Amendment #51 to H4700

Universal Full-Day Kindergarten

Mr. Sena of Acton moves to amend the bill in section 2 by inserting after item 7028-0031 the following item:

7030-1002 Kindergarten Expansion Grants

For kindergarten development grants to provide grant awards to encourage the transition of remaining half day classrooms into full-day kindergarten classrooms; provided further, that said grants shall be awarded pursuant to guidelines established by the department relative to the application and award process which shall include eligibility criteria, allowable grant expenditures and grant recipient obligations; provided further, that guidelines for transition grants shall require applicants for such grants to identify obstacles that impede the transition to full-day kindergarten; provided further, that the guidelines shall require grant recipients to identify the anticipated date by which the implementation of transition projects shall commence; provided further, that the guidelines shall detail the range of permissible grant expenditures which shall include, but not be limited to, the expenditure of funds for facility improvements or other expenses necessary to provide adequate space for the transition from half-day kindergarten classrooms into full-day kindergarten classrooms; provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without further appropriation, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary; provided further, that such program shall supplement and shall not supplant currently funded local, state and federal programs at the school or district; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item for transition grant awards may be expended through August 31, 2023, for the purposes of transition projects scheduled for the school year beginning in September 2023………………………………….$18,000,000.