70619408 - Targeted Intervention in Underperforming Schools

Account Description FY2009
Spending
FY2010
GAA
7061-9408 Targeted Intervention in Underperforming Schools
For targeted intervention to schools and districts at risk of or determined to be underperforming under sections 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws, schools and districts which have which have been placed in the accountability status of identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring pursuant to departmental regulations, or which have been designated Commonwealth priority schools or Commonwealth pilot schools pursuant to said regulations; provided, that no money shall be expended in any school or district that fails to file a comprehensive district plan pursuant to the provisions of section 1I of said chapter 69 of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall only approve reform plans with proven, replicable results in improving student performance; provided further, that in carrying out the provisions of this item, the department may contract with school support specialists, turnaround partners, and such other external assistance as is needed in the expert opinion of the commissioner, to successfully turn around failing school and district performance; provided further, that no funds shall be expended on targeted intervention unless the department shall have approved, as part of the comprehensive district improvement plan, a professional development plan which addresses the needs of the district as determined by the department; provided further, that eligible professional development activities for purposes of this item shall include, but not be limited to: professional development among teachers of the same grade levels and teachers of the same subject matter across grade levels, professional development focused on improving the teacher's content knowledge in the field or subject area in which the teacher is practicing, professional development which provides teachers with research based strategies for increasing student success, professional development teaching the principles of data driven instruction, and funding which helps provide common planning time for teachers within a school and within the school district; provided further, that preference in the awarding of such funds shall be given to professional development in math and English content skills; provided further, that funds from any targeted intervention grant may be used to partially offset the cost of said professional development and common planning time; provided further, that funds may be expended for the purchase of instructional materials pursuant to section 57 of chapter 15 of the General Laws; provided further, that no funds shall be expended on instructional materials except where the purchase of such materials is part of a comprehensive plan to align the school or district curriculum with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks; provided further, that preference in distributing funds shall be made for proposals which coordinate reform efforts within all schools of a district in order to prevent conflicts between multiple reforms and interventions among the schools; provided further, that funds may be expended for the Commonwealth pilot school initiative established by the board in November 2006; provided further, that the department shall issue a report no later than February 2, 2010, and annually thereafter describing and analyzing all intervention and targeted assistance efforts funded by this item; provided further, that such report shall include but not be limited to: the number of school and school districts eligible to receive such assistance, the number of students attending school in said districts, the nature and type of intervention activities funded through this item, by school and school district, the number of teachers in professional development funded in part through this item, the number of districts with curricula or professional development systems aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, and the number that are undertaking that effort with grants funded by this item, the number of outside vendors with whom the department has contracted to provide intervention and turnaround services, the amount each vendor has received, and the results obtained in each instance, the number of students who have passed the MCAS assessment and obtained a competency determination through these programs, before, and during the period of intervention and turnaround, and any other data relative to the successes achieved or challenges faced by the effort to turn around schools, along with any legislative or budgetary recommendations for improving the initiative and increasing the success of all intervention efforts; provided further, that said report shall include an analysis of the number of districts with curriculum plans not aligned to the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks, along with any legislative and regulatory recommendations to address the issue; provided further, that said report shall indicate the number of schools which have accepted the Commonwealth pilot school model, the reforms which they have undertaken, and the number which have expressed interest in the pilot school option; 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 ways and means committees and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education; provided further, that no funds shall be expended on recurring school or school district expenditures unless the department and school district have developed a long term plan to fund such expenditures from the district's operational budget; provided further, that for the purpose of this item, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2010, to allow for intervention and school and district improvement planning in the summer months; provided further, that funds may be expended for the continuation of a parent engagement program pursuant to item 7061-9408 of section 2 of chapter 182 of the acts of 2008; and provided further, that any 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
7,917,334 6,900,841

Budget Reduction Explanation:   Reduces appropriation corresponding to manager furlough savings.