§ 16-5-32 - Elementary and secondary education excellence fund. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-5-32

   § 16-5-32  Elementary and secondaryeducation excellence fund. – (a) There is created a fund of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for thepurposes set forth below:

   (1) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) shall beused to make competitive grant awards to local school districts for exemplarydropout prevention programs;

   (2) One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) shall be used toestablish training programs for parents, with special emphasis on parents ofpreschool children, and to make competitive grant awards to local schooldistricts for exemplary parent involvement programs;

   (3) One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) shall be used forschool committee and administrator training;

   (4) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) shall beused to make competitive grant awards to local school districts which developexemplary school site management programs;

   (5) One million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be prorated amonglocal school districts on the basis of their 1987-88 entitlement under §16-7-20 to fund grants to further the literacy focus in instruction inkindergarten through grade three (3) for all students and supplementaryliteracy instruction for educationally disadvantaged students in gradeskindergarten through twelve (12);

   (6) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) shall beused to establish a statewide screening program for all children just enteringschool;

   (7) Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for use by thecommissioner of elementary and secondary education to implement recommendationsof the task force to study the governor's 1991 report on education;

   (8) Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall be usedfor vocational education in accordance with § 16-45-7; and

   (9) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) will beused to establish and expand programs in area vocational schools.

   (b) All grant money received by a local school district fromthis fund will be ineligible for reimbursement under the school operations aidprogram. Funds, with the exception of subsection (a)(8), may not be used tosupplant funding for existing programs and activities.

   (c) The commissioner of elementary and secondary educationshall promulgate any rules and regulations as he or she shall deem necessaryfor the operation of the education excellence fund. The decision of thecommissioner of elementary and secondary education shall be final on allquestions regarding grants.