SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 1P the following section:-

Section 1Q. The department of elementary and secondary education shall establish a grant program, subject to appropriation, to support the development and expansion of high quality, comprehensive summer learning opportunities for students in districts with high concentrations of low income students.   

The department shall establish requirements for grant applicants, provided that grants shall be awarded to programs that: (i) include at least 150 hours of programming with a focus on academic and college and career readiness skills, including critical thinking, collaboration and perseverance; (ii) are research-based summer programs; and (iii) engage a variety of organizations and leverage a cost-sharing partnership with local districts, private funders and non-profit institutions.

The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of programs established under this section, including the potential for replicating such programs throughout the commonwealth. The commissioner shall also provide technical assistance to school districts seeking to replicate programs funded under this section.