Online course mandate clears Senate

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) - A bill that would require students in Indiana to take a virtual instruction course before they graduate from high school has cleared the state Senate and is on its way to the House, Senate Republicans announced Wednesday.

The vote Wednesday was 38-12.

The bill, authored by Republican State Sen. Jim Banks of Columbia City, is aimed at ensuring high school students are proficient in online learning before they enter college or the workforce.

It would require students – beginning with the freshman class of 2013 – to have at least one virtual instruction course or credit requirement go toward their Core 40 diploma.

Ivy Tech Community College has said it will provide the technology for these courses, which would enable high school students to get dual credit, according to Senate Republicans.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett responded, "I commend Senator Banks and his colleagues for championing this important piece of legislation. Our mission is to provide every Hoosier student an education that is the best in the nation. To do this, we must graduate tech-savvy students who are ready to be innovators and leaders. Indiana is pushing forward with innovative programs and policies to develop a top-notch workforce — a factor that can be instrumental in driving economic development throughout the state."