Rep. Pfaff calls for action on high school diploma proposal

State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) expressed frustration with the latest draft of Indiana’s high school diploma proposal, released on Oct. 9 by the State Board of Education (SBOE) and Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). Despite input from educators, parents, and legislators, the second draft still fails to address key issues like student transportation, counselor shortages, workplace safety, and long-term funding.

Rep. Pfaff stated:

“I'm deeply concerned that this second draft doesn't address the critical issues of funding, student safety, or the cuts made to student curriculum. With the December deadline approaching, there are too many unanswered questions about how these diploma changes will actually work.

“Indiana is facing a severe shortage of school counselors, with a shocking student-to-counselor ratio of 694 to 1. Yet again, this draft overlooks the real-world impact of asking schools to implement new systems without adequate support.

“There’s also no additional funding or resources offered to help current school staff. How can we expect overworked counselors to take on even more responsibilities, like guiding students through new, complex diploma tracks and explaining them to parents?

“Earlier this year, I was hopeful when the SBOE removed the confusing GPS Diploma options in favor of one base diploma. That showed they were listening to Hoosiers' concerns. But this second draft ignores the major issues educators and lawmakers have raised since then.

“We need to keep the pressure on the IDOE and SBOE to make real improvements before the December deadline. The public can submit feedback on the second draft until Nov. 8, and there will be another public meeting that day for people to share their thoughts directly. I urge everyone to participate.

“As it stands, this proposal is not good enough. Our students deserve better, and I’ll keep pushing for real changes until we get a diploma plan that works for everyone.”

Rep. Pfaff encourages Hoosiers to provide feedback by filling out the IDOE's online form and attending the Nov. 8 public commentary meeting.

The State Board of Education is accepting feedback on the proposed diplomas. All parents, students, educators and stakeholders are encouraged to share their concerns and can do so via the online form here. 

Pfaff demands FSSA take accountability for leaving Hoosier seniors out to dry

This July, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) launched the PathWays for Aging home- and community-based service (HCBS) Waiver for eligible Hoosiers aged 60 or older. According to the FSSA, the Medicaid managed care program was intended to improve the health and well-being of aging Hoosier populations. However, since the program's launch, many eligible Hoosiers have been left on a waitlist with no end in sight.

The PathWays Waiver has a total of 10,500 slots for newly eligible seniors, and 9,247 Hoosiers are currently on the waitlist. Despite the number of open slots exceeding the number of people on the waitlist, the FSSA is only filling 800 of those open slots each month from the waitlist. The thousands of Hoosiers remaining on the waitlist have been left pathless without adequate support or communication.

“With the thousands of applicants on the waitlist, this means that the FSSA plans to let Hoosier seniors wait an entire year to finally receive government services they've been paying into their entire lives,” State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) said. “Now, these same seniors are left without answers as they are forced to wait months for critical services.”

“I recently contacted the FSSA asking them to send a representative to assist concerned seniors at the Silver Birch assisted living in Terre Haute. This request was denied. The FSSA did not explain why they could not send a liaison to meet with these residents. Instead, the FSSA advised the individuals at Silver Birch to wade through a sea of red tape if they want any answers. The apathy shown by the FSSA towards our Hoosier seniors is unacceptable. I will do everything in my power to ensure that our seniors get the support they so desperately need.

“Left without any guidance or transparency from the FSSA, those stuck on the waitlist are now at risk of becoming unhoused and losing access to essential services. This is as irresponsible as it is unconscionable. It is unacceptable to allow the FSSA to take advantage of our vulnerable senior population by refusing to help them get the care they need.  Until the FSSA takes accountability for the mess they made, my office will continue to do what we can on behalf of affected seniors.”

Pfaff optimistic about updated diploma proposal, but some questions still remain unanswered

On Aug. 15, the State Board of Education (SBOE) released a second draft of the new, proposed high school diplomas. The second draft removes the GPS Diploma and GPS Diploma Plus options and instead offers one base diploma. Students can now obtain Honors and Honors Plus readiness seals in the following categories: enlistment and service, employment and enrollment. These changes follow a public comment period in which educators, parents, students and legislators shared their concerns.

State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) released the following statement regarding the updated draft proposals: 

“Though this second draft does offer improvements, there are still many unanswered questions that the SBOE must address. The proposed GPS and GPS Plus diplomas failed to offer diverse courses to make Hoosier students competitive compared to those from other states. I am optimistic that the new readiness seals will offer Hoosier students an opportunity to challenge themselves academically and provide a pathway for those aiming to attend college or university.

“However, as an educator, I still have concerns regarding the feasibility of implementing these changes into our current system. As students return to school after the long summer break, teachers and school staff must quickly adjust to the difficulties each new school year brings. But now, we also face uncertainty and lack of transparency stemming from the new high school diploma proposals.

“Currently, Indiana is experiencing a counselor crisis. Earlier this year, the American School Counselor Association reported that Indiana's student-to-counselor ratio is 694 to 1. Our school counselors are already stretched to their limit, so how can we expect them to take on the challenge of guiding students into a future that has yet to be mapped out? Without proper funding or resources directed to our schools and educational staff, it is unrealistic to further burden counselors with this challenge.

“Additionally, we have yet to receive any clarity on how schools are meant to implement work-based learning opportunities. How are we going to ferry students to and from their job sites? What about liability issues and safety concerns? How would we support students in rural areas who don't have the same job opportunities as their urban and suburban counterparts? Until these questions are answered, this second draft still has too many unresolved issues to proceed forward with confidence.

“Regardless of the work yet to be done, I want to thank everyone in my community who reached out to me about their concerns and provided feedback directly to the SBOE. I also want to thank the SBOE for listening and implementing changes when concerns were raised. Though there is still much to do, I am hopeful that these diploma changes are moving in a positive direction.”

The latest diploma proposal is not yet available on the Indiana Register. IDOE and SBOE will open another public comment period with an online portal and public forum, expected this fall. The final rule on the new diploma must be adopted by December 31, 2024.