Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-571

EDU 571

Expanded Learning Time

Ms. Chang-Diaz, Messrs. Eldridge, Donnelly, Finegold, Michael O. Moore, Montigny and Barrett, Ms. Creem, Mr. Joyce and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended moved that the bill be amended by inserting, after section _____, the following new sections:-

SECTION XX. The department of elementary and secondary education shall add an expanded learning time program allotment to a school district’s foundation budget if (i) a school in the district serves students in the middle grades; (ii) the school has enrollment of greater than 70 per cent of low-income students;  (iii) the school adds 300 hours to the school year on a mandatory basis for all enrolled students where the additional time is spent on an appropriate mix of core academics, additional time spent on enrichment opportunities, such as small group tutoring, music, art, sports, physical activity, health and wellness programs, project-based experiential learning and additional time for teacher preparation or professional development; (iv) the school has a performance agreement in good standing with the department; and (v) either (1) the school has received initial funding through item 7061-9412 of section 2 of the general appropriation act, or (2) the department determines, based on student performance data collected pursuant to section 1I of chapter 71 of the General Laws, that the district is in the lowest 10 per cent of all statewide student performance scores released in the 2 previous consecutive school years.  The department shall calculate the expanded learning time program allotment by multiplying the number of pupils enrolled in district schools providing an additional 300 annual hours by the wage adjustment factor and by $1,300.

(b) The department shall provide per-pupil expanded learning time program funding as part of the charter tuition amount, if (i) more than 70 per cent of students enrolled in the charter school are low-income; (ii) the charter school provides at least 1,290 hours of instruction annually at the middle grades level to all enrolled students; and (iii) the charter school has an approved expanded learning time performance agreement in good standing with the department.  The department shall calculate the expanded learning time program allotment by multiplying the number of pupils enrolled in the charter school by the wage adjustment factor and by $1,300.

SECTION XX. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting in section 89, subsection (ff), paragraph two, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, after the words "nor any amount generated by said assumed enrollment," the following --

and the expanded learning time program allotment, nor any amount amounts generated by said expanded learning time program allotment.