256.36 - MATH AND SCIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

        256.36  MATH AND SCIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.
         1.  The department shall establish a math and science education
      grant program to provide for the allocation of grant moneys to public
      school corporations and to contract for the development of statewide
      program models and recommendations in keeping with the goals stated
      in this section.  A public school corporation desiring to receive
      grant moneys under the program may submit plans and a proposed budget
      to the department for approval.  The department shall review each
      plan and its proposed budget and award grants, which may be matching
      funds grants, for approved plans by July 1 of the calendar year in
      which the approved plans were submitted.  Provision of matching funds
      from institutional private sources shall be considered by the
      department in reviewing plans and proposed budgets and awarding grant
      moneys.
         However, for the first school year for which program funds are
      appropriated, a board of directors of a public school corporation may
      submit a proposed plan and budget not later than January 1 of that
      school year and the department shall notify public school
      corporations by February 15 of that same school year that their plans
      have been approved or disapproved by the department.
         In addition to awarding grants, and if the activity does not
      violate federal matching funds requirements for an Iowa math and
      science grant program, the department may expend funds to contract
      with a public or private nonprofit education organization,
      association, or laboratory for the development of models or
      recommendations with statewide applications to further the goals of
      this section.
         2.  The department shall make recommendations for, and the state
      board shall adopt, rules relating to program goals and program
      administration.  The goals of the math and science education program
      may include, but are not limited to, the development of a model
      multidisciplinary science curricula that will serve as the framework
      for the development of individual teaching modules; the design and
      implementation of a statewide model for staff development in science
      and math education; the development of specific recommendations and
      rationale for changes in school standards that will facilitate
      improvements in math and science education and provide outcomes that
      serve as a standard of successful learning; provision of a sequence
      of competencies and instructional strategies for inclusion in teacher
      preparation programs for those entering math and science programs in
      Iowa teacher preparation institutions; development and implementation
      of a new statewide assessment program that is consistent with the
      materials and approaches envisioned; and the development and
      implementation strategies for recruitment and retention of females
      and minorities in math and science education.
         The board of educational examiners may develop recommendations for
      specific changes in the licensing requirements for math and science
      teachers.
         Program administration rules shall include, but are not limited
      to, development of standard formats and procedures for the submission
      and assessment of grant applications.
         3.  There is established in the state treasury a math and science
      education account that is under the control of and administered by
      the department of education.  The department may accept gifts,
      grants, bequests, and other private contributions, as well as state
      or federal funds, and shall deposit the moneys in the account to be
      used for distribution as grant award moneys under the math and
      science education program.  Moneys in the account are appropriated
      and may be used for the purposes of this section.  The department
      shall not commingle federal, state, and private funds within the
      account.  Not more than six percent of any state funds appropriated
      for the program may be used for administrative purposes.  State funds
      appropriated and any interest earned on the state funds but not
      expended for the first two years of the program shall not revert to
      the general fund under section 8.33, but shall remain available for
      expenditure until June 30 of the third year of the program.  In
      subsequent years, state funds and any interest earned on the state
      funds which are appropriated, but not expended by June 30 of the
      school year shall revert to the general fund as provided under
      section 8.33.  Receipt of funds during the first year of the program
      shall not affect eligibility to receive funds during any subsequent
      years.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         91 Acts, ch 71, §1