Bill > H396

This bill proposes to expand learning time for students by establishing an "expanded learning time program allotment" which would be an additional funding amount provided to charter schools under specific conditions. This allotment would be added to the charter tuition amount, which is the payment a charter school receives for each student it educates. The bill amends existing laws, specifically Chapter 70 and Chapter 71 of the General Laws, to incorporate this new allotment. For a charter school to receive this additional funding, more than 70% of its students must be low-income, the school must provide a minimum number of instructional hours annually (1,200 for elementary and 1,290 for middle school), and the school must have an approved "expanded learning time performance agreement" with the relevant department. The amount of the allotment would be calculated by multiplying the number of enrolled pupils by a "wage adjustment factor" and then by $1,300. This funding is subject to legislative appropriation, meaning it depends on the government allocating the necessary funds.