Amendment #349 to H4700

Safe and Supportive Schools

Ms. Balser of Newton moves to amend the bill in section 2, in line-item 7061-9612, by striking out line item 7061-9612 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following item:

7061-9612 - For the implementation of subsection (f) of section 1P of chapter 69 of the General Laws to create safe and supportive school environments; provided, that funds shall be expended for the safe and supportive schools grant program and for a full-time staff member devoted to carrying out the responsibilities under said subsection (f) of said section 1P of said chapter 69; provided further, that funds shall be expended for: (i) an annual statewide safe and supportive schools conference that shall highlight the grant program, include presentations by grantee schools and districts about their work, teach attendees about the framework and self-assessment tool, include presentations about the grant application process, and emphasize best practices for incorporating developmentally appropriate input from students into safe and supportive schools grant applications and school-wide action plans, (ii) expert technological assistance in upgrading the usability of the online self-assessment tool, and (iii) an evaluation of the grant program; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a leadership summit, which may be held concurrently with the annual conference, to inform superintendents and principals about the grant program and best practices for leading the work to create safe and supportive school and district cultures; provided further, that grants shall be awarded to school and school district teams that create school-wide action plans based on all the elements of the safe and supportive schools framework and self-assessment tool; provided further, that grant awards shall be prioritized to applications that include a process for developmentally appropriate input from students who are reflective of the school population; provided further, that schools receiving continuation grants to implement school-wide action plans shall incorporate such action plans into their school improvement plans developed under section 1I of said chapter 69; provided further, that the safe and supportive schools commission shall conduct an analysis of such school-wide action plans and school improvement plans, and shall include in its annual report the results of such analysis and any recommendations, including any recommendations related to improving the framework and/or the self-assessment tool; provided further, that not later than November 1, 2022, grant awards shall be allocated by the department to schools and school districts; provided further, that districts shall create district plans that support recipient schools; and provided further, that any unexpended funds in this item shall not revert to the General Fund but shall be made available for this item until June 30, 2024................................................. $600,000

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #349 to H4700

Safe and Supportive Schools