Act No. 313

Public Acts of 2016

Approved by the Governor

October 6, 2016

Filed with the Secretary of State

October 6, 2016

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 6, 2016

STATE OF MICHIGAN

98TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2016

Introduced by Rep. Pscholka

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5291

AN ACT to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “An act to make appropriations to aid in the support of the public schools, the intermediate school districts, community colleges, and public universities of the state; to make appropriations for certain other purposes relating to education; to provide for the disbursement of the appropriations; to authorize the issuance of certain bonds and provide for the security of those bonds; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, the state board of education, and certain other boards and officials; to create certain funds and provide for their expenditure; to prescribe penalties; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending sections 20, 25e, 61a, 61c, 98, 99h, 99t, and 104c (MCL 388.1620, 388.1625e, 388.1661a, 388.1661c, 388.1698, 388.1699h, 388.1699t, and 388.1704c), sections 20, 25e, 61a, 98, 99h, and 104c as amended and sections 61c and 99t as added by 2016 PA 249.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 20. (1) For 2016-2017, both of the following apply:

(a) The basic foundation allowance is $8,229.00.

(b) The minimum foundation allowance is $7,511.00.

(2) The amount of each district’s foundation allowance shall be calculated as provided in this section, using a basic foundation allowance in the amount specified in subsection (1).

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amount of a district’s foundation allowance shall be calculated as follows, using in all calculations the total amount of the district’s foundation allowance as calculated before any proration:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, for a district that had a foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year that was at least equal to the minimum foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year, but less than the basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year, the district shall receive a foundation allowance in an amount equal to the sum of the district’s foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year plus the difference between twice the dollar amount of the adjustment from the immediately preceding state fiscal year to the current state fiscal year made in the basic foundation allowance and [(the difference between the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year and basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year minus $20.00) times (the difference between the district’s foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year and the minimum foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year) divided by the difference between the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year and the minimum foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year.] However, the foundation allowance for a district that had less than the basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year shall not exceed the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for a district that in the immediately preceding state fiscal year had a foundation allowance in an amount equal to the amount of the basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year, the district shall receive a foundation allowance for 2016-2017 in an amount equal to the basic foundation allowance for 2016-2017.

(c) For a district that had a foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year that was greater than the basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year, the district’s foundation allowance is an amount equal to the sum of the district’s foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year plus the lesser of the increase in the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year, as compared to the immediately preceding state fiscal year, or the product of the district’s foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year times the percentage increase in the United States consumer price index in the calendar year ending in the immediately preceding fiscal year as reported by the May revenue estimating conference conducted under section 367b of the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1367b.

(d) For a district that has a foundation allowance that is not a whole dollar amount, the district’s foundation allowance shall be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, beginning in 2014-2015, the state portion of a district’s foundation allowance is an amount equal to the district’s foundation allowance or the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year, whichever is less, minus the local portion of the district’s foundation allowance. For a district described in subsection (3)(c), beginning in 2014-2015, the state portion of the district’s foundation allowance is an amount equal to $6,962.00 plus the difference between the district’s foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year and the district’s foundation allowance for 1998-99, minus the local portion of the district’s foundation allowance. For a district that has a millage reduction required under section 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, the state portion of the district’s foundation allowance shall be calculated as if that reduction did not occur. For a receiving district, if school operating taxes continue to be levied on behalf of a dissolved district that has been attached in whole or in part to the receiving district to satisfy debt obligations of the dissolved district under section 12 of the revised school code, MCL 380.12, the taxable value per membership pupil of property in the receiving district used for the purposes of this subsection does not include the taxable value of property within the geographic area of the dissolved district. For a community district, if school operating taxes continue to be levied by a qualifying school district under section 12b of the revised school code, MCL 380.12b, with the same geographic area as the community district, the taxable value per membership pupil of property in the community district to be used for the purposes of this subsection does not include the taxable value of property within the geographic area of the community district.

(5) The allocation calculated under this section for a pupil shall be based on the foundation allowance of the pupil’s district of residence. For a pupil enrolled pursuant to section 105 or 105c in a district other than the pupil’s district of residence, the allocation calculated under this section shall be based on the lesser of the foundation allowance of the pupil’s district of residence or the foundation allowance of the educating district. For a pupil in membership in a K-5, K-6, or K-8 district who is enrolled in another district in a grade not offered by the pupil’s district of residence, the allocation calculated under this section shall be based on the foundation allowance of the educating district if the educating district’s foundation allowance is greater than the foundation allowance of the pupil’s district of residence. The calculation under this subsection shall take into account a district’s per-pupil allocation under section 20m.

(6) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for pupils in membership, other than special education pupils, in a public school academy, the allocation calculated under this section is an amount per membership pupil other than special education pupils in the public school academy equal to the foundation allowance of the district in which the public school academy is located or the state maximum public school academy allocation, whichever is less. For pupils in membership, other than special education pupils, in a public school academy that is a cyber school and is authorized by a school district, the allocation calculated under this section is an amount per membership pupil other than special education pupils in the public school academy equal to the foundation allowance of the district that authorized the public school academy or the state maximum public school academy allocation, whichever is less. However, a public school academy that had an allocation under this subsection before 2009-2010 that was equal to the sum of the local school operating revenue per membership pupil other than special education pupils for the district in which the public school academy is located and the state portion of that district’s foundation allowance shall not have that allocation reduced as a result of the 2010 amendment to this subsection. Notwithstanding section 101, for a public school academy that begins operations after the pupil membership count day, the amount per membership pupil calculated under this subsection shall be adjusted by multiplying that amount per membership pupil by the number of hours of pupil instruction provided by the public school academy after it begins operations, as determined by the department, divided by the minimum number of hours of pupil instruction required under section 101(3). The result of this calculation shall not exceed the amount per membership pupil otherwise calculated under this subsection.

(7) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for pupils attending an achievement school and in membership in the education achievement system, other than special education pupils, the allocation calculated under this section is an amount per membership pupil other than special education pupils equal to the foundation allowance of the district in which the achievement school is located, not to exceed the basic foundation allowance. Notwithstanding section 101, for an achievement school that begins operation after the pupil membership count day, the amount per membership pupil calculated under this subsection shall be adjusted by multiplying that amount per membership pupil by the number of hours of pupil instruction provided by the achievement school after it begins operations, as determined by the department, divided by the minimum number of hours of pupil instruction required under section 101(3). The result of this calculation shall not exceed the amount per membership pupil otherwise calculated under this subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, if a public school is transferred from a district to the state school reform/redesign district or the achievement authority under section 1280c of the revised school code, MCL 380.1280c, that public school is considered to be an achievement school within the education achievement system and not a school that is part of a district, and a pupil attending that public school is considered to be in membership in the education achievement system and not in membership in the district that operated the school before the transfer.

(8) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for pupils in membership, other than special education pupils, in a community district, the allocation calculated under this section is an amount per membership pupil other than special education pupils in the community district equal to the foundation allowance of the qualifying school district, as described in section 12b of the revised school code, MCL 380.12b, that is located within the same geographic area as the community district.

(9) Subject to subsection (4), for a district that is formed or reconfigured after June 1, 2002 by consolidation of 2 or more districts or by annexation, the resulting district’s foundation allowance under this section beginning after the effective date of the consolidation or annexation shall be the lesser of the sum of the average of the foundation allowances of each of the original or affected districts, calculated as provided in this section, weighted as to the percentage of pupils in total membership in the resulting district who reside in the geographic area of each of the original or affected districts plus $100.00 or the highest foundation allowance among the original or affected districts. This subsection does not apply to a receiving district unless there is a subsequent consolidation or annexation that affects the district. The calculation under this subsection shall take into account a district’s per-pupil allocation under section 20m.

(10) Each fraction used in making calculations under this section shall be rounded to the fourth decimal place and the dollar amount of an increase in the basic foundation allowance shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.

(11) State payments related to payment of the foundation allowance for a special education pupil are not calculated under this section but are instead calculated under section 51a.

(12) To assist the legislature in determining the basic foundation allowance for the subsequent state fiscal year, each revenue estimating conference conducted under section 367b of the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1367b, shall calculate a pupil membership factor, a revenue adjustment factor, and an index as follows:

(a) The pupil membership factor shall be computed by dividing the estimated membership in the school year ending in the current state fiscal year, excluding intermediate district membership, by the estimated membership for the school year ending in the subsequent state fiscal year, excluding intermediate district membership. If a consensus membership factor is not determined at the revenue estimating conference, the principals of the revenue estimating conference shall report their estimates to the house and senate subcommittees responsible for school aid appropriations not later than 7 days after the conclusion of the revenue conference.

(b) The revenue adjustment factor shall be computed by dividing the sum of the estimated total state school aid fund revenue for the subsequent state fiscal year plus the estimated total state school aid fund revenue for the current state fiscal year, adjusted for any change in the rate or base of a tax the proceeds of which are deposited in that fund and excluding money transferred into that fund from the countercyclical budget and economic stabilization fund under the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1101 to 18.1594, by the sum of the estimated total school aid fund revenue for the current state fiscal year plus the estimated total state school aid fund revenue for the immediately preceding state fiscal year, adjusted for any change in the rate or base of a tax the proceeds of which are deposited in that fund. If a consensus revenue factor is not determined at the revenue estimating conference, the principals of the revenue estimating conference shall report their estimates to the house and senate subcommittees responsible for school aid appropriations not later than 7 days after the conclusion of the revenue conference.

(c) The index shall be calculated by multiplying the pupil membership factor by the revenue adjustment factor. If a consensus index is not determined at the revenue estimating conference, the principals of the revenue estimating conference shall report their estimates to the house and senate subcommittees responsible for school aid appropriations not later than 7 days after the conclusion of the revenue conference.

(13) Payments to districts, public school academies, or the education achievement system shall not be made under this section. Rather, the calculations under this section shall be used to determine the amount of state payments under section 22b.

(14) If an amendment to section 2 of article VIII of the state constitution of 1963 allowing state aid to some or all nonpublic schools is approved by the voters of this state, each foundation allowance or per-pupil payment calculation under this section may be reduced.

(15) As used in this section:

(a) “Certified mills” means the lesser of 18 mills or the number of mills of school operating taxes levied by the district in 1993-94.

(b) “Combined state and local revenue” means the aggregate of the district’s state school aid received by or paid on behalf of the district under this section and the district’s local school operating revenue.

(c) “Combined state and local revenue per membership pupil” means the district’s combined state and local revenue divided by the district’s membership excluding special education pupils.

(d) “Current state fiscal year” means the state fiscal year for which a particular calculation is made.

(e) “Dissolved district” means a district that loses its organization, has its territory attached to 1 or more other districts, and is dissolved as provided under section 12 of the revised school code, MCL 380.12.

(f) “Immediately preceding state fiscal year” means the state fiscal year immediately preceding the current state fiscal year.

(g) “Local portion of the district’s foundation allowance” means an amount that is equal to the difference between (the sum of the product of the taxable value per membership pupil of all property in the district that is nonexempt property times the district’s certified mills and, for a district with certified mills exceeding 12, the product of the taxable value per membership pupil of property in the district that is commercial personal property times the certified mills minus 12 mills) and (the quotient of the product of the captured assessed valuation under tax increment financing acts times the district’s certified mills divided by the district’s membership excluding special education pupils).

(h) “Local school operating revenue” means school operating taxes levied under section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1211. For a receiving district, if school operating taxes are to be levied on behalf of a dissolved district that has been attached in whole or in part to the receiving district to satisfy debt obligations of the dissolved district under section 12 of the revised school code, MCL 380.12, local school operating revenue does not include school operating taxes levied within the geographic area of the dissolved district.

(i) “Local school operating revenue per membership pupil” means a district’s local school operating revenue divided by the district’s membership excluding special education pupils.

(j) “Maximum public school academy allocation”, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, means the maximum per-pupil allocation as calculated by adding the highest per-pupil allocation among all public school academies for the immediately preceding state fiscal year plus the difference between twice the amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year and the basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year and [(the amount of the difference between the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year and the basic foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year minus $20.00) times (the difference between the highest per-pupil allocation among all public school academies for the immediately preceding state fiscal year and the minimum foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year) divided by the difference between the basic foundation allowance for the current state fiscal year and the minimum foundation allowance for the immediately preceding state fiscal year.] For the purposes of this subdivision, for 2016-2017, the maximum public school academy allocation is $7,511.00.

(k) “Membership” means the definition of that term under section 6 as in effect for the particular fiscal year for which a particular calculation is made.

(l) “Nonexempt property” means property that is not a principal residence, qualified agricultural property, qualified forest property, supportive housing property, industrial personal property, commercial personal property, or property occupied by a public school academy.

(m) “Principal residence”, “qualified agricultural property”, “qualified forest property”, “supportive housing property”, “industrial personal property”, and “commercial personal property” mean those terms as defined in section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1211.

(n) “Receiving district” means a district to which all or part of the territory of a dissolved district is attached under section 12 of the revised school code, MCL 380.12.

(o) “School operating purposes” means the purposes included in the operation costs of the district as prescribed in sections 7 and 18 and purposes authorized under section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1211.

(p) “School operating taxes” means local ad valorem property taxes levied under section 1211 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1211, and retained for school operating purposes.

(q) “Tax increment financing acts” means 1975 PA 197, MCL 125.1651 to 125.1681, the tax increment finance authority act, 1980 PA 450, MCL 125.1801 to 125.1830, the local development financing act, 1986 PA 281, MCL 125.2151 to 125.2174, the brownfield redevelopment financing act, 1996 PA 381, MCL 125.2651 to 125.2672, or the corridor improvement authority act, 2005 PA 280, MCL 125.2871 to 125.2899.

(r) “Taxable value per membership pupil” means taxable value, as certified by the county treasurer and reported to the department, for the calendar year ending in the current state fiscal year divided by the district’s membership excluding special education pupils for the school year ending in the current state fiscal year.

Sec. 25e. (1) The pupil membership transfer application and pupil transfer process administered by the center under this section shall be used for processing pupil transfers.

(2) If a pupil counted in membership for the pupil membership count day transfers from a district or intermediate district to enroll in another district or intermediate district after the pupil membership count day and before the supplemental count day and, due to the pupil’s enrollment and attendance status as of the pupil membership count day, the pupil was not counted in membership in the educating district or intermediate district, the educating district or intermediate district may report the enrollment and attendance information to the center through the pupil transfer process within 30 days after the transfer or within 30 days after the pupil membership count certification date, whichever is later. Pupil transfers may be submitted no earlier than the first day after the certification deadline for the pupil membership count day and before the supplemental count day. Upon receipt of the transfer information under this subsection indicating that a pupil has enrolled and is in attendance in an educating district or intermediate district as described in this subsection, the pupil transfer process shall do the following:

(a) Notify the district in which the pupil was previously enrolled.

(b) Notify both the pupil auditing staff of the intermediate district in which the educating district is located and the pupil auditing staff of the intermediate district in which the district that previously enrolled the pupil is located. The pupil auditing staff shall investigate a representative sample based on required audit sample sizes in the pupil auditing manual and may deny the pupil membership transfer.

(c) Aggregate the districtwide changes and notify the department for use in adjusting the state aid payment system.

(3) The department shall do all of the following:

(a) Adjust the membership calculation for each district or intermediate district in which the pupil was previously counted in membership or that previously received an adjustment in its membership calculation under this section due to a change in the pupil’s enrollment and attendance so that the district’s or intermediate district’s membership is prorated to allow the district or intermediate district to receive for each school day, as determined by the financial calendar furnished by the center, in which the pupil was enrolled and in attendance in the district or intermediate district an amount equal to 1/105 of a full-time equated membership claimed in the fall pupil membership count. The district or intermediate district shall receive a prorated foundation allowance in an amount equal to the product of the adjustment under this subdivision for the district or intermediate district multiplied by the foundation allowance or per-pupil payment as calculated under section 20 for the district or intermediate district. The foundation allowance or per-pupil payment shall be adjusted by the pupil’s full-time equated status as affected by the membership definition under section 6(4).

(b) Adjust the membership calculation for the educating district or intermediate district in which the pupil is enrolled and is in attendance so that the district’s or intermediate district’s membership is increased to allow the district or intermediate district to receive an amount equal to the difference between the full-time equated membership claimed in the fall pupil membership count and the sum of the adjustments calculated under subdivision (a) for each district or intermediate district in which the pupil was previously enrolled and in attendance. The educating district or intermediate district shall receive a prorated foundation allowance in an amount equal to the product of the adjustment under this subdivision for the educating district or intermediate district multiplied by the per-pupil payment as calculated under section 20 for the educating district or intermediate district. The foundation allowance or per-pupil payment shall be adjusted by the pupil’s full-time equated status as affected by the membership definition under section 6(4).

(4) The changes in calculation of state school aid required under subsection (3) shall take effect as of the date that the pupil becomes enrolled and in attendance in the educating district or intermediate district, and the department shall base all subsequent payments under this article for the fiscal year to the affected districts or intermediate districts on this recalculation of state school aid.

(5) If a pupil enrolls in an educating district or intermediate district as described in subsection (2), the district or intermediate district in which the pupil is counted in membership or another educating district or intermediate district that received an adjustment in its membership calculation under subsection (3), if any, and the educating district or intermediate district shall provide to the center and the department all information they require to comply with this section.

(6) The portion of the full-time equated pupil membership for which a pupil is enrolled in 1 or more online courses under section 21f shall not be counted or transferred under the pupil transfer process under this section.

(7) It is the intent of the legislature that the center determine the number of pupils who did not reside in this state as of the 2018-2019 pupil membership count day but who newly enrolled in a district or intermediate district after that pupil membership count day and before the 2018-2019 supplemental count day. It is the intent of the legislature that the center further determine the number of pupils who were counted in membership for the 2018-2019 pupil membership count day but who left this state before the 2018-2019 supplemental count day. In 2019-2020, the center shall provide a report to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, and to the senate and house fiscal agencies, detailing the number of pupils transferring in from another state or transferring out from this state between the pupil membership count day and supplemental count day as described in this subsection. The center shall include in the report a discussion of benefits and obstacles to developing a pupil enrollment process for pupils who newly enroll in a district or intermediate district after the pupil membership count day and before the supplemental count day, and developing a process for deducting pupils who were counted on the pupil membership count day and transfer out of this state before the supplemental count day.

(8) As used in this section:

(a) “Educating district or intermediate district” means the district or intermediate district in which a pupil enrolls after the pupil membership count day or after an adjustment was made in another district’s or intermediate district’s membership calculation under this section due to the pupil’s enrollment and attendance.

(b) “Pupil” means that term as defined under section 6 and also children receiving early childhood special education programs and services.

Sec. 61a. (1) From the appropriation in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $36,611,300.00 for 2016‑2017 to reimburse on an added cost basis districts, except for a district that served as the fiscal agent for a vocational education consortium in the 1993-94 school year and that has a foundation allowance as calculated under section 20 greater than the minimum foundation allowance under that section, and secondary area vocational-technical education centers for secondary-level career and technical education programs according to rules approved by the superintendent. Applications for participation in the programs shall be submitted in the form prescribed by the department. The department shall determine the added cost for each career and technical education program area. The allocation of added cost funds shall be prioritized based on the capital and program expenditures needed to operate the career and technical education programs provided; the number of pupils enrolled; the advancement of pupils through the instructional program; the existence of an articulation agreement with at least 1 postsecondary institution that provides pupils with opportunities to earn postsecondary credit during the pupil’s participation in the career and technical education program and transfers those credits to the postsecondary institution upon completion of the career and technical education program; and the program rank in student placement, job openings, and wages, and shall not exceed 75% of the added cost of any program. Notwithstanding any rule or department determination to the contrary, when determining a district’s allocation or the formula for making allocations under this section, the department shall include the participation of pupils in grade 9 in all of those determinations and in all portions of the formula. With the approval of the department, the board of a district maintaining a secondary career and technical education program may offer the program for the period from the close of the school year until September 1. The program shall use existing facilities and shall be operated as prescribed by rules promulgated by the superintendent.

(2) Except for a district that served as the fiscal agent for a vocational education consortium in the 1993-94 school year, districts and intermediate districts shall be reimbursed for local career and technical education administration, shared time career and technical education administration, and career education planning district career and technical education administration. The definition of what constitutes administration and reimbursement shall be pursuant to guidelines adopted by the superintendent. Not more than $800,000.00 of the allocation in subsection (1) shall be distributed under this subsection.

(3) A career and technical education program funded under this section may provide an opportunity for participants who are eligible to be funded under section 107 to enroll in the career and technical education program funded under this section if the participation does not occur during regular school hours.

(4) In addition to the money allocated under subsection (1), from the general fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2016-2017 an amount not to exceed $79,000.00 to an eligible Michigan-approved 501(c)(3) organization for the purposes of teaching or training restaurant management and culinary arts for career and professional development. The department shall oversee funds distributed to an eligible grantee under this section. As used in this subsection, “eligible Michigan-approved 501(c)(3) organization” means an organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 501, that provides the ProStart curriculum and training to state-approved career and technical education programs with classification of instructional programs (CIP) codes in the 12.05xx category, and that administers national certification for the purpose of restaurant management and culinary arts for career and professional development.

Sec. 61c. (1) From the general fund appropriation in section 11, there is allocated for 2016-2017 an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.00 to career education planning districts for the CTE skilled trades initiative under this section.

(2) To be eligible to receive funding under this section, each CEPD shall apply in a form and manner determined by the department. Funding to each CEPD shall be equal to the quotient of the allocation under subsection (1) and the sum of the number of career education planning districts applying for funding under this section.

(3) The funding allocated to each CEPD shall be used to update equipment in current CTE programs that are supporting and driving economic development in their individual communities, or for new and emerging certified CTE programs to allow CEPD administrators to provide programming in communities that will enhance economic development. The funding for equipment should be used to support and enhance community areas that have sustained job growth, and act as a commitment to build a more qualified and skilled workforce.

(4) The allocation of funds at the local level shall be determined by CEPD administrators using data from the state, region, and local sources to make well-informed decisions on program equipment improvements. Grants awarded by CEPD administrators for capital infrastructure shall be used to ensure that CTE programs can deliver educational programs in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand occupations. Each CEPD shall continue to ensure that program advisory boards make recommendations on needed improvements for equipment that support job growth and job skill development and retention for both the present and the future.

(5) Not later than September 15 of each fiscal year, each CEPD receiving funding under this section shall annually report to the department, the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, and the senate and house fiscal agencies and legislature on equipment purchased under this section. In addition, the report shall identify growth data on program involvement, retention, and development of student skills.

(6) In addition to the funds allocated under subsection (1), from the funds appropriated under section 11, there is allocated for 2016-2017 an amount not to exceed $200,000.00 to a district with fewer than 1,200 pupils in membership to support a mechatronics program that operated in 2015-2016 for updating mechatronics program equipment. To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a program shall be a flexible learning program that offered in 2015-2016 both classroom and hands-on training in mechatronics in at least 2 sites.

(7) As used in this section, “CEPD” means a career education planning district described in this section.

Sec. 98. (1) From the general fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $7,387,500.00 for 2016-2017 for the purposes described in this section. The Michigan Virtual University shall provide a report to the legislature not later than November 1, 2016 that includes its mission, its plans, and proposed benchmarks it must meet, which shall include a plan to achieve a 50% increase in documented improvement in each requirement of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute and Michigan Virtual School, and all other organizational priorities identified in this section, in order to receive full funding for 2017-2018. Not later than March 1, 2017, the Michigan Virtual University shall provide an update to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid to show the progress being made to meet the benchmarks identified.

(2) The Michigan Virtual University shall operate the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall do all of the following:

(a) Support and accelerate innovation in education through the following activities:

(i) Test, evaluate, and recommend as appropriate new technology-based instructional tools and resources.

(ii) Research, design, and recommend virtual education delivery models for use by pupils and teachers that include age-appropriate multimedia instructional content.

(iii) Research, develop, and recommend annually to the department criteria by which cyber schools and virtual course providers should be monitored and evaluated to ensure a quality education for their pupils.

(iv) Based on pupil completion and performance data reported to the department or the center for educational performance and information from cyber schools and other virtual course providers operating in this state, analyze the effectiveness of virtual learning delivery models in preparing pupils to be college- and career-ready and publish a report that highlights enrollment totals, completion rates, and the overall impact on pupils. The report shall be submitted to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, the department, districts, and intermediate districts not later than March 31, 2017.

(v) Before August 31, 2017, provide an extensive professional development program to at least 30,000 educational personnel, including teachers, school administrators, and school board members, that focuses on the effective integration of virtual learning into curricula and instruction. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute is encouraged to work with the MiSTEM advisory council created under section 99s to coordinate professional development of teachers in applicable fields. In addition, the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute and external stakeholders are encouraged to coordinate with the department for professional development in this state. Not later than December 1, 2017, the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall submit a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department on the number and percentage of teachers, school administrators, and school board members who have received professional development services from the Michigan Virtual University. The report shall also identify barriers and other opportunities to encourage the adoption of virtual learning in the public education system.

(vi) Identify and share best practices for planning, implementing, and evaluating virtual and blended education delivery models with intermediate districts, districts, and public school academies to accelerate the adoption of innovative education delivery models statewide.

(b) Provide leadership for this state’s system of virtual learning education by doing the following activities:

(i) Develop and report policy recommendations to the governor and the legislature that accelerate the expansion of effective virtual learning in this state’s schools.

(ii) Provide a clearinghouse for research reports, academic studies, evaluations, and other information related to virtual learning.

(iii) Promote and distribute the most current instructional design standards and guidelines for virtual teaching.

(iv) In collaboration with the department and interested colleges and universities in this state, support implementation and improvements related to effective virtual learning instruction.

(v) Pursue public/private partnerships that include districts to study and implement competency-based technology-rich virtual learning models.

(vi) Create a statewide network of school-based mentors serving as liaisons between pupils, virtual instructors, parents, and school staff, as provided by the department or the center, and provide mentors with research-based training and technical assistance designed to help more pupils be successful virtual learners.

(vii) Convene focus groups and conduct annual surveys of teachers, administrators, pupils, parents, and others to identify barriers and opportunities related to virtual learning.

(viii) Produce an annual consumer awareness report for schools and parents about effective virtual education providers and education delivery models, performance data, cost structures, and research trends.

(ix) Research and establish an internet-based platform that educators can use to create student-centric learning tools and resources and facilitate a user network that assists educators in using the platform. As part of this initiative, the Michigan Virtual University shall work collaboratively with districts and intermediate districts to establish a plan to make available virtual resources that align to Michigan’s K-12 curriculum standards for use by students, educators, and parents.

(x) Create and maintain a public statewide catalog of virtual learning courses being offered by all public schools and community colleges in this state. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall identify and develop a list of nationally recognized best practices for virtual learning and use this list to support reviews of virtual course vendors, courses, and instructional practices. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall also provide a mechanism for intermediate districts to use the identified best practices to review content offered by constituent districts. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall review the virtual course offerings of the Michigan Virtual University, and make the results from these reviews available to the public as part of the statewide catalog. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall ensure that the statewide catalog is made available to the public on the Michigan Virtual University website and shall allow the ability to link it to each district’s website as provided for in section 21f. The statewide catalog shall also contain all of the following:

(A) The number of enrollments in each virtual course in the immediately preceding school year.

(B) The number of enrollments that earned 60% or more of the total course points for each virtual course in the immediately preceding school year.

(C) The completion rate for each virtual course.

(xi) Develop prototype and pilot registration, payment services, and transcript functionality to the statewide catalog and train key stakeholders on how to use new features.

(xii) Collaborate with key stakeholders to examine district level accountability and teacher effectiveness issues related to virtual learning under section 21f and make findings and recommendations publicly available.

(xiii) Provide a report on the activities of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute.

(3) To further enhance its expertise and leadership in virtual learning, the Michigan Virtual University shall continue to operate the Michigan Virtual School as a statewide laboratory and quality model of instruction by implementing virtual and blended learning solutions for Michigan schools in accordance with the following parameters:

(a) The Michigan Virtual School must maintain its accreditation status from recognized national and international accrediting entities.

(b) The Michigan Virtual University shall use no more than $1,000,000.00 of the amount allocated under this section to subsidize the cost paid by districts for virtual courses.

(c) In providing educators responsible for the teaching of virtual courses as provided for in this section, the Michigan Virtual School shall follow the requirements to request and assess, and the department of state police shall provide, a criminal history check and criminal records check under sections 1230 and 1230a of the revised school code, MCL 380.1230 and 380.1230a, in the same manner as if the Michigan Virtual School were a school district under those sections.

(4) If the course offerings are included in the statewide catalog of virtual courses under subsection (2)(b)(ix), the Michigan Virtual School operated by the Michigan Virtual University may offer virtual course offerings, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Information technology courses.

(b) College level equivalent courses, as defined in section 1471 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1471.

(c) Courses and dual enrollment opportunities.

(d) Programs and services for at-risk pupils.

(e) High school equivalency test preparation courses for adjudicated youth.

(f) Special interest courses.

(g) Professional development programs for teachers, school administrators, other school employees, and school board members.

(5) If a home-schooled or nonpublic school student is a resident of a district that subscribes to services provided by the Michigan Virtual School, the student may use the services provided by the Michigan Virtual School to the district without charge to the student beyond what is charged to a district pupil using the same services.

(6) Not later than December 1 of each fiscal year, the Michigan Virtual University shall provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department that includes at least all of the following information related to the Michigan Virtual School for the preceding state fiscal year:

(a) A list of the districts served by the Michigan Virtual School.

(b) A list of virtual course titles available to districts.

(c) The total number of virtual course enrollments and information on registrations and completions by course.

(d) The overall course completion rate percentage.

(7) In addition to the information listed in subsection (6), the report under subsection (6) shall also include a plan to serve at least 600 schools with courses from the Michigan Virtual School or with content available through the internet-based platform identified in subsection (2)(b)(ix).

(8) The governor may appoint an advisory group for the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute established under subsection (2). The members of the advisory group shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall serve without compensation. The purpose of the advisory group is to make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the president and board of the Michigan Virtual University that will accelerate innovation in this state’s education system in a manner that will prepare elementary and secondary students to be career and college ready and that will promote the goal of increasing the percentage of citizens of this state with high-quality degrees and credentials to at least 60% by 2025.

(9) Not later than November 1, 2016, the Michigan Virtual University shall submit to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies a detailed budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year that includes a breakdown on its projected costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the anticipated fees to be paid by districts for those services. Not later than March 1 each year, the Michigan Virtual University shall submit to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies a breakdown on its actual costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the actual fees paid by districts for those services based on audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(10) As used in this section:

(a) “Blended learning” means a hybrid instructional delivery model where pupils are provided content, instruction, and assessment, in part at a supervised educational facility away from home where the pupil and a teacher with a valid Michigan teaching certificate are in the same physical location and in part through internet-connected learning environments with some degree of pupil control over time, location, and pace of instruction.

(b) “Cyber school” means a full-time instructional program of virtual courses for pupils that may or may not require attendance at a physical school location.

(c) “Virtual course” means a course of study that is capable of generating a credit or a grade and that is provided in an interactive learning environment in which the majority of the curriculum is delivered using the internet and in which pupils are separated from their instructor or teacher of record by time or location, or both.

Sec. 99h. (1) From the appropriation in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $2,500,000.00 for 2016‑2017 for competitive grants to districts that provide pupils in grades K to 12 with expanded opportunities to improve mathematics, science, and technology skills by participating in events hosted by a science and technology development program known as FIRST (for inspiration and recognition of science and technology) Robotics, including JR FIRST Lego League, FIRST Lego League, FIRST tech challenge, and FIRST Robotics competition. Programs funded under this section are intended to increase the number of pupils demonstrating proficiency in science and mathematics on the state assessments and to increase the number of pupils who are college- and career-ready upon high school graduation. Notwithstanding section 17b, grant payments to districts under this section shall be paid on a schedule determined by the department. The department shall set maximum grant awards for each different level of competition in a manner that both maximizes the number of teams that will be able to receive funds and expands the geographical distribution of teams.

(2) A district applying for a grant under this section shall submit an application in a form and manner determined by the department. To be eligible for a grant, a district shall demonstrate in its application that the district has established a partnership for the purposes of the FIRST Robotics program with at least 1 sponsor, business entity, higher education institution, or technical school, shall submit a spending plan, and shall pay at least 25% of the cost of the FIRST Robotics program.

(3) The department shall distribute the grant funding under this section for the following purposes:

(a) Grants to districts to pay for stipends not to exceed $1,500.00 for 1 coach per team.

(b) Grants to districts for event registrations, materials, travel costs, and other expenses associated with the preparation for and attendance at FIRST Robotics events and competitions. Each grant recipient shall provide a local match from other private or local funds for the funds received under this subdivision equal to at least 50% of the costs of participating in an event.

(c) Grants to districts for awards to teams that advance to the state and world championship competitions. The department shall determine an equal amount per team for those teams that advance to the state championship and a second equal award amount to those teams that advance to the world championship.

(4) The funds allocated under this section are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2016-2017 are carried forward into 2017-2018. The purpose of the work project is to continue to implement the projects described under subsection (1). The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2019.

Sec. 99t. (1) From the general fund appropriation under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.00 for 2016-2017 to purchase statewide access to an online algebra tool that meets all of the following:

(a) Provides students statewide with complete access to videos aligned with state standards including study guides and workbooks that are aligned with the videos.

(b) Provides students statewide with access to a personalized online algebra learning tool including adaptive diagnostics.

(c) Provides students statewide with dynamic algebra practice assessments that emulate the state assessment with immediate feedback and help solving problems.

(d) Provides students statewide with online access to algebra help 24 hours a day and 7 days a week from study experts, teachers, and peers on a moderated social networking platform.

(e) Provides an online algebra professional development network for teachers.

(f) Is already provided under a statewide contract in at least 1 other state that has a population of at least 18,000,000 but not more than 19,000,000 according to the most recent decennial census and is offered in that state in partnership with a public university.

(2) The department shall choose the online algebra tool by October 1, 2016.

Sec. 104c. (1) In order to receive state aid under this article, a district shall administer the state assessments described in this section.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the department shall develop for use in the spring of 2015-2016 the Michigan student test of educational progress (M-STEP) assessments in English language arts and mathematics. These assessments shall be aligned to state standards.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the department shall implement a summative assessment system that is proven to be valid and reliable for administration to pupils as provided under this subsection. The summative assessment system shall meet all of the following requirements:

(a) The summative assessment system shall measure student proficiency on the current state standards, shall measure student growth for consecutive grade levels in which students are assessed in the same subject area in both grade levels, and shall be capable of measuring individual student performance.

(b) The summative assessments for English language arts and mathematics shall be administered to all public school pupils in grades 3 to 11, including those pupils as required by the federal individuals with disabilities education act, Public Law 108-446, and by title I of the federal elementary and secondary education act.

(c) The summative assessments for science shall be administered to all public school pupils in at least grades 4 and 7, including those pupils as required by the federal individuals with disabilities education act, Public Law 108-446, and by title I of the federal elementary and secondary education act.

(d) The summative assessments for social studies shall be administered to all public school pupils in at least grades 5 and 8, including those pupils as required by the federal individuals with disabilities education act, Public Law 108-446, and by title I of the federal elementary and secondary education act.

(e) The content of the summative assessments shall be aligned to state standards.

(f) The pool of questions for the summative assessments shall be subject to a transparent review process for quality, bias, and sensitive issues involving educator review and comment. The department shall post samples from tests or retired tests featuring questions from this pool for review by the public.

(g) The summative assessment system shall ensure that students, parents, and teachers are provided with reports that convey individual student proficiency and growth on the assessment and that convey individual student domain-level performance in each subject area, including representative questions, and individual student performance in meeting state standards.

(h) The summative assessment system shall be capable of providing, and the department shall ensure that students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members are provided with, reports that convey aggregate student proficiency and growth data by teacher, grade, school, and district.

(i) The summative assessment system shall ensure the capability of reporting the available data to support educator evaluations.

(j) The summative assessment system shall ensure that the reports provided to districts containing individual student data are available within 60 days after completion of the assessments.

(k) The summative assessment system shall ensure that access to individually identifiable student data meets all of the following:

(i) Is in compliance with 20 USC 1232g, commonly referred to as the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974.

(ii) Except as may be provided for in an agreement with a vendor to provide assessment services, as necessary to support educator evaluations pursuant to subdivision (i), or for research or program evaluation purposes, is available only to the student; to the student’s parent or legal guardian; and to a school administrator or teacher, to the extent that he or she has a legitimate educational interest.

(l) The summative assessment system shall ensure that the assessments are pilot tested before statewide implementation.

(m) The summative assessment system shall ensure that assessments are designed so that the maximum total combined length of time that schools are required to set aside for a pupil to answer all test questions on all assessments that are part of the system for the pupil’s grade level does not exceed that maximum total combined length of time for the previous statewide assessment system or 9 hours, whichever is less. This subdivision does not limit the amount of time a district may allow a pupil to complete a test.

(n) The total cost of executing the summative assessment system statewide each year, including, but not limited to, the cost of contracts for administration, scoring, and reporting, shall not exceed an amount equal to 2 times the cost of executing the previous statewide assessment after adjustment for inflation.

(4) Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the department shall field test assessments in the fall and spring of each school year to measure English language arts and mathematics in each of grades K to 2 for full implementation when the assessments have been successfully field tested. This full implementation shall occur not later than the 2018-2019 school year. These assessments are necessary to determine a pupil’s proficiency level before grade 3.

(5) This section does not prohibit districts from adopting interim assessments.

(6) As used in this section, “English language arts” means that term as defined in section 104b.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect October 1, 2016.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved

Governor