CHAPTER 19. STEP AHEAD COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANT PROGRAM
IC 12-17-19
Chapter 19. Step Ahead Comprehensive Early Childhood GrantProgram
IC 12-17-19-1
"Convener"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "convener" means:
(1) an organization that:
(A) is nonprofit;
(B) is nongovernmental;
(C) is not religiously affiliated;
(D) operates countywide; and
(E) serves multiple agencies;
(2) a school corporation (as defined in IC 20-18-2-16); or
(3) another entity approved by the panel.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-2
"Coordination grant"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "coordination grant" refers to astep ahead grant awarded to initiate the development of a step aheadproposal.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-3
"Eligible entity"
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible entity" means any of thefollowing:
(1) A school corporation (as defined in IC 20-18-2-16).
(2) An organization approved by the panel.
(3) A combination of eligible entities described in subdivisions(1) and (2) under a cooperative agreement among the eligibleentities.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-4
"Eligible program"
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "eligible program" means afederal, state, local, or private program or service that serves, assists,or otherwise benefits a child and is approved by the governor and thepanel under guidelines developed under section 18 of this chapter.The term includes the following programs or services:
(1) Child care.
(2) Preschool, including special education preschool.
(3) Parent information, including parents as teachers programs.
(4) School age child care (commonly referred to as latch key)as described in IC 12-17-12-5 and IC 20-26-5-1(c), includinglatch key services for kindergarten students.
(5) Early identification and early intervention.
(6) Maternal and child nutrition. (7) Health and screening.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-5
"Implementation grant"
Sec. 5. (a) As used in this chapter, "implementation grant" refersto a step ahead grant that is awarded to a step ahead county toprovide financial assistance to eligible entities providing eligibleprograms.
(b) The term includes the use of available state appropriations andavailable federal funds, including federal funds received under theChild Care and Development Block Grant under 42 U.S.C. 9858 etseq.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-6
"Income eligibility guidelines"
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "income eligibility guidelines"refers to the income eligibility guidelines prescribed by the panelunder section 18 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-7
"Panel"
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "panel" refers to the step aheadstatewide panel established by section 14 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-8
"Parent"
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "parent" means an individual whohas legal custody of a child.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-9
"Step ahead"
Sec. 9. As used in this chapter, "step ahead" refers to the stepahead comprehensive early childhood grant program established bysection 11 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-10
"Step ahead county"
Sec. 10. As used in this chapter, "step ahead county" refers to acounty in which an eligible entity has been awarded coordination andimplementation grants. The term may include more than one (1)county as provided in section 18 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-11 Establishment of program; purpose; administration of Child Careand Development Block Grant; state funding
Sec. 11. (a) The step ahead comprehensive early childhood grantprogram is established to provide financial assistance and otherincentives to eligible entities to implement, coordinate, and monitoreligible programs countywide.
(b) The division shall administer the Child Care and DevelopmentBlock Grant under 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq. received by the division inaccordance with the guidelines established by the panel under section18 of this chapter.
(c) The panel shall use available state funds to the extent thegeneral assembly makes an appropriation under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-12
Unexpended money does not revert to general fund
Sec. 12. Unexpended money appropriated from the state generalfund to carry out the purposes of this chapter does not revert to thestate general fund at the end of a state fiscal year.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-13
Goals of program
Sec. 13. The goals of step ahead are to:
(1) identify and recognize the various eligible programsavailable in each county at federal, state, local, and privatelevels;
(2) encourage coordination and cooperation among the eligibleprograms described in subdivision (1) and to discourageduplication of services;
(3) provide comprehensive eligible programs countywide thatare accessible to all eligible children and affordable to thechildren's parents;
(4) recognize the specific service needs of and unique resourcesavailable to particular counties, develop statewide resourcelistings, and incorporate flexibility regarding theimplementation of eligible programs;
(5) prevent or minimize the potential for developmental delayin children before the children reach the age of compulsoryschool attendance under IC 20-33-2;
(6) enhance certain federally funded eligible programs;
(7) strengthen the family unit through:
(A) encouragement of parental involvement in a child'sdevelopment and education;
(B) prevention of disruptive employment conditions forparents who are employed; and
(C) enhancement of the capacity of families to meet thespecial needs of their children, including those children withdisabilities;
(8) reduce the educational costs to society by reducing the need
for special education services after children reach school age;
(9) ensure that children with disabilities are integrated, whenappropriate, into programs available to children withoutdisabilities; and
(10) ensure that every child who enrolls in kindergarten inIndiana has benefited since birth from eligible programsavailable under step ahead.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.99-2007, SEC.97.
IC 12-17-19-14
Step ahead statewide panel; establishment; membership;chairperson
Sec. 14. (a) The step ahead statewide panel is established toimplement the step ahead program.
(b) The panel consists of the following members:
(1) Six (6) members who:
(A) are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of thegovernor; and
(B) are selected from representatives of the following stateagencies:
(i) Division of mental health and addiction.
(ii) State department of health.
(iii) The division.
(iv) Budget agency.
(v) Division of aging and rehabilitative services.
(vi) Department of education.
(vii) Executive staff of the lieutenant governor withknowledge in the area of employment and trainingprograms.
(viii) Executive staff of the governor.
(2) Five (5) members who:
(A) are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of thegovernor;
(B) are representative of the private sector; and
(C) are knowledgeable in the field of early childhooddevelopment.
(3) Four (4) members who:
(A) are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the statesuperintendent of public instruction; and
(B) are knowledgeable in early childhood education.
(4) One (1) member who:
(A) is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of thegovernor; and
(B) serves as the chairperson of the panel.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-15
Compensation of panel members
Sec. 15. (a) The members of the panel who are state employeesare entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses and other
expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties,as provided in the state travel policies and procedures established bythe Indiana department of administration and approved by the budgetagency.
(b) Each member of the panel who is not a state employee isentitled to the minimum salary per diem provided byIC 4-10-11-2.1(b). A member who is not a state employee is alsoentitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses and other expensesactually incurred in connection with the member's duties, as providedin the state travel policies and procedures established by the Indianadepartment of administration and approved by the budget agency.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-16
Panel utilization of division personnel
Sec. 16. The panel may use the personnel employed by thedivision to assist the panel in implementing this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-17
Rules
Sec. 17. The panel may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implementthis chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-18
Panel powers and duties
Sec. 18. (a) The panel shall do the following:
(1) Establish guidelines to implement this chapter that complywith the regulations governing the distribution of the Child Careand Development Block Grant under 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.,including guidelines on the following:
(A) Subject to the requirements under sections 20 and 22 ofthis chapter, the content of the application and step aheadproposal.
(B) The types of early childhood programs that are eligibleprograms.
(C) Income eligibility guidelines for parents who are unableto afford the services provided by eligible entities.
(D) Subject to the availability of funds, a schedule forawarding coordination and implementation grants and thecriteria used to award those grants under this chapter,including the following:
(i) The degree to which available eligible programs arecoordinated within the county under the proposal.
(ii) The extent of community commitment to step aheadinitiatives.
(iii) The relative need for the county to become a stepahead county.
(iv) The extent to which multiple eligible programs and
services are collocated throughout the county, includingpublic schools.
(v) The extent to which the school corporations within thecounty cooperate in step ahead initiatives.
(vi) The quality reflected by comprehensive programmingfor preschool services and the commitment to consistentstaff training opportunities.
(vii) The extent to which proposed eligible programsprovide integrated programs for children with disabilitiesand children without disabilities.
(E) Any limitations in the expenditure of step ahead grants.
(F) Requirements for grant recipients or the step aheadcounty coordinator to report on the implementation of thestep ahead programs within the county.
(G) The distribution of federal funds, including the ChildCare and Development Block Grant under 42 U.S.C. 9858 etseq., and other available funds to eligible programs.
(H) Any other pertinent matter.
(2) Develop minimum standards for eligible programs.
(3) Review each step ahead application for a coordination grantand each proposal for an implementation grant submitted by theconvener.
(4) Approve those proposals that comply with this chapter.
(5) Conduct the assessments of step ahead programs undersection 24 of this chapter.
(6) Monitor the overall implementation of step ahead,encourage the collaboration through the department ofeducation's early childhood division to promote consistency instate efforts for young children, and report to the governor onthe implementation of step ahead.
(7) Any other task to facilitate the implementation of stepahead.
(b) The panel may contract for services to assist in theimplementation of the step ahead program.
(c) The panel may designate as a step ahead county and step aheadgrant recipient more than one (1) county if the participating counties:
(1) are contiguous to each other; and
(2) agree to jointly comply with this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.99-2007, SEC.98.
IC 12-17-19-19
Child care services bureau contracts; advance funding provisions
Sec. 19. Notwithstanding IC 4-13-2-20 and IC 12-8-10-7 and inaddition to the authorization to enter into contracts for services undersection 18(b) of this chapter, a contract issued by the division forprograms administered by the bureau of child care services, includinga contract for the administration of the programs authorized underIC 12-12.7-2 and this chapter, may include a provision for advancefunding if the provision is not inconsistent with the terms of anyapplicable federal law or regulation and any of the following
conditions is met:
(1) The annual contract amount is at least fifty thousand dollars($50,000) and the advance funding is not more than one-sixth(1/6) of the contract amount.
(2) The annual contract amount is less than fifty thousanddollars ($50,000) and the advance funding is not more thanone-half (1/2) of the contract amount.
(3) The advance funding is in the form of interim payments,with subsequent reconciliation of the amounts paid under thecontract and the cost of the services actually provided.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.93-2006, SEC.12.
IC 12-17-19-20
Requirements for receipt of coordination grant
Sec. 20. In order for the eligible entities in a county to receive acoordination grant, the following must occur:
(1) One (1) convener located within the county must submit tothe panel, on or before August 1 of a year and under anagreement by the eligible entities in the county, an applicationfor a coordination grant that:
(A) designates a step ahead county coordinator to facilitatethe development of the proposal;
(B) designates a fiscal agent to receive the coordinationgrant; and
(C) includes any other information required under theguidelines.
(2) Upon review of each application, the panel shall designateeach step ahead county and shall award a coordination grant tothe fiscal agent described in subdivision (1).
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-21
Receipt of coordination grant; development and submission ofimplementation proposal
Sec. 21. Upon receipt of a coordination grant, the step aheadcounty coordinator shall initiate the development of a detailedproposal to qualify for an implementation grant. The step aheadcounty coordinator shall submit the proposal to the panel on orbefore December 31 of the year in which the application issubmitted.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-22
Implementation proposal; requirements
Sec. 22. The proposal submitted under section 21 of this chaptermust comply with the following minimum requirements:
(1) Include a detailed description of the manner in which theeligible programs available within the county are to beimplemented, coordinated, and monitored.
(2) Certify that each eligible entity shall request and obtain a
limited criminal history on each prospective employee hired bythe eligible entity.
(3) Designate a fiscal agent to administer the implementationgrant.
(4) Demonstrate how at least the following eligible programsmay be offered, coordinated, and monitored within the entirecounty under an agreement with the providers of the followingeligible programs:
(A) Preschool, including Head Start under 42 U.S.C. 9831 etseq., special education preschool, or developmental childcare programs for preschool children.
(B) Child care programs.
(C) The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, andTreatment program under 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.
(D) Early intervention parent information programs.
(E) Individual family service plans.
(F) School age child care programs (commonly referred toas latch key programs).
(G) Student reading skills improvement grants under 20U.S.C. 6361 et seq.
(H) Parental involvement programs.
(I) Child care programs aimed at serving children of teenageparents to encourage the teenage parents to graduate fromhigh school or participate in vocational training.
(J) Vocational training programs for unemployed parents.
(K) Health, nutrition, and vaccination programs.
(L) State medical assistance services for eligible individualsunder IC 12-15.
(5) Certify that the eligible programs described in subdivision(4) are provided at no cost to parents of children who qualifyunder the income eligibility guidelines and at an affordable orsliding fee for other parents.
(6) Describe the manner in which the implementation grant willbe directed to and expended by eligible programs.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-23
Distribution of implementation grants; priority for continued statefunding
Sec. 23. (a) The fiscal agent for the implementation grant maydistribute the implementation grant received under this chapter inaccordance with the approved proposal.
(b) If an eligible entity received state funds to implement aneligible program before becoming a step ahead eligible program, theeligible entity shall be given priority with regard to receivingcontinued state funding to implement the eligible program under thischapter with no break in continuity of service from the prior year.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-24 Assessment of programs and services
Sec. 24. (a) To evaluate the effectiveness of step ahead as theprogram relates to the step ahead goals listed in section 13 of thischapter, the panel shall employ the following assessmentmechanisms:
(1) The step ahead county coordinator shall annually report tothe panel on the development, quality, and appropriateness ofthe individual family service plans for children whose parentsqualify under the income eligibility guidelines.
(2) The step ahead county coordinator shall annually report tothe panel on the number of children who:
(A) are using step ahead services; and
(B) do not qualify under the income eligibility guidelines.
(3) The panel shall annually assess the results of any readinessprogram under IC 20-20-26 for students in kindergarten andgrade 1 to determine whether children enrolling in school afterbenefiting from step ahead demonstrate greater readiness forlearning. The department of education shall cooperate with thepanel in this regard by assisting in defining the term "readiness"and supporting the evaluation based on knowledge and trainingin early childhood.
(4) Any other valid assessment technique or method approvedby the panel.
(b) The panel shall implement a schedule for assessing step aheadprograms, using prior evaluation results and techniques learnedthrough the department of education's pilot preschool programs.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32.
IC 12-17-19-25
Developmental child care programs for preschool children
Sec. 25. (a) Each step ahead proposal must provide for theimplementation of a preschool or developmental child care programfor preschool children.
(b) The goals of the preschool or developmental child careprogram for preschool children are to:
(1) enhance the child's readiness for learning and facilitate thetransition from home to school when the preschool childreaches the age of compulsory school attendance;
(2) identify developmental problems or concerns in preschoolchildren and make referrals to the appropriate service providersor to provide the appropriate services;
(3) prevent disruptive employment conditions for parents whoare employed; and
(4) ensure a continuity in access to step ahead programs as eachpreschool child nears the age of compulsory school attendance.
(c) To qualify for an implementation grant under this chapter forpreschool or developmental child care programs for preschoolchildren, the eligible entity implementing a preschool ordevelopmental child care program for preschool children mustdemonstrate cooperation with the following programs within the
county:
(1) Public schools, particularly those public schools thatprovide preschool or special education preschool services.
(2) Head Start programs under 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.
(3) Infants and toddlers with disabilities programs underIC 12-12.7-2.
(4) County health department programs.
(5) Private industry council programs.
(6) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs under 42U.S.C. 1786 et seq.
(7) Community mental retardation and mental health centersthat provide services to preschool children with disabilities.
(8) The county office of family and children.
(9) Consumer representation groups.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.93-2006, SEC.13.