07-29-2026 Governor Braun Empowers Parents, Supports Teachers as Hoosier Students Head Back to School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Governor Braun Empowers Parents, Supports Teachers as Hoosier Students Head Back to School

INDIANAPOLIS - As Hoosier students return to school, Governor Mike Braun is strengthening classrooms, supporting teachers, empowering parents, and preparing every student for success after graduation.

" As Hoosier students head back to schools, the big changes we've made to Indiana's education system are paying off: safer schools, universal school choice, and bell-to-bell cell phone restrictions to limit distractions. Indiana is supporting teachers, empowering parents, and giving students the skills and opportunities they need to succeed." - Governor Mike Braun

Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Restrictions

Beginning this school year, Indiana's new bell-to-bell wireless device policy will help schools limit distractions and keep students focused and engaged throughout the entire school day.

Senate Enrolled Act 78 requires public and charter schools to adopt either a no-device policy or a storage policy under which personal devices are powered off and inaccessible throughout the school day. The policy covers cell phones, smartwatches, gaming devices and other personal wireless communication devices.

The law includes exceptions for students with Individualized Education Programs or Section 504 plans, documented medical needs, and emergency use.

Supporting Teachers and Directing More Money to Classrooms

Governor Braun secured a $5,000 increase in Indiana's minimum teacher salary, raising it from $40,000 to $45,000. Schools are also now required to spend at least 65 percent of their state tuition support on teacher compensation, helping ensure education funding reaches teachers and classrooms.

Universal School Choice

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, Indiana has secured Universal School choice, giving more Hoosier parents the opportunity to choose the school that best fits their child's needs.

Governor Braun's approach to education is grounded in a simple principle: parents are in charge of their children's education.

Record Student Achievement

Indiana students are entering the new school year following historic academic progress:

• Indiana now ranks sixth in the nation in fourth-grade reading, the state's highest ranking ever.
• Indiana ' s third-grade literacy rate increased by nearly five percentage points in 2025, the largest single-year improvement since IREAD began. 73,500 third graders, or 87.3 percent, demonstrated reading proficiency.
• Indiana ' s high school graduation rate reached a record high in 2025, with nearly 92 percent of Hoosier seniors graduating.

Safer Schools

Governor Braun established Indiana's first Office of School Safety to coordinate school security resources, strengthen emergency-response guidance and help schools implement effective safety plans.

The office works with schools and state agencies to maintain security guidelines, train school safety specialists and support proactive threat assessment and prevention efforts.

Clearer Paths After Graduation

Indiana is implementing a new high school diploma framework centered on three paths after graduation: Enrollment in college, Employment in a career, or Enlistment and service in the military.

Students can earn specialized seals aligned with their goals, including an Enrollment Honors Plus Seal that qualifies students for automatic acceptance to Indiana's public universities and Employment seals built around real-world, hands-on experience with Indiana employers.

Keeping College Affordable

At Governor Braun's request, all 15 of Indiana's public colleges and universities, including both main and regional campuses, froze in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years.

This marks the first time in modern Indiana history that every public institution has simultaneously held tuition and mandatory fees flat, helping Hoosier students pursue a degree while saving families hundreds or thousands of dollars.

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