North Carolina § 115C-238 - 30. Purpose.

§ 115C-238. 30. Purpose.

The General Assembly believes that all children can learn. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the mission of the public school community is to challenge with high expectations each child to learn, to achieve, and to fulfill his or her potential. With that mission as a guide, local school administrative units are encouraged to provide timely assistance to students who are at risk of school failure through the extended services programs described in this Part. History (1993, c. 132, s. 1.) After-School Quality Improvement Competitive Grants. - Session Laws 2014-100, s. 8.19(b)-(e), provides: "(b) The purpose of the After-School Quality Improvement Grant Program is to pilot after-school learning programs for at-risk students that raise standards for student academic outcomes by focusing on the following: "(1) Use of an evidence-based model with a proven track record of success. "(2) Inclusion of rigorous, quantitative performance measures to confirm their effectiveness during the grant cycle and at the end-of-grant cycle. "(3) Alignment with State performance measures, student academic goals, and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. "(4) Prioritization in programs to integrate clear academic content, in particular, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities or reading development and proficiency instruction. "(5) Emphasis on minimizing student class size when providing instruction. "(6) Expansion of student access to learning activities and academic support that strengthen student engagement and leverage community-based resources, which may include organizations that provide mentoring services and private-sector employer involvement. "(c) Local school administrative units and nonprofits working in collaboration with local school administrative units may participate in the program, as set forth in this section, and are eligible to receive two-year grants of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) a year, based on the proposed number of students served, with an option for a third year of funding. At least seventy percent (70%) of students served by the program must qualify for free or reduced-price meals. "Grants shall be matched on the basis of three dollars ($3.00) in grant funds for every one dollar ($1.00) in nongrant funds. Matching funds shall not include other State funds. Matching funds may include in-kind contributions. "(d) Grant recipients shall report to the Department of Public Instruction after the first year of funding on the progress of the grant, including alignment with State academic standards, data collection for reporting student progress, and other measures, before receiving funding for the next fiscal year. Grant recipients shall report after the second year of funding on key performance data, including statewide test results, attendance rates, and promotion rates. Grant allocations for the third year shall be based on student performance data. "(e) The Department of Public Instruction shall provide interim reports on the grant program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by September 15, 2015, and September 15, 2016, with a final report on the program by September 15, 2017. The final report shall include the final results of the program and recommendations regarding effective after-school program models, standards, and performance measures based on student performance, leveraging of community-based resources to expand student access to learning activities and academic support, and the experience of the grant recipients." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 8.29(f), repealed Session Laws 2014-100, s. 8.19, formerly noted under this section. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 8.29(b)-(e), as amended by Session Laws 2017-102, s. 48(f), provides: "(b) The purpose of the After-School Quality Improvement Grant Program is to fund after-school learning programs for at-risk students that raise standards for student academic outcomes by focusing on the following: "(1) Use of an evidence-based model with a proven track record of success. "(2) Inclusion of rigorous, quantitative performance measures to confirm their effectiveness during the grant cycle and at the end of the grant period. "(3) Alignment with State performance measures, student academic goals, and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. "(4) Prioritization in programs to integrate clear academic content, in particular, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities or reading development and proficiency instruction. "(5) Emphasis on minimizing student class size when providing instruction. "(6) Expansion of student access to learning activities and academic support that strengthen student engagement and leverage community-based resources, which may include organizations that provide mentoring services and private-sector employer involvement. "(7) Emphasis on utilization of digital content to expand learning time, when practicable. "(c) Grants may be provided for new or existing after-school learning programs for at-risk students operated by local school administrative units, charter schools, nonprofits, and nonprofits working in collaboration with local school administrative units. Participants are eligible to receive grants for up to two years in an amount of up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) each year. Programs should focus on serving at-risk students not performing at grade level as demonstrated by statewide assessments. "A grant participant shall provide certification to the Department of Public Instruction that the grants received under the program shall be matched on the basis of three dollars ($3.00) in grant funds for every one dollar ($1.00) in nongrant funds. Matching funds shall not include other State funds. Matching funds may include in-kind contributions. "(d) A nonprofit may act as its own fiscal agent for the purposes of this program. Grant recipients shall report to the Department of Public Instruction after the first year of funding on the progress of the grant, including alignment with State academic standards, data collection for reporting student progress, the source and amount of matching funds, and other measures, before receiving funding for the next fiscal year. Grant recipients shall report after the second year of funding on key performance data, including statewide test results, attendance rates, and promotion rates, and financial sustainability of the after-school program. "(e) The Department of Public Instruction shall provide interim reports on the grant program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by September 15, 2016, with a final report on the program by November 15, 2017. The final report shall include the final results of the program and recommendations regarding effective after-school program models, standards, and performance measures based on student performance, leveraging of community-based resources to expand student access to learning activities and academic support, and the experience of the grant recipients." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as 'The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2015.'" Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.4, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.6, is a severability clause.