Representatives Wolf of Cambridge, Toomey of Cambridge, Fresolo of Worcester, Richardson of Framingham and DiNatale of Fitchburg move to amend the bill in section 2 by inserting the following item:

“7030-xxxx  For planning grants issued by the Department of Education a competitive basis to school departments for the purpose of developing their capacity to establish low-class size classrooms in grades K-3, starting with K, in schools within systems having low-income kids to establish the efficacy of such a program in reducing gaps in achievement between at-risk and other children; provided that school departments with more than 20% of their children eligible for free or reduced lunch qualify to apply for these grants; provided that, in each such district, one school, with a substantial number of low-income children and/or low performance, be eligible for such a grant; provided further that not more than $18,000 be awarded to each grantee; provided further that the grants may be used for direct planning, professional development, or other activities that will enhance the capacity of the school to develop a successful program; provided further that an evaluation/research component be included by the Department; provided further that the cost of the Department’s administration and the evaluation/research activity be allocated  not more than $85,000;  provided further that the Department may set additional criteria in awarding the grants, such as geographic distribution or diversity of size or types of school systems.....................$535,000”