House Bill 1265 Summary

• Establishes the Office of Educational Equity within the Department of Education, administered by an associate superintendent designated by the state superintendent.

• Defines "disproportionality" as the overrepresentation or underrepresentation of student population groups in educational programs based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, gender, and other factors.

• Requires the office to monitor and coordinate responses to disproportionality in student achievement, discipline, special education, alternative education, dropout prevention, high ability programs, and cultural competency.

• Mandates the office establish a data system, statewide advisory board, and develop criteria to identify disproportionality and create notification processes and improvement guidelines for affected school corporations.

• Requires school corporations to address any identified disproportionality in their strategic and continuous school improvement plans, with the office coordinating research with Indiana colleges and universities to develop evidence-based procedures to reduce disproportionality.