KRS 158.844: Mathematics achievement fund -- Creation -- Use and disposition of

moneys -- Administrative regulations -- Requirements for grant applicants

-- Department to provide information to schools and to make annual

report to Interim Joint Committee on Education.

(1) The mathematics achievement fund is hereby created to provide

developmentally appropriate diagnostic assessment and intervention services

to students, primary through grade 12, to help them reach proficiency in

mathematics on the state assessments under KRS 158.6453 and in

compliance with the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," 20 U.S.C. secs. 6301

et seq., as required under KRS 158.840.

(2) The grant funds may be used to support the implementation of diagnostic and

intervention services in mathematics. The use of funds may include: pay for

extended time for teachers, released time for teachers to serve as coaches and

mentors or to carry out other responsibilities needed in the implementation of

intervention services, payment of substitute teachers needed for the support of

mathematics teachers, purchase of materials needed for modification of

instruction, and other costs associated with diagnostic and intervention

services or to cover other costs deemed appropriate by the Kentucky Board of

Education.

(3) The fund shall:

(a) Provide funding for the Center for Mathematics created in KRS 164.525

and the costs of training selected teachers in the diagnostic assessment

and intervention skills that are needed to assist struggling students in the

primary program and other grade levels;

(b) Provide renewable, two (2) year local grants to school districts and for

purposes described in subsection (2) of this section; and

(c) Provide operational funding for the Committee for Mathematics

Achievement created in KRS 158.842.

(4) Any funds appropriated to the mathematics achievement fund that are

specifically designated by the General Assembly to support the Center for

Mathematics shall be appropriated to the Council on Postsecondary Education

and distributed to the university administering the center, as determined by the

council under KRS 164.525.

(5) Any moneys in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be

carried forward to be used for the purposes specified in this section.

(6) Any interest earnings of the fund shall become a part of the fund and shall not

lapse.

(7) (a) Any funds appropriated to the mathematics achievement fund and

specifically designated by the General Assembly as funding for grants to

local school districts or to support the Committee for Mathematics

Achievement shall be administered by the Kentucky Department of

Education.

(b) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative

regulations relating to the grants for local school districts based on

recommendations from the Committee for Mathematics Achievement, the

secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet, the commissioner of

education, and the Center for Mathematics established in KRS 164.525.

The administrative regulations shall:

1. Identify eligibility criteria for grant applicants;

2. Specify the criteria for acceptable diagnostic assessments and

intervention programs and coaching and mentoring programs;

3. Establish the minimum annual evaluation process for each grant

recipient;

4. Identify the annual data that must be provided from each grant

recipient;

5. Define the application and approval process;

6. Establish matching fund requirements if deemed necessary by the

board;

7. Define the obligations for professional development and continuing

education for teachers, administrators, and staff of each grant

recipient;

8. Establish the conditions for renewal of a two (2) year grant; and

9. Specify other conditions necessary to implement the purposes of

this section.

(c) As part of the application process, the board shall require that a grant

applicant provide assurances that the following principles will be met if the

applicant's request for funding is approved:

1. Mathematics instruction will be standards-based and utilize

research-based practices;

2. Intervention and support services will supplement, not replace,

regular classroom instruction; and

3. Intervention services will be provided to primary program students

and other students who are at risk of mathematics failure within the

school based upon ongoing assessments of their needs.

(d) If matching funds are required, the school council or, if none exists, the

principal or the superintendent of schools, shall allocate matching funds.

Funding for professional development allocated to the school council

under KRS 160.345 and for continuing education under KRS 158.070

may be used to provide a portion or all of a school's required match.

(e) The Department of Education shall make available to schools:

1. Information from the Center for Mathematics regarding diagnostic

assessment and intervention programs and coaching and mentoring

programs of proven-practice in meeting the needs of primary

students and other students who are at risk of failure;

2. Technical assistance to potential applicants and grant recipients;

3. A list of professional development providers offering teacher training

in diagnostic assessment and intervention strategies and coaching

and mentoring; and

4. Information from the Center for Mathematics on how to

communicate to parents effective ways of interacting with their

children to improve their mathematics concepts, skills, and

understanding.

(f) The Department of Education shall submit a report to the Interim Joint

Committee on Education no later than September 1 of each year outlining

the use of grant funds. By November 1, 2007, the Department of

Education with input from the Committee for Mathematics Achievement

and the Center for Mathematics shall conduct a statewide needs

assessment of the resources needed in each school to help each child

achieve proficiency in mathematics by the year 2014 and report to the

Interim Joint Committee on Education an estimate of the cost and a

specific timeline for meeting the goal established by the Commonwealth.