Ind. Code ch. 20-26-13

Ind. Code ch. 20-26-13
in effect

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-1 Applicability

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to: (1) a public high school; and (2) a state accredited nonpublic high school. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-1.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.92-2020, SEC.32.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-2 "Cohort"

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "cohort" refers to a class of students who: (1) attend the same high school; and (2) are first considered to have entered grade 9 in the same year. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-2.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.229-2007, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-3 "Enrollment"

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "enrollment" means the total number of students within a grade that is reported to the department annually on: (1) October 1; or (2) a date specified by the department. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-3.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-4 "Expected graduation year"

Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "expected graduation year" means the reporting year beginning three (3) years after the reporting year in which a student is first considered by a school corporation to have entered grade nine. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-4.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-5 "Graduation"

Sec. 5. (a) As used in this chapter, "graduation" means the successful completion by a student of: (1) a sufficient number of academic credits, the equivalent of academic credits, or the diploma requirements established under IC 20-19-2-21(c); and (2) a postsecondary readiness competency established by the state board under IC 20-32-4-1.5(c), or a waiver process required under IC 20-32-3 through IC 20-32-5.1; resulting in the awarding of an Indiana diploma or an alternate diploma described in IC 20-32-4-14. (b) The term does not include the granting of a general educational development diploma under IC 20-20-6 (before its repeal) or IC 22-4.1-18. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-5.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.7-2011, SEC.9; P.L.286-2013, SEC.82; P.L.242-2017, SEC.16; P.L.192-2018, SEC.11; P.L.160-2023, SEC.2; P.L.188-2023, SEC.2; P.L.9-2024, SEC.391; P.L.150-2024, SEC.17.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-6 "Graduation rate"

Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "graduation rate" means the percentage of students within a cohort who graduate during their expected graduation year. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-6.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-7 "Reporting year"

Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "reporting year" refers to the period beginning October 1 of a year and ending September 30 of the following year. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-7.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-8 "Retention"

Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "retention" refers to the reclassification by a school corporation of a student that places the student into a cohort that has an expected graduation year after the expected graduation year of the student's initial cohort. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-8.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-9 Graduation rate determination by department; adult high schools excluded

Sec. 9. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the department shall determine the graduation rate of high school students under this chapter. (b) Except to the extent required under federal law, an adult high school (as defined in IC 20-24-1-2.3) is excluded from all cohort based graduation rate calculations. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-9.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.214-2025, SEC.95.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-10 Formula to determine four year graduation rate

Sec. 10. (a) Except as provided in section 11 of this chapter and subject to IC 20-31-8-4.6 and IC 20-32-4-14, the four (4) year graduation rate for a cohort in a high school is the percentage determined under STEP FIVE of the following formula: STEP ONE: Determine the grade 9 enrollment at the beginning of the reporting year three (3) years before the reporting year for which the graduation rate is being determined. STEP TWO: Add: (A) the number determined under STEP ONE; and (B) the number of students who: (i) have enrolled in the high school after the date on which the number determined under STEP ONE was determined; and (ii) have the same expected graduation year as the cohort. STEP THREE: Subtract from the sum determined under STEP TWO the number of students who have left the cohort for any of the following reasons: (A) Transfer to another public or nonpublic school. (B) Except as provided in IC 20-33-2-28.6 and subsection (b), removal by the student's parents under IC 20-33-2-28 to provide instruction equivalent to that given in the public schools. (C) Withdrawal because of a long term medical condition or death. (D) Detention by a law enforcement agency or the department of correction. (E) Placement by a court order or the department of child services. (F) Enrollment in a virtual school. (G) Leaving school, if the student attended school in Indiana for less than one (1) school year and the location of the student cannot be determined. (H) Leaving school, if the location of the student cannot be determined and the student has been reported to the Indiana clearinghouse for information on missing children, missing veterans at risk, and missing endangered adults. (I) Withdrawing from school before graduation, if the student is a high ability student (as defined in IC 20-36-1-3) who is a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher education during the semester in which the cohort graduates. (J) Withdrawing from school before graduation pursuant to providing notice of withdrawal under section 17 of this chapter. (K) Participating in the high school equivalency pilot program under IC 20-30-8.5, unless the student fails to successfully complete the high school equivalency pilot program in the two (2) year period. This clause expires June 30, 2028. STEP FOUR: Determine the result of: (A) the total number of students determined under STEP TWO who have graduated during the current reporting year or a previous reporting year; minus (B) the amount by which the number of students who graduated through a waiver process required under IC 20-32-3 through IC 20-32-5.1 exceeds: (i) nine percent (9%) of the total number of students determined under clause (A) for the 2023-2024 school year; (ii) six percent (6%) of the total number of students determined under clause (A) for the 2024-2025 school year; or (iii) three percent (3%) of the total number of students determined under clause (A) for each school year after June 30, 2025. STEP FIVE: Divide: (A) the number determined under STEP FOUR; by (B) the remainder determined under STEP THREE. (b) This subsection applies to a high school in which: (1) for a: (A) cohort of one hundred (100) students or less, at least ten percent (10%) of the students left a particular cohort for a reason described in subsection (a) STEP THREE clause (B); or (B) cohort of more than one hundred (100) students, at least five percent (5%) of the students left a particular cohort for a reason described in subsection (a) STEP THREE clause (B); and (2) the students described in subdivision (1)(A) or (1)(B) are not on track to graduate with their cohort. A high school must submit a request to the state board in a manner prescribed by the state board requesting that the students described in this subsection be included in the subsection (a) STEP THREE calculation. The state board shall review the request and may grant or deny the request. The state board shall deny the request unless the high school demonstrates good cause to justify that the students described in this subsection should be included in the subsection (a) STEP THREE calculation. If the state board denies the request the high school may not subtract the students described in this subsection under subsection (a) STEP THREE. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-15-10.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.242-2005, SEC.11; P.L.145-2006, SEC.151; P.L.229-2007, SEC.4; P.L.45-2008, SEC.1; P.L.43-2009, SEC.17; P.L.268-2013, SEC.1; P.L.159-2019, SEC.13; P.L.86-2020, SEC.1; P.L.125-2020, SEC.1; P.L.32-2021, SEC.53; P.L.160-2023, SEC.3; P.L.246-2023, SEC.36; P.L.150-2024, SEC.18; P.L.40-2024, SEC.25; P.L.1-2025, SEC.190; P.L.27-2026, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-10.2 Formula to determine five year graduation rate

Sec. 10.2. In the reporting year immediately following the determination of a cohort's four (4) year graduation rate under section 10(a) of this chapter, the department shall calculate a five (5) year graduation rate for the cohort using the following formula: STEP ONE: Determine the number determined under STEP FOUR of the formula established in section 10(a) of this chapter. STEP TWO: Add: (A) the number determined under STEP ONE; and (B) the number of students in the cohort who have graduated during the current reporting year. STEP THREE: Divide: (A) the sum determined under STEP TWO; by (B) the remainder determined under STEP THREE of the formula established in section 10(a) of this chapter. As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.159-2019, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-10.5 Formula to determine six or subsequent year graduation rate

Sec. 10.5. In the reporting year immediately following the determination of a cohort's five (5) year graduation rate under section 10.2 of this chapter and each subsequent reporting year, the department shall calculate a six (6) or subsequent year graduation rate for the cohort using the following formula: STEP ONE: Determine the number determined under STEP TWO of the formula established in section 10.2 of this chapter. STEP TWO: Add: (A) the number determined under STEP ONE; and (B) the number of students in the cohort who have graduated during the current reporting year. STEP THREE: Divide: (A) the sum determined under STEP TWO; by (B) the remainder determined under STEP THREE of the formula established in section 10(a) of this chapter. As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.159-2019, SEC.15.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-10.7 Student included in only one graduation year

Sec. 10.7. For purposes of determining a graduation rate under sections 10, 10.2, and 10.5 of this chapter, a student may be counted as a member of only one (1) cohort and as graduating during only one (1) reporting year. As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.45-2008, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-11 Student who has left school; responsibility of state attendance officer; review of graduation cohort

Sec. 11. (a) A student who has left school is not included in clauses (A) through (K) of STEP THREE of the formula established in section 10(a) of this chapter unless the school can provide written proof that the student has left the school for one (1) of the reasons set forth in clauses (A) through (K) of STEP THREE of section 10(a) of this chapter. If the location of the student is unknown to the school, the principal of the school shall send a certified letter to the last known address of the student, inquiring about the student's whereabouts and status. If the student is not located after the certified letter is delivered or if no response is received, the principal may submit the student's information, including last known address, parent or guardian name, student testing number, and other pertinent data to the state attendance officer. The state attendance officer, using all available state data and any other means available, shall attempt to locate the student and report the student's location and school enrollment status to the principal so that the principal can appropriately send student records to the new school or otherwise document the student's status. (b) The department shall conduct a review of each school's graduation cohort on a schedule determined by the department. (c) If a school cannot provide written proof that a student should be included in clauses (A) through (K) of STEP THREE of section 10(a) of this chapter, the student is considered a dropout. As added by P.L.242-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.229-2007, SEC.8; P.L.251-2017, SEC.5; P.L.159-2019, SEC.16; P.L.86-2020, SEC.2; P.L.125-2020, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-11.3 Classification or application of exit code; evidence parent or guardian initiated student leaving

Sec. 11.3. (a) A school may not classify a student as, or apply an exit code or description to a student that indicates that the student is, leaving a cohort for the reason described in section 10(a) STEP THREE clause (B) of this chapter unless the school has substantial evidence that the parent or guardian of the student initiated the student leaving the cohort. (b) Upon request by the department, the school shall provide a copy of evidence described in subsection (a) for any student the school classifies, or to whom the school applies an exit code or description, as described in subsection (a). As added by P.L.251-2017, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.159-2019, SEC.17.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-12 Estimated graduation rate

Sec. 12. For each high school, the department shall calculate an estimated graduation rate that is determined by the total number of graduates for the reporting year divided by the total number of students enrolled in grade 9 at the school three (3) years before the reporting year. As added by P.L.242-2005, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.229-2007, SEC.9; P.L.45-2008, SEC.3; P.L.251-2017, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-13 Corrected graduation rate

Sec. 13. For any school that cannot provide written proof supporting the school's determination to include a student under any one (1) of clauses (A) through (K) of STEP THREE of section 10(a) of this chapter, the department shall require the publication of the corrected graduation rate in the manner prescribed by the department. As added by P.L.242-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.229-2007, SEC.10; P.L.159-2019, SEC.18; P.L.86-2020, SEC.3; P.L.125-2020, SEC.3; P.L.250-2023, SEC.20.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-14 Report; contents

Sec. 14. (a) Each reporting year, the department shall determine and report the following for each cohort: (1) A four (4) year graduation rate determined under section 10 of this chapter. (2) A five (5) year graduation rate determined under section 10.2 of this chapter. (3) A six (6) and subsequent year graduation rate determined under section 10.5 of this chapter. (b) Except for the correction of calculation errors, a four (4) year and five (5) year graduation rate may not be altered after the rates are initially reported. As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.11.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-15 Deadline for schools to report graduation information; report date for four year graduation rate

Sec. 15. (a) The provisions of sections 12 and 13 of this chapter must be completed before the release of the reports required under section 14 of this chapter. The department shall establish deadlines for each school to provide the information required under section 13 of this chapter. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the department shall report the four (4) year graduation rates for each cohort not later than January 15 following the cohort's expected graduation rate. As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-16 Graduation rate determination under National Governors' Association guidelines

Sec. 16. In addition to any other determination required under this chapter, the department shall determine and report a statewide graduation rate that is consistent with guidelines developed by the National Governors' Association. If the guidelines are unclear or allow flexibility in determination, the requirements of this chapter apply to the determination of a statewide graduation rate. However, cohort members who leave after less than one (1) year of attendance in an Indiana school and whose location cannot be determined may not be subtracted in the calculation of a statewide graduation rate. As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.13.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-16.5 High school equivalency pilot program students subtracted

Sec. 16.5. (a) A student must be subtracted under clause (K) of STEP THREE of section 10(a) of this chapter when a student transitions from a traditional high school to the high school equivalency pilot program under IC 20-30-8.5. (b) This section expires June 30, 2028. As added by P.L.86-2020, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.150-2024, SEC.19; P.L.27-2026, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-26-13-17 Students subtracted from four year graduation rate formula; requirements

Sec. 17. A student must be subtracted under clause (J) of STEP THREE of section 10(a) of this chapter if all of the following occur: (1) The student's parent submits to the school the following statements, on forms prescribed by the department, while the student is enrolled in grade 8: (A) A statement from the parent: (i) affirming that the parent has a sincerely held religious belief against the taking of a photograph; and (ii) stating that the student will be withdrawing from school after completing grade 10 in order to allow the student to complete a career pathway certification or due to the parent's deeply held religious belief. (B) A statement from a member of the clergy of the religious organization of which the parent is a member regarding the prohibition of photography of members of the religious organization. (2) The parent provides proof to the school that at least one (1) parent has been issued a photo exempt driver's license or a photo exempt identification card issued under IC 9-24-16.5. (3) The student withdraws from school after completing grade 10. As added by P.L.125-2020, SEC.4.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026