House passes Rep. Teshka's legislation to improve math skills among Hoosiers

The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously advanced State Rep. Jake Teshka's (R-North Liberty) legislation to improve math skills among Hoosier K-12 students.

House Bill 1634 is a comprehensive effort to improve math education in the state. It will implement an individualized, results-focused system that will address the needs of advanced learners, at-risk students, and educators alike.

"Math skills are foundational to preparing students for careers in growing fields like STEM," said Teshka, 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 said this legislation follows previous legislative efforts to improve reading among Hoosier students. In 2023, Teshka authored a law to implement the science of reading standards and provide targeted support for Indiana students experiencing the most significant reading challenges.

According to the recently released 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, Indiana made significant gains in reading, jumping to sixth in the nation for both fourth and eighth-grade reading scores. On the same assessment, Indiana ranks ninth and 13th for fourth-grade and eighth-grade math, respectively.     

"We've seen impressive improvement in Hoosiers' reading skills thanks to the great work of our educators, who focused attention on cultivating these skills," Teshka said. "We want to make sure our teachers and students have the tools and support they need to achieve similar gains in math."
Teshka said HB 1634 would automatically enroll middle school students who meet specific proficiency criteria in advanced math courses to prepare them for higher-level math courses and STEM opportunities. Parents would retain the ability to opt their children out of these courses. To support students at risk of falling behind, Teshka's legislation would require state-approved numeracy screenings for students in kindergarten through second grade to identify learning gaps earlier and provide targeted support.

Additionally, the Indiana Department of Education would review teacher preparation programs to ensure they meet rigorous standards, and those that fall short would lose their accreditation after a referral process.

The Indiana Secretary of Education, Indiana Association of School Principles, Indiana Urban Schools Association, Indiana Chamber, and the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents all testified in support of the bill.
 
House Bill 1634 has now been moved to the Senate for further consideration. For more information or to watch the session and committee meetings live, visit iga.in.gov.