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

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

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

   1. (1) eligible providers in the counties described in subsections (c) and (d); and

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

      The office shall ensure that the counties selected include a population of eligible children sufficient to conduct the longitudinal study under section 12 of this chapter.

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

   1. (1) Allen.
   2. (2) Jackson.
   3. (3) Lake.
   4. (4) Marion.

   5. (5) Vanderburgh.

      The total amount 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 amount 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 amount of grants for that county.

4. (d) After June 30, 2017, in addition to the counties listed under subsection (c), the prekindergarten pilot program includes the following:

   1. (1) Eligible providers in fifteen (15) additional counties.

   2. (2) Eligible providers described in subsection (h) regardless of whether the eligible providers are located in a county described in subsection (c) or subdivision (1).

      In determining which counties are designated as pilot counties under subdivision (1), the office shall give preference to counties that are primarily rural.

5. (e) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the office shall determine:

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

   2. (2) the administration and reporting requirements for:

      1. (A) eligible providers; and

      2. (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers;

         participating in the prekindergarten pilot program; and

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

      1. (A) eligible providers; and
      2. (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers.
6. (f) 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.
7. (g) The office shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of eligible children who will participate in the prekindergarten pilot program.

8. (h) An eligible provider that:

   1. (1) received a matching grant under IC 12-17.2-3.6 (before its repeal) in the state fiscal year beginning after June 30, 2016, and ending before July 1, 2017;
   2. (2) meets the requirements as an eligible provider under this chapter; and

   3. (3) participates in the prekindergarten pilot program each year continuously, beginning with the year the eligible provider is eligible to participate in the prekindergarten pilot program under this subsection;

      is eligible to participate in the prekindergarten pilot program regardless of whether the eligible provider is located in a county described in subsection (c) or (d)(1). If an eligible provider does not participate in the program each year continuously as described in subdivision (3), the eligible provider is not eligible under this subsection to participate in the prekindergarten pilot program. However, this subsection does not affect the eligibility of an eligible provider that is located in a county described in subsection (c) or (d)(1).

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