As students in Indiana head back to school, they will encounter some stricter classroom rules, including new reading requirements and a tighter absenteeism policy.

Advocates believe these new laws, enacted this year, will enhance the lives of young people.

Tami Silverman with the nonprofit Indiana Youth Institute says a notable new state law mandates that students who fail a reading assessment must repeat the third grade.

The 2024 Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book reveals only one-third of Indiana fourth-grade students were reading at or above proficiency levels, marking a four-percentage-point decrease from the 2019 rate of 37-percent. Also starting this fall, schools are required to report students who have 10 or more unexcused absences to the local prosecutor’s office. The new law may result in legal action against parents whose kids miss too much school.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Indiana legislative session, Silverman says there is discussion to improve mental health services to address growing concerns among students and educators.

Silverman believes these changes could have a profound impact on the future of Indiana’s youth, providing them with more tools and support to succeed. She says her organization will continue advocating for changes aimed at creating more equitable environments for all children in the state.