Ind. Code ch. 20-20.5-7

Ind. Code ch. 20-20.5-7
in effect

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-1 "Fund"

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the school intervention and career counseling development fund established by section 4 of this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-1.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-2 "Grant"

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "grant" refers to a grant from the fund. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-2.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-3 "School intervention and career counseling development program"

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "school intervention and career counseling development program" refers to a program carried out under this chapter: (1) for kindergarten through grade 6; and (2) by a licensed school counselor. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-3.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-4 Establishment and administration of fund

Sec. 4. (a) As a result of a comprehensive study conducted by the department on the role of school counselors, including the expanding role of school counselors in career development under workforce development programs that affect public schools, the school intervention and career counseling development fund is established. The money in the fund shall be used to develop counseling models in a limited number of school corporations as determined by the department under this chapter. (b) If a school corporation is awarded a grant under this chapter, the school corporation must: (1) agree to evaluate the impact and results of the school corporation's program; and (2) submit the school corporation's findings to the department. (c) The department shall administer the fund. (d) The fund consists of: (1) gifts to the fund; (2) appropriations from the general assembly; (3) grants, including grants from private entities; and (4) a combination of the resources described in subdivisions (1), (2), and (3). [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-4.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-5 Application for grant

Sec. 5. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, for a school corporation to be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, the following must occur: (1) The superintendent of the school corporation must apply to the department for a grant on forms provided by the department. (2) The application for a grant must include the following information: (A) A detailed description of a proposal for initiating or expanding a school intervention or career counseling program. (B) Evidence supporting the school corporation's need to implement the school intervention or career counseling program. (C) The number of elementary school counselors employed by the school corporation. (D) The elementary school counselor/student ratio for the school corporation. (E) Any other pertinent information required by the department, including evidence guaranteeing that if the school corporation receives a grant under this chapter, the school corporation has developed a plan to evaluate the impact and results of the school corporation's program. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-5.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-6 Priorities in awarding grants

Sec. 6. The department may award grants to school corporations: (1) upon review of the applications received under section 5 of this chapter; (2) subject to available money; and (3) in accordance with the following priorities: (A) To the extent possible, to achieve geographic balance throughout Indiana and to include urban, suburban, and rural school corporations. (B) To address a documented need for new or expanded school intervention or career counseling programs, including considering the percentage of students within the school corporation who are designated as at risk students. (C) To promote innovative methods for initiating or expanding school intervention or career counseling programs. (D) To reward school corporations that propose school intervention or career counseling programs that demonstrate the greatest potential for replication and implementation in Indiana. (E) To lower school counselor/student ratios where the ratios are excessively high. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-6.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-7 Determinations of grant awards; restrictions

Sec. 7. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the department shall determine the amount of each grant that is awarded under this chapter. (b) A grant to a particular school corporation may not exceed: (1) fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for each full-time counselor for each academic year, or seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for each full-time counselor for each semester; and (2) the following total grant awards as each relates to the ADM of the school corporation at the time the school corporation applies for the grant: (A) For a school corporation with an ADM of not more than five thousand (5,000), seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). (B) For a school corporation with an ADM of at least five thousand one (5,001) and not more than nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine (9,999), one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000). (C) For a school corporation with an ADM of at least ten thousand (10,000), one hundred eighty thousand dollars ($180,000). [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-7.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-8 Term of grant

Sec. 8. A grant received by a school corporation may be expended by the school corporation for a twenty-four (24) month period. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-8.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-7-9 Guidelines for implementation

Sec. 9. The department shall develop guidelines necessary to implement this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-17-9.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026