Amendment ID: S2924-18-R1

Redraft Amendment 18

Ensuring sufficient resources for school districts

Ms. Comerford, Mr. Collins, Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Payano and O'Connor, Ms. Rausch and Mr. Tarr move that the proposed new text be amended in section 1, by striking out proposed subsection (b) of proposed section 2OOOOOO of chapter 29 of the General Laws and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

“(b) Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended, without further appropriation, to: (i) develop a free, complete high-quality curriculum for kindergarten through grade 3 that meets frameworks established in section 1E of chapter 69; (ii) implement section 1E ½ of said chapter 69; and (iii) provide grants to school districts to support: (1) updating curricula to meet the curriculum frameworks established in said section 1E ½ of said chapter 69; (2) purchasing materials related to such curricula; (3) providing professional development to educators to support implementation of the new curricula; and (4) meeting the reporting and assessment requirements established in sections 57A to 57C, inclusive, of chapter 71. The department shall create and maintain grant eligibility and application criteria for the distribution of the grant funds pursuant to clause (iii) of the first sentence; provided, however, that the criteria shall prioritize districts that are not in substantial compliance with such requirements established in section 1E ½ of said chapter 69 at the time of application and shall prioritize achieving geographic and funding equity; provided further, that the department shall hold at least 1 hearing in western Massachusetts prior to creating such criteria; and provided further, that the department shall provide technical assistance for grant applications for districts that are eligible for funding under item 7061-9813 of section 2 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025.”