Authority: Discretionary Inclusion.

Appropriation Detail of Educational, Cultural, Community, and Artistic Affairs (14300)

A. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide $2,243,776 the first year and $2,243,776 the second year from the general fund for the Jobs for Virginia Graduates initiative.

B. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide $124,011 the first year and $124,011 the second year from the general fund for the Southwest Virginia Public Education Consortium at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. An additional $71,849 the first year and $71,849 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Consortium to continue the Van Gogh Outreach program with Lee and Wise County Public Schools and expand the program to the twelve school divisions in Southwest Virginia.

C. This appropriation includes $108,905 the first year and $108,905 the second year from the general fund for the Southside Virginia Regional Technology Consortium to expand the research and development phase of a technology linkage.

D. An additional state payment of $145,896 the first year and $145,896 the second year from the general fund is provided as a Small School Division Assistance grant for the City of Norton. To receive these funds, the local school board shall certify to the Superintendent of Public Instruction that its division has entered into one or more educational, administrative or support service cost-sharing arrangements with another local school division.

E. Out of this appropriation, $498,021 the first year and $498,021 the second year from the general fund shall be allocated for the Career and Technical Education Resource Center to provide vocational curriculum and resource instructional materials free of charge to all school divisions.

F.1. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department of Education provide bonuses from state funds to classroom teachers in Virginia's public schools who have obtained national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and grants for candidates working in a Title I school or a school eligible for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision pursuant to § 22.1-207.4:1 who are candidates for initial national certification or maintenance of national certification (MOC) from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This appropriation includes an amount estimated at $4,997,500 the first year and $4,997,500 the second year from the general fund for the purpose of paying these bonuses and grants. The Board shall establish procedures for determining amounts of awards if the moneys are not sufficient to award each eligible teacher the appropriate award amount.

2. Any public school staff member who has obtained national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be eligible to receive an initial grant award of $5,000 and a subsequent award of $2,500 each year for the life of the certificate.

3. Any candidate (i) working in a Title 1 school or a school eligible for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision pursuant to § 22.1-207.4:1 and (ii) who is pursuing initial national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is eligible to apply to the Department for a grant to cover (a) half of the total initial national certification fee, equal to the sum of the cost of the four components and the registration fee for initial national certification, to be disbursed upon initial registration for such certification and (b) the remaining half of such total initial national certification fee to be disbursed upon successful achievement of initial national certification as verified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

4. Any candidate (i) working in a Title 1 school or a school eligible for participation in the Community Eligibility Provision pursuant to § 22.1-207.4:1 and (ii) who is pursuing MOC from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is eligible to apply to the Department for an incentive grant to cover the total MOC fee, equal to the sum of the cost of MOC and the registration fee for MOC, to be disbursed upon successful completion of the MOC process as verified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

5. By October 15 of each year, school divisions shall notify the Department of Education of the number of eligible candidates under contract for that school year that hold or are pursuing such certification.

G. This appropriation includes $2,281,000 the first year and $2,281,000 the second year from the general fund for grants, scholarships, and incentive payments to attract, recruit, and retain high-quality teachers and fill critical teacher shortage disciplines in Virginia's public schools.

1. Out of this appropriation, $708,000 the first year and $708,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for teaching scholarship loans. These scholarships shall be for undergraduate students in college with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, who are nominated by their Virginia regionally accredited college or university, and who meet the criteria and qualifications, pursuant to § 22.1-290.01, Code of Virginia, except as provided herein. Awards shall be made to students who are enrolled full-time or part-time in approved undergraduate or graduate teacher education programs for the top ten critical teacher shortage disciplines, however minority students may be enrolled in any content area for teacher preparation. Upon program completion, scholarship recipients may fulfill the scholarship loan obligation by teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after becoming eligible for a renewable teaching license in the appropriate endorsement area and teaching for at least two years in a school division (i) in one of the critical teacher shortage disciplines as established by the Board of Education; or (ii) in a Virginia public school or program with 50 percent or more of the students eligible for free or reduced price lunch; or (iii) in a school division designated critical shortage subject area, as defined in the Board of Education's Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas. Scholarship recipients who only complete one year of the teaching obligation shall be forgiven for one-half of the scholarship loan amount. Scholarship amounts are based on up to $10,000 per year for full-time students, and shall be prorated for part-time students based on the number of credit hours. The Department of Education shall report annually on the critical shortage teaching areas in Virginia.

a. The Department of Education shall make payments on behalf of the scholarship recipients directly to the Virginia institution of higher education where the scholarship recipient is enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved undergraduate or graduate teacher education program.

b. The Department of Education is authorized to recover total funds awarded as scholarships, or the appropriate portion thereof, in the event that scholarship recipients fail to honor the stipulated teaching obligation.

c. Within the fiscal year, any funds not awarded from this program may be applied toward the other teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention programs under paragraph G.

2. Out of this appropriation, $808,000 the first year and $808,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to attract, recruit, and retain high-quality diverse individuals to teach science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) subjects in Virginia's middle and high schools experiencing difficulty in recruiting qualified teachers. Eligible teachers must (i) be employed full-time in a Virginia school division or school with more than 40 percent of the students eligible for free or reduced price lunch; (ii) be entering their first, second, or third year of teaching experience; and (iii) hold a five- or ten-year valid Virginia teaching license with an endorsement in Middle Education 6-8: Mathematics, Mathematics-Algebra-I, Mathematics, Middle Education 6-8: Science, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Physics, Engineering, or Technology Education and be assigned to a teaching position in a corresponding STEM subject area. Selected eligible teachers will receive a $5,000 incentive award after the completion of each year of full-time teaching experience, up to three consecutive years under the grant, in an eligible school division or school with a satisfactory performance evaluation and a written commitment to return in the same school division for the following school year. The maximum incentive award for each eligible teacher is $15,000. Eligibility for these incentives shall be determined through an application process whereby school divisions shall apply to the Department of Education. Priority for distribution of these incentives shall be to school divisions experiencing the most acute difficulties in recruiting qualified teachers, as determined using Department of Education criteria. For individuals who received funds under this program prior to July 1, 2020, the criteria provided in Chapter 854, 2019 Acts of Assembly, shall continue to apply. Within the fiscal year, any funds not awarded from this program may be applied toward the other teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention programs under paragraph G.

3. Out of this appropriation, $415,000 the first year and $415,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to help school divisions recruit and retain qualified middle-school mathematics teachers. Within the fiscal year, any funds not awarded from this program may be applied toward the other teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention programs under paragraph G.

4. a. Out of this appropriation, $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support costs for teachers to become qualified to teach dual enrollment and industry credential courses in local school divisions. Qualifying teachers are 1) licensed public high school teachers pursuing additional credentialing requirements necessary to be considered faculty who are qualified to teach dual enrollment courses in high schools in their local school division, or 2) high school teachers employed by a local school division and pursing additional training or coursework to earn a Board of Education-approved industry recognized credential that will lead to instruction in high schools in their local school division of regionally in-demand industry credentials. The Department of Education shall collaborate with the Virginia Office of Education Economics to determine regionally in-demand industry credentials.

b. For teachers pursuing credentialing requirements to teach dual enrollment courses, the Department of Education shall make payments on behalf of the scholarship recipients directly to the regionally accredited Virginia institution of higher education where the scholarship recipient is enrolled in courses for credit applicable to dual enrollment course curriculum available for public high school students. The lifetime maximum dual enrollment tuition scholarship award for each approved eligible teacher is $12,000. Eligibility for access to these dual enrollment tuition scholarship awards shall be determined through an application process whereby school divisions shall apply to the Department of Education. In the application process, the applying school division shall include: i) an explanation of why such dual enrollment tuition scholarship is warranted, ii) the dual enrollment course or courses that shall be offered by the scholarship recipient's high school and taught by the recipient upon the recipient's successful completion of required coursework for appropriate credentialing to teach such dual enrollment courses, and iii) the projected student enrollment in the recipient taught public high school dual enrollment courses.

c. For teachers pursuing additional training or coursework to teach an industry credential, the Department of Education shall make payments on behalf of the awardees directly to the employing school division for reimbursement of training, coursework, or assessment costs. The lifetime maximum credentialing award for each approved eligible teacher is $12,000. Eligibility for access to these reimbursement awards shall be determined through an application process whereby school divisions shall apply to the Department of Education. In the application process, the applying school division shall include: i) an explanation of why such reimbursement is warranted, ii) the career and technical course or courses that shall be offered by the awardee's high school and taught by the awardee upon successful acquirement of the industry credential, and iii) the projected student enrollment in the awardee's employing public high school career and technical courses.

d. The Department of Education shall compile and report the application information for each applying school division, and shall also report the number of recipients and amount of tuition or reimbursement awarded to each school division, the institution of higher education receiving tuition, the credentialing area pursued by recipients, and dual enrollment or career and technical courses offered after the recipient's successful completion of the pursued credentialing. The Department shall submit the report by June 30 annually to the Secretary of Education, the House Committees on Education and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Education and Health.

H. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund shall be distributed to the Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP) to provide students and families in need access to financial aid, scholarships, and counseling to maximize educational opportunities for students.

I. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide $2,004,400 the first year and $2,004,400 the second year from the general fund to Communities in Schools. These funds shall be used to strengthen and sustain existing programming in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Petersburg, Richmond City, and Southwest Virginia and to expand programming to new schools. Further, Communities in Schools is directed to assist the Community School organization with developing opportunities to establish a Community School program in interested school divisions.

J. 1. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide $987,500 the first year and $987,500 the second year from the general fund for Project Discovery. These funds are towards the cost of the program in Abingdon, Accomack/Northampton, Alexandria, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Bedford, Bland, Campbell, Charlottesville, Cumberland, Danville/Pittsylvania, Fairfax, Franklin/Patrick, Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania, Goochland/Powhatan, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond City, Roanoke City, Smyth, Surry/Sussex, Tazewell, Williamsburg/James City, Wythe, and Madison/Orange and the salary of a fiscal officer for Project Discovery. The Department of Education shall administer the Project Discovery funding distributions to each community action agency. Distributions to each community action agency shall be based on performance measures established by the Board of Directors of Project Discovery. The contract with Project Discovery should specify the allocations to each local program and require the submission of a financial and budget report and program evaluation performance measures.

2. Each participating community action agency shall submit annual performance metrics for services provided through the Project Discovery program that provide measurable evaluations and outcomes of participating students. Such performance metrics shall include evidenced-based data that effectively measure academic improvement outcomes. In addition, the performance metrics shall also include evidenced-based data to evaluate the specific effectiveness of the program for participating students on a longitudinal basis. Further, the performance metrics shall include the coordination and collaboration efforts the program staff regularly have with the school-based personnel, such as teachers and guidance counselors, that support and maximize opportunities of participating students to successfully graduate from high school and then to enroll and graduate from an institution of higher learning. Project Discovery shall submit a comprehensive and cumulative program performance metrics evaluation to the Department of Education no later than October 1 each year.

K. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Education shall provide $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year from the general fund for the Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment Program.

L. Out of this appropriation, $1,598,000 the first year and $1,598,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to expand the number of schools implementing a system of positive behavioral interventions and supports with the goal of improving school climate and reducing disruptive behavior in the classroom. Such a system may be implemented as part of a tiered system of supports that utilizes evidence-based, system-wide practices to provide a response to academic and behavioral needs. Any school division which desires to apply for this competitive grant must submit a proposal to the Department of Education by June 1 preceding the school-year in which the program is to be implemented. The proposal must define student outcome objectives including, but not limited to, reductions in disciplinary referrals and out-of-school suspension rates. In making the competitive grant awards, the Department of Education shall give priority to school divisions proposing to serve schools identified by the Department as having high suspension rates. No funds awarded to a school division under this grant may be used to supplant funding for schools already implementing the program.

M. Targeted Extended/Enriched School Year and Year-round School Grants Payments

1. Out of this appropriation, $7,150,000 the first year and $7,150,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for a targeted extended/enriched school year or year-round school incentive in order to improve student achievement. Annual start-up grants of up to $300,000 per school may be awarded for a period of up to two years after the initial implementation year. The per school amount may be up to $400,000 in the case of schools that have an Accredited with Conditions status and are rated at Level Three in two or more Academic Achievement for All Students school quality indicators, or schools that had an Accredited with Conditions status and were rated at Level Three in two or more Academic Achievement for All Students school quality indicators when the initial application was made. Schools that qualified for the per school grant up to $400,000 under the previous Standards of Accreditation Denied Accreditation status remain eligible for funding for the initial three year period; after that period, such schools are subject to eligibility under the current Standards of Accreditation. After the third consecutive year of successful participation, an eligible school's grant amount shall be based on a shared split of the grant between the state and participating school division's local composite index. Such continuing schools shall remain eligible to receive a grant based on the 2012 JLARC Review of Year Round Schools' researched base findings.

2. Except for school divisions with schools that are in an Accredited with Conditions status and are rated at Level Three in two or more Academic Achievement for All Students school quality indicators or in a Denied Accreditation status, any other school division applying for such a grant shall be required to provide a twenty percent local match to the grant amount received from either an extended/enriched school year or year-round school start-up or planning grant.

3. In the case of any school division with schools that are in an Accredited with Conditions status and are rated at Level Three in two or more Academic Achievement for All Students school quality indicators or in a Denied Accreditation status that apply for funds, the school division shall also consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee on all recommendations regarding instructional programs or instructional personnel prior to submission to the local board for approval.

4. Out of this appropriation, $613,312 the first year and $613,312 the second year from the general fund is provided for planning grants of no more than $50,000 each for local school divisions pursuing the creation of new extended/enriched school year or year-round school programs for divisions or individual schools in support of the findings from the 2012 JLARC Review of Year Round Schools. School divisions must submit applications to the Department of Education by August 1 of each year. Priority shall be given to schools based on need, relative to the state accreditation ratings or similar federal designations. Applications shall include evidence of commitment to pursue implementation in the upcoming school year. If balances exist, existing extended school year programs may be eligible to apply for remaining funds.

5. A school division that has been awarded an extended/enriched school year or year-round school start-up grant or planning grant for the development of an extended/enriched school year or year-round school program may spend the awarded grant over two consecutive fiscal years.

6. a) Any such school division receiving funding from a Targeted Extended/Enriched School Year and Year-round School grant shall provide an annual progress report to the Department of Education that evaluates end of year success of the extended/enriched school year or year-round school model implemented as compared to the prior school year performance as measured by an appropriate evaluation matrix no later than September 1 each year.

b) The Department of Education shall develop such evaluation matrix that would be appropriate for a comprehensive evaluation for such models implemented. Further, the Department of Education is directed to submit the annual progress reports from the participating school divisions and an executive summary of the program's overall status and levels of measured success to the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees no later than November 1 each year.

7. Any funds remaining in this paragraph following grant awards may be disbursed by the Department of Education as grants to school divisions to support innovative approaches to instructional delivery or school governance models.

N. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided through grants or contracts for the cost of fees and financial incentives associated with hiring teachers in challenged schools. These funds may be used for grants or contracts awarded and expenses associated with supporting the Teach for America program. School divisions or their partners may apply for those funds through applications submitted to the Department of Education. Applications must be submitted to the Department of Education by September 1 each year. Within the fiscal year, any unobligated balance may be used for the Teacher Residency program.

O. Out of this appropriation, $1,300,000 the first year and $1,300,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts to administer STEM Arts and early literacy programs for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students in Accomack, Albemarle, Arlington, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, Norfolk, Petersburg, Richmond, Suffolk, and Wythe Public Schools. The model will also support growth in the 5C skills identified in the Profile of a Virginia Graduate. Within this appropriation, funds may support the phase in of services into currently unserved divisions in an equitable manner, with a special focus on capacity building and establishing new services in Regions 3, 6, or 8. The Wolf Trap Foundation shall work with the Department of Education and currently served divisions to determine need and phase programs into unserved divisions. The Wolf Trap Foundation shall report annually to the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on its activities, including number of divisions served, number of students served, number of educators, and number of families impacted.

P. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Achievable Dream partnership with Newport News School Division.

Q. Out of this appropriation, $2,850,000 the first year and $2,850,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for grants for teacher residency partnerships between university teacher preparation programs and the Petersburg, Norfolk, and Richmond City school divisions and any other university teacher preparation programs and hard-to-staff school divisions to help improve new teacher training and retention for hard-to-staff schools. The grants will support a site-specific residency model program for preparation, planning, development and implementation, including possible stipends in the program to attract qualified candidates and mentors. Applications must be submitted to the Department of Education by August 1 each year.

1. Of this amount, $1,100,000 the first year and $1,100,000 the second year is provided for Virginia Commonwealth University to continue and expand a program to support residents in partnership with the Richmond Teacher Residency program. Virginia Commonwealth University shall include this program in its annual report to the Department of Education, pursuant to paragraph Q.2. of this Item.

2. Partner school divisions shall provide at least one-third of the cost of each program and shall provide data requested by the university partner in order to evaluate program effectiveness by the mutually agreed upon timelines. Each university partner shall report annually, no later than June 30, to the Department of Education on available outcome measures, including student performance indicators, as well as additional data needs requested by the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall provide, directly to the university partners, relevant longitudinal data that may be shared. The Department of Education shall consolidate all submissions from the participating university partners and school divisions and submit such consolidated annual report to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees no later than November 1 each year.

R. Out of this appropriation, $60,300 the first year and $60,300 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Northern Neck Regional Technical Center to expand the workforce readiness education and industry based skills and certification development efforts supporting that region in the state. These funds support the Center's programs that serve high school students from the surrounding counties of Essex, Lancaster, Northumberland, Rappahannock, Westmoreland and Colonial Beach.

S. Out of this appropriation, $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.

1. Of this amount, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year is provided for general operations of the Foundation's grant program to strengthen the capacity of local communities to promote school readiness for young children through innovative regional partnerships.

2. Of this amount, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year is provided to operate a scholarship program to increase the skills of Virginia's early education workforce.

T. This appropriation includes $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund to support ten competitive grants, not to exceed $50,000 each, for planning the implementation of systemic Elementary, Middle, and/or High School Program Innovation by either individual school divisions or consortia of school divisions or implementing a plan for public pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 School Program Innovation previously approved by the Department of Education. The local applicant(s) selected to conduct this systemic approach to school reform, in consultation with the Department of Education, will develop and plan or implement innovative approaches to engage and to motivate students through personalized learning and instruction leading to demonstrated mastery of content, as well as skills development of career readiness. Essential elements of school innovation include: (1) student centered learning, with progress based on student demonstrated proficiency; (2) 'real-world' connections that promote alignment with community work-force needs and emphasize transition to college and/or career; and (3) varying models for educator supports and staffing. Individual school divisions or consortia will be invited to apply on a competitive basis by submitting a grant application that includes descriptions of key elements of innovations, a detailed budget, expectations for outcomes and student achievement benefits, evaluation methods, and plans for sustainability. The Department of Education will make the final determination of which individual school divisions or consortia of divisions will receive the year-long planning grant for public pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 School Innovation or a grant to implement an Elementary, Middle, and/or High School Program Innovation plan previously approved by the Department of Education. Any school division or consortium of divisions which desires to apply for this competitive grant must submit a proposal to the Department of Education by June 1 preceding the school year in which the planning or implementation for systemic school innovation is to take place.

U. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for STEM Competition Team Grants as part of the STEM C Competition Team Grant Fund. Grants may not exceed $5,000 each.  At least half of this appropriation should be provided to public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth at which at least 60 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

V. Out of this appropriation, $1,181,975 the first year and $1,181,975 the second year from the general fund is provided to support a multi-platform STEM education engagement program and research study and other educational programs at the Virginia Air & Space Center.

W. Out of this appropriation, $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for executive leadership incentives in the Petersburg City Public Schools to strengthen the impact of division and school level executive leadership on student achievement in the school division. Such incentives may include, but not be limited to, supplements to locally funded salaries, deferred salary compensation, bonuses, housing and commuting supplements, and professional development supplements. The Department of Education shall provide such executive management incentive payments directly to the Petersburg City Public Schools accounts pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the Board of Education and the Petersburg City School Board, which shall cover no less than both years of the biennium and may be amended with the consent of both parties. Such Agreement shall include operational and student achievement metrics and include provisions for the achievement of such metrics as a condition of payment of the incentive funds by the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall provide updates on the Agreement to the Chairs of the Senate Finance and Appropriations and House Appropriations Committees.

X. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for praxis assistance and Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment assistance for provisionally licensed minority teachers seeking full licensure in Virginia. Grants of up to $10,000 shall be awarded to school divisions, teacher preparation programs, or nonprofit organizations in all regions of the state to subsidize test fees and the cost of tutoring for provisionally licensed minority teachers seeking full licensure in Virginia.

Y. Out of this appropriation, $591,000 the first year and $591,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to school divisions to pay for a portion of the vision screening of students in kindergarten, grade two or three and grades seven and ten, pursuant to Chapter 312, 2017 Session Acts of Assembly. Eligible school divisions may receive the state's share of $7.00 for each student reported in average daily membership and enrolled in kindergarten, grades three, seven and ten and who has received such vision screening test. The Department of Education shall administrator and distribute reimbursements to school divisions and the funding shall be prorated if needed, such that the appropriation is not exceeded. Prioritization shall be given the schools that would most benefit from state assistance in order to provide such vision screening service to students that are eligible for free lunch.

Z. Out of this appropriation, $660,000 the first year and $660,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for annual grants of $60,000 to each of the nine regional career and technical centers, Winchester Public Schools' Innovation Center and Norfolk Public Schools' Norfolk Technical Center, to expand workforce readiness education and industry based skills.

AA. 1. Out of this appropriation, $550,000 the first year and $550,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to CodeVA for the development, marketing, and implementation of high-quality and effective computer science training and professional development activities for public school teachers throughout the Commonwealth for the purpose of improving the computer science literacy of all public school students in the Commonwealth using the Computer Science Standards of Learning For Virginia Public Schools, which were reviewed and endorsed by the Virginia Board of Education in November 2017. The provided funds may be utilized for planning, preparing and materials needed for teacher training sessions provided during the biennium.

2. CodeVA shall report, no later than October 1, each year to the Chairmen of the House Education and Senate Education & Health Committees, Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on its activities in the previous year to support computer science teacher training and curriculum development, including on collaboration with other stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts.

BB. To strengthen quality, attract new educators, and reduce turnover in hard-to-serve preschool classrooms, $20,000,000 the first year from the general fund shall be used to supplement the Early Childhood Educator Incentive created through the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five and in support of the implementation of the Unified Measurement and Improvement System, known as VQB5, established pursuant to § 22.1-289.05, Code of Virginia. The Virginia Department of Education shall set the specific guidelines for the program and funds.

CC. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided for grants to school divisions for encouraging active-in class, remote and hybrid learning for students in pre-kindergarten through the second grade. School divisions seeking to apply for this grant shall submit a proposal to the Department of Education outlining the intended use of funds and a projected number of students to be served. The Department shall establish criteria for awarding these funds. The funds may be used to purchase a platform featuring on-demand activities that integrate math and English Standards of Learning content into movement-rich activities that can be used at school, home and on all devices (i.e. computers, tablets, and phones).

DD. Out of this appropriation, $850,000 the first year and $850,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to Blue Ridge PBS for educational outreach programming.

EE. Out of this appropriation, $1,200,000 the first year and $1,200,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support pilot public-private partnerships between local school divisions and the Virginia Alliance of YMCAs to expand student participation opportunities in existing summer Power Scholars Academies in such partnered school divisions.

FF. Out of this appropriation, $718,957 the first year and $718,957 the second year from the general fund is provided to support Career and Technical Education Student Organizations. These Student Organizations extend Career and Technical Education in Virginia through networks of programs, business and community partnerships, and leadership experiences at the school, state, and national levels and provide Virginia students with opportunities to apply academic, technical, and employability knowledge and skills necessary in today's workforce.

GG. Out of this appropriation, $1,200,000 the first year and $1,200,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Hampton Roads Education Telecommunications Association's eMediaVA program for statewide digital content development, online learning, and related support services. All digital content produced and delivery of online learning shall meet criteria established by the Department of Education, meet or exceed applicable Standards of Learning, and be correlated to such state standards. The eMedia VA program shall incorporate consultation with division superintendents or their designated representatives to assess school divisions' needs for digital content, online learning, teacher training, and support services that advance technology integration into the K-12 classroom, as well as for additional educational resources that may be made available to school divisions throughout the Commonwealth.

HH. Out of this appropriation, $1,350,000 the first year and $1,350,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support the advancement of computer science education and implementation of the Commonwealth's computer science standards across the public education continuum. These funds are intended to provide high quality professional development to current and future teachers; create, curate, and disseminate high quality computer science curriculum, instructional resources, and assessments; support summer and after-school computer science related programming for students; and facilitate meaningful career exposure and work-based learning opportunities in computer science fields for high school students. Funds shall be disbursed through a competitive grant process and shall prioritize at-risk students and schools. The Department of Education shall develop a process to award these funds in accordance with the provisions of this language.

II. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Achievable Dream partnership with Virginia Beach School Division.

JJ. Out of this appropriation, $1,157,065 the first year and $1,157,065 the second year from the general fund is provided to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for Kids program.

KK. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to EduTutorVA to support targeted tutoring to help K-12 students recover from COVID-19 learning gaps.

LL. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year is provided to the Milk and Cookies (MAC) Children's Program to support expansion of the support program for children of parents who are incarcerated.

MM. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to Chesterfield County Public Schools to assist with establishing a recovery high school as a year-round high school with enrollment open to any high school student residing in Superintendent's Region 1 who is in the early stages of recovery from substance use disorder or dependency. Students in the high school shall be provided academic, emotional, and social support needed to progress toward earning a high school diploma and reintegrating into a traditional high school setting. Chesterfield County Public Schools shall submit a report regarding the planning, implementation, and outcomes of the recovery high school to the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by December 1 each year.

NN. Out of this appropriation, $240,000 the first year and $240,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for a Grown Your Own Teacher program to provide grants to low-income high school graduates who attended an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth and subsequently teach in high-need public schools in the school divisions from which they graduated high school. The Department of Education shall establish a process by which school divisions may apply for grants from the Grow Your Own Teacher Program to provide a grant of $7,500 per academic year for up to four years for individuals who (i) graduated from a public high school in the local school division; (ii) were eligible for free lunch during the individual's attendance at a public high school in the local school division; and (iii) teach, within one year of graduating from an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth for a period of at least four years, at a public school at which at least 50 percent of students qualify for free lunch in the school division from which such individual graduated high school. In developing such process, the Department will ensure that at least one school division within each of the eight superintendent regions, applying for such grants, be awarded prior to awarding grants to multiple school divisions within a single superintendent region. Each superintendent region shall be permitted to apply for up to four tuition grant awards. The Department is authorized to offer and award any remaining unallotted awards to other applying school divisions within a superintendent region. In the event that any nominee fails or refuses to comply with the teaching commitment, no grant shall be disbursed to the nominee.

OO. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $125,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Virginia Holocaust Museum.  These funds will support the Alexander Lebenstein Teacher Education Institute and expand the professional development of educators across the Commonwealth and the advancement of experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students. Additionally, these funds are intended to support high-quality, off-site learning experiences, educational content, and exhibitions for students to engage in educational content, aligned to the Virginia Standards of Learning, related to the history of the Holocaust, hate crimes and other genocides.

PP. Out of this appropriation, $630,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for Reach Virginia to provide teacher retention services to Virginia public school divisions.

QQ. Out of this appropriation, $90,000 the first year and $90,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to Newport News Public Schools to expand the Soundscapes program and increase student participation in intensive music study and ensemble performances.

RR. Out of this appropriation, $306,100 the first year and $306,100 the second year from the general fund is allocated for the Department of Education to provide grants of no more than $30,000 each for local school divisions that have applied for such funds for the sole purpose of providing financial incentives to provisionally licensed teachers teaching students enrolled in the Virginia Preschool Initiative or other publicly-funded preschool programs operated by the school division and who are actively engaged in coursework and professional development, toward achieving the required degree and license that satisfy the licensure requirements reflected in § 22.1-299, Code of Virginia. School divisions must submit applications to the Department of Education by December 1 of each year. Priority for awarding grants shall be given to hard-to-staff schools and schools with the highest number of provisionally licensed teachers teaching students enrolled in the Virginia Preschool Initiative or other publicly-funded preschool programs operated by the school division. The Department of Education shall develop the application process to be provided to school divisions that have provisionally licensed preschool teachers employed and are teaching students enrolled in the Virginia Preschool Initiative or other publicly-funded preschool programs operated by the school division.

SS. Out of this appropriation, $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to Prince William County Public Schools for a Public Safety Training Center at Unity Reed High School, which prepares students for a career in fire fighting.

TT. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for PBS Appalachia for educational outreach programming.

UU. 1. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support the establishment of year-round high schools that are open to any student residing in the defined region who is in the early stages of recovery from substance use disorder or dependency. Students in the high school shall be provided academic, emotional, and social support needed to progress toward earning a high school diploma and reintegrating into a traditional high school setting. School divisions and regions are encouraged to use their Opioid Abatement Authority City/County Settlement Funds to support operations of the high schools.

2. Of this amount, $500,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year is provided to Loudoun County Public Schools to support the establishment of a school for students residing in Superintendent's Region 4.

3. Of this amount, $500,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year is provided to Virginia Beach Public Schools to support the establishment of a school for students residing in Superintendent's Region 2.

4. Loudoun County and Virginia Beach Public Schools shall submit a report regarding the planning, implementation, and outcomes of the recovery high school to the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by December 1 each year.

VV. Out of this appropriation, $6,000,000 the first year from the general fund is provided to support public school career and technical education initiatives. Of this amount, $2,000,000 is provided to support career and technical education programs in Portsmouth; $2,000,000 is provided to support career and technical education programs in Chesapeake; $1,000,000 is provided to support career and technical education programs in Fredericksburg; and $1,000,000 is provided to support career and technical education programs in Stafford County. Funds shall be used only for equipment.

WW. Out of this appropriation, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to Reck League to support students in underperforming schools in the Hampton Roads region.

XX. Out of this appropriation, $3,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to supplement the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program in Item 126. These funds shall be awarded to community-based organizations partnering with school divisions for afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs to provide additional instructional opportunities to combat learning loss for school-age children attending high-poverty, low-performing schools. The Department may contract with the Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time to assist applicants with obtaining the required licensure and to provide best practices and support to grantees.

YY. Out of this appropriation, $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the American Civil War Museum to support the advancement of experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students. These funds are intended to support free high-quality, evidence-based learning experiences, educational content, and exhibitions for students, educators and parents to engage in educational content, aligned to the Virginia Standards of Learning.

ZZ. Out of this appropriation, $160,000 the first year from the general fund is designated for the Pittsylvania County Public Library Gretna Branch.

AAA. Out of this appropriation, $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support Community Schools Development and Implementation Planning Grants.

BBB. Out of this appropriation, $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge Assessment International Education Exam Fee Reduction Program (the Program) for the purpose of covering all but $20 of the last dollar cost of applicable fees associated with taking an AP, IB or Cambridge examination for any public high school student who is eligible to receive free or reduced price lunch after all other applicable discounts and financial assistance are taken into account. For students attending a school participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, eligibility shall be based on an individual student's family income. The Program shall be administered by the Department. Pursuant to the Program, the Department shall annually transfer to each local school board a grant in a sum sufficient to cover such portion of such fees for each such student in the local school division. The Department shall establish such rules, policies, and procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Program, including an annual process whereby each local school board demonstrates its grant funding needs. Each local school board shall provide notification to eligible students and parents of the availability of this assistance at the time of enrollment in a course associated with such examination and at the time of test registration of the opportunity for the student to take an AP, IB or Cambridge examination at such reduced fee.

CCC. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Critical National Security Language Grant program. The department shall create and publish an application and process for local school divisions to apply for the existing funding by October 1, 2024.

DDD. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year and $300,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Community Builders Pilot Program in the cities of Roanoke and Petersburg. Funds shall be distributed among the two localities based on prior year final average daily membership.

EEE. Out of this appropriation, $700,000 the first year and $700,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia to support the advancement of  experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students and their communities. 

FFF. Out of this appropriation, $600,000 the first year and $600,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to establish the Connect Plus program to support wraparound services for youth and families in the St. Luke community of Henrico County through targeted curriculum and programming.