Representative Jake Teshka's math bill ceremonially signed into law
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Governor Mike Braun signing a new law, authored by Representative Jake Teshka, aiming to improve math skills among Hoosier students.
According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, Indiana students rank 6th in the nation for both fourth and eighth grade reading.
Fourth grade math scores also improved, moving Indiana up to 9th place from 11th.
The law will require math screenings for K through 2nd grade students to catch learning gaps early and provide targeted help.
Teshka says if the student is behind, they will get extra help right away. If the student is more advanced, they'll be put in more advanced classes unless a parent says no.
"We want to make sure that we are catching those who are at risk of falling behind, catching those students early and intervening early. The bill provides for some multi-tiered systems of support there. We want to intervene in the right way for the right students at the right time and make sure that we are getting them where they need to go," Teshka said.
The law also makes sure teachers are ready to teach math with confidence.
Teacher programs will now have to focus on three things: what the math means, how to do it and how to use it in real life.
To help with this, the Department of Education will support current teachers with resources, training modules and coaching.
"What we really want to do is address how that the teacher prep programs are preparing the educators for tomorrow and and then we want to make sure that we're reaching out through some department of education modules and those sorts of things to the educators that are already in the field as well," Teshka said.