H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 8.29: After-School Quality Improvement Competitive Grants (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Sec. 8.29 of S.L. 2015-241 directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to use up to $6 million of the funds appropriated for the At-Risk Student Services Alternative School Allotment for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 fiscal years for the After-School Quality Improvement Grant Program (Grant Program) to raise standards and increase student academic outcomes for students not at grade level on State assessments.

Grants may be for new or existing after-school programs for at-risk students in local school administrative units, charter schools, non-profits, and non-profits working with local school administrative units. Eligible participants may receive the grants for up to 2 years in amounts up to $500,000. Participants receiving the grants will match $1.00 in non-grant funds for every $3.00 in grant funds. The Grant Program is to focus on:

• Use of an evidence-based model with a proven track record of success.
• Inclusion of performance measures to confirm grant effectiveness.
• Alignment with State performance measures, goals, and standards.
• Prioritization of programs to integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or reading proficiency.
• Minimizing class size during instruction.
• Expansion of student access to learning activities and support.
• Emphasizing the utilization of digital content.

Grant recipients must report to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on progress, matching, and Grant Program results in order to receive the second year of funding. DPI is directed to submit an interim report on the Grant Program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by September 15, 2016, and to submit a final report by September 15, 2017. The final report must include final results of the Grant Program, recommendations regarding effective after-school program models, standards, and performance measures based on student performance, leveraging of community-based resources to expand student access to learning activities and academic support, and the experience of the grant recipients.

This section became effective July 1, 2015.