Outline of the state of Indiana
State
Indiana
Encouraged

Category
Social-Emotional Learning or Character Development

Category
Social-Emotional Learning or Character Development

State law encourages districts to integrate social-emotional learning or character education into the school curriculum.

Indiana Code 20-19-5-1. Development and coordination of plan by department of education.

The department of education, in cooperation with the department of child services, the department of correction, and the division of mental health and addiction, shall:

  • (1) develop and coordinate the children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan that is to provide recommendations concerning:
  • (A) comprehensive mental health services;
  • (B) early intervention; and
  • (C) treatment services; for individuals from birth through twenty-two (22) years of age;
  • (2) make recommendations to the state board, which shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 concerning the children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan; and
  • (3) conduct hearings on the implementation of the plan before adopting rules under this chapter.
Policy Type
Statute

Indiana Code 20-19-5-2. Recommendations.

The children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan shall recommend:

  • (1) procedures for the identification and assessment of social, emotional, and mental health issues;
  • (2) procedures to assist a child and the child’s family in obtaining necessary services to treat social, emotional, and mental health issues;
  • (3) procedures to coordinate provider services and interagency referral networks for an individual from birth through twenty-two (22) years of age;
  • (4) guidelines for incorporating social, emotional, and behavioral development into school learning Standard and education programs;
  • (5) that social, emotional, and mental health screening be included as a part of routine examinations in schools and by health care providers;
  • (6) procedures concerning the positive development of children, including:
  • (A) social, emotional, and behavioral development;
  • (B) learning; and
  • (C) behavioral health;
  • (7) plans for creating a children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health system with shared accountability among state agencies that will:
  • (A) conduct ongoing needs assessments;
  • (B) use outcome indicators and benchmarks to measure progress; and
  • (C) implement quality data tracking and reporting systems;
  • (8) a state budget for children’s social, emotional, and mental health prevention and treatment;
  • (9) how state agencies and local entities can obtain federal funding and other sources of funding to implement a children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan;
  • (10) how to maintain and expand the workforce to provide mental health services for individuals from birth through twenty-two (22) years of age and families;
  • (11) how employers of mental health professionals may:
  • (A) improve employee job satisfaction; and
  • (B) retain employees;
  • (12) how to facilitate research on best practices and model programs for children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health;
  • (13) how to disseminate research and provide training and educational materials concerning the children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health program to:
  • (A) policymakers;
  • (B) practitioners; and
  • (C) the general public; and
  • (14) how to implement a public awareness campaign to:
  • (A) reduce the stigma of mental illness; and
  • (B) educate individuals:
  • (i) about the benefits of children’s social, emotional, and behavioral development; and
  • (ii) how to access children’s social, emotional, and behavioral development services.
Policy Type
Statute

Indiana Code 20-30-5-6 Good citizenship instruction

(a) This section applies only to public schools.

(b) As used in this section, “good citizenship instruction” means integrating instruction into the current curriculum that stresses the nature and importance of the following:

  • (1) Being honest and truthful.
  • (2) Respecting authority.
  • (3) Respecting the property of others.
  • (4) Always doing the student’s personal best.
  • (5) Not stealing.
  • (6) Possessing the skills (including methods of conflict resolution) necessary to live peaceably in society and not resorting to violence to settle disputes.
  • (7) Taking personal responsibility for obligations to family and community.
  • (8) Taking personal responsibility for earning a livelihood.
  • (9) Treating others the way the student would want to be treated.
  • (10) Respecting the national flag, the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Indiana.
  • (11) Respecting the student’s parents and home.
  • (12) Respecting the student’s self.
  • (13) Respecting the rights of others to have their own views and religious beliefs.

(c) The department shall:

  • (1) identify; and
  • (2) make available; models of conflict resolution instruction to school corporations. The instruction may consist of a teacher education program that applies the techniques to the students in the classroom to assist school corporations in complying with this section.
Policy Type
Statute

Indiana Code 5-2-10.1-2. Purpose — Source of money — Grants.

(a) The Indiana safe schools fund is established to do the following:

  • (1) Promote school safety through the:
  • (A) use of dogs trained to detect drugs and illegal substances; and
  • (B) purchase of other equipment and materials used to enhance the safety of schools.
  • (2) Combat truancy.
  • (3) Provide matching grants to schools for school safe haven programs.
  • (4) Provide grants for school safety and safety plans. However, a grant from the fund may not be used to employ a school resource officer (as defined in IC 20-26-18.2-1) or a law enforcement officer (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-185).
  • (5) Provide educational outreach and training to school personnel concerning:
  • (A) the identification of;
  • (B) the prevention of; and
  • (C) intervention in; bullying.
  • (6) Provide educational outreach to school personnel and training to school safety specialists and school resource officers concerning:
  • (A) the identification of;
  • (B) the prevention of; and
  • (C) intervention in; criminal organization activities.
  • (7) Provide grants for school wide programs to improve school climate and professional development and training for school personnel concerning:
  • (A) alternatives to suspension and expulsion; and
  • (B) evidence based practices that contribute to a positive school environment, including classroom management skills, positive behavioral intervention and support, restorative practices, and social emotional learning.
Policy Type
Statute