Summary:

 Senate Bill 116 (SB 116) creates a math lab pilot project, which provides awards to participating school districts for participating public schools, to improve math proficiency. SB 116 makes an appropriation.
 

Legislation Overview:

 Senate Bill 116 (SB 116) adds a new section to Public School Code and makes an appropriation as follows:
SECTION 1 creates the pilot project. Subsection A provides definitions as used in this section.
B. The Math Lab Pilot Project (Project) is a three-year pilot project to demonstrate that students' participation in math labs improves student outcomes in kindergarten through sixth grade mathematics and raises the participating public school's mathematics scores on standards based assessments. 
Participating public schools shall test students before, during and after the pilot project and follow those students through the remainder of the students' time in public school. The data collected during the pilot project and over time shall be evaluated biennially to help the department and the school districts determine the efficacy of math labs in student success and allow the incorporation of methods and strategies learned from the pilot project into the overall teaching of mathematics. 
C. The department shall administer the Project. Within the limits of appropriation, any school district is eligible to participate. 
D. The Project requires participating school districts to: 
(1) establish a math lab in a participating public school that shall be staffed by at least one teacher who is knowledgeable about the academic content and performance standards for elementary mathematics; 
(2) focus on small group instruction, interactive learning and collaborative learning activities specific to mathematics instruction and aligned with grade specific academic content and performance standards; and 
(3) provide professional development opportunities for teachers who staff math labs.
E. Each school district may decide annually whether to participate in the Project. 
F. Interested school districts shall apply to the department. The department shall develop criteria for applications, public school participation and disbursement of grant awards; oversee the implementation of the pilot project; and provide technical assistance to participating public schools through the Mathematics and Science Bureau and the Mathematics and Science Advisory Council. 
G. Each annual grant award shall be a minimum of $100,000 for each participating public school. 
H. The department shall provide notice to each school district that is not participating in the Project information explaining the Project, the amounts of the grant awards and the requirements and procedures for participating. 
I. Each participating school district shall report annual disaggregated demographic and proficiency data to the department, including an evaluation that determines whether students have gained proficiency. The reports shall include at least the information specified in this subsection.
J. The department shall make school district reports available to the governor and the legislature through the Legislative Education Study Committee. By November 1, 2028, the department shall prepare a final report for the governor and the legislature on the efficacy of the Project, including recommendations for potential improvements or expansion of math labs statewide.

SECTION 2 makes an appropriation of $3,000,000 from the General Fund to the department for expenditure in Fiscal Years 2026 through 2028 to conduct the Project. The appropriation shall be used exclusively for the purposes outlined in Section 1 of this Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2028 shall revert to the General Fund. 
SECTION 3 makes an effective date of July 1, 2025.