256.36 Math and science grant program.

1. a. 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.

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

b. 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.

a. The goals of the math and science education program may include but are not limited to the following:

(1) The development of a model multidisciplinary science curricula that will serve as the framework for the development of individual teaching modules.

(2) The design and implementation of a statewide model for staff development in science and math education.

(3) 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.

(4) The 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.

(5) The development and implementation of a new statewide assessment program that is consistent with the materials and approaches envisioned.

(6) The development and implementation strategies for recruitment and retention of females and minorities in math and science education.

b. 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. The board of educational examiners may develop recommendations for specific changes in the licensing requirements for math and science teachers.

4. 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.

91 Acts, ch 71, §1; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §68