Bill would prohibit state or local agencies from rejecting non‑accredited school diplomas solely because of origin

House Bill 1348 would make it unlawful for state or local agencies and institutions of higher education in Indiana to reject or treat a person differently solely because the person holds a high‑school diploma or credential issued by a non‑accredited, non‑public school. The bill frames diplomas and transcripts issued by parents or operators of non‑accredited, non‑public schools as valid evidence of secondary education for purposes of application to public employers or state institutions.

Representative Wescow, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the proposal would clarify longstanding practice and prevent arbitrary refusals of applicants who present diplomas from homeschools or small non‑accredited schools. He said the measure responds to instances where applicants reported being refused for public jobs after they presented diplomas issued by non‑accredited schools or parents.

Witnesses included Joel Hannon of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education and the American Federation of Teachers of Indiana, who testified in opposition; he argued the bill could create a “legal fallacy” by equating unverified credentials with graduates from accredited public, charter, or accredited non‑public schools and expressed concern about parents withdrawing students to avoid discipline without oversight. Hannon urged that any recognition include safeguards requiring verification of curriculum or progress for students withdrawn from public schools.

Kylene Varner of the Indiana Association of Home Educators and IAHE Action testified in favor of the bill and said families increasingly run into confusion when employers or out‑of‑state institutions do not understand that Indiana law recognizes the authority of parents and private non‑public operators to issue diplomas and transcripts. Varner noted several examples—cosmetology schools, employers and out‑of‑state admissions officers—where verification delays or policy misunderstandings have created barriers for graduates.

Committee members questioned where employers and institutions should look for verification and whether alternative credentials such as GED, SAT/ACT scores or college coursework could be a practical verification mechanism. The committee also discussed an administrative code provision used by the law enforcement training board that defines minimum educational requirements for certain training programs; several members asked witnesses for documentary examples of harmful denials so the committee could review specific policies.

Representative Wescow closed by asking the committee to consider the bill; the committee did not take a vote that day.