167.680. After-school retreat reading and assessment program established--grants awarded, procedure--fund created--rulemaking authority.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

167.680. After-school retreat reading and assessment program established--grants awarded, procedure--fund created--rulemaking authority.

After-school retreat reading and assessment programestablished--grants awarded, procedure--fund created--rulemakingauthority.

167.680. 1. There is hereby established within the department ofelementary and secondary education the "After-School Retreat Reading andAssessment Grant Program". Beginning with the 2002-03 school year, theprogram shall award grants to schools on a competitive grant basis. Schooldistricts may develop after-school reading and assessment programs and submitproposals to the department, pursuant to criteria established by thedepartment for grant approval and on forms promulgated by the department forgrant applications. Copies of the criteria established pursuant to thissection shall be provided by the department to all school districts in thisstate. In awarding such grants, the department shall grant preference toschool districts with a higher percentage of at-risk students, as thedepartment may determine. In addition, the criteria for grant approval by thedepartment may include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) The development of programs which are educational in nature, withemphasis in reading and student assessment thereof as opposed to day-careoriented programs; or

(2) Other criteria as the department may deem appropriate.

2. Subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2002-03 school year, thedepartment shall award grants to school districts for the development andimplementation of after-school retreat programs consistent with this section.In the event that the appropriations or other moneys available for such grantsare less than the amount necessary to fully fund all approved grants for the2002-03 school year or any subsequent school year, the moneys shall bedistributed to approved schools on a pro rata basis.

3. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "After-SchoolRetreat Reading and Assessment Grant Program Fund". The fund shall beadministered by the department. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriatedannually by the general assembly from general revenue to such fund, any moneyspaid into the state treasury and required by law to be credited to such fundand any gifts, bequests or donations to such fund. The fund shall be keptseparate and apart from all other moneys in the state treasury and shall bepaid out by the state treasurer pursuant to chapter 33, RSMo. Notwithstandingthe provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, moneys in the fund atthe end of the biennium shall not be transferred to the credit of the generalrevenue fund. All interest and moneys earned on the fund shall be credited tothe fund.

4. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to this sectionshall take effect unless such rule has been promulgated pursuant to chapter536, RSMo.