Section 2F Fair Share

For an early literacy initiative directed by the secretary of education, in consultation and coordination with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the commissioner of early education and care, to be known as Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3; provided, that said initiative shall provide grants, programming and materials to increase the number of public schools and licensed early education and care providers in the commonwealth providing evidence-based literacy instruction to students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3; provided further, that grants may support activities including, but not limited to: (i) the adoption and implementation of high quality curricular materials by public schools and districts and early education program providers; (ii) the provision of technical support, coaching, and professional development to maximize educator impact and improve student learning of literacy skills for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3, including the support of required staff for the development and implementation of the program by the granting agencies; (iii) an acceleration of the program review of educator preparation programs approved by the department of elementary and secondary education; (iv) the coordination and alignment of assessment and screening, curriculum, and professional development across the departments of early education and care and elementary and secondary education; and (v) other professional learning initiatives and supports related to literacy assessment, measurement, and instruction for specific groups of learners or specific evidence-based materials; provided further, that grant recipients may include, but not be limited to: (i) public schools and districts and licensed early education and care programs providing pre-kindergarten instructional services; (ii) the University of Massachusetts; (iii) state universities and community colleges; and (iv) other educator preparation programs; provided further, that not later than November 30, 2027, the secretary of education shall provide a summary of the current and planned allocations of funds for each program funded through this item to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means and that such report shall include: (i) a list of grant recipients; (ii) grants awarded delineated by recipient; (iii) any matching funds or services contributed by grant recipients or program participants; (iv) the purposes of the grants; and (v) a detailed breakdown of the purposes and amounts of administrative costs charged to this item; and provided further, that funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For funds to support planning and implementation activities in cities, towns, regional school districts or educational collaboratives to expand pre-kindergarten or preschool opportunities on a voluntary basis to children who will be eligible for kindergarten within two school years, utilizing the Massachusetts Preschool Expansion Grant public-private partnership model; provided, that preference shall be given to districts in Gateway Cities or serving high percentages of high-needs students; provided further, that additional preference shall be given to districts that have completed strategic planning efforts that support expanding access to high-quality preschool; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, funds distributed from this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town, regional school district or educational collaborative without further appropriation; provided further, that funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months; provided further, that funds may be expended for Summer Step Up to support children entering kindergarten and elementary school with academic and enrichment activities during the summer months; provided further, that funds from this item may be used to provide administrative support to grantees, including technical assistance and program evaluation; and provided further, that funds from this item shall be expended in coordination with funds from item <a href="/appropriations/education/early-education-and-care/30006025">3000-6025</a><TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For the reimbursement of school districts and participating schools for the costs of providing universal free school meals pursuant to <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter69/Section1c" target="_blank">section 1C of chapter 69</a> of the General Laws; provided, that districts receiving funds under this item shall not implement a meal charge for students; provided further, that participating districts that are eligible for reimbursement under the community eligibility provision of the National School Lunch Program or an applicable provision of the National Child Nutrition Act, Public Law 111-296, shall adopt said provision to maximize access to federal funds; and provided further, that not later than January 15, 2027, the department of elementary and secondary education shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the executive office for administration and finance that shall include: (i) data on any change in utilization of school lunch services in districts receiving funding under this item, delineated by free, reduced and paid students as defined by the National School Lunch Program; (ii) the distribution of funding paid through this item delineated by school district; and (iii) options to reform, modify or extend the program in a manner that promotes equity, maximizes federal funds and improves predictability and sustainability of funding<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For school aid to cities, towns, regional school districts, counties maintaining vocational and agricultural schools and independent vocational schools; provided, that funds in this item shall be in addition to funds appropriated in item <a href="/appropriations/education/education-k-12/70610008">7061-0008</a> and may be distributed under <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter70" target="_blank">chapters 70</a> and <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter76" target="_blank">76</a> of the General Laws and section 3; and provided further, that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education may transfer funds from this item to said item <a href="/appropriations/education/education-k-12/70610008">7061-0008</a><TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>

For grants to state universities for cohort counseling to ensure student success, provide wraparound supports and services to improve outcomes for their most vulnerable populations including, but not limited to, low-income, first-generation, minority and disabled students and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students; provided, that funds shall be disbursed based on a formula and criteria developed by the department of higher education; provided further, that eligible wraparound support activities shall include, but not be limited to, peer mentors, academic skills workshops and targeted academic, career and scholarship advising; provided further, that funds may be used to address food insecurity; provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months; and provided further, that all funds distributed may be spent solely on personnel costs at the discretion of the universities<TABLE><TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>Education&nbsp;and&nbsp;Transportation&nbsp;Fund&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD><TD>...............</TD><TD class="amt">100%</TD></TR></TABLE>