Vote — approved

Thomas Galvin	yes
Kate Brophy McGee	yes
Mark Stewart	yes
Debbie Lesko	yes
Steve Gallardo	yes

Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Debbie Lesko, Steve Gallardo

Item Text

41. GRANT FUNDING FROM U.S. DEPT. OF EDUCATION TO SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH Apply for discretionary grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ALN 84.411A/B/C) in the maximum amount of $10,000,000 over a period of up to 60 months; and authorize the Chairman to sign all documents related to these grant funds, as applicable. The grant’s purpose is to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and to rigorously evaluate such innovations. Projects that directly benefit all students, but especially high-need students, through effective literacy instruction, aligned to the science of reading, are strongly encouraged. There is a 10% match, which can be cash or in-kind contributions and will be provided by participating school districts or contractor or absorbed by the Superintendent’s operating budget. If awarded the full $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, the recoverable indirect cost of administering this grant will be $20,200. Future ongoing cash contributions are not required after the grant period. The grant award will help support the Superintendent in meeting the mandate in A.R.S. §15-301 to collaborate with the department of education and other state agencies to assist schools in using student data, staff development, curriculum alignment, and technology to improve student performance. The grant award is competitive. Grant revenues are not local revenues for the purpose of the constitutional expenditure limitation, and therefore, expenditure of the funds is not prohibited by the budget law. Accepting this grant does not alter the budget constraining the expenditure of local revenues duly adopted by the Board pursuant to A.R.S. §42-17105. (C-37-26-007-X-00)