Amendment #1303 to H4200

Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative

Ms. Peisch of Wellesley moves to amend the bill in Section 2 by inserting after item 3000-5000 the following item:

"3000-6025 For grants in fiscal year 2017 to support planning activities in cities, towns, regional school districts or educational collaboratives currently providing pre-kindergarten or preschool opportunities, to expand pre-kindergarten or preschool opportunities on a voluntary basis to children ages 2 years and 9 months to 3 years and 11 months old; provided, that planning grants shall be awarded through a competitive process established by the department of early education and care utilizing the Massachusetts Preschool Expansion Grant public-private partnership model; provided further, that preference shall be given in awarding these funds to districts serving high percentages of high-needs students; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of the city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative without further appropriation; provided further that the department of early education and care shall report to the joint committee on education not later than October 15, 2016 the status of the Massachusetts Preschool Expansion Grant program, including but not limited to: summer assessment data of Preschool Expansion Grant students, classroom observation data, and qualitative data from program leadership, staff and parents; and provided further that said report shall also include information on the status of the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative planning grants, including but not limited to a needs assessment, program design and anticipated costs…..........$200,000."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1303 to H4200

Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative