This is not the official budget document.

General Appropriations Act FY2008

Department of Education
Data Current as of:  10/29/2007



Account Description FY07
GAA
FY08
GAA
7061-9412 Extended Learning Time Grants
For grants to cities, towns, and regional school districts for the purpose of planning for and implementing expanded learning time in the form of longer school days or school years at selected schools; provided, that implementation grants shall only be provided under this item to schools and districts which submitted qualifying applications which were approved by the department in fiscal year 2007; provided further, that in approving expanded learning time implementation grant applications, preference shall be given to districts with high poverty rates or a high percentage of students scoring in levels I or II on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, those districts with plans that have the greatest potential for district-wide impact, those districts that plan to utilize partnerships with community-based organizations and institutions of higher education, and those districts with plans that include a comprehensive restructuring of the entire school day and/or year to maximize the use of the additional learning time; provided further, that the department shall approve implementation plans that include an appropriate mix of additional time spent on core academics, additional time spent on enrichment opportunities such as small group tutoring, homework help, music, arts, sports, physical activity, and project-based experiential learning, and additional time for teacher preparation and/or professional development; provided further, that the department shall only approve implementation plans that assume not more than $1,300 per pupil per year in future state appropriations of expanded learning time implementation funds; provided further, that in extraordinary cases the department may exceed the $1,300 per pupil per year limit; provided further, that the department shall review all qualified proposals and award approved grants not later than August 15, 2007; provided further, that the department may expend up to $250,000 on ELT planning grants as part of the department's School Redesign: Expanding Learning Time to Support Student Success grant; provided further, that to be qualifying, planning grant applications must contain, but need not be limited, to the process the district will use to create an expanded learning time implementation plan, the stated intent to convert one or more schools into an expanded learning time school that adds, on a mandatory basis for all students, no less than 300 more hours to the school schedule than is standard for the applying district; the rationale for expanding learning time including specific goals, and the anticipated number of schools and students that will participate in the expanded learning time initiative; provided further, that all school districts are eligible to apply for planning grants but not less than 60 per cent of said grants shall be awarded to qualifying districts where 25 per cent or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federally funded school meals program; provided further, that in awarding such grants, the department shall support the inclusion of districts not given such priority in order to demonstrate the efficacy and value of the program across a broad range of districts and schools relative to the socioeconomic status and achievement levels of students they educate; provided further, that the department shall review all qualified proposals and award planning grants not later than November 1, 2007; provided further, that upon being awarded said planning grants each district will create a detailed expanded learning time implementation plan; provided further, that teachers, parents, community members, and partner organizations participate in the development of said implementation plan; provided further, that in carrying out the provisions of this item, funds may be expended by the department to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the program; provided further, that the department shall issue an annual report, not later than February 1, 2008 on the implementation of plans in all participating districts; provided further, that said report shall include, but not be limited to: the names of schools and school districts participating; the number of students attending these schools and the nature and type of changes made in participating schools as a result of this program; provided further, that the report shall also include an anticipated budget for this program for the next fiscal year and a breakdown of the distribution of the $1,300 per student by school; provided further, that said report shall be provided to the secretary of administration and finance, the senate president, the speaker of the house, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education; provided further, that for the purpose of this item, appropriated funds my be expended through August 31st, 2008 to allow for planning and implementation during the summer months; provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item to a city, town, or regional school district 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; and provided further, that no funds shall be expended for personnel costs at the department of education
6,500,000 13,000,000

 
 
HISTORICAL SPENDING CATEGORIES ($000)
SPENDING CATEGORY FY04
Spending
FY05
Spending
FY06
Spending
FY07
Spending
FY08
GAA
Wages & Salaries 0 0 0 55 0
Pensions & Benefits 0 0 0 3 1
Aid to Cities & Towns 0 0 0 5,943 12,999
TOTAL 0 0 0 6,000 13,000

* FY07 Projected Spending includes the budget plus nearly $1 billion in spending from FY06 supplemental budgets.

 

Pie Chart: Pensions & Benefits=0%, Aid to Cities & Towns=100%



 
Earmarks
EARMARK DESCRIPTION
FY08
ELT planning grants as part of the department's School Redesign: Expanding Learning Time to Support Student Success grant. 250,000