Tri‑Creek administrators outline new Indiana diploma rules; board approves nonstandard course waivers

At its Feb. 13 meeting, Tri‑Creek School Corporation administrators briefed the board on Indiana’s new high‑school diploma requirements for the class of 2029 and asked the board to approve the district’s submission of nonstandard course waivers to the Indiana Department of Education; the board approved the submission by voice vote.

The presentation, led by Principal Tammy Doherty and Associate Principal Shannon Missouri of Lowell High School, summarized how the state’s new diploma shifts course requirements—affecting English, math, science, social studies, PE/health and elective pathways—and how the district plans new course offerings, pathway requirements and “seals” that replace the prior honors/technical honors diplomas.

The changes are intended to take effect for incoming freshmen who will graduate in 2029. Tammy Doherty, principal of Lowell High School, said the new diploma “is not a whole lot that’s different” from Core 40 for college‑bound students but adds flexibility: “We wanted to, of course, not reduce our rigor. We wanted to prepare our kids for rigorous coursework to prepare them for their post‑secondary goals,” Doherty said.

Major shifts explained to the board included: - English: still 8 credits total; at least one credit must be communications focused and the district plans a semester of world literature and a semester of “critical thinking and argumentation” for sophomore English within two years. - Math: Algebra I is required; students must complete two additional math credits (one must be a personal finance course). The district plans business math, probability/statistics tracks and continued options for college‑bound students to take Algebra II/Precalculus/AP courses. - Science: seven science/technology/engineering credits are required, with biology the only single course now explicitly required; the district is embedding computer science in eighth grade so incoming freshmen will already have that credit. - Social studies: U.S. history and government remain required; economics will be combined with a personal financial responsibility course to meet state expectations. - PE and health: PE will be reduced to one semester; health is being changed to in‑person instruction. The district will continue to allow alternative PE credits (marching band, athletics, cheer, etc.) under an approved process. - Electives/pathways and seals: the state will require 12 personalized elective credits and will award “seals” (employment, enrollment/enlistment, honors plus) in place of previous diploma designations; Doherty said the district expects a small share of students to earn honors‑level seals and that the state will provide funding tied to seals earned.

Shannon Missouri, associate principal at Lowell High School, explained the nonstandard course‑waiver process the district must follow: “Nonstandard course waivers are provided by the State of Indiana, Department of Education, so that if you have a course that is nontraditional and you would like to propose it as a course for credit, you would send it to the state, and they would then give us the stamp of approval to issue it to our students. Nonstandard course waivers do last for three years.” The district asked the board to approve several waivers, including combining economics with personal financial responsibility, a PE/strength‑training exercise science waiver, and the planned AP Seminar replacement for traditional sophomore English when the district transitions.

Board action: After questions, a board member moved to approve submission of the nonstandard course waivers to the Indiana Department of Education; a second was made and the motion was approved by voice vote (all in favor, “Aye”). The board did not record a roll‑call tally in the public transcript.

The presentation also covered proposed new course offerings the district may run in fall 2025 if enrollment and staffing permit: AP Environmental Science, Business Math, pre‑AP Honors English (with a pathway to AP Seminar/AP Language/AP Literature), Advanced Speech and Communications, Jazz Ensemble, Creative Writing, Spanish 3 (designated as honors for dual‑credit through Ivy Tech), an Exercise Science pathway (including strength training and kinesiology content) and an EMS (emergency medical services) pathway led by a staff member with prior EMT experience.

Doherty described the district’s plan for students to enter a pathway, move through concentrator courses and reach a capstone experience with internships or work‑based learning: “The capstone purpose is to get them out into the workforce prior to graduating, getting their feet wet, deciding do I really want to be a welder or work in a machine shop or work in a veterinary office.” The presenters said students may earn more than one seal and that the district expects many students to be able to meet employment or enrollment seals through existing CTE pathways.

Alternative expulsion program (ALT X): The administration also described a redesigned alternative‑to‑expulsion program, now dubbed ALT X, which uses virtual coursework with a district advisor and four short face‑to‑face check‑ins per week. Tammy Doherty said the advisor, Julie Homans, “meets with the students four times a week for about a 15‑minute check” and is available for extra support. According to the presentation, the first cohort started with two students and finished with five; staff reported 29 total credits earned and that all students earned grades of C or better. The district said the virtual‑plus‑check‑in model reduced opportunities for students to reinforce poor behavior by being isolated from peers, improved reentry into the building, expanded the program to the middle school and saved approximately $20,000 in the restructuring. Rachel Dawson, the staff member who supports the alternative program’s technology, was credited with training and technical support.

Why it matters: The new state diploma requirements and seals change course planning, dual‑credit options and career‑technical education planning across the district and require local course approvals before the state will accept them. The board’s approval of the nonstandard waivers is the district’s step to secure state approval for locally designed courses and waivers that align the high‑school program to the new state diploma structure.

What’s next: District staff said they will submit the waivers to the Indiana Department of Education, seek the state’s clarification on a few still‑undefined measures for seals (demonstrated skill development, attendance goals) and finalize staffing and student interest levels before committing to specific 2025‑26 course offerings.