Governor Mike Braun met with students and staff at Cardinal Ritter High School to celebrate back-to-school season and the first year of universal school choice for Hoosier famili
“In Indiana, parents are in charge of their kids’ education, and I’m proud to celebrate our first year of universal school choice for Hoosier families today at Cardinal Ritter. Indiana is empowering parents and helping students excel.” — Governor Mike Braun
Gov. Braun secured universal school choice in Indiana by signing House Enrolled Act 1001 on May 6, 2025. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, more Hoosier parents have the opportunity to choose the school that best fits their child’s needs.
Gov. Braun also helped families save money while choosing the best education option to fit their child by opting Indiana into an initiative that allows Hoosiers to collect federal tax savings for investments made in K-12 scholarships. The federal tax credit, established under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, applies to charitable contributions made to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that serve eligible K-12 students.
These achievements join Governor Braun’s other major education wins as Hoosier students head back to school:
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.
Record Student Achievement
Indiana students are entering the new school year following historic academic progress:
Indiana ranks sixth in the nation in fourth-grade reading, the state’s highest ranking ever.
Indiana’s third-grade literacy rate increased to nearly 89 percent in 2026, the second-largest single-year improvement since IREAD began. This follows the state’s largest-ever increase in 2025. With these back-to-back historic gains, Indiana’s third-grade literacy rates have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
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 all Indiana public colleges and 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 higher education institution has simultaneously held tuition and mandatory fees flat, helping Hoosier students pursue a degree while saving families hundreds or thousands of dollars.