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