S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: Sec. 7.23 of S.L. 2017-57 directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to establish the Coding and Mobile Application Grant Program (Program) to develop industry partnerships with local school administrative units (LEAs) and charter schools to design and implement computer science, coding, and mobile application development curricular programs for middle school and high school students. Funds for the Program are to be used to award competitive grants of up to $400,000 each fiscal year. These grants can be used for the purchase of equipment, digital materials, and related activities such as teacher professional development.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (Superintendent) must establish the criteria and guidelines for the applications and Program requirements by August 15, 2017. The applications for the Program are due by October 15, 2017 for the first year of the Program. In subsequent years if funds are available for new applicants, the deadline must be by May 15 of that year. Applications must include the following information:

• A description of how the proposed partnership initiative will provide increased career opportunities for students to engage in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand occupations.
• Demonstrated evidence of employer demand for the partnership initiative and related career and technical education (CTE) training, including documentation of industry involvement in the partnership initiative.
• A proposed budget for the partnership initiative, including demonstrated commitment of local or regional partners to sustain the programs beyond the initial grant funding.
• A description of how the proposed initiative aligns with other programs, including CTE, Career and College Pathways, and postsecondary programs and, if appropriate, how equipment necessary for the initiative will be utilized by partners.
• A description of how the project will create innovative, nontraditional, and immediate career pathways for students to enter high demand jobs in the development of mobile software applications.

In selecting the recipients, the Superintendent must consider diversity among the applicants, including geographic location, positive impact on the community of industry partnerships, and the size of the student population. Initial grant recipients must be selected by November 15, 2017 and implementation of the Program must begin in the spring semester of the 2017-2018 school year. In subsequent years if funds are available for new applicants, recipients must be selected by July 15 of that year.

By August 1 of each year of the Program, grant recipients must submit a report to DPI for the preceding year in which grant funds were expended that provides the following information:

• The use of grant funds.
• The number of students by grade level participating in the partnership initiative.
• The number of students who subsequently participated in work-based opportunities, internships, or apprenticeship programs and a description of the types of opportunities for those students.
• Student outcome data regarding job attainment and postsecondary opportunities as a result of the partnership initiative.
• Any other information the Superintendent of Public Instruction deems necessary.

By September 15 of each year of the Program, DPI must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division, beginning with an initial report by September 15, 2018, on grant recipients and implementation of the Program, including the information required to be reported to DPI by the grant recipients and any legislative recommendations for modifications or expansion of the Program.

This section became effective July 1, 2017.