INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) recently heard from representatives from Ivy Tech Community College and the Indiana National Guard about a new opportunity they have collaboratively designed for Indiana high school students interested in the military or public service. The Ivy Tech Public Service Pilot will be available beginning in summer 2025 and will help interested students earn the newly-developed enlistment and service diploma seals, while also earning college credit.
The Ivy Tech Public Service Pilot includes potential service opportunities at Camp Atterbury-Muskatuck, and introduces students to public service with experiential, hands-on learning. Beginning in summer 2025, the Ivy Tech Public Service Pilot will be available at six campuses across the state including Bloomington, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lawrenceburg, Marion and Sellersburg, with the possibility to scale statewide.
As a part of the new Indiana high school diploma requirements approved by SBOE in December, students will have the opportunity to earn two levels of readiness seals (honors and honors plus) in enrollment, employment or enlistment and service. The enlistment and service seals, developed in partnership with the Indiana National Guard, representatives from each military branch and public safety officials, prioritize academic standards ideal for military and public service, in addition to fitness, leadership and character.
Per statute, Indiana’s current graduation requirements will sunset October 1, 2028, making the new diploma requirements effective for all students beginning with the class of 2029, or students currently in eighth grade. Schools may opt-in beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Indiana will also continue to offer the federally-required alternate diploma, which is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.