IN SB0379

Establishes a two-year early childhood literacy grant pilot program within the Bureau of Child Care to fund mentoring for caregivers, teachers, and parents to improve literacy in children from birth to age four

Provides funding for one full-time mentor assigned to no more than 20 recipient groups, with each recipient group consisting of up to 10 children enrolled in child care homes, centers, ministries, or preschools that have at least a level 2 quality rating certification

Appropriates money from the Build Indiana Fund to finance the grants, with the Bureau required to begin accepting applications by November 1, 2012 and start funding up to 20 recipients by August 1, 2013

Requires participating children to be evaluated three times per year using the early childhood assessment rating system for kindergarten readiness, with results reported to the legislative council annually

Program expires July 1, 2016, with a final evaluation report due to the legislative council by November 1, 2015