| Account | Description | FY 2014 GAA |
FY 2015 House 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7030-1002 | Kindergarten Expansion Grants For kindergarten expansion grants to provide awards to encourage the transition of half-day classrooms into full-day kindergarten classrooms, and to continue quality enhancement of existing full-day kindergarten classrooms; provided, that the department shall administer the grant program with the primary purpose of encouraging the voluntary expansion of high quality, full-day kindergarten education; provided further, that priority shall be given to transition grants that expand full-day classrooms in districts and schools without full-day classrooms in fiscal year 2014, without sufficient classrooms to provide a slot for all eligible children seeking one, and for districts currently charging a fee for full-day kindergarten which agree to provide the service for free, and for continuation grants for classrooms whose student population has not yet been included in the October 1 full-day kindergarten enrollment count under chapter 70 of the General Laws; provided further, that continuation quality enhancement grants for classrooms whose student population has been included in the October 1 headcount for purposes of calculating aid under chapter 70 shall not be made until all qualified and eligible applicants for transition grants and year 1 continuation grants under the previous criteria have been awarded; provided, further, that preference shall be given to Level 3 and 4 schools, to schools and districts at risk of or determined to be underperforming under sections 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws, to schools and districts in levels 4 or 5, to schools and districts with high percentages of students scoring in levels 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam, and school districts which serve free or reduced lunch to at least 35 per cent of its students, as determined by the department based on available data; provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, shall be expended by the school committee of the city, town or regional school district without further appropriation; provided further, that this program shall supplement and shall not supplant currently funded local, state and federal programs at the school or district; provided further, that not later than November 17, 2014, the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the total number of grants requested and awarded; provided further, that the report shall detail common factors associated with both successful and unsuccessful applications, shall discuss statewide impediments and shall include the total number of full-day and half-day kindergarten classrooms projected to be in operation in public schools in fiscal year 2015; provided further, that all kindergarten programs previously funded through community partnership councils at the department of early education and care may receive grants from this item; and provided further, that no funds shall be expended for personnel costs |
23,948,947 | 27,048,947 |
Increased funding to support new initiative.