Relating to: grants for feasibility studies of school district consolidation or whole grade sharing. (FE)

SB 669 creates a grant program to help school districts explore consolidation or whole-grade sharing agreements. It provides reimbursement of up to $25,000 per grant to consortia of two or more school boards for feasibility studies, covering costs like financial analysis and population studies. To qualify, each school board in the consortium must have adopted a resolution supporting the study under existing law. The grants are funded biennially through the state's education budget, with the Department of Public Instruction administering the program. This bill directly affects school districts considering collaborative arrangements to improve efficiency.