§ 20-26-5-2 — Latch key programs; waiver from state board

(a) Notwithstanding section 1 of this chapter,
except as provided in subsection (c), a school corporation shall do one
(1) of the following:
(1) Conduct a school age child care program (commonly referred
to as a latch key program) for children who attend, except as
otherwise provided in this subsection, kindergarten through grade
6 that, at a minimum:
(A) operates after the school day and may include periods
before school is in session or periods when school is not
otherwise in session and is offered by the school corporation;
and
(B) is available to all children in the applicable grade levels
within the school corporation.
(2) Contract with a nonprofit or for-profit organization to:
(A) conduct the type of program described in subdivision (1);
and
(B) use school buildings or parts of school buildings in
conducting the program.
A contract entered into under this subdivision must be in writing.
If a school corporation provides preschool, the school corporation may
allow preschool students to participate in the school corporation's
school age child care program (commonly referred to as a latch key
program) described in subdivision (1). A school corporation is not
required to conduct the school corporation's child care program or to
contract for a child care program for children who attend preschool
offered by the school corporation, if applicable, or kindergarten
students at times when grades 1 through 6 are in session.
(b) A school corporation shall develop a written policy that
addresses compliance with certain standards of reasonable care for
children served by a child care program required under subsection (a),
including the following:
(1) Requiring the offering entity to acquire a particular amount of
liability insurance.
(2) Establishing maximum adult to child ratios governing the
overall supervision of the children served.
A school corporation may not assess a fee for the use of a building for
a child care program required under subsection (a). However, the
school corporation may assess a fee to reimburse the school corporation
for providing security, maintenance, utilities, school personnel, or other
costs directly attributable to the use of a building for a child care
program. If a school corporation conducts a child care program under
subsection (a)(1), the school corporation may assess a fee to cover
costs attributable to implementing the program.
(c) A school corporation shall receive a waiver from the state board
of the requirement under subsection (a) if the school corporation
believes that the school corporation would experience an undue
hardship due to a low number of eligible children intending to use a
child care program, regardless of whether the child care program is
conducted by the school corporation or under a contractual agreement.
To receive a waiver, the school corporation must include a detailed
description of the school corporation's attempt to implement a child
care program, including the following:
(1) A description of the steps taken to:
(A) conduct a child care program described in subsection
(a)(1); or
(B) actively solicit nonprofit organizations or for-profit
organizations to implement a child care program as provided in
subsection (a)(2).
(2) Evidence that a request in writing was made to each parent to
contact the school corporation to indicate the parent's willingness
to use a child care program and documentation of the results
received from parents.
[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education
Recodification Citation: 20-5-2-1.5.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.82-2017, SEC.2.