CHAPTER 5. MANDATORY CURRICULUM
IC 20-30-5
Chapter 5. Mandatory Curriculum
IC 20-30-5-0.5
Display of United States flag; Pledge of Allegiance
Sec. 0.5. (a) The United States flag shall be displayed in eachclassroom of every school in a school corporation.
(b) The governing body of each school corporation shall providea daily opportunity for students of the school corporation tovoluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance in each classroom or onschool grounds. A student is exempt from participation in the Pledgeof Allegiance and may not be required to participate in the Pledge ofAllegiance if:
(1) the student chooses to not participate; or
(2) the student's parent chooses to have the student notparticipate.
As added by P.L.78-2005, SEC.5.
IC 20-30-5-1
Constitutions
Sec. 1. (a) In each of grades 6 through 12, every public andnonpublic school shall provide instruction on the constitutions of:
(1) Indiana; and
(2) the United States.
(b) In public elementary schools, instruction on the constitutionsshall be included as a part of American history. In public highschools, instruction on the constitutions shall be included as a part ofcivics or another course, as the state board may require by rules.Failure of any public school teacher or principal to comply with thisrequirement constitutes misconduct in office under IC 20-28-5-7.
(c) Each nonpublic elementary school and high school shallprovide instruction under this section as required by the state board.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-2
Constitutions; interdisciplinary course
Sec. 2. (a) Each public and nonpublic high school shall provide arequired course that is:
(1) not less than one (1) year of school work; and
(2) in the:
(A) historical;
(B) political;
(C) civic;
(D) sociological;
(E) economical; and
(F) philosophical;
aspects of the constitutions of Indiana and the United States.
(b) The state board shall:
(1) prescribe the course described in this section and thecourse's appropriate outlines; and (2) adopt the necessary textbooks for uniform instruction.
(c) A high school student may not receive a diploma unless thestudent has successfully completed the interdisciplinary coursedescribed in this section.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-3
Protected writings, documents, and records of American history orheritage
Sec. 3. (a) This section applies to the following writings,documents, and records:
(1) The Constitution of the United States.
(2) The national motto.
(3) The national anthem.
(4) The Pledge of Allegiance.
(5) The Constitution of the State of Indiana.
(6) The Declaration of Independence.
(7) The Mayflower Compact.
(8) The Federalist Papers.
(9) "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine.
(10) The writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations ofthe founding fathers and presidents of the United States.
(11) United States Supreme Court decisions.
(12) Executive orders of the presidents of the United States.
(13) Frederick Douglas' Speech at Rochester, New York, onJuly 5, 1852, entitled "What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?".
(14) Appeal by David Walker.
(15) Chief Seattle's letter to the United States government in1852 in response to the United States government's inquiryregarding the purchase of tribal lands.
(b) A school corporation may allow a principal or teacher in theschool corporation to read or post in a school building or classroomor at a school event any excerpt or part of a writing, document, orrecord listed in subsection (a).
(c) A school corporation may not permit the content basedcensorship of American history or heritage based on religiousreferences in a writing, document, or record listed in subsection (a).
(d) A library, a media center, or an equivalent facility that aschool corporation maintains for student use must contain in thefacility's permanent collection at least one (1) copy of each writingor document listed in subsection (a)(1) through (a)(9).
(e) A school corporation:
(1) shall allow a student to include a reference to a writing,document, or record listed in subsection (a) in a report or otherwork product; and
(2) may not punish the student in any way, including areduction in grade, for using the reference.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-4 System of government; American history
Sec. 4. (a) Each public school and nonpublic school shall providewithin the two (2) weeks preceding a general election for all studentsin grades 6 through 12 five (5) full recitation periods of classdiscussion concerning:
(1) the system of government in Indiana and in the UnitedStates;
(2) methods of voting;
(3) party structures;
(4) election laws; and
(5) the responsibilities of citizen participation in governmentand in elections.
(b) A student may not receive a high school diploma unless thestudent has completed a two (2) semester course in American history.
(c) If a public school superintendent violates this section, the statesuperintendent shall receive and record reports of the violations. Thegeneral assembly may examine these reports.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-4.5
Moment of silence
Sec. 4.5. (a) In order that:
(1) the right of each student to the free exercise of religion isguaranteed within the schools; and
(2) the freedom of each student is subject to the least possiblecoercion from the state either to engage in or to refrain fromreligious observation on school grounds;
the governing body of each school corporation shall establish thedaily observance of a moment of silence in each classroom or onschool grounds.
(b) During the moment of silence required by subsection (a), theteacher responsible for a classroom shall ensure that all studentsremain seated or standing and silent and make no distracting displayso that each student may, in the exercise of the student's individualchoice, meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity that doesnot interfere with, distract, or impede another student in the exerciseof the student's individual choice.
As added by P.L.78-2005, SEC.6.
IC 20-30-5-5
Morals instruction
Sec. 5. (a) Each public school teacher and nonpublic schoolteacher who is employed to instruct in the regular courses of grades1 through 12 shall present the teacher's instruction with specialemphasis on:
(1) honesty;
(2) morality;
(3) courtesy;
(4) obedience to law;
(5) respect for the national flag and the Constitution of the State
of Indiana and the Constitution of the United States;
(6) respect for parents and the home;
(7) the dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
(8) other lessons of a steadying influence that tend to promoteand develop an upright and desirable citizenry.
(b) The state superintendent shall prepare outlines or materials forthe instruction described in subsection (a) and incorporate theinstruction in the regular courses of grades 1 through 12.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-6
Good citizenship instruction
Sec. 6. (a) This section applies only to public schools.
(b) As used in this section, "good citizenship instruction" meansintegrating instruction into the current curriculum that stresses thenature and importance of the following:
(1) Being honest and truthful.
(2) Respecting authority.
(3) Respecting the property of others.
(4) Always doing the student's personal best.
(5) Not stealing.
(6) Possessing the skills (including methods of conflictresolution) necessary to live peaceably in society and notresorting to violence to settle disputes.
(7) Taking personal responsibility for obligations to family andcommunity.
(8) Taking personal responsibility for earning a livelihood.
(9) Treating others the way the student would want to betreated.
(10) Respecting the national flag, the Constitution of the UnitedStates, and the Constitution of the State of Indiana.
(11) Respecting the student's parents and home.
(12) Respecting the student's self.
(13) Respecting the rights of others to have their own views andreligious beliefs.
(c) The department shall:
(1) identify; and
(2) make available;
models of conflict resolution instruction to school corporations. Theinstruction may consist of a teacher education program that appliesthe techniques to the students in the classroom to assist schoolcorporations in complying with this section.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.246-2005,SEC.170.
IC 20-30-5-7
School corporation studies
Sec. 7. Each school corporation shall include in the schoolcorporation's curriculum the following studies:
(1) Language arts, including: (A) English;
(B) grammar;
(C) composition;
(D) speech; and
(E) second languages.
(2) Mathematics.
(3) Social studies and citizenship, including the:
(A) constitutions;
(B) governmental systems; and
(C) histories;
of Indiana and the United States, including a study of theHolocaust in each high school United States history course.
(4) Sciences.
(5) Fine arts, including music and art.
(6) Health education, physical fitness, safety, and the effects ofalcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances on the humanbody.
(7) Additional studies selected by each governing body, subjectto revision by the state board.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.86-2007, SEC.1.
IC 20-30-5-7.5
Physical activities
Sec. 7.5. (a) This section does not apply to a student who:
(1) is in half-day kindergarten; or
(2) has a medical condition that precludes participation in thedaily physical activity provided under this section.
(b) Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, the governing bodyof each school corporation shall provide daily physical activity forstudents in elementary school. The physical activity must beconsistent with the curriculum and programs developed underIC 20-19-3-6 and may include the use of recess. On a day when thereis inclement weather or unplanned circumstances have shortened theschool day, the school corporation may provide physical activityalternatives or elect not to provide physical activity.
As added by P.L.54-2006, SEC.4.
IC 20-30-5-8
Safety education
Sec. 8. A course in safety education for at least one (1) fullsemester shall be taught in grade 8 of each public school andnonpublic school. The state board shall:
(1) prepare a guide for this course that:
(A) the teacher shall use; and
(B) may be revised under the direction of the state board;and
(2) adopt textbooks or other materials for the course underIC 20-20-5.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-9
Hygiene
Sec. 9. (a) The principles of hygiene and sanitary science must betaught in grade 5 of each public school and may be taught in othergrades. This instruction must explain the ways that dangerouscommunicable diseases are spread and the sanitary methods fordisease prevention and restriction.
(b) The state health commissioner and the state superintendentshall jointly compile a leaflet describing the principles of hygiene,sanitary science, and disease prevention and shall supply the leafletsto each superintendent, who shall:
(1) supply the leaflets to each school; and
(2) require the teachers to comply with this section.
(c) Each prosecuting attorney to whom the state department ofhealth or the state department of health's agents report any violationof this section shall commence proceedings against the violator.
(d) Any student who objects in writing, or any student less thaneighteen (18) years of age whose parent or guardian objects inwriting, to health and hygiene courses because the courses conflictwith the student's religious teachings is entitled to be excused fromreceiving medical instruction or instruction in hygiene or sanitaryscience without penalties concerning grades or graduation.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-10
Diseases
Sec. 10. (a) The governing body shall provide in each publicschool for the illustrative teaching of:
(1) the spread of disease by:
(A) rats;
(B) flies; and
(C) mosquitoes;
and the effects of disease; and
(2) disease prevention by proper food selection andconsumption.
(b) A school official who fails to comply with this sectioncommits a Class C infraction.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-11
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, prescription drugs, and controlledsubstances; instruction in kindergarten through grade 12
Sec. 11. (a) For kindergarten through grade 12, the governingbody of each school corporation shall provide instruction concerningthe effects that:
(1) alcoholic beverages;
(2) tobacco;
(3) prescription drugs; and
(4) controlled substances;
have on the human body and society at large. (b) The state board shall make available to all school corporationsa list of appropriate available instructional material on the mattersdescribed in subsection (a).
(c) The department shall develop curriculum guides to assistteachers assigned to teach the material described in subsection (a).
(d) The state board shall approve drug education curricula forevery grade from kindergarten through grade 12.
(e) The department shall provide assistance to each schoolcorporation to train at least one (1) teacher in the school corporationin drug education.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-12
AIDS
Sec. 12. (a) Each school corporation shall:
(1) include in the school corporation's curriculum instructionconcerning the disease acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS); and
(2) integrate this effort to the extent possible with instruction onother dangerous communicable diseases.
(b) A school corporation shall consider the recommendations ofthe AIDS advisory council established under IC 20-34-1 concerningcommunity standards on the:
(1) content of the instruction;
(2) manner in which the information is presented; and
(3) grades in which the information is taught.
(c) Literature that is distributed to school children and youngadults under this section must include information required byIC 20-34-3-17.
(d) The department, in consultation with the state department ofhealth, shall develop AIDS educational materials. The departmentshall make the materials developed under this section available toschool corporations.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-13
Instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases
Sec. 13. Throughout instruction on human sexuality or sexuallytransmitted diseases, an accredited school shall:
(1) require a teacher to teach abstinence from sexual activityoutside of marriage as the expected standard for all school agechildren;
(2) include in the instruction that abstinence from sexualactivity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlockpregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associatedhealth problems; and
(3) include in the instruction that the best way to avoid sexuallytransmitted diseases and other associated health problems is toestablish a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in thecontext of marriage.As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-14
Employment matters and work values; career awareness anddevelopment; teacher education; career preparationdemonstration projects
Sec. 14. (a) To:
(1) educate students on the importance of their future careerchoices;
(2) prepare students for the realities inherent in the workenvironment; and
(3) instill in students work values that will enable them tosucceed in their respective careers;
each school within a school corporation shall include in the school'scurriculum for all students in grades 1 through 12 instructionconcerning employment matters and work values.
(b) Each school shall:
(1) integrate within the curriculum instruction that is; or
(2) conduct activities or special events periodically that are;
designed to foster overall career awareness and career developmentas described in subsection (a).
(c) The department shall develop career awareness and careerdevelopment models as described in subsection (d) to assist schoolsin complying with this section.
(d) The models described in this subsection must be developed inaccordance with the following:
(1) For grades 1 through 5, career awareness models tointroduce students to work values and basic employmentconcepts.
(2) For grades 6 through 8, initial career information modelsthat focus on career choices as they relate to student interest andskills.
(3) For grades 9 through 10, career exploration models thatoffer students insight into future employment options.
(4) For grades 11 through 12, career preparation models thatprovide job or further education counseling, including thefollowing:
(A) Initial job counseling, including the use of job serviceofficers to provide school based assessment, information,and guidance on employment options and the rights ofstudents as employees.
(B) Workplace orientation visits.
(C) On-the-job experience exercises.
(e) The department, with assistance from the department of laborand the department of workforce development, shall:
(1) develop and make available teacher guides; and
(2) conduct seminars or other teacher education activities;
to assist teachers in providing the instruction described in thissection.
(f) The department shall, with assistance from the department of
workforce development, design and implement innovative careerpreparation demonstration projects for students in at least grade 9.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.246-2005,SEC.171.
IC 20-30-5-15
Breast cancer and testicular cancer instruction
Sec. 15. (a) Each school corporation shall include in the schoolcorporation's high school health education curriculum instructionregarding breast cancer and testicular cancer as adopted by the stateboard, including the significance of early detection of these diseasesthrough:
(1) monthly self-examinations; and
(2) regularly scheduled mammographies in the case of breastcancer.
(b) The department shall, in consultation with the state departmentof health, develop breast cancer and testicular cancer educationalmaterials to be made available to school corporations to assistteachers assigned to teach the material described in this section.
(c) The:
(1) department shall develop guidelines; and
(2) state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2;
concerning the instruction required under this section to assistteachers assigned to teach the material described in this section.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-16
Human organ and blood donor program instruction
Sec. 16. (a) Each school corporation shall include in the schoolcorporation's high school health education curriculum instructionregarding the human organ donor program and blood donor programas adopted by the state board, including:
(1) the purpose of the human organ donor program and blooddonor program;
(2) the statewide and nationwide need for human organ andblood donations; and
(3) the procedure for participation in the human organ donorprogram and blood donor program.
(b) The department shall, in consultation with the state departmentof health or any other appropriate organization, develop human organdonor program and blood donor program educational materials to bemade available to school corporations to assist teachers assigned toteach the material described in this section.
(c) The:
(1) department shall develop guidelines; and
(2) state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2;
concerning the instruction required under this section to assistteachers assigned to teach the material described in this section.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-17
Access to materials relating to personal analysis, evaluation, orsurvey of students; consent for participation
Sec. 17. (a) A school corporation shall make available forinspection by the parent of a student any instructional materials,including:
(1) teachers' manuals;
(2) textbooks;
(3) films or other video materials;
(4) tapes; and
(5) other materials;
used in connection with a personal analysis, an evaluation, or asurvey described in subsection (b).
(b) A student shall not be required to participate in a personalanalysis, an evaluation, or a survey that is not directly related toacademic instruction and that reveals or attempts to affect thestudent's attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelingsconcerning:
(1) political affiliations;
(2) religious beliefs or practices;
(3) mental or psychological conditions that may embarrass thestudent or the student's family;
(4) sexual behavior or attitudes;
(5) illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaningbehavior;
(6) critical appraisals of other individuals with whom thestudent has a close family relationship;
(7) legally recognized privileged or confidential relationships,including a relationship with a lawyer, minister, or physician;or
(8) income (except as required by law to determine eligibilityfor participation in a program or for receiving financialassistance under a program);
without the prior consent of the student if the student is an adult oran emancipated minor or the prior written consent of the student'sparent if the student is an unemancipated minor. A parental consentform for a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey described inthis section shall accurately reflect the contents and nature of thepersonal analysis, evaluation, or survey.
(c) The department and the governing body shall give parents andstudents notice of their rights under this section.
(d) The governing body shall enforce this section.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-5-18
Meningitis information
Sec. 18. (a) The chief administrative officer of each:
(1) public school (including a charter school as defined inIC 20-24-1-4); and
(2) nonpublic school;shall ensure that information concerning meningococcal disease andits vaccines is provided to students and parents or guardians ofstudents at the beginning of each school year.
(b) The information provided under subsection (a) must includeinformation concerning the:
(1) causes;
(2) symptoms; and
(3) spread;
of meningococcal disease and the places where parents and guardiansof students may obtain additional information and vaccinations fortheir children.
(c) The chief administrative officers and the department shall, inconsultation with the state department of health or any otherappropriate entity, develop materials to be made available to schoolsto assist schools in providing the information described in thissection.
(d) The department shall enforce this section.
As added by P.L.76-2005, SEC.3.
IC 20-30-5-19
Personal financial responsibility instruction
Sec. 19. (a) Each school corporation, charter school, andaccredited nonpublic school shall include in its curriculum for allstudents in grades 6 through 12 instruction concerning personalfinancial responsibility.
(b) A school corporation, a charter school, and an accreditednonpublic school may meet the requirements of subsection (a) by:
(1) integrating, within its curriculum, instruction; or
(2) conducting a seminar;
that is designed to foster overall personal financial responsibility.
(c) The state board shall adopt a curriculum that ensures personalfinancial responsibility is taught:
(1) in a manner appropriate for each grade level; and
(2) as a separate subject or as units incorporated intoappropriate subjects;
as determined by the state board.
As added by P.L.154-2009, SEC.2.