The Indiana State Teachers Association is demanding the state education department provide more and clear details of how educators are affected by the requirement.

Indiana teachers will be able to earn a literacy endorsement through a free professional development course offered by the Indiana Department of Education. Educators who complete the course will also receive a $1,200 stipend for their time.

Lawmakers passed a flurry of bills this year that will have a wide impact on education in Indiana. Those included efforts to combat low reading scores, promote work-based learning and prepare for new graduation standards.

From bills that aim to raise low reading scores to remedies for students using cellphones in class, lawmakers will spend the second half of session considering bills from the opposite chamber with fresh eyes and advancing initiatives with widespread support.

A bill that proposes solutions to the state’s reading crisis, including holding back third graders who fail the IREAD-3 test, passed the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday.

Thousands of Indiana students could be held back in third grade if they don't pass a reading test. Indiana lawmakers will hear a proposal this week to mandate students repeat third grade if they do not pass the state's reading skills exam.

Lawmakers shared more detailed plans this week about their education goals for the upcoming legislative session. The discussions revealed divisions on how to address topics like work-based learning, low third grade reading scores and early education.