SECTIONS 44700-44705 - California Statutes

EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 44700-44705

44700. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide funds to
encourage teachers, whether acting individually or with other
teachers, to improve the quality of instruction. Grants made pursuant
to this chapter shall supplement, and not supplant, regular
instructional activities.

44701. Any teacher eligible to receive an instructional improvement
grant, or any group of eligible teachers, may submit a grant
proposal to the grant committee established pursuant to Section
44702.
Each grant recipient shall be a full-time teacher or mentor
teacher whose primary duty is classroom instruction.

44702. (a) Any school district which applies to the Superintendent
of Public Instruction for funding pursuant to this chapter shall
establish an instructional improvement grant committee to review
grant proposals and make recommendations to the governing board
concerning awards of instructional improvement grants. The majority
of the members of the committee shall be teachers meeting the
requirements of Section 44701 and selected by the teachers of the
district. The committee shall also include at least one principal
selected by the district superintendent.
(b) The committee shall consider all instructional improvement
grant proposals submitted by teachers or groups of teachers meeting
the requirements of Section 44701. The committee shall recommend to
the governing board of the district a plan for the allocation of the
district's funding entitlement for purposes of this chapter, taking
into account the areas in the district with greatest need for
instructional improvement. The plan shall include the committee's
recommendations for the funding of any grant proposal, and shall
specify a grant amount not in excess of two thousand dollars ($2,000)
per fiscal year for an individual recipient, or two thousand dollars
($2,000) per fiscal year for each eligible teacher participating in
a group proposal. The committee may recommend the award of grants for
proposals which would continue for more than one fiscal year if the
committee specifically finds there is a need to provide continued
funding.
(c) The committee shall establish procedures for the evaluation of
grant proposals and for the review of the use of grant funds by
grant recipients.
(d) Members of the committee shall not receive compensation for
participation in committee activities, except that teacher members
may receive released time in order to attend meetings of the
committee.

44703. (a) The governing board of any school district which applies
to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for funding pursuant to
this chapter shall review the recommendations of the grant committee
and make the final decision on awards of grant funds for purposes of
this chapter. The governing board shall award grants so as to improve
instruction in those areas of the district with greatest need.
The governing board may award for any grant proposal submitted by
an individual teacher any amount not in excess of two thousand
dollars ($2,000) per fiscal year. The governing board may award for
any grant proposal submitted by a group of teachers any amount not in
excess of two thousand dollars ($2,000) per fiscal year for each
eligible teacher in the group.
(b) The governing board shall annually certify to the
Superintendent of Public Instruction the number of instructional
improvement grants awarded and the aggregate amount of money awarded
for the grants and may include a request for reimbursement for
administrative costs of this chapter in an amount not to exceed 5
percent of the district's entitlement for funding computed pursuant
to subdivision (b) of Section 44704.

44704. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Budget Act
for each fiscal year appropriate funds for purposes of this chapter
in an amount equal to 5 percent of the number of permanent full-time
teachers, exclusive of teachers in adult education, child care and
development, and regional occupational centers and programs,
multiplied by two thousand dollars ($2,000).
(b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall compute each
fiscal year for each school district, an entitlement equal to 5
percent of the number of permanent, full-time teachers, exclusive of
teachers in adult education, child care and development, and regional
occupational centers and programs, multiplied by two thousand
dollars ($2,000). The superintendent shall apportion to each school
district from funds appropriated for the purposes of this chapter in
that fiscal year, the amount certified by the governing board
pursuant to Section 44703, but not in excess of the district's
entitlement.
In the event that, in any fiscal year, sufficient funds are not
appropriated to fully fund each school district requesting
apportionments for purposes of this chapter, the superintendent shall
reduce each district's apportionment on a pro rata basis.

44705. The provisions of this chapter shall become operative July
1, 1984.