2012 Delaware Code
Title 14 - Education
CHAPTER 17. STATE APPROPRIATIONS
§ 1724. Academic Achievement Awards Pilot Program [Ceases to exist on Oct. 1, 2011; see subsection (h) of this section]

(a) The purpose of this section is implementation of an Academic Achievement Awards Pilot Program ("Awards Program") using federal Title 1 funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ["ARRA"; P.L. 111-5].

(b) No later than September 1, 2009, the Governor shall appoint a Grants Committee for the Awards Program. The committee shall consist of 2 representatives of the Governor, 1 representative chosen by the Governor from a list of names submitted by the Delaware State Education Association, 1 representative chosen by the Governor from a list of names submitted by the Delaware Association of School Administrators and 1 representative chosen by the Governor from a list of names submitted by the Delaware State PTA.

(c) On July 1, 2010, the Grants Committee shall select 5 Delaware public schools to receive grants of $150,000 each, to be funded by federal Title 1 monies received by the Delaware Department of Education as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. At least 4 of those schools shall be in the highest quartile of Delaware public schools with respect to the percentage of student population from low-income families, based upon standards created by the Grants Committee.

(d) Awards under subsection (c) of this section shall be given to schools that have significantly closed the achievement gap and/or schools that have exceeded their adequate yearly progress for 2 or more consecutive years.

(e) Any school receiving an award under subsection (c) of this section shall, within 30 days of receiving notice of its award, create a School Award Allocation Committee to determine the school's use of the grant funds. The committee shall consist of 2 persons appointed by the school's principal, a school-level teacher representative and a school level paraeducator as selected by the president of their respective bargaining units (or, if no such bargaining unit exists, a teacher and a paraeducator democratically elected by their peer groups), and 2 representatives chosen by the school's parent-teacher organization (or, if no such group exists, 2 parents at the school appointed by the Delaware State PTA). A plan for allocation of an award must be approved by at least 4 members of a school's School Award Allocation Committee.

(f) The School Award Allocation Committee must approve the use of the school's award funds by September 1, 2010. Funds can be used for any purpose that is consistent with state and federal law. Any funds not approved will be forfeited to the Delaware Department of Education and awarded to another school in 2011.

(g) The award process described in subsections (c) through (f) of this section shall be repeated beginning on July 1, 2011, with the exception that:

(1) More than 5 schools may receive awards if any funds have been forfeited pursuant to subsection (f) of this section;

(2) Awards larger than $150,000 may be made if sufficient ARRA funds dedicated to this purpose exist; and

(3) Any funds forfeited on September 2, 2011, shall be distributed in an expedited fashion pursuant to rules promulgated by the Delaware Department of Education, in order to comply with federal ARRA deadlines.

(h) Absent enactment of new legislation by the General Assembly, the Awards Program shall cease to exist on October 1, 2011.

(i) As used in this section, "achievement gap" shall mean the gap in objectively measured academic performance between:

(1) Economically disadvantaged students, students from racial minority groups, students with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency; and

(2) All other students.

(j) As used in this section, "adequate yearly progress" shall have the meaning assigned to it by Delaware Department of Education Regulation 103 [CDR 14-100-103] or its successor.

77 Del. Laws, c. 196, § 2.;