Authority: IC 20-19-2-8; IC 20-19-2-16

Affected: IC 20-19-2; IC 20-35

Sec. 3. (a) On December 1 of each year, each public agency must count the number of preschool students identified as disabled and receiving a free appropriate public education consistent with the requirements of this article on that date. For purposes of this count, preschool students are:

1. (1) three (3) years of age through five (5) years of age; and
2. (2) not eligible to enroll in kindergarten during the count year.

This count determines the state preschool special education funds allocated to the public agency. If December 1 is not a school or program day, the closest instructional day must be used for the count.

(b) The department of education must, not later than February 5 each year, report to the Indiana state budget committee an unduplicated count of students in preschool special education programs. This count determines the amount of state preschool special education funds available to public agencies for the operation of special education programs.

(c) The department of education must do the following:

1. (1) Establish procedures for taking the December 1 count.
2. (2) Set a date by which public agencies must submit the child count report.

3. (3) Obtain certification from each public agency that the child count report submitted by the public agency:

   1. (A) is accurate; and
   2. (B) meets all state reporting requirements.
4. (4) Aggregate the data obtained from each public agency and prepare the required reports in a form that protects personally identifiable information.
5. (5) Ensure that documentation is maintained at the state and local level to audit the accuracy of the count.

(Indiana State Board of Education; 511 IAC 7-46-3; filed Jul 14, 2008, 1:24 p.m.: 20080813-IR-511080112FRA; readopted filed Nov 6, 2014, 3:23 p.m.: 20141203-IR-511140382RFA; readopted filed Dec 1, 2020, 1:48 p.m.: 20201230-IR-511200548RFA)