15-1241

15-1241. Academic contests fund; state board
of education powers and duties; distribution of monies

A. The state board of education shall establish an academic contests fund
consisting of monies appropriated by the legislature or received by the state board as
provided in subsection D of this section.

B. The state board of education shall prescribe rules for the distribution of fund
monies to school districts and charter schools for the purpose of sending pupils who are
state level winners of academic contests and their chaperons to the national levels of
these contests so that the pupils may represent this state.

C. The criteria on which the state board shall base its rules for the distribution
of fund monies shall include at least the following:

1. The contests must be academic in nature and motivate pupils to be creative and
to demonstrate excellence.

2. Contests must be sponsored by a recognized national organization.

3. Contests must be open to all pupils, regardless of race, creed, gender or
national origin, except that a contest may separate pupils by age or grade level.

4. The opportunity to compete at the national level must be the result of
successfully competing at the local or state level, or both, of that contest.

D. The state board of education may accept gifts or grants of monies for deposit in
the academic contests fund as provided in this section.

E. A school district which receives monies as provided in this section shall
include the monies in the special projects section of the budget as provided in section
15-903, subsection F.