INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) announced they unanimously approved the final new diploma rule, which is designed to maximize high school for students in the Hoosier state.

Officials say over the past year, Indiana leaders traveled around the state to gather feedback and learn from schools that are working to blur the lines between K-12, higher education, and the workforce.

“We started this process by asking Hoosiers across the state, ‘how might we make the four years of high school as valuable as possible for students and better connect them to their unique future goals,’” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Listening to and incorporating significant stakeholder feedback has absolutely led us to a better place from where we started in March to where we are today. This new high school diploma will allow increased flexibility for students to personalize their journey, as well as increase access to both work-based learning and credentials of value.”

Officials say the examples they found served as a model for what new diploma requirements could look like to remove barriers for students and open doors to future opportunities.

The new diploma rule went through two drafts before the final rule. The new requirements for the base diploma remain the same as those presented in August, which includes increased flexibility and course options for earning credits in core content areas, such as English, math, science, social studies, physical education and health.

Besides the core content areas, officials say students will also take personalized electives which can include a variety of courses like career and technical education (CTE) courses, performing or fine arts, and world languages.

Officials say the final rule includes improvements to the readiness seals based on feedback from educators, higher education leaders, business and industry, and the military.

According to IDOE officials, the readiness seals are designed to be permeable, allowing students to change their graduation plan throughout their high school journey, if their original interests and goals change.

There are two levels for each readiness seal:

• Enrollment honors and Enrollment honors plus seals - Developed with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, in conjunction with colleges and universities
• Employment honors and Employment honors plus seals - Developed with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and insights from Ascend Indiana's work with employers, in conjunction with the business representatives across multiple industries
• Enlistment honors and Enlistment honors plus seals - Developed with the Indiana National Guard, in conjunction with representatives from each military branch, as well as public safety officials

Officials say the honors seals are similar to the opportunities many students have today, like the academic honors designation, and are designed to be more intentional, elevating what impacts future success.

The honors plus seals are designed to increase skill development and work-based learning experiences.

Officials say students who earn a readiness seal will automatically fulfill all Graduation Pathways requirements, while those who don't earn a seal must still complete components 2 and 3 of Graduation Pathways.

Throughout 2025, several resources and supports will be developed, including:

• Eligible course titles and descriptions, by category
• Additional comprehensive work-based learning guidance, including landscape analysis, complementing existing published guidance
• Market-driven credential of value list
• Interactive advising tool to support local implementation
• Increased flexibility on who can teach high school and college courses
• Rulemaking on new accountability model aligned to diplomas

The new diploma rule must now be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General before requirements become law when signed by the Governor, which will conclude the rulemaking process.

The new diploma requirements become effective for all students beginning with the class of 2029, or students currently in eighth grade.

You can learn more about the final high school diploma rule here.