Section 388.1635m - Literacy supports; Michigan Education Research Institute; literacy evaluations; eligibility; payments(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2024-2025 only an amount not to exceed $87,000,000.00 for the purposes described in this section, including payments to improve educational outcomes in literacy.(2) The department shall create the committee for literacy achievement that includes representatives of higher education and early childhood literacy educators who have expertise in literacy instruction and research. The department shall appoint the members of the committee for literacy achievement. The department shall develop a process to identify and assemble experts for the committee. The primary focus of the committee is to recommend tools and strategies with the goal of increasing student academic outcomes in the area of literacy. The committee is encouraged to collaborate with the Michigan Education Research Institute or other entities with similar expertise on the subject of literacy. The department shall determine the size, timeline, and benchmarks of the committee. The committee shall do all of the following: (a) Critically evaluate early literacy series and materials. The committee shall evaluate with research-based outcomes, using the committee's expertise in the field of literacy. The committee shall assign grade tiers to the series based on the series' likelihood to increase student literacy outcomes. Priority must be given to series that already have a demonstrated history of increasing student outcomes.(b) Critically evaluate literacy professional development. The committee shall evaluate with research-based outcomes, using the committee's expertise in the field of literacy. The committee shall assign grade tiers to the professional development based on the professional development's likelihood to increase student literacy outcomes. Priority must be given to professional development that already has a demonstrated history of increasing student outcomes.(c) Critically evaluate other applicable literacy tools or services the committee determines to have a high likelihood or demonstrated history of increasing student literacy outcomes.(d) Create and maintain a rankings list of all early literacy series and other items the committee has evaluated. The committee shall denote on the list whether major changes have been made to an early literacy series or other item on the list since the early literacy series or other item was evaluated by the committee and if the early literacy series or other item has not been evaluated since the last ranking.(3) An individual on the committee shall recuse themselves from evaluating early literacy series and other items that the individual has helped create, that the individual would benefit from financially, or for which the individual has any other conflict of interest.(4) From the funds allocated in subsection (1), the department shall make payments to districts and intermediate districts in an amount and on a schedule determined by the department. The department shall use the rankings list described in subsection (2) as the basis for how funding is allocated in subsection (1) to districts and intermediate districts. Districts and intermediate districts using higher-ranked literacy tools that are proven to increase student outcomes shall receive more funding than districts and intermediate districts utilizing lower-ranked literacy tools in both the base award and the per-pupil awards described in this subsection. The department may determine that some districts and intermediate districts will not receive funding under this section based on the effectiveness of the early literacy series or other items being utilized by the district or intermediate district. The department shall award funding under this section using the following methodology:(a) A base award equal to the amount necessary for the district or intermediate district to implement the chosen early literacy series or other item. The department may place a cap on the total award per district, intermediate district, or early literacy series or other item and may choose not to award funding if the early literacy series or other item is determined to be ineffective or is determined to be less effective than other choices.(b) A per-pupil award based on the number of pupils in membership at the district and intermediate district. The per-pupil amount must be larger for districts and intermediate districts using higher-ranked early literacy series or other items as determined under subsection (2). The department may choose not to award funding if the early literacy series or other item is determined to be ineffective or is determined to be less effective than other choices.(5) From the funding allocated in subsection (1), the department may pay an annual stipend of up to $8,000.00 for each member of the committee for literacy achievement who is employed by or at a public institution of higher education, a district, or an intermediate district. A stipend must be commensurate with the committee member's contribution to the committee during the fiscal year. Funding must be paid to the public institution of higher education, the district, or the intermediate district where the committee member is employed, and the public institution of higher education, the district, or the intermediate district must then use funding received to award the stipend directly to the individual committee member. A committee member who is not employed by or at a public institution of higher education, a district, or an intermediate district is not eligible to receive a stipend under this subsection.(6) To be eligible for funding under this section, a district or intermediate district must apply in a form and manner determined by the department. As a condition of receiving the funding, the district or intermediate district must agree to provide to the department information on the early literacy series and other items used for the previous and current school years and to provide this information twice a year, on or before March 31 and August 1.(7) Except as otherwise provided in this section and notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.(8) Funds allocated under this section for 2024-2025 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2024-2025 are carried forward into 2025-2026. The purpose of the work project is to improve literacy instructional practices. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2028.Added by 2024, Act 120,s 62, eff. 10/1/2024.