Amendment #857 to H4000

Pilot Project to Study the Weekend Backpack Program for Food Assistance

Representatives Decker of Cambridge, Khan of Newton and Gordon of Bedford moves to amend the bill in Section 2 by inserting after item 3000-5000  the following item:

3000-5026

For a Pilot Weekend Backpack Program based on the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program in Cambridge, which provides weekend food backpacks to pupils receiving free and reduced lunch and has been shown to increase student performance, attendance, and parent participation; provided, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall, in coordination with the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program, develop, plan, and cause to be implemented backpack programs substantially similar to the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program for Gateway Cities, and level 3 and level 4 schools around the Commonwealth; provided further, that such schools shall report data resulting from implementation to the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; provided further, that the Commissioner shall review such data and make a written recommendation to the Legislature by the end of fiscal year 2015 as to the continuation or expansion of the Program.   $2,000,000