• as amended, provides that the DOE and the State Board of Education shall implement the program for teacher development in standards-based education if the Department receives federal moneys for such purposes.

As amended, the bill is assessed as having a conditional fiscal impact. Although the bill requires the Department of Education to implement a facilitator training program, it also requires that the program shall not be implemented unless the Department receives federal funds for such purpose.

At this time, it is not known if federal funds will be forthcoming for this purpose.

The Standards-based Teacher Development Fund is a newly created fund under the bill, which is comprised of gifts, grants, donations, federal funds, and General Fund moneys appropriated as matching funds for federal grant programs. The bill allows DOE to retain up to 10 percent of moneys in the Standards-based Teacher Development Fund accordingly:

• Section 22-7-604 (4) — allows DOE to retain up to 5 percent of any moneys appropriated to the Standards-based Teacher Development Fund for the cost of implementing the facilitator training program.

• Section 22-7-607 (1) — allows DOE to retain up to 5 percent of any moneys appropriated to the Standards-based Teacher Development Fund for the cost of administering teacher development grants.

Although the department is authorized to retain up to 5 percent of moneys in the Standards-based Teacher Development Fund to implement the facilitator training program, the department will require $175,000 to implement such program. Funding is needed for facilitator training, follow-up/networking, operating, and travel. As amended, the bill requires that implementation of a program for teacher development in standards-based education is contingent upon receipt of federal funds for such purpose. Thus, the fiscal note assumes that the program will be developed only upon receipt of federal funds.

Section 22-7-606. Teacher development grants. This section of the bill is permissive. School districts may apply for teacher development grants over a five-year period (see table below); DOE is not required to award teacher development grants. The department estimates that for FY 1999-00, approximately 450 schools (350 elementary schools and 100 middle schools) might be eligible for a $10,000 grant in the Fall Semester 2000. The state's obligation to the $10,000 grant is 80 percent the first year ($8,000 per grant), for a total of $3.6 million. The local school district obligation to the $10,000 grant is 20 percent the first year ($2,000 per grant), for a total of $0.9 million. The state's obligation for FY 2000-01 is estimated at $2.4 million and the local school district obligation is estimated at $1.6 million. As amended, teacher development grants would not be awarded unless and until DOE receives federal funds for such purpose.

Teacher Development Grants	State Obligation	School District Obligation
Year 1	80%	20%
Year 2	60%	40%
Year 3	40%	60%
Year 4 and Subsequent Years	20%	80%

The bill allows school districts to apply for teacher development grants. School districts are not required to apply for grants and DOE is not required to award grants. Should 450 eligible schools apply for teacher development grants in FY 1999-00, the local school district obligation would be $900,000. Because teacher development grants will be awarded only if the DOE receives federal funds for such purpose, and because participation in the program is permissive, the school district impact is identified as conditional.

The fiscal note indicates that for FY 1999-00, the Department of Education should receive a federal funds appropriation of $175,000.