Section 340.326 - Accelerated College Credit Partnership Enhancement Grant Program; rules(1) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, shall administer the Accelerated College Credit Partnership Enhancement Grant Program as provided by this section.(2) Grants shall be distributed under this section for the purpose of enhancing accelerated college credit programs and partnerships.(3) A school district, a post-secondary institution of education or a consortium of post-secondary institutions of education may apply to the department for a grant under this section.(4) A school district, a post-secondary institution of education or a consortium of post-secondary institutions of education that receives a grant under this section may use moneys from the grant to:(a) Establish equitable and sustainable funding for accelerated college credit programs;(b) Encourage collaboration between teachers and staff at high schools and faculty at post-secondary institutions of education for accelerated college credit programs;(c) Ensure information is distributed to students and families about opportunities related to accelerated college credit programs, including implications for financial aid, costs to families and credit transferability;(d) Coordinate accelerated college credit program within and across regions of this state; and(e) Collect and analyze qualitative experience data related to the provision of accelerated college credit programs, with an emphasis on the provision of the accelerated college credit programs to students from traditionally underrepresented communities or from low-income families.(5) Grants shall be awarded under this section based on rules of the State Board of Education and shall take into account: (a) The previous school year's student enrollment in accelerated college credit program courses; and(b) Credits earned by historically underrepresented students in post-secondary institutions of education during the previous school year.(6)(a) For the purposes of grants distributed under this section, the department may accept contributions of funds and assistance from the United States Government and its agencies or from any other source, public or private, and agree to conditions placed on the funds not inconsistent with the purposes of this section; and(b) All funds received by the department under this section shall be paid into the Accelerated College Credit Account established under ORS 340.330 for the purposes described in this section.(7) No later than December 1 of each year, the department shall submit a report on the issuance of grants under this section to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to education.