Public schools will soon be able to hire professionals without teaching experience under a new law signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb. Lawmakers designed it to fill vacant teacher jobs, but opponents worry it will hurt education quality.

Lawmakers in the Indiana Senate effectively killed a controversial school curriculum and parent oversight bill Monday. The bill is dead, but lawmakers said some sections of it may return as part of other legislation before the session ends.

House Bill 1251 would, among other things, permit adjunct teachers in public school classrooms. It's aimed at helping curb a teacher shortage, but critics say it demeans skilled teachers and targets their unions.

Legislation that would limit what can be discussed in Indiana classrooms has been watered down yet some teachers still worry restrictive and punitive language could be added back before the Statehouse session ends.

Senate lawmakers approved sweeping changes to a controversial school curriculum bill Wednesday. But many Hoosiers who testified on the bill said while they appreciate the effort, they still have concerns.

The proposed amendment would remove requirements for teachers to post classroom materials online, and no longer require that schools create parent-led advisory committees.

"Trust us" -- that was the message some teachers wanted to send to lawmakers as they gathered at the Statehouse Monday.

Indiana lawmakers are about halfway through this year's legislative session, after key deadlines came and went earlier this week.

A bill moving forward in the Indiana Senate would let public schools hire part time “adjunct” teachers without any teaching training.

Advocates representing Black Hoosiers, teachers and other education groups called for lawmakers to vote no on a controversial school curriculum bill Wednesday, as they gathered in the statehouse to further condemn legislation many of them say is racist and divisive.