Math Achievement Accelerator Grant Program

The bill creates the math achievement accelerator grant program (grant program) in the department of education (department). A school district, board of cooperative services that operates a school that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through 8, or a charter school that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through 8 may apply to the department to participate in the grant program. The department, with the assistance of a grant review committee convened by the commissioner of education, shall review the grant applications and recommend to the state board of education (state board) grant recipients and the grant amounts. The state board shall select the applicants that will receive 3-year grants to implement research-based, school-based plans to improve student achievement in mathematics in the elementary and middle school grades. The bill specifies the required contents of the application and the criteria the department and the state board shall apply in recommending and selecting grant recipients. Distribution of grant money in the second and third years of a grant is conditioned on the department finding that the grant recipient is meeting specified requirements. The department shall pay grants out of the math achievement accelerator grant fund created in the bill. The bill directs the department to contract with an independent evaluator to annually evaluate the school-based plans implemented using the grant money, their effectiveness in improving student achievement in mathematics, and the overall implementation of the grant program. The department shall submit the evaluation reports prepared by the independent evaluator to the state board and the education committees of the general assembly. The bill makes an appropriation. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)