Amendment #138 to H3400

Extended Learning Time

Mr.  Vega of Holyoke moves to amend the bill in Section 2 by striking item 7061-9412 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:

7061-9412  For grants to local education agencies for planning and implementing expanded learning time in the form of longer school days or school years at selected schools; provided, that the department shall have authority to set priorities and guidelines for any new planning grants and implementation grants; provided further, that  implementation grants shall be provided under this item to schools and districts that submitted qualifying applications which were approved by the department in fiscal year 2013; provided further, that implementation grants shall be awarded to those schools that include a minimum of an additional 300 hours beyond the state requirement for all children attending that school; provided further, funding may be used to support continuation of expanded learning time initiatives in schools previously using federal school improvement funds for this purpose; provided further, that in approving expanded learning time implementation grant applications, preference shall be given to districts with high poverty rates or a high percentage of students scoring in levels 1 or 2 on the MCAS, districts with proposals that have the greatest potential for district-wide impact, districts that plan to utilize partnerships with community-based organizations and institutions of higher education and districts with proposals that include a comprehensive restructuring of the entire school day or year to maximize the use of the additional learning time; provided further, that the department shall approve implementation proposals that include an appropriate mix of additional time spent on core academics, including small group tutoring and project-based experiential-based learning, additional time spent on enrichment opportunities such as music, arts, sports, physical activity, health and wellness programs, and additional time for teacher preparation or professional development; provided further, that the department shall develop and implement performance agreements for implementing expanded learning time schools; provided further, that the department shall only approve implementation proposals that assume not more than $1,300 per pupil per year in future state appropriations of expanded learning time implementation funds; provided further, that in extraordinary cases, the department may exceed the $1,300 per pupil per year limit; provided further, that the department shall review all qualified proposals and award approved implementation grants not later than August 16, 2013; provided further, the department shall award approved planning grants not later than October 1, 2013; provided further, that, for this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2014 to allow for planning and implementation during the summer months; provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item shall be held in a separate account and shall be expended by local education agency without further appropriation, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary; provided further, that no more than five percent of funds shall be expended for personnel costs at the department of elementary and secondary education;  $19,040,030