1. (a) It is the policy of the state that the state:

   1. (1) recognizes that nonpublic schools provide education to children in Indiana;
   2. (2) has an interest in ensuring that all Indiana children are well educated in both curricular and extracurricular programs; and
   3. (3) should facilitate the transferability of comparable academic credit between appropriate nonpublic schools and state supported educational institutions.
2. (b) The state board shall implement a system of recognition of the educational programs of nonpublic schools to fulfill the policy set forth in subsection (a).

3. (c) The system of recognition described under subsection (b) must:

   1. (1) be voluntary in nature with respect to the nonpublic school;
   2. (2) recognize the characteristics that distinguish nonpublic schools from public schools; and
   3. (3) be a recognition system that is separate from the accreditation standards required of public schools and available to nonpublic schools under section 8(a)(4) of this chapter.
4. (d) This section does not prohibit a nonpublic school from seeking accreditation under section 8(a)(4) of this chapter.

5. (e) The department shall waive accreditation standards for an accredited nonpublic alternative school that enters into a contract with a school corporation to provide alternative education services for students who have:

   1. (1) dropped out of high school;
   2. (2) been expelled; or

   3. (3) been sent to the nonpublic alternative school due to the students' lack of success in the public school environment;

      to accommodate the nonpublic alternative school's program and student population. A nonpublic alternative school to which this subsection applies is not subject to being placed in a category or designation under IC 20-31-8-4 . However, the nonpublic alternative school must comply with all state reporting requirements and submit a school improvement growth model on the anniversary date of the nonpublic alternative school's original accreditation.

6. (f) The state board may accredit a nonpublic school under this section at the time the nonpublic school begins operation in Indiana.

7. (g) The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this section.

   [Pre-2005 Secondary and Elementary Recodification Citation: 20-1-1-6.2.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.65-2012, SEC.1; P.L.251-2017, SEC.1.