House Sponsors: WOOLARD-LANG-CROTTY-HOEFT-DAVIS,MONIQUE AND COWLISHAW. Senate Sponsors: LIGHTFORD Short description: SCH CD-STU ACHIEV IMPROV GRANT Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer a student achievement improvement grant program to provide 2-year grants to school districts on the academic watch list and other school districts that have the lowest achieving students. Requires a school district to establish an accountability program in order to receive a grant. Requires a grant to be automatically renewed when achievements goals are met. Effective immediately. FISCAL NOTE (State Board of Education) The cost of this program is essentially a policy issue to be determined in the budget and appropriation process. HB 2954 does not require or define any particular level of spending. Currently, approximately 180 districts have at least one school (900 schools in all) in which less than 50% of the students achieve the State Learning Standards. A $5 million program could either provide a $25,000 grant to each such district or a $5,500 grant to each such school to assist students and their families achieve standards in an after school program. STATE MANDATES NOTE (State Board of Education) Same as SBE fiscal note. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 01-01-09 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status