Sec. 1.5. (a) This subsection expires July 1, 2022. Except as provided in subsection (f) and sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of this chapter, each student is required to meet:

(1) the academic standards tested in the graduation examination;

(2) the Core 40 course and credit requirements adopted by the state board under IC 20-30-10; and

(3) any additional requirements established by the governing body;

to be eligible to graduate.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (f) and sections 4, 4.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of this chapter, beginning with the class of students who expect to graduate during the 2022-2023 school year, each student shall:

(1) demonstrate college or career readiness through a pathway established by the state board, in consultation with the department of workforce development and the commission for higher education;

(2) meet the Core 40 course and credit requirements adopted by the state board under IC 20-30-10; and

(3) meet any additional requirements established by the governing body;

to be eligible to graduate.

(c) The state board shall establish graduation pathway requirements under subsection (b)(1) in consultation with the department of workforce development and the commission for higher education. A graduation pathway requirement may include the following postsecondary readiness competencies approved by the state board:

(1) International baccalaureate exams.

(2) Nationally recognized college entrance assessments.

(3) Advanced placement exams.

(4) Assessments necessary to receive college credit for dual credit courses.

(5) Industry recognized certificates.

(6) The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

(7) Cambridge International exams.

(8) Any other competency approved by the state board.

(d) If the state board establishes a nationally recognized college entrance exam as a graduation pathway requirement, the nationally recognized college entrance exam must be offered to a student at the school in which the student is enrolled and during the normal school day.

(e) When an apprenticeship is established as a graduation pathway requirement, the state board shall establish as an apprenticeship only an apprenticeship program registered under the federal National Apprenticeship Act (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) or another federal apprenticeship program administered by the United States Department of Labor.

(f) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school may voluntarily elect to use graduation pathways described in subsection (b) in lieu of the graduation examination requirements specified in subsection (a) prior to July 1, 2022.

(g) The state board, in consultation with the department of workforce development and the commission for higher education, shall approve college and career pathways relating to career and technical education, including sequences of courses leading to student concentrators.

As added by P.L.242-2017, SEC.34. Amended by P.L.192-2018, SEC.25; P.L.174-2018, SEC.4; P.L.269-2019, SEC.8; P.L.10-2019, SEC.84.