Indy Standard

The Indiana House of Representatives has unanimously passed legislation introduced by State Representative Jake Teshka aimed at enhancing math skills among K-12 students in the state. The bill, known as House Bill 1634, seeks to improve math education by implementing a system that focuses on individual results and addresses the needs of both advanced learners and at-risk students.

"Math skills are foundational to preparing students for careers in growing fields like STEM," said Teshka, who is a member of the House Education Committee. "As a lawmaker, I want to do everything possible to set our students up for success and help them achieve their potential. This legislation would champion advanced learners and provide additional support to students who need it."

Teshka's proposal follows previous efforts he made to enhance reading skills among Hoosier students. In 2023, he authored a law introducing science of reading standards and providing targeted support for those facing significant reading challenges.

According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, Indiana has seen substantial improvements in reading scores, ranking sixth nationally for both fourth and eighth grades. However, in math, Indiana ranks ninth for fourth grade and 13th for eighth grade.

"We've seen impressive improvement in Hoosiers' reading skills thanks to the great work of our educators and focused attention on cultivating these skills," Teshka stated. "We want to make sure our teachers and students have the tools and support they need to achieve similar gains in math."

Under HB 1634, middle school students meeting certain proficiency criteria would be automatically enrolled in advanced math courses unless parents choose otherwise. The bill also mandates numeracy screenings from kindergarten through second grade to identify learning gaps early on.

Additionally, the Indiana Department of Education would assess teacher preparation programs against rigorous standards; programs failing these standards could lose accreditation after a referral process.

Support for the bill came from several organizations including the Indiana Secretary of Education, Indiana Association of School Principals, Indiana Urban Schools Association, Indiana Chamber, and the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents.

House Bill 1634 will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration. More information about this legislation can be found at iga.in.gov.