Purdue University president says proposed IDOE diplomas ‘do not meet Purdue’s admission requirements’

INDIANAPOLIS — As the first round of public comment came to an end regarding the Indiana Department of Education’s proposed redesign of high school diplomas, several teachers, parents and lawmakers expressed concerns during the latest State Board of Education hearing Tuesday about what these changes could mean for future students.

”If you think that this is good for the public, please reconsider,” said parent Mark Wood. ”You’re going to produce no better than worker bees out of this.”

“I’m concerned about the loss of academic rigor,” said retired teacher Sue Wood.

The current proposal would eliminate the Academic Honors Diploma in favor of two new diplomas (known as the GPS and the GPS Plus Diploma), with the GPS Plus Diploma putting a heavy emphasis on work-based learning.

”Losing the Academic Honors Diploma will be a disaster for our students that want to go on to higher education,” said John Doherty, the school board president of the school town of Munster.

”It appears uncertain as to whether universities will accept Indiana high schools under this plan,” said concerned parent Jeff Costello.

”With these two new diplomas, they will not be accepted at IU or Purdue,” said Wood.

In a letter addressed to IDOE Secretary Katie Jenner and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education dated July 22, Purdue University President Mung Chiang said in part:

“…The proposed GPS and GPS+ Diplomas do not meet Purdue’s admission requirements in the subject areas of math, lab sciences, social studies and world language…”

”It should have been a wake-up call to them that they have went too far, and they need to pull all that back,” said State Rep. Cherrish Pryor, (D-Indianapolis).

”Hoosier high school students would not be able to get into our state institutions, and it’s not just Purdue, I believe all of our institutions would be in the same boat,” said State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis).

IDOE staffers said another 30-day public comment period will take place once the second draft proposal is released next month.

”We’re looking forward to seeing the second draft, and we’re very hopeful that many of the changes that folks have requested will be reflected in that draft,” said Jennifer Smith-Margraf, the vice president of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

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