For grants to cities, towns and regional school districts for planning 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 from this item to schools and school districts that have submitted qualifying applications that were approved by the department of elementary and secondary education in fiscal year 2021 and include a minimum of 300 additional hours on a mandatory basis for all children attending that school or school district; provided further, that in approving expanded learning time implementation grant applications, preference shall be given to districts with high poverty rates or high percentages of students scoring in levels 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam, districts with proposals that have the greatest potential for district-wide impact, districts that plan to utilize partnerships with community-based organizations and institutions of higher education and districts with proposals that include a comprehensive restructuring of the entire school day or year to maximize the use of the additional learning time; provided further, that the department shall approve implementation proposals that include an appropriate mix of additional time spent on core academics, additional time spent on enrichment opportunities, including small group tutoring, homework help, music, art, sports, physical activity, health and wellness programs, project-based experiential learning and additional time for teacher preparation or professional development; provided further, that the grant recipients shall maintain expanded learning time programs at least at the scope and scale as in fiscal year 2021; provided further, that not later than August 14, 2021, the department shall review all qualified proposals and award approved grants; and provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities through August 31, 2022
