Indiana signs landmark education law to advance data science in schools

(Press-News.org) INDIANAPOLIS, DATE  — Indiana is reimagining education for the data-driven age. Following December’s Indiana Call to Action Summit: Strengthening the Data Science Thread—hosted by the Indiana Department of Education and Data Science 4 Everyone—leaders have passed House Bill 1266 to make data science a fundamental part of every Hoosier’s education.

At the summit, educators, policymakers, and industry experts agreed: empowering students to reason with data is essential for future-ready graduates. Teachers explored new strategies to connect math, science, and social studies with real-world data, and heard from leaders in K–12 and higher education about the promise and urgency of this work.

 “At the end of the day, it was clear we have a lot of work to do to ensure employers in Indiana have the data-literate employees they need,” said Rick Hudson, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Southern Indiana. “As educators, we need to prepare students for the data-rich world they’ll encounter.”

House Bill 1266, authored by Rep. Robert Behning and sponsored by Sen. Jeff Raatz and others, will guide curriculum, teacher training, and support for schools statewide while creating a math pathway focused on data science and integrating data science across K–12 subjects and grade bands.

"Knowing how to analyze and interpret data has become as foundational as reading and math," Behning said. "Students need a basic understanding of data science in order to work in industries across the board. This type of curriculum will also lead to developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that help in all facets of success."

Indiana’s focus on foundational skills has helped elementary students jump in national rankings in reading to No. 6 nationwide. Now, HB 1266 aims to bring the same success to math by guiding educators on math proficiency standards and setting instructional expectations from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The bill also leverages existing career and technical education pathways, requiring the Indiana Department of Education to create a data science track for high schoolers—teaching in-demand skills like AI engineering and computer science.

 

About Data Science 4 Everyone

Data Science for Everyone is a coalition advancing data science education so that every K-12 student is equipped with the data literacy skills needed to succeed in our modern world. Equitable access to data science education is an opportunity to open doors to higher education, high-paying careers, and an engaged community. Created by the University of Chicago Center for RISC and organized in partnership with The Learning Agency and the Concord Consortium, we support a growing community that knows that the data revolution has transformed modern life, and we need to prepare our students. 


 

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