NY S01676

Commissioner of education develops and implements a competitive grant program for museums and cultural organizations to establish or improve education programs designed to improve student performance in public and nonpublic elementary, middle, and secondary schools.

Eligible institutions include nonprofit museums, historical societies, nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, aquariums, and cultural education institutions chartered by the board of regents or meeting applicable registration standards, located in or serving low-income urban, suburban, or rural communities.

Grants support curricula production, educational skills acquisition, technology implementation, specialized exhibitions, continuing education programs, student transportation, and other curriculum-based programs, with maximum grants of $500,000 per year for up to three years.

Commissioner must allocate a minimum of 25% of appropriated funds to each of four institution size categories: operating budgets of $10,000-$150,000; $150,001-$500,000; $500,001-$1 million; and over $1 million annually.

Commissioner shall submit annual reports to the senate finance committee, assembly ways and means committee, and director of the budget detailing program implementation, participation rates, curriculum relationships, and geographic distribution of funds beginning March 15, 2020.