Text: HF02047 Text: HF02049 Text: HF02000 - HF02099 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of
1 2 the state to the department of education for the fiscal year
1 3 beginning July 1, 1998, and ending June 30, 1999, the
1 4 following amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to
1 5 be used for the purpose designated:
1 6 For a modified full-year school calendar grant program and
1 7 study:
1 8 .................................................. $ 3,500,000
1 9 The funds appropriated shall be utilized by the department
1 10 to create an incentive program to encourage schools to propose
1 11 and utilize a modified full-year school calendar. The
1 12 department shall award grants to 12 schools with varying
1 13 enrollments that apply to the department by November 1, 1998.
1 14 Application forms and grant award criteria shall be developed
1 15 by the department. Applicants shall submit a proposal for a
1 16 full-year school calendar adhering to the current 180-day
1 17 requirement in section 279.10, subsection 1, but with a
1 18 modified calendar incorporating a nine-week on, three-week off
1 19 schedule. The modified calendar would commence annually on
1 20 the second Monday in July beginning in 1999, and alternate
1 21 nine-week on, three-week off intervals until the 180-day
1 22 requirement has been met. At that point, students would
1 23 remain on break until the next school year commences pursuant
1 24 to the modified calendar. Calendar proposals submitted by
1 25 applicants may modify the nine-week on, three-week off
1 26 schedule according to the particular needs of the school
1 27 district, but should provide a clear transition to such a
1 28 schedule. Grants shall be awarded for a three-year duration
1 29 and shall be used by the schools either to install air
1 30 conditioning in school buildings or finance other
1 31 infrastructure needs of the school district related to the
1 32 modified calendar.
1 33 In addition to the awarding of grants to applicant schools,
1 34 the funds appropriated shall be utilized by the department, in
1 35 conjunction with postsecondary education institutions in the
2 1 state, to conduct a study of the schools participating in the
2 2 grant program during the final year of the three-year program.
2 3 The study shall include an in-depth cost-benefit analysis of
2 4 the modified full-year school calendar and its effects on the
2 5 students, teachers, and community members involved in the
2 6 program, and include a measurement of academic achievement for
2 7 students participating in the program compared with students
2 8 from nonparticipant schools. The department shall submit a
2 9 report of its findings and recommendations to the general
2 10 assembly by October 1, 2002.
2 11 EXPLANATION
2 12 This bill provides for the creation of a three-year grant
2 13 program involving the awarding of grants by the department of
2 14 education to 12 schools of varying enrollment sizes throughout
2 15 the state that submit proposals for the utilization of a
2 16 modified full-year school calendar. Proposed calendars shall
2 17 begin annually on the second Monday in July, starting in 1999,
2 18 and shall provide a clear transition toward the attainment of
2 19 a nine-week on, three-week off school calendar. The calendar
2 20 proposal may modify the nine-week on, three-week off period
2 21 according to the particular needs of the applicant school
2 22 during the three-year grant program period. Application forms
2 23 and grant award criteria shall be developed by the department,
2 24 and shall be received by the department from applicant schools
2 25 by November 1, 1998. Grants received by successful applicants
2 26 may be used for the installation of air conditioning equipment
2 27 in school buildings or for additional infrastructure-related
2 28 modifications relating to the school's participation in the
2 29 program. The bill provides for an appropriation of $3.5
2 30 million to finance the grants, and to provide for a study
2 31 during the final year of the three-year program, conducted by
2 32 the department and postsecondary education institutions in the
2 33 state, of the impact of the program on students, teachers, and
2 34 community members involved in the program. The study shall
2 35 include an in-depth cost-benefit analysis of the modified
3 1 full-year school calendar and a measurement of student
3 2 academic progress as compared to students at nonparticipant
3 3 schools, and shall be submitted to the general assembly by
3 4 October 1, 2002.
3 5 LSB 3049HH 77
3 6 rn/cf/24.2
Text: HF02047 Text: HF02049 Text: HF02000 - HF02099 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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