Amendment #3 to H4730

Literacy Grant

Mr. Coppinger of Boston moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX. Chapter 15 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 52, the following section:- Section 52A. The Board shall establish, subject to appropriation, an elementary school literacy and school improvement reimbursement grant program. Reimbursements shall be given to districts on the basis of improved literacy outcomes for both general education and special education populations. The amount of reimbursement shall be based on a sliding scale to be determined by the department, based on the district’s percentage of students categorized as economically disadvantaged. Reimbursements shall be awarded for the following:

(a) Intensive school wide literacy coaching and professional development, which may include coaching for broader educational goals. Reimbursements under this category may not continue for a period exceeding four years.

(b) K-3 literacy interventions for the most at-risk students. Such grants shall be awarded for intensive literacy intervention training, coaching, and professional development.

Reimbursements awarded pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) may be for efforts in conjunction with or separate from each other. Program participants shall be required to report their results to the department, which shall publish the results online.

Instructional costs eligible for reimbursement under the program shall be reported by a school or school district to the department in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. The department shall review the report and approve those per pupil instructional costs that are eligible for reimbursement pursuant to the program within 30 days of submission. Based upon the approved costs, the department shall calculate the reimbursement due a municipality.