Sec. 8. (a) A school qualifies for an advance under this chapter if the school is one (1) of the following:

(1) A charter school in its first or second year of operation.

(2) A charter school that was placed in the "A", "B", or "C" category or designation of performance established under IC 20-31-8-3 for the most recently completed school year.

(3) A charter school that does not receive a category or designation of performance established under IC 20-31-8-3 for the most recently completed school year.

(4) A school that has a majority of students with developmental, intellectual, or behavioral challenges.

(5) An innovation network school described in section 1(2) of this chapter.

(b) If a charter school does not qualify for an advance under subsection (a), the state board shall determine if the charter school is placed in the same or a better category or designation of performance established under IC 20-31-8-3 for the most recently completed school year than the nearest noncharter public school that is configured to teach the same grades of students as the charter school teaches. Except as provided in subsection (c), if the charter school has been placed in the same or a better category or designation of performance, the state board shall make the advance to the charter school.

(c) If a charter school:

(1) does not qualify for an advance under subsection (a); and

(2) for two (2) consecutive years has not been placed in the same or a better category or designation of performance established under IC 20-31-8-3 for the most recently completed school year than the nearest noncharter public school that is configured to teach the same grades of students as the charter school teaches;

the charter school is not eligible for an advance, unless the charter school is placed in the "C" category or designation of performance or better established under IC 20-31-8-3 for the most recently completed school year.

As added by P.L.213-2015, SEC.232. Amended by P.L.118-2016, SEC.22.