KRS 158.848: Grant programs concerning STEM disciplines and AP and IB courses.

(1) Using funds from the science and mathematics advancement fund, the Department

of Education shall establish the following grant programs for public schools:

(a) High School Advanced Science and Mathematics Course Start-up Program;

(b) Middle School Mathematics and Science Scholars Program; and

(c) District Energy Technology Career Track Program.

(2) (a) High School Advanced Science and Mathematics Course Start -up Program.

The purpose of the program is to increase the number of students who

successfully compl ete rigorous science and mathematics coursework during

high school by providing support to high schools to offer additional advanced

science and mathematics courses with highly trained teachers and appropriate

course materials.

(b) The program shall provide two (2) year grants to high schools. To qualify for a

grant, a school shall initiate at least one (1) advanced mathematics and science

course. During the first year of the grant, funds shall be used for planning and

the training of teachers. During the s econd year of the grant, funds shall be

used to provide additional support for implementation of an advanced science

and mathematics course.

(c) Permissible uses of funds include additional training for an advanced science

and mathematics teacher and the p urchase of classroom supplies, textbooks,

laboratory equipment, and other instructional materials.

(d) A high school applying for a grant under this subsection shall provide

assurances that:

1. All teachers of advanced science and mathematics courses suppo rted by

the grant shall participate in a College Board -endorsed AP summer

training institute or International Baccalaureate -sponsored IB summer

workshop, as available; and

2. All students completing AP courses supported by the grant shall take the

AP examination, and all students enrolled in the IB courses supported by

the grant shall take the IB examination, in the respective content areas.

(3) (a) Middle School Mathematics and Science Scholars Program. The purpose of

the program is to increase the number of students entering high school who

are well-prepared to undertake rigorous mathematics and science coursework,

culminating in successful completion of advanced science and mathematics

courses and high achievement on AP and IB examinations.

(b) The program shall provide two (2) year renewable grants to middle schools to

support intensive, accelerated student learning in mathematics and the

sciences, to be offered at no cost to participants. Grants shall be used to

support activities that may incl ude but not be limited to programs during the

school day, after-school programs, Saturday programs, or multiweek summer

sessions.

(c) The grant application shall ensure that teachers participating in the grant have

the skills to provide intensive, accelera ted student learning in mathematics or

the sciences and that they will receive ongoing, relevant professional

development.

(d) A middle school receiving grants shall collaborate with elementary schools

from which it receives students, and with high schools to which it sends

students, to share information on grant activities; strengthen alignment of

curricula, content-knowledge expectations, and instructional practice between

schools; and provide relevant professional development opportunities.

(e) The accel erated learning program shall include strategies to improve the

academic skills in mathematics and science for all students for whom

significant academic achievement gaps have been identified and to attract

them into higher level mathematics and science co urses. Specific activities to

recruit and enroll students from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups

within the school shall be conducted. Each grant applicant shall provide

assurances that the necessary resources will be allocated and utilized to h elp

students in all subpopulations academically succeed in the accelerated

learning program and to meet the enrollment goal. The enrollment goal shall

be that the number of students representing each racial, ethnic, and

socioeconomic group enrolled in the mathematics and science accelerated

learning program shall not be less than nor limited to the percentage of each

group in the total school population.

(4) District Energy Technology Career Track Program. The purpose of the program is

to provide grants to school districts to develop and implement an energy technology

engineering career track across middle and high schools within the district as

described in KRS 158.808.