AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION GRANTS.

1. increases the number of youth service bureaus (YSBs) eligible for state grants,

2. expands an existing technology pilot grant program for 9^th and 10^th graders to include public school students in all middle and high school grades and allocates a share of the program appropriation for State Department of Education (SDE) administrative costs, and

3. establishes a state Even Start Family Literacy Program to provide grants to expand local family literacy services for children and their parents and guardians.

The bill increases the number of YSBs eligible for SDE grants. It does so by making any YSB eligible for state grants starting in FY 09 if it (1) was eligible for a grant in FY 08, rather than in FY 07 or (2) applied for a grant by June 30, 2008, rather than by June 30, 2007, after receiving approval for its town's matching contribution. The grants are $ 14,000 each, with any excess funds distributed among YSBs that received grants of more than $ 15,000 in FY 95.

Current law allows the SDE, within available appropriations, to establish a pilot program to use technology in providing computer-assisted writing, instruction, and testing for 9^th and 10^th grade public school students. The bill expands the program to cover students in grades six to 12. It also allows SDE to use up to 5% of the program's appropriation for program evaluation, monitoring, and technical assistance.

By law, grants go to boards of education and regional vocational-technical schools for demonstration projects. Grant funds may be used for computer hardware and software, professional development, technical consulting assistance, and other related activities. The commissioner must select a diverse group of pilot program participants based on population, geographic location, and school or district economic characteristics.

The bill establishes a state program to provide grants, within available appropriations, to expand local family literacy services to children and their parents or guardians. New or existing programs that comply with federal Even Start program requirements (see BACKGROUND) are eligible to apply to the education commissioner for grants. The commissioner must award grants based on the following minimum criteria:

1. a program description and specific program objectives,

2. program cost,

3. number of children and parents or guardians who might benefit,

4. progress in meeting program quality indicators, and

5. whether the proposed program is likely to increase literacy levels of those receiving services.

YSBs are community-based organizations formed by one or more towns and run either by the towns or private agencies designated to act as their agent. By law, they are responsible for evaluating, planning, coordinating, implementing, and identifying gaps in youth services, including prevention and intervention programs for predelinquent, delinquent, pregnant, parenting, and troubled youth. Youths up to age 18 may seek services on their own or be referred by schools, police, juvenile and adult courts, and parents.

The federal program offers grants to support local family literacy projects that integrate early childhood education, adult literacy (adult basic and secondary-level education and instruction for English language learners), parenting education, and interactive parent and child literacy activities for low-income families with parents and their children from birth through age 7. Teen parents and their children from birth through age 7 also are eligible. All participating families must be those most in need of program services.

Federal grants go to the state education agencies, which must then make competitive subgrants to partnerships of local education agencies and nonprofit community-based organizations.

Yea

Nay

(03/17/2008)

Yea

Nay

(03/28/2008)