§ 202-608 — Indianapolis Pre-K Program

Sec. 202-608. - Indianapolis Pre-K Program.

(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings: Eligible child refers to an individual who: (1) Is at least three (3) years of age and less than five (5) years of age on August 1 of the year for which a grant is sought under the program; (2) Is a resident of Marion County or otherwise has legal settlement in Marion County, as determined under IC 20-26-11; (3) Subject to subsection (d), is a member of a household with an annual income that does not exceed one hundred twenty-seven (127) percent of the federal poverty level; (4) Receives qualified early education services from an eligible provider, as determined by the office (as defined below); (5) Has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible provider that includes a commitment to send the child to kindergarten; and (6) Has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child meets the attendance requirements determined by the office. Eligible provider refers to a provider that satisfies the following conditions: (1) The provider is: (A) A: (i) Public school, including a charter school; (ii) Child care center licensed under IC 12-17.2-4; (iii) Child care home licensed under IC 12-17.2-5; or (iv) Child care ministry registered under IC 12-17.2-6; That meets the standards of quality recognized by a Level 3 or Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating; or (B) A school that is accredited by the state board of education or a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the state board of education. (2) The provider provides qualified early education services to eligible children. (3) The provider is located in Marion County. Office means the office of education innovation. Paths to QUALITY program has the meaning set forth in IC 12-17.2-2-14.2(b). Program administrator means an entity with whom the office enters into a contract for program administration services pursuant to subsection (b). A program administrator must have demonstrated experience in building capacity for early childhood education, managing awards of grants and scholarships, and community outreach. Qualified early education services refers to a program of early education services that: (1) Is provided by an eligible provider to an eligible child; (2) Includes a parental engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible provider that includes a commitment to send the child to kindergarten; and (3) Administers the kindergarten readiness assessment adopted by the state board of education. (b) The office may enter into a contract for program administration services. Any contract for program administration services must be approved by council resolution and shall be subject to annual appropriations. The council intends and expects that administrative expenses will be limited to those absolutely necessary to carry out the program. (c) Subject to the requirements of this section, the office or program administrator shall determine: (1) The eligibility requirements, application process, and selection process for awarding grants under the program; provided, however, that no taxpayer funds may be used for grants to providers, and grants to providers shall be limited to twenty-five (25) percent of non-taxpayer funds allotted to the program; (2) The administration and reporting requirements for eligible providers participating in the program; and (3) With the assistance of the Indianapolis Pre-K Advisory Commission, an appropriate outcomes based accountability system for eligible providers. (d) The office or program administrator shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of eligible children who will participate in the program. If the number of eligible children exceeds the available funding, then the office or program administrator shall conduct a lottery process to select the eligible children who will participate in the program; provided, however, that at least twenty-five (25) percent of the eligible children selected must be three year olds, and that the office or program administrator shall use best efforts to meet the goal that fifty (50) percent of the eligible children selected be three-year olds. If a family with multiple eligible children is selected, all eligible children from that family may participate in the program. If there are not enough otherwise eligible children who meet the income requirement of subsection (a)(3) and who would like to participate in the program, then the office or program administrator may, subject to approval by council resolution, select otherwise eligible children who are members of a household with an annual income that does not exceed one hundred thirty-eight (138) percent of the federal poverty level. If there are still not enough otherwise eligible children who meet the one hundred thirty-eight (138) percent income requirement, then the office or program administrator may, subject to approval by council resolution, select otherwise eligible children who are members of a household with an annual income that does not exceed one hundred eighty-five (185) percent of the federal poverty level. (e) The office or program administrator shall determine: (1) which applicants shall be awarded a grant; and (2) subject to subsection (f) and to the availability of funding, the amount of such grant. The parents or guardians of an eligible child will direct the selection of an eligible provider, with the assistance and guidance of the program administrator. (f) At least ten (10) percent but not more than fifty (50) percent of the tuition for eligible children under the program during each year must be paid from donations, gifts, grants, bequests, and other funds received from a private entity or person, from the United States government, from the State of Indiana, or from other sources. (g) The amount of a grant made under this program to an eligible child must equal at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) during the school year, and may not exceed six thousand eight hundred dollars ($6,800.00) during the school year. (h) The office or program administrator shall submit quarterly reports on the program to the education committee. The quarterly reports shall include, at a minimum, current information on enrollment, attendance, number of eligible providers, results of the kindergarten readiness assessments, and the number of children who participated in the pre-k program and went on to kindergarten. These reports shall also be posted on the office's website. (i) In addition to the quarterly reports, the office or program administrator shall submit detailed evaluations of the program to the education committee upon the conclusion of the first and second full years of the program. These reports shall also be posted on the office's website. (j) The office or program administrator shall contract with a qualified and independent entity for the preparation of a performance audit to be completed by the end of the third full year of the program. The audit shall be submitted to the education committee and shall be posted on the office's website. (k) The Indianapolis Pre-K Advisory Commission is hereby established. It shall be composed of five (5) members, four of whom must have expertise in early childhood education. The fifth member shall be a parent of a current or former program participant. The council shall appoint three (3) members, including the parent member. The mayor shall appoint two (2) members. All members shall serve two-year terms. The purpose of the commission is to evaluate the design and operation of the pre-k program and to make periodic recommendations to the office and the program administrator on how the program could be improved.

(G.O. 59, 2014, § 4; G.O. 46, 2018, § 2)