School Improvement Fund

Draft Temp Rule

581-023-0112

School Improvement Fund

(1) [Definitions:]For purposes of this rule, "School Improvement Fund" [refers to a separate fund established in Chapter 794, Oregon Laws 2001] means the fund established by ORS 327.294.

[(2) The Department of Education will distribute School Improvement Fund grants of $108 million in 2001-02 and $112 million plus interest earned in 2002-03 for activities that relate to improved student performance on third and fifth grade reading and mathematics assessments, including:]

[(a) Class size reduction;]

[(b) Increases in instructional time;]

[(c) Professional development;]

[(d) Remediation and alternative learning;]

[(e) Early childhood support;]

[(f) Services to at-risk youth;]

[(g) Additional instructional materials;]

[(h) Curriculum and instructional support;]

[(i) Services for English as a second language students; and]

[(j) Other activities approved by the State Board of Education that are shown to have a relationship to increasing student achievement.]

[(3) The Department will allocate funds to each district and the Youth Corrections Education and Juvenile Detention Education Programs on a per student basis (extended ADMw) upon approval of grant applications.]

(2) Each fiscal year the Department of Education shall award grants from the School Improvement Fund to school districts, education service districts, the Youth Corrections Education Program and the Juvenile Detention Education Program for activities thatrelate to increases in student achievement, including:

(a) Early childhood support including establishing, maintaining or expanding quality

prekindergarten programs and full-day kindergarten programs;

(b) Class size reduction with an emphasis on the reduction of kindergarten through

grade three class sizes;

(c) Increases in instructional time including summer programs and before- and afterschool

programs;

(d) Mentoring, teacher retention and professional development;

(e) Remediation, alternative learning and student retention;

(f) Services to at-risk youth;

(g) Programs to improve a student achievement gap between student groups identified

by culture, poverty, language and race and other student groups;

(h) Vocational education programs;

(i) Literacy programs; and

(j) Other research-based student improvement strategies approved by the StateBoard of Education.

[(4)](3) Grant applications for each school district, education service district and for the Youth Corrections Education and Juvenile Detention Education Programs [will]shallidentify the goals of the [school] district or program for increases in student performance for the year and [will]shalloutline how the district or program plans to use the resources provided from the Fund to reach the performance goals. The Department [will] shall evaluate the grant applications based on the following criteria:

(a) The goals set by the districts and programs for increases in student performance;

(b) The [activities] evidenced-based activities identified to meet the stated goals;

(d) The quantifiable performance measures for demonstrating progress on one or more Key Performance Measures adopted by the 2007 Legislative Assembly and identified by the Department; and

(e) The evaluation process identified in the application that will be used by the district or program to determine if the district or program is effective in the implementation of the activities for which the district or program is requesting funds.

[(5) Grant applications must be submitted to the Department of Education for Department approval by September 4, 2001 for the 2001-02 fiscal year for distribution by October 15, 2001. Grants approved after October 15 will be distributed with any other necessary adjustments on May 15 of the fiscal year, with final adjustment to be made in the following year.]

[(6) Grant applications must be submitted to the Department of Education for Department approval by April 15, 2002 for the 2002-03 fiscal year for distribution by August 15, 2002. Any necessary adjustments will be made on May 15 of the fiscal year, with final adjustment to be made in the following year.]

(4) The amount of each grant for a district or program shall be determined based on ORS 327.294 and 327.297.

[(7)](5) Each [school] district or program shall account for the grant amounts it receives separately, and shall apply these amounts to pay for activities described in the district or program's application. Districts may choose to budget these funds in the district’s General Fund or a Special Revenue Fund. Programs may choose to budget these funds in a Special Revenue Fund. The Department will establish an Area of Responsibility code in the Program Budgeting and Accounting Manual for School Districts and Education Service Districts in Oregon to identify all expenditures for the School Improvement Fund.

[(8) The department may award grants for activities that relate to improved student performance other than on third and fifth grade reading and mathematics assessments if the department determines that a school district or program:]

[(a) Has met the benchmarks established for third and fifth grade reading and mathematics; or]

[(b) Is making significant progress toward achieving the benchmarks established for third and fifth grade reading and mathematics; or]

[(c) Does not operate education programs for elementary students.]

[(9))](6) The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall resolve any issues arising from the administration of the School Improvement Fund grants not specifically addressed by this rule and the Superintendent's determination shall be final.

Stat. Auth: ORS 327
Stat. Implemented: ORS 327
Hist.: ODE 18-2001(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-15-01 thru 1-02-02; ODE 31-2001, f. & cert. ef. 12-20-01