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2001 SESSION

013786210
HOUSE BILL NO. 2540
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-199.4, relating to the Governor's Academic Challenge Grant Program and Fund.
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Patrons-- Spruill, Brink, Christian, Councill, Crittenden, Diamonstein, Dudley, Jones, D.C., Katzen, Kilgore, McEachin, Melvin and Suit; Senator: Newman
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-199.4 as follows:

§ 22.1-199.4. Governor’s Academic Challenge Grant Program.

To provide grants to schools Accredited with Warning or Provisionally Accredited/Needs Improvement pursuant to the Standards of Accreditation for public schools and to assist those schools in raising student academic achievement sufficient to meet accreditation requirements, from such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, and from such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf, there is hereby established the Governor's Academic Challenge Grant Program, to be administered by the Board of Education, and a special nonreverting fund within the Department of the Treasury known as the Governor's Academic Challenge Grant Fund, hereafter referred to as the "Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in such Fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Interest earned on such funds shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it.

The Department of the Treasury shall administer and manage the Fund, subject to the authority of the Board of Education to provide for its disbursement. The Fund shall be disbursed to public schools to provide additional instructional time on task for intervention or remediation using pedagogical strategies supported by research. Such intervention and remediation may include before- and after-school programs, Saturday school, or tutoring sessions, and shall increase the student's net instructional time in school. Priority shall be given to programs that include contributions of services, resources, materials, volunteer manpower and funds from community members and organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses and local governments.

B. The Board shall establish guidelines for the distribution of grants from the Fund. Grants shall be distributed each year based upon each school's accreditation status in that year. Priority for receipt of grants shall be given to those schools Accredited with Warning or Provisionally Accredited/Needs Improvement pursuant to the Standards of Accreditation and failing to achieve accreditation targets in English and math. Funds may be provided to other schools Accredited with Warning or Provisionally Accredited/Needs Improvement and failing to achieve accreditation targets in other subjects based on remaining available funds.

Local school divisions and eligible schools may supplement grants from the Fund with local funds and private contributions and gifts, but may not support existing programs with funds granted pursuant to the Program.

C. The Board shall issue additional guidelines governing the Program as it deems necessary and appropriate, and shall include in such guidelines sample models for delivery of additional instructional assistance and effective intervention and remediation.

D. Grants from the Fund shall be issued to eligible schools upon approval by the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the school's plan, certified by the division superintendent and the school principal, for the use of the grant. The Superintendent may require revisions to a school’s plan before issuing such approval.

E. The Department of Education may audit a school’s program to ensure compliance with the school plan, the requirements of this section, and Board guidelines.