of July. I urge you to submit your comments through the form linked here. As always, please reach out to my office at h87@iga.in.gov with any questions, comments or concerns.