167.335. Alternative education grants--qualifications--joint applications. - Missouri Statutes

Alternative education grants--qualifications--joint applications.

167.335. 1. The state board of education shall establish a program toaward grants to school districts that apply for assistance in providingalternative educational opportunities for students whose demonstrateddisruptive behavior indicates that they cannot be adequately served in thetraditional classroom setting. The board shall solicit applications fromschool districts and shall make grants from funds appropriated for thatpurpose in such amounts and on such terms as it determines best encourages thedevelopment of alternative education programs throughout the state. The boardshall give preference to applications that demonstrate a need for alternativeeducation services and stress:

(1) A comprehensive, kindergarten through grade twelve approach topreventing problems that result in the need for alternative educationservices;

(2) Rigorous instruction in core academic disciplines;

(3) Activities designed to enable the student to better perform in theregular classroom and to transition students back to the regular classroomwhen merited by their performance;

(4) A student-centered approach whereby activities are designed to meetthe particular needs of individual students; and

(5) Collaboration with existing community-based service providers, suchas cooperative education programs, school to work programs,parents-as-teachers programs, programs developed by the department of economicdevelopment and programs developed by local service delivery agencies, andother governmental and private agencies to address student needs beyond thosetraditionally addressed by schools.

2. School districts may submit joint applications and are encouraged topursue regional approaches to alternative education where warranted. Areavocational learning centers shall be eligible to submit applications and areencouraged to pursue grants to expand and enhance existing alternativeeducation programs established pursuant to sections 167.320 to 167.332,provided that any additional activities are compatible with subdivisions (1)to (5) of subsection 1 of this section. The state board of education shalladopt rules necessary to implement the grant program established pursuant tothis section, provided that no rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuantto this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuantto the provisions of section 536.024, RSMo.

(L. 1996 H.B. 1301 & 1298 § 6)