Indiana schools will receive letter grades again.

The State Board of Education unanimously adopted new A–F accountability rules returning letter grades to Indiana schools after nearly a decade, and initial grades are scheduled for distribution later this year. The system adds measures beyond test scores, such as attendance, career exploration and workforce credentials, and it places more weight on proficiency than on academic growth.

The State Board of Education voted unanimously to restore A–F letter grades for Indiana schools, a system that had not been used for nearly a decade. The change follows a legislative directive and months of rulemaking. Officials say the new rules aim to capture more than test scores by including attendance, career exploration in middle school and workforce credentials. Adoption was delayed from December while officials revised an earlier draft. Key points: - The board adopted an accountability system that returns A–F letter grades to schools, as directed by the Legislature. - The new framework includes measures beyond academic mastery, such as attendance, middle school career exploration and opportunities for workforce credentials. - The adopted version gives greater weight to proficiency than to academic growth, a shift from an earlier draft that treated them equally; the Department of Education said this ensures a school cannot receive more points for a student who has not achieved proficiency than for one who has. - Critics note that heavy reliance on standardized-test-related measures can reflect a school's socioeconomic context as much as classroom instruction; additional measures were added to provide a fuller picture. - The state began work on the rules last year and had delayed adoption from December to address concerns; the Legislature directed grades to be awarded by the end of 2026. - Education Secretary Katie Jenner said Indiana will resume pursuing flexibility in the use of some federal funds now that the accountability system is adopted; the U.S. Department of Education has 120 days to respond once a waiver is requested. Summary: The adopted rules return letter grades and alter how school performance is measured across multiple indicators, affecting accountability reporting statewide. Initial school grades will be released later this year on a sliding scale that awards As for scores from 85 to 100, and federal waiver requests are expected to proceed with the new rules in place.