IndianaIndiana education agency would join federal scholarship tax credit program
Indiana's education agency would choose to take part in a federal scholarship tax credit program and submit yearly lists of Indiana nonprofits that meet federal scholarship rules.
What it does
Indiana's education agency would choose to take part in the federal scholarship tax credit program. It would send federal officials a yearly list of qualifying Indiana scholarship nonprofits.
Starting July 1, 2026, accredited schools seeking a state waiver for a four-day week would have to meet performance and pay standards. They must offer free off-day learning help and rides to a five-day school.
Starting July 1, 2026, state officials would set a way for job training programs to seek approval for federal workforce Pell grants and appeal denials. Approved programs must report student outcomes.
Starting July 1, 2026, the education agency would write a kindergarten through grade 5 math guide. It must recommend daily time for regular lessons and extra help.
Starting July 1, 2026, people in an alternative teacher certification program could renew an emergency teaching permit up to twice if their program confirms they remain in good standing.
Argument forAt schools approved for the four-day-week waiver, students could get free off-day learning help, and affected students could get rides to five-day schools.
Argument againstSchools seeking the four-day-week waiver might struggle to arrange both free programs and rides to another school.
More detail
The education agency would choose to take part in the federal program and submit a list of eligible scholarship groups. The list covers Indiana nonprofits whose main purpose is giving scholarships. A group must also meet federal program requirements. The agency would accept applications year round. This provision is marked effective upon passage. The agency must submit the list by January 1 each year.
An accredited school seeking a state waiver for a four-day school week would have to meet the listed conditions. This applies to accredited schools seeking a waiver for a four-day week. The school must rank in the state's highest performance category and meet the minimum teacher pay threshold. It must offer free learning help on the off day and provide any affected student a ride to a five-day school serving the same grade. The four-day-week provision is marked effective July 1, 2026.
The governor and state workforce agency would set a process to approve job training programs for federal workforce Pell grants. The process covers training for skilled, well-paid, or in-demand work identified through state and local workforce planning. The process must allow programs to apply and appeal denials. Approved programs must report completion, job placement, and earnings data. State requirements cannot be stricter than or conflict with federal rules. The training program provision is marked effective July 1, 2026.
The education agency would write a guide for teaching elementary school math. The guide covers kindergarten through grade 5. The guide must recommend at least 60 minutes of regular math instruction and 20 minutes of extra math help each day. The math guide provision is marked effective July 1, 2026.
The education agency could renew an emergency teaching permit up to two times. This applies to people enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program who hold an emergency permit. The person's alternative teacher certification program must give the agency proof that the person remains in good standing. The permit renewal provision is marked effective July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 12Signed by the Governor Mike BraunBecame Law
- Mar 12Public Law 159Major
- Mar 5Signed by the President Pro TemporeMajor
- Mar 3Signed by the SpeakerMajor
- Mar 2Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Feb 27Representative Smith V removed as conferee
- Vote recorded HB 1266 - Raatz. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded HB 1266 - Behning. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Representative Greene added as conferee
- Feb 27Senator Hunley removed as conferee
- Feb 27Senator Goode added as conferee
- Feb 27CCR # 1 filed in the HouseMinor
- Feb 27CCR # 1 filed in the SenateMinor
- Feb 27Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 425: yeas 66, nays 30
- Feb 27Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 334: yeas 28, nays 19
- Feb 25House conferees appointed: Behning, Smith V
- Feb 25Senate conferees appointed: Raatz, Hunley
- Feb 25Senate advisors appointed: Johnson T, Ford J.D.
- Feb 25House advisors appointed: Payne, Cash, DeLaney, Klinker, Pfaff
- Feb 24House dissented from Senate amendments
- Vote recorded HB 1266 - Raatz - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Third reading: passed; Roll Call 246: yeas 47, nays 0Passed Senate
- Feb 24Motion to dissent filedMinor
- Feb 24Returned to the House with amendmentsMinor
- Feb 23Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 23Amendment #1 (Yoder) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 19Senator Randolph added as cosponsor
- Feb 19Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Feb 12Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Feb 2First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career DevelopmentMinor
- Jan 29Referred to the SenateMinor
- Jan 28Senate sponsors: Senators Raatz, Johnson T
- Vote recorded HB 1266 - Behning - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Third reading: passed; Roll Call 136: yeas 90, nays 1Passed House
- Jan 27Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 27Amendment #1 (Burton) motion withdrawnMajor
- Jan 22Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 14Representative Klinker added as coauthor
- Jan 8Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 8Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
- Jan 6Coauthored by Representative McGuire
- Jan 6Authored by Representative Behning
- Jan 6First reading: referred to Committee on EducationIntroduced
EducationEconomy & JobsTaxes & Budget