Representatives Cabral of New Bedford, Sanchez of Boston, Canessa of New Bedford, Verga of Gloucester, Garballey of Arlington, Fallon of Malden, DiNatale of Fitchburg move to amend the bill, in section 2, by striking out item 7030-1002, and inserting in place thereof the following item:-

“7030-1002

For kindergarten expansion grants and technical assistance to provide quality enhancement of full-day kindergarten classrooms and to encourage the transition of half-day classrooms into full-day kindergarten classrooms; provided, that the department shall administer a grant program to encourage universal, high quality, full-day kindergarten education throughout the commonwealth; provided further, that grants of not more than $18,000 per classroom shall be made available to public schools for planning transition from half-day classrooms to full-day kindergarten classrooms; provided further, that grants may be awarded in the first year of transition to full-day kindergarten implementation as a transition to Chapter 70 funding in subsequent years; provided further, that all kindergarten programs in the commonwealth shall be eligible to apply for grants; provided further, that preference shall be given to grant applicants with high percentages of students scoring in levels 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam, as determined by the department based on available data; and provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item to cities, towns or regional school districts shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town, or regional school district and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of the city, town or regional school district without further appropriation, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary……………………………..$42,175,651”