Sec. 7. (a) The office may establish a prekindergarten pilot program to provide grants for:

(1) qualified early education services in a manner consistent with how funds are distributed under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grant program; and

(2) expansion plans as described in section 7.4(a)(2) of this chapter.

(b) The office shall administer the prekindergarten pilot program. The prekindergarten pilot program may include:

(1) eligible providers in Indiana; and

(2) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers as described in section 7.4 of this chapter.

(c) Before July 1, 2017, the prekindergarten pilot program includes eligible providers in the following pilot counties:

(1) Allen.

(2) Jackson.

(3) Lake.

(4) Marion.

(5) Vanderburgh.

The total number of grants the office awards to eligible children in a county listed in this subsection during a state fiscal year may not be less than the total number of grants the office awarded to eligible children in that county during the immediately preceding state fiscal year unless the office determines that there is an insufficient number of eligible children or eligible providers in the county to justify the total number of grants for that county. Beginning July 1, 2020, the total number of grants during the immediately preceding state fiscal year shall include the number of grants issued under a preschool program established in March 2015 that operates in a consolidated city.

(d) After June 30, 2017, and before July 1, 2019, in addition to the counties listed under subsection (c), the prekindergarten pilot program includes eligible providers in fifteen (15) additional counties. In determining which counties are designated as pilot counties under this subsection, the office shall give preference to counties that are primarily rural. The total number of grants the office awards to eligible children in a county designated under this subsection during a state fiscal year may not be less than the total number of grants the office awarded to eligible children in that county during the immediately preceding state fiscal year unless the office determines that there is an insufficient number of eligible children or eligible providers in the county to justify the total number of grants for that county.

(e) In addition to the counties listed in subsection (c) and counties designated under subsection (d), the prekindergarten pilot program includes eligible providers in any county in Indiana.

(f) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the office shall determine:

(1) the eligibility requirements, application process, and selection process for awarding grants under the prekindergarten pilot program;

(2) the administration and reporting requirements for:

(A) eligible providers; and

(B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers;

participating in the prekindergarten pilot program; and

(3) with the assistance of the early learning advisory committee, an appropriate outcomes based accountability system for:

(A) eligible providers; and

(B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers.

(g) Before implementing the prekindergarten pilot program, the office shall submit the provisions of the prekindergarten pilot program to the state board of education for the state board of education's review and comment.

(h) The office shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of eligible children who will participate in the prekindergarten pilot program. After December 31, 2019, the office shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of limited eligibility children who will participate in the prekindergarten pilot program.

As added by P.L.202-2014, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.184-2017, SEC.19; P.L.268-2019, SEC.7.