Chapter 794 Oregon Laws 2001

 

AN ACT

 

HB 2298

 

Relating to the School Improvement Fund; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

          SECTION 1. The Legislative Assembly finds that:

          (1) The state has an interest in ensuring that public resources for primary and secondary schools are used to achieve the outcomes established under the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century in ORS chapter 329.

          (2) To achieve that purpose, the School Improvement Fund is established so the state may support activities directly related to increases in student achievement while still allowing school districts flexibility in determining the specific activities necessary to support students.

          (3) It is the intent of the state in establishing the School Improvement Fund to link these activities to the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under Executive Order 99-16.

 

          SECTION 1a. If House Bill 2295 becomes law, section 1 of this 2001 Act is amended to read:

          Sec. 1. The Legislative Assembly finds that:

          (1) The state has an interest in ensuring that public resources for primary and secondary schools are used to achieve the outcomes established under the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century in ORS chapter 329.

          (2) To achieve that purpose, the School Improvement Fund is established so the state may support activities directly related to increases in student achievement while still allowing school districts flexibility in determining the specific activities necessary to support students.

          (3) It is the intent of the state in establishing the School Improvement Fund to link these activities to the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under Executive Order 99-16 and the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under section 2, chapter 895, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled House Bill 2295).

 

          SECTION 2. (1) There is established the School Improvement Fund, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the School Improvement Fund shall be credited to the fund. Any moneys in the fund that are not distributed by the Department of Education in any fiscal year shall be retained in the fund and may be distributed in the next fiscal year.

          (2) The moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Education for purposes of the grant program created by section 3 of this 2001 Act.

 

          SECTION 3. (1) In addition to those moneys distributed through the State School Fund, the Department of Education shall award grants to school districts and the Youth Corrections Education Program for activities that relate to increases in student achievement, 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.

          (2) Each school district and the Youth Corrections Education Program may apply to the Department of Education for a grant. The department shall review and approve applications based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. In establishing the criteria, the State Board of Education shall consider the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under Executive Order 99-16. The applications shall include the activities to be funded and the goals of the school district or program for increases in student performance. The applications shall become part of the local district improvement plan described in ORS 329.095.

          (3) The Department of Education shall evaluate the annual progress of each recipient of grant funds under this section toward the performance targets established by the Quality Education Commission that have been funded by the Legislative Assembly. The evaluation shall become part of the requirements of the department for assessing the effectiveness of the district under ORS 329.085, 329.095 and 329.105. The department shall ensure district and program accountability by providing appropriate assistance, intervening and establishing consequences in order to support progress toward the performance targets, with a goal of meeting performance targets within a three-year time frame.

          (4) Beginning with the 2003-2005 biennium, each biennium the Department of Education shall report to the Legislative Assembly on the grant program and the results of the grant program.

          (5)(a) Notwithstanding ORS 338.155 (9), the Department of Education may not award a grant under this section directly to a public charter school.

          (b) A school district that receives a grant under this section may transfer a portion of the grant to a public charter school based on the charter of the school or any other agreement between the school district and the public charter school.

          (c) A public charter school that receives grant funds under this subsection shall use those funds for the activities specified in subsection (1) of this section.

          (6)(a) The amount of each grant = the program’s or school district’s ADMw ´ (the total amount available for the grants in each distribution year¸ the total statewide ADMw).

          (b) As used in this subsection:

          (A) “ADMw” means:

          (i) For a school district, the extended weighted average daily membership as calculated under ORS 327.013, 338.155 (1) and 338.165 (2); and

          (ii) For the Youth Corrections Education Program, the average daily membership as defined in ORS 327.006 multiplied by 2.0.

          (B) “Total statewide ADMw” means the total extended ADMw of all school districts plus the ADMw of the Youth Corrections Education Program.

          (7) Each school district or program shall deposit the grant amounts it receives under this section in a separate account, and shall apply amounts in that account to pay for activities described in the district’s or program’s application.

          (8) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the grant program.

 

          SECTION 3a. If House Bill 3619 becomes law and House Bill 2295 does not become law, section 3 of this 2001 Act is amended to read:

          Sec. 3. (1) In addition to those moneys distributed through the State School Fund, the Department of Education shall award grants to school districts [and], the Youth Corrections Education Program and the Juvenile Detention Education Program for activities that relate to increases in student achievement, 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.

          (2) Each school district [and], the Youth Corrections Education Program and the Juvenile Detention Education Program may apply to the Department of Education for a grant. The department shall review and approve applications based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. In establishing the criteria, the State Board of Education shall consider the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under Executive Order 99-16. The applications shall include the activities to be funded and the goals of the school district or program for increases in student performance. The applications shall become part of the local district improvement plan described in ORS 329.095.

          (3) The Department of Education shall evaluate the annual progress of each recipient of grant funds under this section toward the performance targets established by the Quality Education Commission that have been funded by the Legislative Assembly. The evaluation shall become part of the requirements of the department for assessing the effectiveness of the district under ORS 329.085, 329.095 and 329.105. The department shall ensure school district and program accountability by providing appropriate assistance, intervening and establishing consequences in order to support progress toward the performance targets.

          (4) Beginning with the 2003-2005 biennium, each biennium the Department of Education shall report to the Legislative Assembly on the grant program and the results of the grant program.

          (5)(a) Notwithstanding ORS 338.155 (9), the Department of Education may not award a grant under this section directly to a public charter school.

          (b) A school district that receives a grant under this section may transfer a portion of the grant to a public charter school based on the charter of the school or any other agreement between the school district and the public charter school.

          (c) A public charter school that receives grant funds under this subsection shall use those funds for the activities specified in subsection (1) of this section.

          (6)(a) The amount of each grant = the program’s or school district’s ADMw ´ (the total amount available for the grants in each distribution year ¸ the total statewide ADMw).

          (b) As used in this subsection:

          (A) “ADMw” means:

          (i) For a school district, the extended weighted average daily membership as calculated under ORS 327.013, 338.155 (1) and 338.165 (2); [and]

          (ii) For the Youth Corrections Education Program, the average daily membership as defined in ORS 327.006 multiplied by 2.0; and

          (iii) For the Juvenile Detention Education Program, the average daily membership as defined in ORS 327.006 multiplied by 1.5.

          (B) “Total statewide ADMw” means the total extended ADMw of all school districts plus the ADMw of the Youth Corrections Education Program plus the ADMw of the Juvenile Detention Education Program.

          (7) Each school district or program shall deposit the grant amounts it receives under this section in a separate account, and shall apply amounts in that account to pay for activities described in the district’s or program’s application.

          (8) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the grant program.

 

          SECTION 3b. If House Bill 2295 becomes law and House Bill 3619 does not become law, section 3 of this 2001 Act is amended to read:

          Sec. 3. (1) In addition to those moneys distributed through the State School Fund, the Department of Education shall award grants to school districts and the Youth Corrections Education Program for activities that relate to increases in student achievement, 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.

          (2) Each school district and the Youth Corrections Education Program may apply to the Department of Education for a grant. The department shall review and approve applications based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. In establishing the criteria, the State Board of Education shall consider the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under Executive Order 99-16 and the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under section 2, chapter 895, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled House Bill 2295). The applications shall include the activities to be funded and the goals of the school district or program for increases in student performance. The applications shall become part of the local district improvement plan described in ORS 329.095.

          (3) The Department of Education shall evaluate the annual progress of each recipient of grant funds under this section toward the performance targets established by the Quality Education [Commission] Commissions that have been funded by the Legislative Assembly. The evaluation shall become part of the requirements of the department for assessing the effectiveness of the district under ORS 329.085, 329.095 and 329.105. The department shall ensure school district and program accountability by providing appropriate assistance, intervening and establishing consequences in order to support progress toward the performance targets.

          (4) Beginning with the 2003-2005 biennium, each biennium the Department of Education shall report to the Legislative Assembly on the grant program and the results of the grant program.

          (5)(a) Notwithstanding ORS 338.155 (9), the Department of Education may not award a grant under this section directly to a public charter school.

          (b) A school district that receives a grant under this section may transfer a portion of the grant to a public charter school based on the charter of the school or any other agreement between the school district and the public charter school.

          (c) A public charter school that receives grant funds under this subsection shall use those funds for the activities specified in subsection (1) of this section.

          (6)(a) The amount of each grant = the program’s or school district’s ADMw ´ (the total amount available for the grants in each distribution year ¸ the total statewide ADMw).

          (b) As used in this subsection:

          (A) “ADMw” means:

          (i) For a school district, the extended weighted average daily membership as calculated under ORS 327.013, 338.155 (1) and 338.165 (2); and

          (ii) For the Youth Corrections Education Program, the average daily membership as defined in ORS 327.006 multiplied by 2.0.

          (B) “Total statewide ADMw” means the total extended ADMw of all school districts plus the ADMw of the Youth Corrections Education Program.

          (7) Each school district or program shall deposit the grant amounts it receives under this section in a separate account, and shall apply amounts in that account to pay for activities described in the district’s or program’s application.

          (8) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the grant program.

 

          SECTION 3c. If both House Bill 2295 and House Bill 3619 become law, section 3 of this 2001 Act is amended to read:

          Sec. 3. (1) In addition to those moneys distributed through the State School Fund, the Department of Education shall award grants to school districts [and], the Youth Corrections Education Program and the Juvenile Detention Education Program for activities that relate to increases in student achievement, 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.

          (2) Each school district [and], the Youth Corrections Education Program and the Juvenile Detention Education Program may apply to the Department of Education for a grant. The department shall review and approve applications based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. In establishing the criteria, the State Board of Education shall consider the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under Executive Order 99-16 and the recommendations of the Quality Education Commission established under section 2, chapter 895, Oregon Laws 2001 (Enrolled House Bill 2295). The applications shall include the activities to be funded and the goals of the school district or program for increases in student performance. The applications shall become part of the local district improvement plan described in ORS 329.095.

          (3) The Department of Education shall evaluate the annual progress of each recipient of grant funds under this section toward the performance targets established by the Quality Education [Commission] Commissions that have been funded by the Legislative Assembly. The evaluation shall become part of the requirements of the department for assessing the effectiveness of the district under ORS 329.085, 329.095 and 329.105. The department shall ensure school district and program accountability by providing appropriate assistance, intervening and establishing consequences in order to support progress toward the performance targets.

          (4) Beginning with the 2003-2005 biennium, each biennium the Department of Education shall report to the Legislative Assembly on the grant program and the results of the grant program.

          (5)(a) Notwithstanding ORS 338.155 (9), the Department of Education may not award a grant under this section directly to a public charter school.

          (b) A school district that receives a grant under this section may transfer a portion of the grant to a public charter school based on the charter of the school or any other agreement between the school district and the public charter school.

          (c) A public charter school that receives grant funds under this subsection shall use those funds for the activities specified in subsection (1) of this section.

          (6)(a) The amount of each grant = the program’s or school district’s ADMw ´ (the total amount available for the grants in each distribution year ¸ the total statewide ADMw).

          (b) As used in this subsection:

          (A) “ADMw” means:

          (i) For a school district, the extended weighted average daily membership as calculated under ORS 327.013, 338.155 (1) and 338.165 (2); [and]

          (ii) For the Youth Corrections Education Program, the average daily membership as defined in ORS 327.006 multiplied by 2.0; and

          (iii) For the Juvenile Detention Education Program, the average daily membership as defined in ORS 327.006 multiplied by 1.5.

          (B) “Total statewide ADMw” means the total extended ADMw of all school districts plus the ADMw of the Youth Corrections Education Program plus the ADMw of the Juvenile Detention Education Program.

          (7) Each school district or program shall deposit the grant amounts it receives under this section in a separate account, and shall apply amounts in that account to pay for activities described in the district’s or program’s application.

          (8) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of the grant program.

 

          SECTION 4. (1) Notwithstanding section 3 (1) of this 2001 Act, for the 2001-2003 and 2003-2005 biennia the Department of Education shall award grants under section 3 of this 2001 Act for activities that relate to improved student performance on third and fifth grade reading and mathematics assessments.

          (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, for the 2001-2003 and 2003-2005 biennia the department may award grants under section 3 of this 2001 Act for activities that relate to improved student performance other than those specified in subsection (1) of this section 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.

 

          SECTION 5. This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1, 2001.

 

Approved by the Governor July 18, 2001

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 18, 2001

 

Effective date July 18, 2001

__________