Indiana 2023 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0307 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	SENATE BILL No. 307
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 12-7-2; IC 12-17.2; IC 20-19-3.
7	7	Synopsis: Early learning. Raises the annual income eligibility for an
8	8	eligible child to 138% of the federal poverty level. (Currently, the
9	9	eligibility is 127% of the federal poverty level.) Removes certain
10	10	restrictions on how the office of the secretary of family and social
11	11	services may award grants. Changes the prekindergarten pilot program
12	12	to the prekindergarten program and removes the expiration date. Makes
13	13	conforming changes.
14	14	Effective: July 1, 2023.
15	15	Walker K
16	16	January 12, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Appropriations.
17	17	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 Introduced
18	18	First Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2023)
19	19	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
20	20	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
21	21	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
22	22	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
23	23	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
24	24	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
25	25	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
26	26	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
27	27	between statutes enacted by the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
28	28	SENATE BILL No. 307
29	29	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
30	30	human services.
31	31	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. IC 12-7-2-91, AS AMENDED BY P.L.184-2017,
33	33	2 SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
34	34	3 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 91. "Fund" means the following:
35	35	4 (1) For purposes of IC 12-12-1-9, the fund described in
36	36	5 IC 12-12-1-9.
37	37	6 (2) For purposes of IC 12-15-20, the meaning set forth in
38	38	7 IC 12-15-20-1.
39	39	8 (3) For purposes of IC 12-17-12, the meaning set forth in
40	40	9 IC 12-17-12-4.
41	41	10 (4) For purposes of IC 12-17.2-7.2, the meaning set forth in
42	42	11 IC 12-17.2-7.2-4.7.
43	43	12 (4) (5) For purposes of IC 12-17.6, the meaning set forth in
44	44	13 IC 12-17.6-1-3.
45	45	14 (5) (6) For purposes of IC 12-23-2, the meaning set forth in
46	46	15 IC 12-23-2-1.
47	47	16 (6) (7) For purposes of IC 12-23-18, the meaning set forth in
48	48	17 IC 12-23-18-4.
49	49	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 2
50	50	1 (7) (8) For purposes of IC 12-24-6, the meaning set forth in
51	51	2 IC 12-24-6-1.
52	52	3 (8) (9) For purposes of IC 12-24-14, the meaning set forth in
53	53	4 IC 12-24-14-1.
54	54	5 (9) (10) For purposes of IC 12-30-7, the meaning set forth in
55	55	6 IC 12-30-7-3.
56	56	7 SECTION 2. IC 12-7-2-139.3 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY
57	57	8 1, 2023]. Sec. 139.3. "Pilot fund", for purposes of IC 12-17.2-7.2, has
58	58	9 the meaning set forth in IC 12-17.2-7.2-4.7.
59	59	10 SECTION 3. IC 12-17.2-7.2-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
60	60	11 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
61	61	12 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "eligible child" refers
62	62	13 to an individual who:
63	63	14 (1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years of
64	64	15 age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a grant is sought
65	65	16 under the prekindergarten pilot program;
66	66	17 (2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement in
67	67	18 Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
68	68	19 (3) is a member of a household with an annual income that does
69	69	20 not exceed one hundred twenty-seven percent (127%) one
70	70	21 hundred thirty-eight percent (138%) of the federal poverty
71	71	22 level;
72	72	23 (4) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
73	73	24 provider, as determined by the office;
74	74	25 (5) has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental
75	75	26 engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible
76	76	27 provider;
77	77	28 (6) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child
78	78	29 meets the attendance requirements determined by the office; and
79	79	30 (7) meets the requirements under section 7.2(a) and 7.2(c) of this
80	80	31 chapter.
81	81	32 SECTION 4. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2.5, AS ADDED BY P.L.268-2019,
82	82	33 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
83	83	34 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter, "limited eligibility
84	84	35 child" refers to an individual who:
85	85	36 (1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years of
86	86	37 age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a grant is sought
87	87	38 under the prekindergarten pilot program;
88	88	39 (2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement in
89	89	40 Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
90	90	41 (3) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
91	91	42 provider, as determined by the office;
92	92	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 3
93	93	1 (4) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child
94	94	2 meets the attendance requirements determined by the office;
95	95	3 (5) has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental
96	96	4 engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible
97	97	5 provider;
98	98	6 (6) is a member of a household with an annual income that does
99	99	7 not exceed one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal
100	100	8 poverty level;
101	101	9 (7) meets the requirements of section 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) of this
102	102	10 chapter; and
103	103	11 (8) is not an eligible child.
104	104	12 SECTION 5. IC 12-17.2-7.2-4.7, AS ADDED BY P.L.184-2017,
105	105	13 SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
106	106	14 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 4.7. As used in this chapter, "pilot "fund" refers
107	107	15 to the prekindergarten pilot program fund established by section 13.5
108	108	16 of this chapter.
109	109	17 SECTION 6. IC 12-17.2-7.2-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.184-2017,
110	110	18 SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
111	111	19 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "prekindergarten pilot
112	112	20 program" refers to the prekindergarten pilot program established under
113	113	21 section 7 of this chapter.
114	114	22 SECTION 7. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
115	115	23 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
116	116	24 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7. (a) The office may establish a prekindergarten
117	117	25 pilot program is established to provide grants for:
118	118	26 (1) qualified early education services in a manner consistent with
119	119	27 how funds are distributed under the Child Care and Development
120	120	28 Fund (CCDF) grant program; and
121	121	29 (2) expansion plans as described in section 7.4(a)(2) of this
122	122	30 chapter.
123	123	31 (b) The office shall administer the prekindergarten pilot program.
124	124	32 The prekindergarten pilot program may include:
125	125	33 (1) eligible providers in Indiana; and
126	126	34 (2) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers as
127	127	35 described in section 7.4 of this chapter.
128	128	36 (c) Before July 1, 2017, the prekindergarten pilot program includes
129	129	37 eligible providers in the following pilot counties:
130	130	38 (1) Allen.
131	131	39 (2) Jackson.
132	132	40 (3) Lake.
133	133	41 (4) Marion.
134	134	42 (5) Vanderburgh.
135	135	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 4
136	136	1 The total number of grants the office awards to eligible children in a
137	137	2 county listed in this subsection during a state fiscal year may not be
138	138	3 less than the total number of grants the office awarded to eligible
139	139	4 children in that county during the immediately preceding state fiscal
140	140	5 year unless the office determines that there is an insufficient number of
141	141	6 eligible children or eligible providers in the county to justify the total
142	142	7 number of grants for that county. Beginning July 1, 2020, the total
143	143	8 number of grants during the immediately preceding state fiscal year
144	144	9 shall include the number of grants issued under a preschool program
145	145	10 established in March 2015 that operates in a consolidated city.
146	146	11 (d) After June 30, 2017, and before July 1, 2019, in addition to the
147	147	12 counties listed under subsection (c), the prekindergarten pilot program
148	148	13 includes eligible providers in fifteen (15) additional counties. In
149	149	14 determining which counties are designated as pilot counties under this
150	150	15 subsection, the office shall give preference to counties that are
151	151	16 primarily rural. The total number of grants the office awards to eligible
152	152	17 children in a county designated under this subsection during a state
153	153	18 fiscal year may not be less than the total number of grants the office
154	154	19 awarded to eligible children in that county during the immediately
155	155	20 preceding state fiscal year unless the office determines that there is an
156	156	21 insufficient number of eligible children or eligible providers in the
157	157	22 county to justify the total number of grants for that county.
158	158	23 (e) In addition to the counties listed in subsection (c) and counties
159	159	24 designated under subsection (d), (d) The prekindergarten pilot program
160	160	25 includes eligible providers in any county in Indiana.
161	161	26 (f) (e) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the office shall
162	162	27 determine:
163	163	28 (1) the eligibility requirements, application process, and selection
164	164	29 process for awarding grants under the prekindergarten pilot
165	165	30 program;
166	166	31 (2) the administration and reporting requirements for:
167	167	32 (A) eligible providers; and
168	168	33 (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers;
169	169	34 participating in the prekindergarten pilot program; and
170	170	35 (3) with the assistance of the early learning advisory committee,
171	171	36 an appropriate outcomes based accountability system for:
172	172	37 (A) eligible providers; and
173	173	38 (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers.
174	174	39 (g) Before implementing the prekindergarten pilot program, the
175	175	40 office shall submit the provisions of the prekindergarten pilot program
176	176	41 to the state board of education for the state board of education's review
177	177	42 and comment.
178	178	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 5
179	179	1 (h) (f) The office shall, subject to the availability of funding,
180	180	2 determine the number of eligible children who will participate in the
181	181	3 prekindergarten pilot program. After December 31, 2019, the office
182	182	4 shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of
183	183	5 limited eligibility children who will participate in the prekindergarten
184	184	6 pilot program.
185	185	7 SECTION 8. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
186	186	8 SECTION 10, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
187	187	9 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.3. The office shall require, for an eligible
188	188	10 provider to enroll in the prekindergarten pilot program, that the eligible
189	189	11 provider agree to the following:
190	190	12 (1) Comply on a continuing basis with the requirements under this
191	191	13 chapter and rules for participation established by the office.
192	192	14 (2) Maintain eligibility under this chapter throughout the
193	193	15 prekindergarten program year.
194	194	16 (3) Report immediately any changes in eligibility status to the
195	195	17 office, including the eligible provider's loss of national or regional
196	196	18 accreditation.
197	197	19 (4) Participate in any training and mandatory meetings required
198	198	20 by the office.
199	199	21 (5) Participate in all onsite visits conducted by the office,
200	200	22 including fiscal auditing activities with regard to the
201	201	23 prekindergarten pilot program and prekindergarten program
202	202	24 activity monitoring.
203	203	25 (6) Allow families of eligible or limited eligibility children
204	204	26 enrolled in the prekindergarten program of the eligible provider
205	205	27 to visit at any time the prekindergarten program is in operation.
206	206	28 (7) Maintain accurate online attendance records through the
207	207	29 attendance portal for eligible or limited eligibility children
208	208	30 enrolled in the prekindergarten pilot program and submit
209	209	31 attendance records as required by the office.
210	210	32 (8) Offer parental engagement and involvement activities in the
211	211	33 prekindergarten program of the eligible provider in alignment
212	212	34 with the family engagement framework adopted by the early
213	213	35 learning advisory committee established by IC 12-17.2-3.8-5.
214	214	36 (9) Complete, within the period established by the office, the
215	215	37 Indiana early childhood family engagement toolkit, including the
216	216	38 family engagement self-assessment, adopted by the early learning
217	217	39 advisory committee.
218	218	40 (10) Share information on the family engagement self-assessment
219	219	41 described in subdivision (9) as required by the office.
220	220	42 (11) Participate in research studies as required by the office.
221	221	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 6
222	222	1 (12) Enforce minimum attendance requirements of at least
223	223	2 eighty-five percent (85%) of the days that the prekindergarten
224	224	3 program of the eligible provider is offered to an eligible or limited
225	225	4 eligibility child.
226	226	5 (13) Inform the office that an eligible or limited eligibility child
227	227	6 has withdrawn from the prekindergarten program of the eligible
228	228	7 provider not later than five (5) days after the eligible or limited
229	229	8 eligibility child is withdrawn.
230	230	9 (14) That retroactive repayment to the state may be required or
231	231	10 future payments may be adjusted as a result of the withdrawal of
232	232	11 an eligible or limited eligibility child or changes in the law.
233	233	12 (15) Maintain records of participation by a family of an eligible
234	234	13 or limited eligibility child in family engagement activities and
235	235	14 submit records as required by the office.
236	236	15 (16) Promote an eligible or limited eligibility child's social,
237	237	16 emotional, and behavioral health and eliminate or severely limit
238	238	17 the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary
239	239	18 discipline practices.
240	240	19 (17) Use the exclusionary discipline practices described in
241	241	20 subdivision (16) only as a last resort in extraordinary
242	242	21 circumstances when there is a determination of a serious safety
243	243	22 threat that cannot otherwise be reduced or eliminated by the
244	244	23 provision of reasonable modifications.
245	245	24 (18) Inform and receive approval from the office before the
246	246	25 eligible provider expels, suspends, or uses other exclusionary
247	247	26 discipline practices.
248	248	27 (19) Assist a parent or guardian, upon request by the parent or
249	249	28 guardian, in obtaining information from, referral to, or both
250	250	29 information from and referral to, the public school that serves the
251	251	30 attendance area in which the parent or guardian resides for an
252	252	31 educational evaluation and determination of eligibility for special
253	253	32 education services if developmental delays or reasons to suspect
254	254	33 a disability are observed by the parent, guardian, or teacher of an
255	255	34 eligible or limited eligibility child during the prekindergarten
256	256	35 program year.
257	257	36 SECTION 9. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
258	258	37 SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
259	259	38 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.4. (a) To qualify as a potential eligible provider
260	260	39 or existing eligible provider, an applicant must:
261	261	40 (1) provide an expansion plan to the office that details the
262	262	41 potential eligible provider's or existing eligible provider's plan to:
263	263	42 (A) increase the capacity of providers of qualified early
264	264	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 7
265	265	1 education services to serve a greater number of eligible or
266	266	2 limited eligibility children;
267	267	3 (B) increase the number of providers of qualified early
268	268	4 education services; or
269	269	5 (C) increase the capacity as described in clause (A) and
270	270	6 increase the number as described in clause (B);
271	271	7 (2) comply with the agreement with the office concerning the plan
272	272	8 under subdivision (1) and the use of a grant awarded under this
273	273	9 chapter;
274	274	10 (3) agree:
275	275	11 (A) to operate as an eligible provider; or
276	276	12 (B) that the applicant intends to operate as an eligible
277	277	13 provider;
278	278	14 (4) agree that the applicant will not use any grant funds awarded
279	279	15 under this section for capital expenditures; and
280	280	16 (5) comply with any other standards and procedures established
281	281	17 under this chapter.
282	282	18 (b) Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the office may award a grant
283	283	19 to an applicant that meets the requirements of subsection (a).
284	284	20 (c) The office may not use more than a total of twenty percent (20%)
285	285	21 of the money in the pilot fund each state fiscal year:
286	286	22 (1) for grants awarded under this chapter to potential eligible
287	287	23 providers and existing eligible providers for expansion plans; and
288	288	24 (2) to meet any state match amounts required for a federal grant
289	289	25 described in subsection (f).
290	290	26 (d) The office may not award grant funds under this section to an
291	291	27 applicant for any of the following:
292	292	28 (1) The purchase of land or a building.
293	293	29 (2) The construction or expansion of a building.
294	294	30 (e) If a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider fails
295	295	31 to:
296	296	32 (1) use the grant funds in accordance with the expansion plan
297	297	33 described in subsection (a); or
298	298	34 (2) comply with the agreement entered into with the office under
299	299	35 subsection (a);
300	300	36 the potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider shall repay
301	301	37 to the office the total amount of the grant awarded to the potential
302	302	38 eligible provider or existing eligible provider under this chapter.
303	303	39 (f) The office may use money in the pilot fund that is allocated for
304	304	40 expansion plans under this section for a state fiscal year to meet any
305	305	41 state match amounts required for a federal grant if the purpose of the
306	306	42 federal grant is that the grant money be used for increasing:
307	307	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 8
308	308	1 (1) the capacity;
309	309	2 (2) the number; or
310	310	3 (3) both the capacity and number;
311	311	4 of providers of early education services for children four (4) years of
312	312	5 age.
313	313	6 SECTION 10. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.5, AS AMENDED BY
314	314	7 P.L.184-2017, SECTION 24, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
315	315	8 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.5. The office may
316	316	9 adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 concerning the implementation and the
317	317	10 administration of the prekindergarten pilot program.
318	318	11 SECTION 11. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.8, AS AMENDED BY
319	319	12 P.L.268-2019, SECTION 12, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
320	320	13 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.8. (a) The office shall
321	321	14 make random onsite inspections each year, as determined necessary by
322	322	15 the office, at the facility of:
323	323	16 (1) an eligible provider; or
324	324	17 (2) a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider;
325	325	18 that receives a grant under this chapter.
326	326	19 (b) The office may determine that an eligible provider or potential
327	327	20 eligible provider or existing eligible provider is not eligible to receive
328	328	21 a grant under the prekindergarten pilot program if the eligible provider
329	329	22 or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider:
330	330	23 (1) fails to comply with this chapter; or
331	331	24 (2) refuses to allow, during normal business hours, the office or
332	332	25 an agent of the office to inspect the facility at which the eligible
333	333	26 provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider
334	334	27 operates a child care program for eligible or limited eligibility
335	335	28 children.
336	336	29 SECTION 12. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
337	337	30 SECTION 13, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
338	338	31 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 8. (a) The office shall determine:
339	339	32 (1) which applicants shall be awarded a grant; and
340	340	33 (2) subject to subsection (b) and to the availability of funding, the
341	341	34 amount of each grant.
342	342	35 (b) At least five percent (5%) but not more than fifty percent (50%)
343	343	36 of the:
344	344	37 (1) tuition for eligible or limited eligibility children under the
345	345	38 prekindergarten pilot program; or
346	346	39 (2) expansion plan described in section 7.4(a) of this chapter;
347	347	40 during the state fiscal year must be paid from donations, gifts, grants,
348	348	41 bequests, and other funds received from a private entity or person, from
349	349	42 the United States government, or from other sources (excluding funds
350	350	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 9
351	351	1 from a grant provided under this chapter and excluding other state
352	352	2 funding). The office may receive and administer grants on behalf of the
353	353	3 prekindergarten pilot program. The grants shall be distributed by the
354	354	4 office to fulfill the requirements of this subsection.
355	355	5 (c) The amount of a grant made under the pilot program to an
356	356	6 eligible or limited eligibility child:
357	357	7 (1) who attends a prekindergarten program full time must equal
358	358	8 at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) during the
359	359	9 state fiscal year; and
360	360	10 (2) may not exceed six thousand eight hundred dollars ($6,800)
361	361	11 from state money provided under this chapter during the state
362	362	12 fiscal year.
363	363	13 SECTION 13. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8.1, AS AMENDED BY
364	364	14 P.L.216-2021, SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
365	365	15 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 8.1. (a) If funds are appropriated by
366	366	16 the general assembly, grants to limited eligibility children may not
367	367	17 exceed:
368	368	18 (1) twenty percent (20%) of the amount appropriated for a
369	369	19 particular state fiscal year if families with children four (4) years
370	370	20 of age are on the waiting list for funds available under the Child
371	371	21 Care Development Fund; or
372	372	22 (2) forty percent (40%) of the amount appropriated for a
373	373	23 particular state fiscal year if there is no waiting list for children
374	374	24 four (4) years of age for funds available under the Child Care
375	375	25 Development Fund.
376	376	26 (b) During the priority enrollment period, the office shall provide
377	377	27 grants to eligible children in the prekindergarten pilot program on a
378	378	28 first-come, first-served basis. The office shall date stamp and reserve
379	379	29 applications for limited eligibility children received during the priority
380	380	30 enrollment period for processing during the extended enrollment
381	381	31 period.
382	382	32 (c) During the extended enrollment period, the office shall provide
383	383	33 grants to eligible children and limited eligibility children in the
384	384	34 prekindergarten pilot program on a first-come, first-served basis to the
385	385	35 extent of available funding and in accordance with the limit established
386	386	36 by subsection (a).
387	387	37 SECTION 14. IC 12-17.2-7.2-11, AS AMENDED BY
388	388	38 P.L.165-2021, SECTION 142, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
389	389	39 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 11. Except as provided
390	390	40 under IC 20-51-1-4.3(4)(E), the receipt of a grant under the pilot
391	391	41 prekindergarten program does not qualify, nor have an effect on the
392	392	42 qualification or eligibility, of a child for a choice scholarship under
393	393	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 10
394	394	1 IC 20-51-4.
395	395	2 SECTION 15. IC 12-17.2-7.2-12, AS AMENDED BY
396	396	3 P.L.184-2017, SECTION 29, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
397	397	4 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 12. (a) The office, in
398	398	5 cooperation with the department of education, shall periodically
399	399	6 carry out a longitudinal study of students who participate in the
400	400	7 prekindergarten pilot program to determine the achievement levels of
401	401	8 those students in kindergarten and later grades.
402	402	9 (b) The longitudinal study must include a comparison of test and
403	403	10 assessment results in grade 3 of:
404	404	11 (1) the eligible children who participated in the prekindergarten
405	405	12 pilot program; and
406	406	13 (2) a control group determined by the office that consists of
407	407	14 children who did not participate in the prekindergarten pilot
408	408	15 program.
409	409	16 (c) The office may, after consulting with the state board of
410	410	17 education, enter into a contract with one (1) or more persons to carry
411	411	18 out the longitudinal study under this section. The office may expend
412	412	19 not more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) from the funds
413	413	20 appropriated under section 9 of this chapter (repealed) to carry out the
414	414	21 longitudinal study.
415	415	22 SECTION 16. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13, AS AMENDED BY
416	416	23 P.L.268-2019, SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
417	417	24 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 13. (a) The office shall,
418	418	25 before November 1 of each year, submit a report to the governor, the
419	419	26 budget committee, the state board of education, the department of
420	420	27 education, and, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, the general
421	421	28 assembly regarding the prekindergarten pilot program.
422	422	29 (b) The report under subsection (a) must include the following:
423	423	30 (1) The total number of children who received a grant under the
424	424	31 prekindergarten pilot program for the immediately preceding state
425	425	32 fiscal year, disaggregated by county.
426	426	33 (2) The total amount of funds budgeted for and spent under the
427	427	34 prekindergarten pilot program during the immediately preceding
428	428	35 state fiscal year.
429	429	36 (3) The balance remaining in the pilot fund at the end of the
430	430	37 immediately preceding state fiscal year.
431	431	38 SECTION 17. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.1, AS ADDED BY P.L.268-2019,
432	432	39 SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
433	433	40 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 13.1. The office shall post monthly on the office's
434	434	41 Internet web site website the total enrollment of and number of grants
435	435	42 awarded to:
436	436	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 11
437	437	1 (1) all eligible children (before January 1, 2020); and
438	438	2 (2) after December 31, 2019, both:
439	439	3 (A) all eligible children; and
440	440	4 (B) all limited eligibility children;
441	441	5 for each county that participates in the prekindergarten pilot program.
442	442	6 SECTION 18. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.5, AS AMENDED BY
443	443	7 P.L.156-2020, SECTION 60, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
444	444	8 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 13.5. (a) The
445	445	9 prekindergarten pilot program fund is established to:
446	446	10 (1) provide grants to eligible or limited eligibility children for
447	447	11 qualified early education services under this chapter;
448	448	12 (2) carry out the longitudinal study described in section 12 of this
449	449	13 chapter;
450	450	14 (3) provide grants to potential eligible providers and existing
451	451	15 eligible providers as set forth in section 7.4 of this chapter; and
452	452	16 (4) make payments to reimburse costs incurred to provide
453	453	17 in-home early education services under IC 12-17.2-7.5.
454	454	18 (b) The fund consists of:
455	455	19 (1) money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly; and
456	456	20 (2) grants or gifts to the fund.
457	457	21 (c) The fund shall be administered by the office.
458	458	22 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
459	459	23 money in the fund.
460	460	24 (e) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes
461	461	25 provided under this article.
462	462	26 (f) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
463	463	27 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
464	464	28 manner as other public funds may be invested.
465	465	29 SECTION 19. IC 12-17.2-7.2-14 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE
466	466	30 JULY 1, 2023]. Sec. 14. This chapter expires July 1, 2026.
467	467	31 SECTION 20. IC 12-17.2-7.5-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.165-2021,
468	468	32 SECTION 143, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
469	469	33 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 4. (a) After completing the review
470	470	34 under section 3 of this chapter, the office may develop and implement
471	471	35 a reimbursement program to reimburse costs that are incurred by a
472	472	36 parent or guardian of a child to provide in-home early education
473	473	37 services to the child.
474	474	38 (b) If the office develops and implements a reimbursement program
475	475	39 under subsection (a), the office may not give preference to a child
476	476	40 located in a county that does not have a child care provider that meets
477	477	41 the standards of quality recognized by a Level 3 or Level 4 Paths to
478	478	42 QUALITY program rating located in the county.
479	479	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 12
480	480	1 (c) The office may develop reimbursement rates for the
481	481	2 reimbursement of in-home early education services.
482	482	3 (d) Reimbursement by the office under this section may be funded
483	483	4 from any of the following sources:
484	484	5 (1) Federal grants.
485	485	6 (2) State appropriations.
486	486	7 (3) Money from a political subdivision (as defined in
487	487	8 IC 36-1-2-13).
488	488	9 (4) Money from the prekindergarten pilot program fund
489	489	10 established by IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.5.
490	490	11 SECTION 21. IC 20-19-3-17, AS ADDED BY P.L.186-2018,
491	491	12 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
492	492	13 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 17. (a) As used in this section, "foster care" has
493	493	14 the meaning set forth in IC 31-9-2-46.7.
494	494	15 (b) As used in this section, "foster care youth" means students in
495	495	16 foster care.
496	496	17 (c) As used in this section, "graduation rate" has the meaning set
497	497	18 forth in IC 20-26-13-6.
498	498	19 (d) The state board shall, in collaboration with the department and
499	499	20 the department of child services, annually prepare a report on foster
500	500	21 care youth educational outcomes that includes the following:
501	501	22 (1) The annual graduation rate of foster care youth, including the
502	502	23 following information:
503	503	24 (A) The graduation rate for each of the following:
504	504	25 (i) Foster care youth who received a graduation waiver
505	505	26 under IC 20-32-4-4.
506	506	27 (ii) Foster care youth who did not receive a graduation
507	507	28 waiver under IC 20-32-4-4.
508	508	29 (B) The number and percentage of foster care youth who
509	509	30 received each type of diploma.
510	510	31 (2) The adjusted cohort graduation rate for foster care youth,
511	511	32 including the adjusted cohort graduation rate for each of the
512	512	33 following:
513	513	34 (A) Foster care youth who received a graduation waiver under
514	514	35 IC 20-32-4-4.
515	515	36 (B) Foster care youth who did not receive a graduation waiver
516	516	37 under IC 20-32-4-4.
517	517	38 (3) The number and percentage for each of the following:
518	518	39 (A) Foster care youth who were promoted to the next grade
519	519	40 level at the end of the school year.
520	520	41 (B) Foster care youth who were retained in the same grade
521	521	42 level for the next school year.
522	522	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 13
523	523	1 (C) Foster care youth who were suspended during the school
524	524	2 year.
525	525	3 (D) Foster care youth who were expelled during the school
526	526	4 year.
527	527	5 (E) Foster care youth who met academic standards on
528	528	6 statewide assessment program tests (as defined in
529	529	7 IC 20-32-2-2.3) administered during the school year.
530	530	8 The information reported under this subdivision must also be
531	531	9 disaggregated by race, grade, gender, free or reduced price lunch
532	532	10 status, and eligibility for special education.
533	533	11 (4) The number and percentage of eligible foster care youth who
534	534	12 are enrolled in the prekindergarten pilot program under
535	535	13 IC 12-17.2-7.2.
536	536	14 (5) The number and percentage of foster care youth who passed
537	537	15 the reading skills evaluation administered under IC 20-32-8.5-2.
538	538	16 (6) The number and percentage of foster care youth enrolled in
539	539	17 schools, disaggregated by the category or designation of the
540	540	18 school under IC 20-31-8-3.
541	541	19 (7) The number and percentage of foster care youth enrolled in
542	542	20 schools, disaggregated by the type of school, including public
543	543	21 schools, charter schools, and secure private facilities (as defined
544	544	22 in IC 31-9-2-115).
545	545	23 (e) Not later than June 30, 2019, the department shall:
546	546	24 (1) after consulting with the department of child services, develop
547	547	25 a remediation plan concerning foster care youth; and
548	548	26 (2) submit a copy of the remediation plan to the following:
549	549	27 (A) The state board.
550	550	28 (B) The department of child services.
551	551	29 (C) The legislative council in an electronic format under
552	552	30 IC 5-14-6.
553	553	31 (f) Before April 1, 2019, and before April 1 each year thereafter, the
554	554	32 department shall submit the report described in subsection (d) to the
555	555	33 following:
556	556	34 (1) Department of child services.
557	557	35 (2) Legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
558	558	36 SECTION 22. IC 20-19-3-18, AS ADDED BY P.L.186-2018,
559	559	37 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
560	560	38 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 18. (a) As used in this section, "graduation rate"
561	561	39 has the meaning set forth in IC 20-26-13-6.
562	562	40 (b) The state board shall, in collaboration with the department and
563	563	41 the department of child services, annually prepare a report on homeless
564	564	42 youth educational outcomes that includes the following:
565	565	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 14
566	566	1 (1) The annual graduation rate of homeless youth, including the
567	567	2 following information:
568	568	3 (A) The graduation rate for each of the following:
569	569	4 (i) Homeless youth who received a graduation waiver under
570	570	5 IC 20-32-4-4.
571	571	6 (ii) Homeless youth who did not receive a graduation waiver
572	572	7 under IC 20-32-4-4.
573	573	8 (B) The number and percentage of homeless youth who
574	574	9 received each type of diploma.
575	575	10 (2) The adjusted cohort graduation rate for homeless youth,
576	576	11 including the adjusted cohort graduation rate for each of the
577	577	12 following:
578	578	13 (A) Homeless youth who received a graduation waiver under
579	579	14 IC 20-32-4-4.
580	580	15 (B) Homeless youth who did not receive a graduation waiver
581	581	16 under IC 20-32-4-4.
582	582	17 (3) The number and percentage of each of the following:
583	583	18 (A) Homeless youth who were promoted to the next grade
584	584	19 level at the end of the school year.
585	585	20 (B) Homeless youth who were retained in the same grade level
586	586	21 for the next school year.
587	587	22 (C) Homeless youth who were suspended during the school
588	588	23 year.
589	589	24 (D) Homeless youth who were expelled during the school year.
590	590	25 (E) Homeless youth who met academic standards on statewide
591	591	26 assessment program tests (as defined in IC 20-32-2-2.3)
592	592	27 administered during the school year.
593	593	28 The information reported under this subdivision must also be
594	594	29 disaggregated by race, grade, gender, free or reduced price lunch
595	595	30 status, and eligibility for special education.
596	596	31 (4) The number and percentage of eligible homeless youth who
597	597	32 are enrolled in the prekindergarten pilot program under
598	598	33 IC 12-17.2-7.2.
599	599	34 (5) The number and percentage of homeless youth who passed the
600	600	35 reading skills evaluation administered under IC 20-32-8.5-2.
601	601	36 (6) The number and percentage of homeless youth enrolled in
602	602	37 schools, disaggregated by the category or designation of the
603	603	38 school under IC 20-31-8-3.
604	604	39 (7) The number and percentage of homeless youth enrolled in
605	605	40 schools, disaggregated by the type of school, including public
606	606	41 schools, charter schools, and secure private facilities (as defined
607	607	42 in IC 31-9-2-115).
608	608	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148 15
609	609	1 (c) Not later than August 31, 2019, the department shall:
610	610	2 (1) develop a remediation plan concerning homeless youth; and
611	611	3 (2) submit a copy of the remediation plan to the following:
612	612	4 (A) The state board.
613	613	5 (B) The Indiana housing and community development
614	614	6 authority established by IC 5-20-1-3.
615	615	7 (C) The legislative council in an electronic format under
616	616	8 IC 5-14-6.
617	617	9 (d) Before June 1, 2019, and before June 1 each year thereafter, the
618	618	10 department shall submit the report described in subsection (b) to the
619	619	11 following:
620	620	12 (1) The Indiana housing and community development authority.
621	621	13 (2) The legislative council in an electronic format under
622	622	14 IC 5-14-6.
623	623	2023 IN 307—LS 6786/DI 148