CHAPTER 7. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS
IC 20-20-7
Chapter 7. High School Diploma Program for Eligible Veterans
IC 20-20-7-1
"Department of veterans' affairs"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "department of veterans' affairs"refers to the Indiana department of veterans' affairs established byIC 10-17-1-2.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-2
"Diploma"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "diploma" refers to a high schooldiploma.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-3
"Eligible veteran"
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible veteran" refers to anindividual who has the following qualifications:
(1) Served as a member of the armed forces of the United Statesat any time during at least one (1) of the following periods:
(A) Beginning April 6, 1917, and ending November 11, 1918(World War I).
(B) Beginning December 7, 1941, and ending December 31,1946 (World War II).
(C) Beginning June 27, 1950, and ending January 31, 1955(Korean Conflict).
(D) Beginning August 5, 1964, and ending May 7, 1975(Vietnam Conflict).
(2) Before the military service described in subdivision (1):
(A) attended a public or nonpublic high school in Indiana;and
(B) was a student in good standing at the high schooldescribed in clause (A), to the satisfaction of the departmentof veterans' affairs.
(3) Did not graduate or receive a diploma because of leaving thehigh school described in subdivision (2) for the military servicedescribed in subdivision (1).
(4) Was honorably discharged from the armed forces of theUnited States.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.144-2007, SEC.17.
IC 20-20-7-4
"Program"
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the highschool diploma program for eligible veterans established by section6 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-5
"School corporation"
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "school corporation" includes asuccessor school corporation serving the area where a high schoolthat no longer exists was once located.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-6
High school programs for eligible veterans; establishment
Sec. 6. The high school diploma program for eligible veterans isestablished to provide for the issuance of high school diplomas tocertain veterans.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-7
Application for diploma; information required
Sec. 7. (a) The department and the department of veterans' affairsshall jointly design a form for the application for issuance of adiploma under the program.
(b) The application form must require at least the followinginformation about an eligible veteran:
(1) Personal identification information.
(2) Military service information, including a copy of the eligibleveteran's honorable discharge.
(3) High school information, including the following:
(A) Name and address, including county, of the last highschool attended.
(B) Whether the high school was a public or nonpublicschool.
(C) Years attended.
(D) Year of leaving high school to begin military service.
(E) Year in which the veteran would have graduated if theveteran had not left high school to begin military service.
(4) If the high school attended was a public school, whether theveteran prefers receiving a diploma issued by:
(A) the state board; or
(B) the governing body of the school corporation governingthe high school.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-8
Department of veterans' affairs; responsibilities
Sec. 8. The department of veterans' affairs shall do the followingfor individuals that the department of veterans' affairs has reason tobelieve may be eligible to apply for a diploma under the program:
(1) Give notice of the program.
(2) Describe the application procedure.
(3) Furnish an application form.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-9
Individuals eligible to apply
Sec. 9. The following individuals may apply for the issuance of adiploma to an eligible veteran under the program:
(1) An eligible veteran, including an eligible veteran who hasreceived a general educational development (GED) diplomaissued under IC 20-20-6 or a similar diploma.
(2) An individual who is:
(A) the surviving spouse of; or
(B) otherwise related to;
an eligible veteran who is deceased.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-10
Application required
Sec. 10. An applicant for a diploma under the program mustsubmit a completed application form to the department of veterans'affairs.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-11
Department of veterans' affairs; receipt of application; verificationof information
Sec. 11. Upon receipt of an application, the department ofveterans' affairs shall do the following:
(1) Verify the accuracy of the information in the application, inconsultation with the department, if necessary.
(2) Forward the verified application to the department.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-12
Department of education; responsibilities
Sec. 12. Upon receipt of a verified application, the departmentshall do the following:
(1) If the applicant:
(A) expresses a preference in the application to receive adiploma issued by the state board; or
(B) attended a nonpublic high school before leaving highschool for military service;
the department shall present a diploma issued by the stateboard.
(2) If the applicant expresses a preference for receiving adiploma from the governing body of the school corporationcontaining the public high school that the eligible veteran leftfor military service, the department shall direct the governingbody of the affected school corporation to issue and present thediploma.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-13 Ceremonies for presentation of diplomas
Sec. 13. (a) The department and governing bodies are encouragedbut are not required to hold a ceremony to present a diploma that isissued under the program.
(b) Upon request of a governing body, the department, incooperation with the department of veterans' affairs, shall assist thegoverning body to develop a variety of formats for appropriateceremonies at which to award diplomas under the program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-14
State board; design of commemorative diploma required
Sec. 14. (a) The state board shall design a unique commemorativediploma for the board to issue to eligible veterans who:
(1) attended a public high school and express in the applicationa preference for receiving a diploma that the state board issues;or
(2) attended a nonpublic high school.
(b) The state board shall design a unique commemorative diplomathat a governing body may choose to issue under the program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-15
Governing body; design of commemorative diploma allowed; typesof diplomas
Sec. 15. (a) A governing body may design a uniquecommemorative diploma for the governing body to issue under theprogram.
(b) A governing body that issues a diploma under the programshall issue one (1) of the following types of diplomas:
(1) The diploma described in subsection (a).
(2) The diploma designed by the state board under section 14(b)of this chapter.
(3) The same diploma that the governing body issues to currentgraduates.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-16
Cooperative administration of program
Sec. 16. The department and the department of veterans' affairsshall work cooperatively to jointly administer this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-17
Fees prohibited
Sec. 17. A fee may not be charged to process an application or toaward a diploma under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.
IC 20-20-7-18 Rules
Sec. 18. The department and the department of veterans' affairsmay adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.