Changes to Indiana's graduation pathways will go into effect starting with 2019's freshman class.
The Indiana State Board of Education voted to approve the new pathways during a meeting Wednesday.
The decision comes after more than 20 parents and educators spoke against a proposal to drastically change high school graduation requirements during a public hearing Tuesday.
They came from around the state to voice concern on the plan that seeks to increase academic and career skills of graduates.
Parents of special education students -- like Jennifer Ledger of Northwest Allen County -- fear their children could be left behind.
"There is no vocational credit that will benefit for Josia. Can you honestly look him in the eye and say, ‘you did not graduate high school," Ledger says.
State Board of Education member Steve Yeager said at the time he couldn’t vote for the plan because there’s too many unknowns.
"We are asked to pass something where we have no idea what the cost is, what the classroom ramification may be, the district ramifications may be -- positive or negative," Yeager says.
