requirements; expansion plans; agreement; restrictions; repayment for noncompliance; federal grants Sec. 7.4. (a) To qualify as a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider, an applicant must: (1) provide an expansion plan to the office that details the potential eligible provider's or existing eligible provider's plan to: (A) increase the capacity of providers of qualified early education services to serve a greater number of eligible or limited eligibility children; (B) increase the number of providers of qualified early education services; or (C) increase the capacity as described in clause (A) and increase the number as described in clause (B); (2) comply with the agreement with the office concerning the plan under subdivision (1) and the use of a grant awarded under this chapter; (3) agree: (A) to operate as an eligible provider; or (B) that the applicant intends to operate as an eligible provider; (4) agree that the applicant will not use any grant funds awarded under this section for capital expenditures; and (5) comply with any other standards and procedures established under this chapter. (b) Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the office may award a grant to an applicant that meets the requirements of subsection (a). (c) The office may not use more than a total of twenty percent (20%) of the money in the fund each state fiscal year: (1) for grants awarded under this chapter to potential eligible providers and existing eligible providers for expansion plans; and (2) to meet any state match amounts required for a federal grant described in subsection (f). (d) The office may not award grant funds under this section to an applicant for any of the following: (1) The purchase of land or a building. (2) The construction or expansion of a building. (e) If a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider fails to:
(1) use the grant funds in accordance with the expansion plan described in subsection (a); or (2) comply with the agreement entered into with the office under subsection (a); the potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider shall repay to the office the total amount of the grant awarded to the potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider under this chapter. (f) The office may use money in the fund that is allocated for expansion plans under this section for a state fiscal year to meet any state match amounts required for a federal grant if the purpose of the federal grant is that the grant money be used for increasing: (1) the capacity; (2) the number; or (3) both the capacity and number; of providers of early education services for children four (4) years of age. As added by P.L.184-2017, SEC.23. Amended by P.L.268-2019, SEC.11; P.L.246-2023, SEC.13.
IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.5 Rules Sec. 7.5. The office may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 concerning the implementation and the administration of the prekindergarten program. As added by P.L.35-2016, SEC.49. Amended by P.L.184-2017, SEC.24; P.L.246-2023, SEC.14.
IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.6 Monitoring educational outcomes of expansion plans; report Sec. 7.6. (a) The office shall monitor the educational outcomes resulting from the implementation of expansion plans described in section 7.4(a) of this chapter by potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers that receive a grant under this chapter over the period established by the office to evaluate the contribution that the expansion plans make toward improved educational outcomes. (b) Beginning in 2018, the office shall annually provide the: (1) governor; and (2) legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6; a report of the findings of the office concerning the educational outcomes under subsection (a). As added by P.L.184-2017, SEC.25.
IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.8 Random onsite inspections; determination of ineligibility Sec. 7.8. (a) The office shall make random onsite inspections each year, as determined necessary by the office, at the facility of: (1) an eligible provider; or (2) a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider; that receives a grant under this chapter. (b) The office may determine that an eligible provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider is not eligible to receive a grant under the prekindergarten program if the eligible provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider: (1) fails to comply with this chapter; or (2) refuses to allow, during normal business hours, the office or an agent of the office to inspect the facility at which the eligible provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider operates a child care program for eligible or limited eligibility children. As added by P.L.184-2017, SEC.26. Amended by P.L.268-2019, SEC.12; P.L.246-2023, SEC.15.