Sec. 9. (a) To be approved to participate in the program under this chapter, an eligible program provider must meet the following requirements:

(1) Except as provided under section 11 of this chapter, the eligible program provider submits an application to the cabinet on a form prescribed by the cabinet not later than August 15 of the year for which the eligible program provider is applying.

(2) The eligible program provider demonstrates that the eligible program provider:

(A) has experience providing services to assist adults who are more than twenty-two (22) years of age in:

(i) obtaining high school diplomas; and

(ii) developing employability and career and technical skills; and

(B) has the ability to:

(i) provide academic skill intake assessment and transcript evaluations;

(ii) develop a learning plan that integrates academic requirements and career goals;

(iii) provide remediation course work in literacy and numeracy;

(iv) provide a research validated academic resiliency assessment and intervention;

(v) provide employability skills development aligned to employer needs;

(vi) provide career pathways course work;

(vii) provide preparation for industry recognized credentials; and

(viii) provide career placement services.

(3) The eligible program provider's course catalog includes all courses necessary to meet requirements for an Indiana diploma with a general designation, including sufficient courses to meet graduation pathway requirements (as defined in IC 20-18-2-6.3).

(4) The eligible program provider is accredited by a recognized regional accrediting body.

(5) The eligible program provider's programs begin not later than October 1 of the year for which the eligible program provider is applying.

(b) The cabinet shall approve eligible program providers that meet the requirements of this chapter.

As added by P.L.237-2019, SEC.2.