(a)From amounts appropriated by the legislature, the
department of education shall annually distribute funds not to
exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the
public school foundation program account to school districts as
innovative program grants to fund programs providing innovation
in or improvement to public education through the creation of
new, different and improved educational opportunities in
elementary or secondary schools, including:
(i)Curriculum development activities such as
initiatives in world languages, mathematics, social studies,
English and the sciences, programs to develop critical or
creative thinking, programs involving the private sector and
programs providing parental and family training;
(ii)Operational initiatives such as modification to
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(a) From amounts appropriated by the legislature, the
department of education shall annually distribute funds not to
exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) from the
public school foundation program account to school districts as
innovative program grants to fund programs providing innovation
in or improvement to public education through the creation of
new, different and improved educational opportunities in
elementary or secondary schools, including:
(i) Curriculum development activities such as
initiatives in world languages, mathematics, social studies,
English and the sciences, programs to develop critical or
creative thinking, programs involving the private sector and
programs providing parental and family training;
(ii) Operational initiatives such as modification to
class schedules, school day, week, month or year calendar and
scheduling of extracurricular activities;
(iii) Administrator and staff development and
improvement programs such as performance incentives, awards for
excellence, professional training and development programs and
performance evaluation programs;
(iv) Acquisition of technological equipment for
programs expanding curriculum, enriching student education,
enhancing staff development and providing community service;
(v) Applied science and technology programs designed
to meet future labor market demands and to integrate public
school programs with needs of business and industry;
(vi) Technical preparation programs integrating
specific public school programs with community college programs
and working with business and industry to prepare students for
technical and academic careers;
(vii) Evaluation programs designed to determine the
effect and achievement of innovative programs previously funded
or currently provided within the district;
(viii) Regional developmental programs, including
those designed to better prepare children for elementary school,
and to improve parents' skills in developing their children's
learning skills.
(b) In addition to criteria specified under subsection (a)
of this section, priority shall be given to those programs which
supplement not supplant existing courses and curriculum, are
easily transferred to or duplicated by other districts, provide
matching funds from nonstate sources and demonstrate the ability
of the recipient district to continue the program after
expiration of innovative program grant monies.