18A:6-110 Spread the Word Program.

1. a. There is established the Spread the Word Program in the Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to provide books to elementary school children in grades kindergarten through five. Under the program, donating schools shall collect books from children and families who have extra books at home, and these books shall be donated to recipient schools for distribution to children who have few books at home. The program shall be county-based and shall be administered by the county superintendent of schools.

b. Prior to the start of each school year, the department shall send to each elementary school in the State an informational brochure on the program. If the school is interested in participating in the program as a donating school, the principal shall contact the county superintendent of schools to receive further information on program participation.

c. A donating school shall conduct book drives. When the drive is finished, the school shall review the donated books to ensure that they are age-appropriate and in satisfactory condition. After the review, the school shall count, sort and pack the books and contact the county superintendent of schools to report the approximate number of books collected and the number of boxes needed to be transported. The county superintendent of schools shall arrange for the books to be transported from the donating school to an eligible recipient school. The State shall assume the costs of transporting the donated books to the recipient school.

d. The State Board of Education shall determine criteria for choosing recipient schools which shall be based, at least in part, on the number of low-income pupils attending the school. The county superintendent of schools shall contact schools within the county that meet the criteria and provide information regarding the program. An eligible school that is interested in receiving donated books under the program shall inform the county superintendent of schools.

e. The Commissioner of Education shall assign a person on a part-time basis to serve as the coordinator of the program.

L.2001,c.292,s.1.