2023 Indiana Code › Title 20. Education › Article 33. Students: General Provisions › Chapter 5. Financial Assistance for Students › 20-33-5-9. Nonpublic Schools; Textbook Assistance; State Reimbursement

Sec. 9. (a) As used in this section, "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
(1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
(2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the state board.
(b) If a parent of a child or an emancipated minor who is enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school meets the financial eligibility standard under section 2 of this chapter, the parent or the emancipated minor may receive a reimbursement from the department as provided in this chapter for the costs incurred by the parent or emancipated minor for curricular materials.
(c) The department shall provide each accredited nonpublic school with sufficient application forms for assistance, prescribed by the state board of accounts.
(d) Each accredited nonpublic school shall provide the parents or emancipated minors who wish to apply for assistance with:
(1) the appropriate application forms; and
(2) any assistance needed in completing the application form.
(e) The parent or emancipated minor shall submit the application to the accredited nonpublic school. The accredited nonpublic school shall make a determination of financial eligibility subject to appeal by the parent or emancipated minor.
(f) If a determination is made that the applicant is eligible for assistance, subsection (b) applies.
(g) To be guaranteed some level of reimbursement from the department, the principal or other designee shall submit the reimbursement request before November 1 of a school year.
(h) In its request, the principal or other designee shall certify to the department:
(1) the number of students who are enrolled in the accredited nonpublic school and who are eligible for assistance under this chapter;
(2) the costs incurred in providing curricular materials (including curricular materials used in special education and high ability classes);
(3) that the curricular materials described in subdivision (2) (except any curricular materials used in special education classes and high ability classes) have been adopted by the governing body; and
(4) any other information required by the department.
(i) The amount of reimbursement that a parent or emancipated minor is entitled to receive shall be determined as provided in IC 20-40-22-7.
(j) The accredited nonpublic school shall distribute the money received under IC 20-40-22-8 to the appropriate eligible parents or emancipated minors.
(k) Section 7(c) of this chapter applies to parents or emancipated minors as described in this section.
(l) The accredited nonpublic school and the department shall maintain complete and accurate information concerning the number of applicants determined to be eligible for assistance under this section.
(m) The state board shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this section.
[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-9-9.5.]
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.42-2011, SEC.37; P.L.73-2011, SEC.21; P.L.229-2011, SEC.193; P.L.286-2013, SEC.114; P.L.92-2020, SEC.79; P.L.201-2023, SEC.174.