SB 359 creates a new Indiana “resiliency program” for public schools and charter schools, aimed at helping students build resiliency and grit so they are “ready to learn.” The Department of Education must approve one or more providers to offer weekly or biweekly life-skills lessons for K-12 students, coaching programs for grades 6-12 students identified with subclinical anxiety, low motivation, disengagement, or lack of focus, and optional family and educator programs. The bill also allows the coaching program to be credit-bearing for high school students, with the department determining which credits it may satisfy.
The bill also requires the department, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services, to approve and make available student well-being resources on youth suicide, human trafficking, interpersonal violence, child abuse and neglect, and substance abuse. School corporations and charter schools must publish those approved resources on their websites and social media accounts and post hard copies in visible, accessible locations. Schools may also add other well-being resources beyond the state-approved list.
Impact
SB 359 amends Indiana Code Title 20 by adding a new chapter on the resiliency program and a new section requiring student well-being resource publication. It gives the Department of Education new authority to approve providers, set participation guidelines, prioritize rural schools, define credit applicability for high school students, and collect annual data and effectiveness reports for the legislature. It also imposes new posting and disclosure obligations on school corporations and charter schools regarding approved mental health and safety resources.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support in the Senate, passing the Education and Career Development Committee unanimously 13-0 and later passing third reading 42-4. The committee action and floor vote suggest the measure was generally viewed favorably as a student-support and school-safety initiative. The inclusion of an emergency clause and the relatively strong vote margin indicate momentum behind the bill’s implementation timeline.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are not explicit in the available transcript, but the bill’s structure suggests likely concerns about parental consent, school autonomy, and the scope of state-directed student programming. The amended version requires affirmative written consent before a student may participate and bars participation after 21 days without a response, which may reflect sensitivity to parental control and privacy. Another possible area of debate is the department’s role in selecting eligible schools and approved providers, especially because the program prioritizes rural schools and includes credit-bearing options for high school students.