Amendment #757 to H4000

Innovation Schools

Representatives Collins of Boston, Pignatelli of Lenox and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill in section 2, by adding after item 7061-9010, the following:

“7061-9011: For competitive grants to school districts for the planning, implementation and enhancement of Innovation Schools, under section 92 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, and for targeted, locally developed, site-based innovation and intervention in Level 3 schools as provided below; provided, that in the case of planning grants, applications shall have received approval of the Innovation School prospectus from the screening committee; provided further, that in the case of implementation grants, the applicant shall have received final approval of the Innovation School from the local school committee; provided further, that Innovation Schools looking to enhance their Innovation School plans shall have demonstrated that the program is meeting the school's measureable annual goals and has a compelling plan for enhancing their Innovation School plan; provided further, that priority shall be given to schools proposed in level 3 and 4 districts; provided further, that up to $500,000 may be expended for innovation school activity focused on extending learning time in eligible schools; provided further, that preference shall be given to schools which provide a coherent plan to use extended time to ensure a robust and balanced curriculum of literacy and literature, numeracy, STEM, civics education, and humanities and the arts, and alternative education for students for whom such education will prevent dropout or truancy status; provided further, that up to $3,100,000 may be expended on planning or implementation grants for Level 3 schools, so-called, to develop and carry out voluntary and locally driven school site-level intervention and redesign carried out in collaboration with the teachers, faculty and parents of the school; provided further, that preference in the awarding of those grants shall be given to plans with approval from the local union, school administrators and school committee, and for schools currently undertaking such redesign with federal funds that will be expended and liquidated in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 for which the grants will provide consistency and continuity of reform efforts; provided further, that, in awarding the grants, the department shall also ensure consistency and alignment with any similar efforts being proposed or funded through item 7061-9408 and other redesign and turnaround efforts at the department; and provided further, that up to $225,000 may be expended through June 30, 2016 on innovation fellowships in sponsoring school districts that will participate in an in-depth, year-long planning process which shall include, but not be limited to, a comprehensive review and analysis of the department's District Standards and Indicators, Conditions for School Effectiveness and other priorities of the department… $4,604,123.”