SB 224

Bill Subjects

Agencies; Department Of Education (Doe) And Secretary Of Education Children And Minors; Child Care Programs Schools; Financial Assistance (Including Vouchers, Choice Scholarships, And Education Savings Accounts) Schools; Funds And Budgets Schools; Officers And Employees (Other Than Teachers) Schools; Pre-Kindergarten And Kindergarten

Abstract

Increases the income cap of a family, from 150% to 185% of the federal poverty level, that may participate in the On My Way prekindergarten program. Increases the maximum grant amount under the prekindergarten program from $6,800 to $10,000. Provides that a child who is otherwise eligible for participation in the federal CCDF voucher program may continue to participate unless the child's family income exceeds 185% of the federal income poverty level. Provides that, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, a student is bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student is five years of age on August 1 of that school year. (Current law provides that a student is bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student becomes seven years of age.) Requires the department of education (department) and the office of the secretary of family and social services to adopt procedures to simplify and streamline the certification process for establishing early childhood education programs within existing school districts. Limits the number of choice scholarships that may be awarded for the 2024-2025 school year. Appropriates $300,000,000 of additional funding to traditional public schools under the funding formula to address inflation and support teacher pay increases. Appropriates $100,000,000 to the department for the 2024-2025 state fiscal year to be used to provide early intervention grants to local school corporations under an early intervention program to be administered by the department. Appropriates $100,000,000 to the prekindergarten program fund for the 2024-2025 state fiscal year to be used to fund the increase in the income cap and the increase in the grant amount under the prekindergarten program. Appropriates $100,000,000 to the office of the secretary of family and social services for the 2024-2025 state fiscal year to be used to fund the expansion of the CCDF voucher program. Appropriates $50,000,000 to the department for the 2024-2025 state fiscal year from the state general fund to be used by the department to distribute supplemental funding to school corporations to be used for the employment or retention of school counselors in the school corporation. Appropriates $25,000,000 to the department for the 2024-2025 state fiscal year to eliminate the funding gap and provide full reimbursement for the actual costs to schools to provide curricular materials to students at no cost. Requires the state comptroller to transfer to the state general fund from the total appropriated amounts made to the Indiana economic development corporation in the 2023 state budget bill and that remain unencumbered on the effective date of the bill, $150,000,000 first to be transferred from unencumbered amounts in the deal closing fund, and if the unencumbered amounts in that fund are insufficient, then from unencumbered amounts in the corporation's land acquisition fund or account, and if those two transfers are insufficient, then from any other fund administered by the Indiana economic development corporation to which money was appropriated. Repeals a $380,000,000 portion of the total appropriations made to the department of correction in the both the 2021 and 2023 state budget bills for correctional facility upgrades and requires that amount to be deposited in the state general fund and used to fund the appropriations made in this bill. Makes conforming amendments.