Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency
IC 20-20-18
     Chapter 18. Elementary School Counselors, Social Workers, and School Psychologists Program and Fund

IC 20-20-18-1
"Fund"
     Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the elementary school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists fund established by section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-2
"Grant"
     Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "grant" refers to a grant from the fund.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-3
"Program"
     Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to an elementary school counseling program, a social work program, or a school psychologist program carried out under this chapter:
        (1) for kindergarten through grade 6; and
        (2) by:
            (A) a licensed school counselor;
            (B) a licensed social worker who has obtained at least a master's degree; or
            (C) a licensed school psychologist.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-4
Establishment of fund
     Sec. 4. (a) The elementary school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists fund is established. The money in the fund shall be used to assist school corporations in placing school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists in elementary schools through grants awarded as determined by the department under this chapter.
    (b) If a school corporation is awarded a grant under this chapter, the school corporation must:
        (1) agree to evaluate the impact and results of the school corporation's program; and
        (2) submit the school corporation's findings to the department.
    (c) The department shall administer the fund.
    (d) The fund consists of:
        (1) gifts to the fund;
        (2) appropriations from the general assembly; and
        (3) grants, including grants from private entities.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-5
Eligibility for grants
     Sec. 5. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, for a school corporation to be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, the following must occur:
        (1) The superintendent of the school corporation must apply to the department for a grant on a form provided by the department.
        (2) The application for a grant must include the following information:
            (A) A detailed description of a proposal for placing school counselors, social workers, or school psychologists in elementary schools to provide services to students and their families.
            (B) Evidence supporting the school corporation's need to implement the program.
            (C) The number of elementary school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists employed by the school corporation.
            (D) The elementary school:
                (i) school counselor/student ratio;
                (ii) social worker/student ratio; and
                (iii) school psychologist/student ratio;
            for the school corporation.
            (E) Any other pertinent information required by the department, including evidence guaranteeing that if the school corporation receives a grant under this chapter, the school corporation will have developed a plan to evaluate the impact and results of the school corporation's program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-6
Award of grants
     Sec. 6. Upon review of the applications received under section 5 of this chapter, the department may award grants to school corporations subject to available money and in accordance with the following priorities:
        (1) To the extent possible, to achieve geographic balance throughout Indiana and to include urban, suburban, and rural school corporations.
        (2) To address a documented need for new or expanded programs, including consideration of the percentage of students within the school corporation who are designated as at risk students.
        (3) To lower:
            (A) student/school counselor ratios;
            (B) student/social worker ratios; and
            (C) student/school psychologist ratios;
        where the ratios are excessively high.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.


IC 20-20-18-7
Amount of grants
     Sec. 7. The department shall determine the amount of each grant that is awarded under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-8
Duration of grants
     Sec. 8. A grant received by a school corporation may be expended by the school corporation for a twenty-four (24) month period.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.

IC 20-20-18-9
Guidelines
     Sec. 9. The department shall develop guidelines necessary to implement this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.4.