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Warren Township staff outline Indiana’s new high school diploma and local planning for class of 2029
Summary
Ryan Russell told the board the State Board of Education approved a new Indiana diploma for the class of 2029 that raises credit requirements to 42, removes Algebra II as a universal requirement, adds personal finance and introduces non‑required 'readiness seals' for enrollment, employment and enlistment; the district is planning freshman- and eighth-grade preparation steps and community partnerships for work-based learning.
Ryan Russell presented an overview of the State Board of Education’s December decision to approve a revised Indiana high school diploma for the class of 2029 and explained how the district plans to prepare current middle graders.
Key changes Russell cited include an increase in the baseline credits required for graduation from 40 to 42, a requirement for personal finance, a reduction (from two to one) in required physical-education credits, the addition of computer-science and a continued requirement for biology. Algebra II is not required under the new rules. The diploma also introduces optional "readiness seals" (enrollment, employment, enlistment) that students can earn by meeting additional coursework and credential criteria; for example, an honors enrollment seal could require four world-language credits and AP/dual-credit benchmarks or standardized-test thresholds.
Russell said many implementation details remain unresolved and await guidance from the Indiana Department of Education — for example, what precisely qualifies as a STEM-focused credit and how to verify credentials that may be earned after graduation (such as certain AP results or college credit). Locally, the district intends to start creating high-school plans for students in eighth grade (the class of 2029) and expand work-based-learning opportunities and partnerships with employers and higher-education institutions to allow students to meet seal requirements.
The board asked clarifying questions about feasibility (especially for enlistment and ROTC pathways) and contract/assessment timing; Russell said the district will pursue professional development and collaborate with other districts and postsecondary partners to expand access and alignment.
