2012 Wyoming Statutes
TITLE 21 - EDUCATION
CHAPTER 13 - SCHOOL FINANCE
21-13-334. Supplemental at-risk financial assistance program for summer school and extended day intervention and remediation programs.

(a) The supplemental at-risk financial assistance program for summer school and extended day intervention and remediation programs is established to augment resources contained within the education resource block grant model for addressing the needs of students who are not performing at proficient levels and shall provide financial assistance to districts for the provision of intervention and remediation instruction to academically at-risk students beyond the required school year specified by law under W.S. 21-4-301 and 21-13-307(a)(ii). Financial assistance under this section shall:

(i) Be in addition to and shall not be considered in determining the school foundation program amount under the education resource block grant model pursuant to W.S. 21-13-309;

(ii) Supplement district intervention and remediation programs; and

(iii) At minimum, be made available to students requiring additional instruction utilizing enriched learning strategies or other remedial methods to master statewide content and performance standards prescribed by the state board of education under W.S. 21-2-304(a)(iii) or otherwise seeking credit recovery for promotion to the subsequent grade level.

(b) In addition to subsection (a) of this section, summer school programs eligible for financial assistance under this section shall:

(i) At minimum, provide each participating student the opportunity to receive remediation and intervention instruction utilizing enriched learning strategies or other remedial methods in mathematics, reading and language arts;

(ii) Provide a minimum of sixty (60) instructional hours over a period of at least fifteen (15) school days to each participating elementary and middle school student and a minimum of sixty (60) instructional hours per subject to each participating high school student. High school students may demonstrate proficiency prior to receiving the full sixty (60) hours of instruction;

(iii) Require the development of an individual student learning plan for each participating student;

(iv) Require program instructors to receive training in research-based enriched learning strategies or other remedial methods focused on individualized instruction at the level, duration and content specified by rule and regulation of the department of education;

(v) To assure effectiveness of teaching and program quality, provide for program monitoring by a school principal or superintendent trained in instruction utilizing research-based enriched learning strategies or other remedial methods for at-risk students as prescribed by rule and regulation of the department of education.

(c) To be eligible for financial assistance under this section, intervention programs providing before-school, after-school and Saturday school supplemental extended day instruction utilizing enriched learning methodologies or other remedial methods shall in addition to subsection (a) of this section:

(i) Require the district to file a program plan with the department of education as part of the application filed under subsection (e) of this section, requesting use of a portion of financial assistance otherwise available under this section subject to a maximum level established by rule and regulation of the department of education. Program plans shall be prepared in accordance with program requirements and criteria established by rule and regulation of the department;

(ii) Be subject to the requirements specified under paragraphs (b)(i) and (iii) through (v) of this section.

(d) To receive financial assistance under this section, a district shall apply to the department of education on or before April 15 of any school year to receive financial assistance during the immediately succeeding summer school session and subsequent school year. Application to the department shall be in a manner and form prescribed by the department and shall include:

(i) An estimate of the number of students to be enrolled in the intervention and remediation program for which financial assistance is requested, broken down by grade level;

(ii) A description of program content including subjects offered and additional information depicting compliance with program requirements otherwise specified under this section;

(iii) Evidence of specific professional development and training for each program instructor;

(iv) Other information determined necessary to implement this section as may be required by the department.

(e) Department review of applications filed under subsection (d) of this section shall be completed each year by not later than May 1. On or before May 1, each applicant district shall be notified by the department of any estimated financial assistance to be made available to the district for the applicable summer school session and school year, as appropriate.

(f) Maximum financial assistance under this section shall be determined for each applicant district as if the education resource block grant model contained a component equal to fifteen percent (15%) of one (1) full-time equivalent teacher position for every thirty (30) at-risk students within the district as determined under W.S. 21-13-309(m)(v)(A), subject to a minimum per district amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of one (1) full-time equivalent teacher position. Computation of full-time equivalency shall be in accordance with guidelines prescribed by rule and regulation of the department. Distributions to each district shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of amounts actually expended by the district for intervention and remediation programs approved under this section for the applicable summer session or school year, subject to the minimum and maximum per district amounts computed under this subsection, updated to reflect the most current at-risk student count for the applicable reporting period.

(g) Notwithstanding subsection (f) of this section, an intersession intervention and remediation program for school districts operating schools on a year-round basis for purposes of qualifying for financial assistance under this section shall be an amount determined in accordance with criteria and guidelines prescribed by rule and regulation of the department, which shall not exceed the amounts prescribed under subsection (f) of this section.

(h) The department may request additional information prior to payment of financial assistance under this section to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section and may withhold final payment to any district for noncompliance. Upon completion of the intervention and remediation program, each recipient district shall report to the department any statistical, expenditure and program evaluation information as may be required by the department prior to receiving financial assistance computed under this section. In administering this program, the department shall:

(i) Monitor programs for compliance with this section and department rules and regulations governing programs receiving financial assistance under this section;

(ii) Provide assistance to districts as necessary to comply with this section and department rules and regulations;

(iii) Provide training to district personnel on research-based strategies effective in delivering instruction to academically at-risk students;

(iv) Implement a structured common assessment evaluation of program effectiveness.

(j) Annually on or before December 1, the department shall report to the joint education interim committee on remediation and intervention programs receiving financial assistance under this section during the immediately preceding school year, evaluate program effectiveness and provide recommendations for program improvement.