CHAPTER 6. OPTIONAL CURRICULUM

IC 20-30-6
     Chapter 6. Optional Curriculum

IC 20-30-6-1
Adult education; reimbursement for costs
    
Sec. 1. (a) The state board and the state superintendent may prescribe a program of adult education. The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to provide for this program and to provide for the state distribution formula for money appropriated by the general assembly for adult education. Money appropriated by the general assembly for adult education may be used only to reimburse a school corporation for adult education that is provided to individuals who:
        (1) need the education to master a skill that leads to:
            (A) the completion of grade 8; or
            (B) a state of Indiana general educational development (GED) diploma under IC 20-20-6;
        (2) need the education to receive high school credit to obtain a high school diploma; or
        (3) have graduated from high school (or received a high school equivalency certificate or a state of Indiana general educational development (GED) diploma) but who demonstrate basic skill deficiencies in mathematics or English/language arts.
For purposes of reimbursement under this section, the school corporation may not count an individual who is also enrolled in the school corporation's kindergarten through grade 12 educational program. An individual described in subdivision (3) may be counted for reimbursement by the school corporation only for classes taken in mathematics and English/language arts.
    (b) The state board shall provide for reimbursement to a school corporation under this section for instructor salaries and administrative and support costs. However, the state board may not allocate more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total appropriation under subsection (a) for administrative and support costs.
    (c) A school corporation may conduct a program of adult education.
    (d) A school corporation may require an individual who:
        (1) is at least sixteen (16) years of age; and
        (2) wishes to enroll in a school following the student's expulsion from school under IC 20-33-8 on the grounds that the student was:
            (A) disorderly; or
            (B) dangerous to persons or property;
to attend evening classes or classes established for students who are at least sixteen (16) years of age. However, the school corporation shall provide a child with a disability (as defined in IC 20-35-1-2) who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and whom the school corporation elects to educate with an appropriate special educational program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.
IC 20-30-6-2
Program of adult competency; funds to implement program
    
Sec. 2. (a) The department shall, in cooperation with the department of workforce development, implement the Indiana program of adult competency.
    (b) The department may, with approval by the department of workforce development, do the following:
        (1) Use funds available under the Job Training Partnership Act under 29 U.S.C. 1500 et seq.
        (2) Use funds available to the department of workforce development to implement the Indiana program of adult competency.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-3
Repealed
    
(Repealed by P.L.2-2006, SEC.199.)

IC 20-30-6-4
Educational television
    
Sec. 4. (a) A school corporation may:
        (1) conduct educational television instruction; and
        (2) contract with a commercial television station for the use of the station's facilities and staff.
    (b) A governing body may budget and appropriate from the school corporation's general fund for expenditures under this section in the same manner as provided by law for other school expenditures.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-5
Educational television; joint programs
    
Sec. 5. (a) Two (2) or more school corporations may jointly exercise the powers described in section 4 of this chapter. The school corporations shall enter into an agreement as to the part of expenses incurred under section 4 of this chapter that each school corporation pays.
    (b) A school corporation described in subsection (a) may pay into a joint fund an amount computed annually under an agreement described in subsection (a).
    (c) The treasurer of a joint fund described in subsection (b) shall:
        (1) deposit money in the fund as provided under IC 5-13; and
        (2) make disbursements on claims allowed by an executive committee acting for the participating school corporations.
The treasurer shall give bond in an amount established by the executive committee.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-6
Educational television; credit
    
Sec. 6. The state board may approve credit in kindergarten

through grade 12 for educational television instruction in the same manner as other credit is given under state rules.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-7
Military instruction
    
Sec. 7. (a) A governing body may institute a system of military instruction in a high school and authorize the high school to receive arms, ammunition, and equipment from the federal government under regulations adopted by the United States Department of Defense.
    (b) A governing body described in subsection (a) may pay the following expenses from the school corporation's general fund:
        (1) Freight charges on arms, ammunition, and equipment issued by the federal government from the place of issue to the high school.
        (2) Insurance charges on property described in subdivision (1).
        (3) Premiums on bonds executed by the governing body to cover the care, safekeeping, and return of property described in subdivision (1).
        (4) The cost of constructing arms racks and other facilities for the care and preservation of property described in subdivision (1), scaling walls, indoor targets, and other equipment the governing body considers necessary.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-8
Military instruction; staff
    
Sec. 8. (a) A governing body may employ suitable and competent persons as military instructors. A military instructor is entitled to compensation as an instructor in a high school if:
        (1) a system of military instruction is established and a military instructor is not detailed to the high school by the federal government; or
        (2) a system of military instruction is established with detailed military instructors, but additional instructors are necessary.
    (b) An individual who holds a certificate of eligibility issued by the state board after an examination conducted by a board of three (3) military officers, at least one (1) of whom is commissioned in the United States regular army, is competent and suitable as a military instructor. A qualified individual may serve as physical education director, military instructor, and teacher in a high school.
    (c) A high school may not institute or conduct military instruction unless an instructor detailed by the federal government or a competent and suitable military instructor supervises the military instruction.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-9
Military instruction; noncompulsory
    
Sec. 9. Sections 7 and 8 of this chapter do not authorize

compulsory military instruction in a public school and do not abridge the right of school authorities to make proper rules and regulations for the government of the school's students.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-10
Voluntary religious observance authorized
    
Sec. 10. A school corporation may permit a voluntary religious observance if the school corporation follows sections 11 through 12 of this chapter and any additional procedures that the school corporation adopts to ensure that the observance is voluntary.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.78-2005, SEC.7.

IC 20-30-6-11
Voluntary religious observance; time, facilities, and supervision
    
Sec. 11. (a) The time used for voluntary religious observance authorized under section 10 of this chapter must be in addition to the regular school day, which for these purposes is six and one-half (6 1/2) hours, excluding time for lunch.
    (b) A religious or philosophical group that does not accept voluntary religious observance at a school is entitled to use of school facilities during the time set for voluntary religious observance.
    (c) A school corporation shall provide properly supervised facilities for recreation and study during a voluntary religious observance. The supervised facilities must include the following:
        (1) The library.
        (2) If the school has no library, a study room.
        (3) The gymnasium or playground.
        (4) Music and art facilities.
An individual who supervises a facility does not have to be licensed in the activity that the individual supervises.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-12

Voluntary religious observance; prohibitions
    
Sec. 12. (a) The following may not cause or encourage attendance at a voluntary religious observance:
        (1) A school corporation.
        (2) A superintendent.
        (3) A principal.
        (4) A teacher.
        (5) A clerical employee.
        (6) A custodial employee.
        (7) A school employee or official.
A person described in this subsection who causes or encourages attendance at a voluntary religious observance commits an act of insubordination, and appropriate action shall be taken against the person.
    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a school shall provide written notice to all students and the students' parents of a voluntary

religious observance and of any alternative activities provided under section 11(c) of this chapter.
    (c) A school corporation shall ensure that:
        (1) students do not coerce attendance at a voluntary religious observance; and
        (2) no opprobrium attaches among the students or faculty for not participating in a voluntary religious observance.
If a school corporation cannot avert the coercion or opprobrium described in this subsection, the school corporation shall discontinue the voluntary religious observances.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-13
Repealed
    
(Repealed by P.L.78-2005, SEC.8.)

IC 20-30-6-14
Geography; teaching guides; textbooks; in-service training
    
Sec. 14. The state board shall:
        (1) provide school corporations with guides for teaching geography in the public schools;
        (2) provide school corporations with a list of textbooks that have been adopted under IC 20-20-5 and are available for geography instruction; and
        (3) make available in-service training opportunities to teachers who teach geography.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14.

IC 20-30-6-15

American Sign Language; foreign language credit; teacher certification; curriculum
    
Sec. 15. (a) A school corporation may offer classes in American Sign Language as a first or second language for students who hear, students who are deaf, and students who are hard of hearing.
    (b) If:
        (1) classes in American Sign Language are offered at the secondary level by a school corporation; and
        (2) a student satisfactorily completes a class in American Sign Language as a second language;
the student is entitled to receive foreign language credit for the class.
    (c) A class in American Sign Language offered under this section must be taught by a teacher licensed in Indiana and:
        (1) certified by the American Sign Language Teachers Association; or
        (2) holding a degree in American Sign Language.
    (d) The state board shall establish a curriculum in American Sign Language as a first or second language.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.99-2007, SEC.176.
IC 20-30-6-16
Sharing explicit material by cellular telephone or computer
    
Sec. 16. A school corporation may offer classes, instruction, or programs regarding the potential risks and consequences of creating and sharing sexually suggestive or sexually explicit materials through cellular telephones, social networking web sites, computer networks, and other digital media.
As added by P.L.104-2010, SEC.3.