For a competitive grant program to support the development and expansion of high quality, comprehensive summer learning opportunities for students in districts with high concentrations of low income students; provided, that the department of elementary and secondary education shall develop the criteria for grants; provided further, that grants shall be awarded to programs that: (i) include at least 150 hours of programming with a focus on academic and college and career readiness skills, including critical thinking, collaboration and perseverance; (ii) are research-based summer programs; and (iii) engage with a variety of organizations and leverage cost-sharing partnerships with local districts, private funders and nonprofit institutions; and provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months
