For grants to cities, towns and regional school districts for payments of certain costs and related expenses for the program to eliminate racial imbalance established under
section 12A of chapter 76 of the General Laws; provided, that funds shall be made available for payment for services rendered by the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), Inc. and Springfield public schools; provided further, that all grant applications submitted to and approved by the department of elementary and secondary education shall include a detailed line item budget specifying how such funds shall be allocated and expended; provided further, that not later than April 1, 2024, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on the impact of the grant program on student outcomes, the expenditure of funds by districts and the extent to which the services rendered by METCO support the goals of the grant program; provided further, that funds may be expended by the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), Inc. for the continued implementation of a pilot program for school districts participating in the METCO program; provided further, that the pilot program may include, but shall not be limited to, the implementation of racial equity initiatives and programming aligned with the newly-created METCO Blueprint and Continuum of Practice, which may include audits, professional development and restorative justice practices training; and provided further, that funds shall also be made available to expand METCO enrollment in current districts that have been approved for expansion; and provided further, that funds appropriated in this item for fiscal year 2024 shall not revert to the General Fund but shall be made available until December 31, 2024
