SB 854 Summary

• Appropriates up to $14,000,000 from the school aid fund for fiscal year 2016-2017 to districts operating expanded learning time programs.

• Districts must operate at least one school serving grades K-8 and have more than 70% of enrolled pupils meeting federal free and reduced-price lunch income eligibility criteria.

• Districts must provide a minimum of 1,200 instructional hours annually for grades K-5 and 1,290 instructional hours for grades 6-8.

• Additional instructional time must be spent on a mix of core academics, enrichment programming (music, art, athletics, health and wellness, experiential learning), and teacher collaboration and professional development.

• If funding is insufficient for all qualifying districts, the department may prioritize funding for pupils in grades 6-8; effective date is October 1, 2016.