2025 Senate Bill 166

1. Amend page 173, line 24, after “under” by striking out “subsections” and inserting “subsection”.

2. Amend page 173, line 24, after “(4)” by striking out “and (8)(c)”.

3. Amend page 176, line 13, after “(c)” by striking out “Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), ensure” and inserting “Ensure”.

4. Amend page 178, line 20, after “personnel,” by striking out “as determined by the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential,” and inserting “as described in subsection (8)(c),”.

5. Amend page 194, following line 19, by inserting:

“(33) If the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential learns from district

officials or intermediate district officials that the requirements for credentialing in subsection (8)(c) are barring districts or intermediate districts from placing a sufficient number of individuals in teacher or paraprofessional positions under this section, by not later than January 1, 2026, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall report this information to the governor and the house and senate fiscal agencies as well as to the house and senate subcommittees on school aid. It is the intent of the legislature that if an insufficient number of individuals credentialed under subsection (8)(c) apply for positions as teachers or paraprofessionals under this section for the 2025-2026 school year due to the requirements of subsection (8)(c), the legislature will move toward limiting programs under this section to the number for which sufficient numbers of staff who meet the requirements in subsection (8)(c) can be engaged while prioritizing applicants based on the income status of the families of the applicants. Income status must be determined using the formula in

subsection (17).”.

1. Amend page 182, line 18, after “allocation.” by striking out “Beginning in 2025-2026, the department

of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall provide guidance to intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts on counting children served by Head Start programming for the

purposes of this 30% allocation. For 2024-2025, an” and inserting “An”.

1. Amend page 64, line 25, by striking out all of subsection (14) and renumbering the remaining subsection.

2. Amend page 352, line 18, after “subsections” by striking out “(11) and (12)” and inserting “(10) and (11)”.

3. Amend page 356, line 23, by striking out all of subdivisions (c) and (d) and relettering the remaining subdivision.

4. Amend page 360, line 3, after “subsections” by striking out “(11) and (12),” and inserting “(10) and (11),”.

5. Amend page 361, line 10, by striking out all of subsection (10) and renumbering the remaining subsections.

1. Amend page 125, line 17, after “2025-2026” by inserting a comma and “and from the general fund

money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $1,600,000.00 for 2025-

2026” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

2. Amend page 128, line 2, after “district,” by inserting “nonpublic school,”.

1. Amend page 162, line 4, after “2025-2026” by inserting a comma and “and from the general fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated $28,000,000.00 for 2025-2026,” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

2. Amend page 162, line 5, after “districts,” by inserting “nonpublic schools,”.

3. Amend page 162, line 13, after “money” by inserting “and general fund money”.

4. Amend page 164, line 21, after the second “district,” by inserting “nonpublic school,”.

5. Amend page 164, line 23, by inserting “nonpublic school,”.

6. Amend page 164, line 27, after the second “district,” by inserting “nonpublic school,”.

7. Amend page 165, line 1, after the second “district,” by inserting “nonpublic school,”.

8. Amend page 165, line 7, after “district,” by inserting “nonpublic school,”.

9. Amend page 165, line 22, after “funding.” by inserting “By December 31 of each fiscal year, from the general fund money allocated in subsection (1), the department shall make payments to nonpublic schools that opt in and agree to receive funding in an equal amount per pupil based on the total number of pupils in membership in each nonpublic school that opts in and agrees to receive funding, using pupil counts determined by the department. The department shall ensure that the amount per pupil paid to nonpublic schools does not exceed the amount per pupil paid to districts and intermediate districts.”.

10. Amend page 166, line 2, after “districts,” by striking “and”.

11. Amend page 166, line 3, after “Blind” by inserting a comma and “and nonpublic schools”.

12. Amend page 328, line 8, after the second “districts” by inserting a comma and “and from the general fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated $600,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 for competitive grants to nonpublic schools,”.

13. Amend page 328, line 28, after “districts” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic schools,”.

14. Amend page 329, line 21, after the first “districts” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic schools,”.

15. Amend page 330, line 23, after the first “district” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

16. Amend page 330, line 26, after “district” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

17. Amend page 330, line 27, after the second “district” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

18. Amend page 331, line 7, after “districts” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic schools,”.

19. Amend page 331, line 10, after “districts” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic schools,”.

20. Amend page 331, line 14, after “districts” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic schools,”.

21. Amend page 331, following line 17, by inserting:

“(6) A nonpublic school that receives a grant under this section may use the funds for either robotics or Science Olympiad programs.

(7) To be eligible to receive funds under this section, a nonpublic school must be a nonpublic school registered with the department and must meet all applicable state reporting requirements for nonpublic schools.” and renumbering the remaining subsections.

22. Amend page 331, line 26, after the first “district” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

23. Amend page 331 line 28, after “district” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

24. Amend page 401, following line 21, by inserting:

“Sec. 152b. (1) From the general fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 to reimburse actual costs incurred by nonpublic schools in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement mandated by a law or administrative rule of this state.

(2) By January 1 of each applicable fiscal year, the department shall publish a form for reporting actual costs incurred by a nonpublic school in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement mandated under state law containing each health, safety, or welfare requirement mandated by a law or administrative rule of this state applicable to a nonpublic school and with a reference to each relevant provision of law or administrative rule for the requirement. The form must be posted on the department’s website in electronic form.

(3) By June 30 of each applicable fiscal year, a nonpublic school seeking reimbursement for actual costs incurred in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement under a law or administrative rule of this state during each applicable school year must submit a completed form described in subsection (2) to the department. This section does not require a nonpublic school to submit a form described in subsection (2). A nonpublic school is not eligible for reimbursement under this section if the nonpublic school does not submit the form described in subsection (2) in a timely manner.

(4) By August 15 of each applicable fiscal year, the department shall distribute funds to each nonpublic school that submits a completed form described under subsection (2) in a timely manner. The superintendent shall determine the amount of funds to be paid to each nonpublic school in an amount that does not exceed the nonpublic school’s actual costs in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement under a law or administrative rule of this state. The superintendent shall calculate a nonpublic school’s actual cost in accordance with this section.

(5) If the funds allocated under this section are insufficient to fully fund payments as otherwise calculated under this section, the department shall distribute funds under this section on a prorated or other equitable basis as determined by the superintendent.

(6) The department may review the records of a nonpublic school submitting a form described in subsection (2) only for the limited purpose of verifying the nonpublic school’s compliance with this section. If a nonpublic school does not allow the department to review records under this subsection, the nonpublic school is not eligible for reimbursement under this section.

(7) The funds appropriated under this section are for purposes that are incidental to teaching and the provision of educational services to nonpublic school students; that are noninstructional in nature; that do not constitute a primary function or element necessary for a nonpublic school’s existence, operation, and survival; that do not involve or result in excessive religious entanglement; and that are intended for the public purpose of ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the children in nonpublic schools and to reimburse nonpublic schools for costs described in this section.

(8) Funds allocated under this section are not intended to aid or maintain any nonpublic school, support the attendance of any student at a nonpublic school, employ any person at a nonpublic school, support the attendance of any student at any location where instruction is offered to a nonpublic school student, or support the employment of any person at any location where instruction is offered to a nonpublic school student.

(9) For purposes of this section, “actual cost” means the hourly wage for the employee or employees performing a task or tasks required to comply with a health, safety, or welfare requirement under a law or administrative rule of this state identified by the department under subsection (2) and is to be calculated in accordance with the form published by the department under subsection (2), which must include a detailed itemization of costs. The nonpublic school shall not charge more than the hourly wage of its lowest-paid employee capable of performing a specific task regardless of whether that individual is available and regardless of who actually performs a specific task. Labor costs under this subsection must be estimated and charged in increments of 15 minutes or more, with all partial time increments rounded down. When calculating costs under subsection (4), fee components must be itemized in a manner that expresses both the hourly wage and the number of hours charged. The nonpublic school may not charge any applicable labor charge amount to cover or partially cover the cost of health or fringe benefits. A nonpublic school shall not charge any overtime wages in the calculation of labor costs.

(10) Training fees, inspection fees, and criminal background check fees are considered actual costs in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement under a law or administrative rule of this state.

(11) The 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 continue to reimburse nonpublic schools for actual costs incurred in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement mandated by a law or administrative rule of this state. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2026.

(12) The funds allocated under this section for 2025-2026 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2025-2026 are carried forward into 2026-2027. The purpose of the work project is to continue to reimburse nonpublic schools for actual costs incurred in complying with a health, safety, or welfare requirement mandated by a law or administrative rule of this state. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.

(13) (12) The department shall reimburse nonpublic schools for actual costs incurred in complying with health, safety, or welfare requirements under a law or administrative rule of this state from 2017-2018 through 2022-2023 using work project funds or, if those funds are insufficient to fund reimbursements under this subsection, from the allocation under subsection (1).”.

1. Amend page 103, line 20, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

2. Amend page 104, line 15, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

3. Amend page 105, line 7, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential;” and inserting “treasury;”.

4. Amend page 105, line 10, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

5. Amend page 105, line 14, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

6. Amend page 105, line 21, after “school” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

7. Amend page 105, line 25, after “school” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

8. Amend page 105, line 29, after “school” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

9. Amend page 106, line 4, after “school” by inserting a comma and “nonpublic school,”.

10. Amend page 106, line 18, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

11. Amend page 106, line 22, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential” and inserting “treasury”.

12. Amend page 107, line 7, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential” and inserting “treasury”.

13. Amend page 107, line 9, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

14. Amend page 107, line 11, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential” and inserting “treasury”.

15. Amend page 108, line 3, after “the” by striking out “educator fellowship public provider” and inserting “general”.

16. Amend page 108, line 5, by striking out “$20,000,000.00” and inserting “$2,500,000.00”.

17. Amend page 108, line 9, after “a” by striking out “district.” and inserting “public school or nonpublic school.”.

18. Amend page 108, line 10, after “year,” by striking out “state school aid fund money allocated” and inserting “funds”.

19. Amend page 108, line 11, by striking out “is” and inserting “are”.

20. Amend page 108, line 11, after “deposited” by inserting “as follows:

(a) For state school aid fund money,”.

21. Amend page 108, following line 12, by inserting:

“(b) For general fund money, into the educator fellowship private provider fund in section 27e.”.

22. Amend page 108, line 22, after “a” by striking out “district” and inserting “public school or nonpublic school”.

23. Amend page 108, line 28, after “of” by striking out “education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

24. Amend page 109, line 1, by striking out “district” and inserting “public school or nonpublic school”.

25. Amend page 109, line 4, after “teacher.” by striking out the balance of the line through “program” on line 11.

26. Amend page 109, line 17, after “their” by striking out “district” and inserting “public school or nonpublic school”.

27. Amend page 109, line 23, after “of” by striking out “education, advancement, and potential” and inserting “treasury”.

28. Amend page 109, line 26 after “a” by striking out the balance of the line through “program.” on line 4 of page 110 and inserting “public school or nonpublic school.”.

29. Amend page 110, line 15, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential” and inserting “treasury”.

30. Amend page 110, line 17, after “of” by striking out “lifelong education, advancement, and potential.” and inserting “treasury.”.

31. Amend page 110, line 21, after “27d” by inserting “or the educator fellowship private provider fund in section 27e, as applicable,”.

1. Amend page 169, line 13, by striking out all of section 32d and inserting:

“Sec. 32d. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated to eligible intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts for great start readiness programs an amount not to exceed $609,720,000.00 $603,000,000.00 for 2024-2025. It is the intent of the legislature that this section will support universal great start readiness programs in a future fiscal year. 2025-2026. An intermediate district or consortium shall use funds allocated under this section for great start readiness programs to provide part-day programs, school-day programs, GSRP extended programs, GSRP/Head Start school-day blended programs, or GSRP/Head Start extended blended programs that are comprehensive, free, compensatory classroom programs designed to improve the readiness and subsequent achievement of children who meet the participant eligibility and prioritization guidelines as defined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential. For a child to be eligible to participate in a program under this section, the child must be at least 4, but less than 5, years of age as of September 1 of the school year in which the program is offered and must meet those eligibility and prioritization guidelines. After eligible children who will be 4 years of age as of September 1 are enrolled, a child who is not 4 years of age as of September 1, but who will be 4 years of age by not later than December 1, is eligible to participate if both of the following are met:

(a) The child’s parent or legal guardian seeks a waiver from the September 1 eligibility date by submitting a request for enrollment in a program to the responsible intermediate district.

(b) The child meets eligibility and prioritization guidelines.

(2) From the state school aid fund money allocated under subsection (1), an amount not to exceed $607,720,000.00 $601,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 is allocated to intermediate districts or consortia of intermediate districts based on the formula in section 39. An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving funding under this section shall act as the fiduciary for the great start readiness programs. An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving funding under this section may collaborate with local governments to identify children eligible for programs funded under this section and may contract with local governments to provide services. To be eligible to receive funds allocated under this subsection from an intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts, a district, a consortium of districts, a local government, or a public or private for-profit or nonprofit legal entity or agency must comply with this section and section 39. If, due to the number of GSRP extended program or GSRP/Head Start extended blended program slots awarded, the amount allocated in this subsection is insufficient to award at least the same number of part-day program and school-day program slots as awarded in the immediately preceding fiscal year, there is appropriated from the great start readiness program reserve fund the amount necessary to fully award the same number of part-day program and full-day program slots as awarded in the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(3) In addition to the allocation under subsection (1), from the general fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $600,000.00 $350,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 for a competitive grant to continue a longitudinal evaluation of children who have participated in great start readiness programs. It is the intent of the legislature that the allocation under this subsection will be $350,000.00 for 2025-2026.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), to be eligible for funding under this section, a program must prepare children for success in school through comprehensive part-day programs, school-day programs, GSRP extended programs, GSRP/Head Start school-day blended programs, or GSRP/Head Start extended blended programs that contain all of the following program components, as determined by the department: of lifelong education, advancement, and potential:

(a) Participation in a collaborative recruitment and enrollment process to ensure that each child is enrolled in the program most appropriate to the child’s needs and to maximize the use of federal, state, and local funds.

(b) An age-appropriate educational curriculum that is in compliance with the early childhood standards of quality for prekindergarten children adopted by the state board, including, at least, the Connect4Learning curriculum.

(c) Nutritional services for all program participants supported by federal, state, and local resources as applicable.

(d) Physical and dental health and developmental screening services for all program participants.

(e) Referral services for families of program participants to community social service agencies, including mental health services, as appropriate.

(f) Active and continuous involvement of the parents or guardians of the program participants.

(g) A plan to conduct and report annual great start readiness program evaluations and continuous improvement plans using criteria approved by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(h) Participation in a school readiness advisory committee convened as a workgroup of the great start collaborative that provides for the involvement of classroom teachers, parents or guardians of program participants, and community, volunteer, and social service agencies and organizations, as appropriate. The advisory committee shall annually review and make recommendations regarding the program components listed in this subsection. The advisory committee also shall make recommendations to the great start collaborative regarding other community services designed to improve all children’s school readiness.

(i) The ongoing articulation of the kindergarten and first grade programs offered by the program provider.

(j) Participation in this state’s great start to quality process with a rating of at least enhancing quality level.

(5) To help expand access to great start readiness programs, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential may waive the requirements under subsection (4) and a program may be eligible for funding under this section for new or expanding programs if the program demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that the program meets all of the following:

(a) Is a licensed child care center or is a licensed program.

(b) Provides the minimum instructional time as required by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(c) Participates in this state’s quality rating improvement system at a level determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(d) Implements a professional educator preparation plan, as defined by the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, for educators not meeting teacher credentialing standards described in subsection (8).

(e) Uses a developmentally appropriate curriculum, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(f) Conducts a developmental screening and referral process, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(g) Commits to participating in program financial review and monitoring, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(h) Provides a plan to implement an approved great start readiness program curriculum and meet additional great start readiness program standards, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(6) A waiver under subsection (5) may be granted for up to 3 years for requirements related to program credentialing and may be granted for up to 2 years for all other requirements, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(7) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies that summarizes the number and types of exemptions granted under subsection (5) and progress made by programs granted waivers under subsection (5) by September 30 of each fiscal year. It is the intent of the legislature to review the waiver allowability under subsection (5) before the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027.

(8) An application for funding under this section must provide for the following, in a form and manner determined by the department: of lifelong education, advancement, and potential:

(a) Ensure either of the following:

(i) That the applicant complies with all program components described in subsection (4).

(ii) That the applicant meets the requirements of a waiver under subsection (5).

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, ensure that children participating in an eligible great start readiness program for whom the intermediate district is receiving funds under this section are children who live with families with a household income that is equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. If the intermediate district determines that all eligible children are being served and that there are no children on the waiting list who live with families with a household income that is equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, the intermediate district may then enroll children who live with families with a household income that is greater than 400% equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. The enrollment process must consider income and risk factors, such that children determined with higher need are enrolled before children with lesser need. For purposes of this subdivision, all age-eligible children served in foster care or who are experiencing homelessness or who have individualized education programs recommending placement in an inclusive preschool setting are considered to live with families with household income equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines regardless of actual family income and are prioritized for enrollment within the lowest quintile. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall publish the household income thresholds under this subdivision in a clear manner on its website and the great start to quality website.

(c) Ensure that the applicant only uses qualified personnel for this program, as follows:

(i) Teachers possessing proper training. A lead teacher must have a valid Michigan teaching certificate with an early childhood or lower elementary endorsement or a bachelor’s or higher degree in child development or early childhood education with specialization in preschool teaching. However, except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, if an applicant demonstrates to the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that it is unable to fully comply with this subparagraph after making reasonable efforts to comply, teachers or paraprofessionals with at least 5 years of experience as a paraprofessional in a great start readiness program, Head Start, or licensed child care center classroom who have significant but incomplete training in early childhood education or child development may be used if the applicant provides to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential approves, a plan for each teacher to come into compliance with the standards in this subparagraph. Individuals may qualify with at least 3 years of experience and significant training in early childhood education or child development, based on the recommendation of the intermediate district after a classroom observation. A teacher’s compliance plan must be completed within 3 years of the date of employment. Progress toward completion of the compliance plan consists of at least 2 courses per calendar year.

(ii) Paraprofessionals possessing proper training in early childhood education, including an associate degree in early childhood education or child development or the equivalent, or a child development associate (CDA) credential. However, if an applicant demonstrates to the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that it is unable to fully comply with this subparagraph after making reasonable efforts to comply, the applicant may use paraprofessionals who have completed at least 1 course that earns college credit in early childhood education or child development or enroll in a child development associate credential with at least 6 months of verified experience in early education and care, if the applicant provides to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential approves, a plan for each paraprofessional to come into compliance with the standards in this subparagraph. A paraprofessional’s compliance plan must be completed within 3 years of the date of employment. Progress toward completion of the compliance plan consists of at least 2 courses, 60 clock hours, or an equivalent of training per calendar year.

(d) Include a program budget that contains only those costs that are not reimbursed or reimbursable by federal funding, that are clearly and directly attributable to the great start readiness program, and that would not be incurred if the program were not being offered. Eligible costs include transportation costs. The program budget must indicate the extent to which these funds will supplement other federal, state, local, or private funds. An applicant shall not use funds received under this section to supplant any federal funds received by the applicant to serve children eligible for a federally funded preschool program that has the capacity to serve those children.

(9) For a grant recipient that enrolls pupils in a school-day program or GSRP extended program funded under this section, each child enrolled in the school-day program or GSRP extended program is counted as described in section 39 for purposes of determining the amount of the grant award.

(10) For a grant recipient that enrolls pupils in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program or GSRP/Head Start extended blended program, the grant recipient shall ensure that all Head Start and GSRP policies and regulations are applied to the blended slots, with adherence to the highest standard from either program, to the extent allowable under federal law. A grant recipient may request a waiver from the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential to align GSRP policies and regulations with Head Start national standards for quality, including ratios, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential may approve the waiver. Not later than March 1 of each year, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential will report to the legislature and post on a publicly available website a list by intermediate district or consortium with the number and type of each waiver requested and approved.

(11) To help expand access to great start readiness programs, the department may allow great start readiness programs to implement Head Start national performance standards for quality as an alternative to great start readiness program policies and regulations if the great start readiness program demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the great start readiness program is meeting the requirements of the Head Start national performance standards.

(12) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section shall designate an early childhood coordinator, and may provide services directly or may contract with 1 or more districts or public or private for-profit or nonprofit providers that meet all requirements of subsections (4) and (8).

(13) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts may retain for administrative services provided by the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts an amount not to exceed 4% of the grant amount. Expenses incurred by subrecipients engaged by the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts for directly running portions of the program are considered program costs or a contracted program fee for service. Subrecipients operating with a federally approved indirect rate for other early childhood programs may include indirect costs, not to exceed the federal 10% de minimis.

(14) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts may expend not more than 2% of the total grant amount for outreach, recruiting, and public awareness of the program, if the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts also participates in related statewide marketing and outreach efforts.

(15) Each grant recipient shall enroll children identified under subsection (8)(b) according to how far the child’s household income is below 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines by ranking each applicant child’s household income from lowest to highest and dividing the applicant children into quintiles based on how far the child’s household income is below 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, and then enrolling children in the quintile with the lowest household income before enrolling children in the quintile with the next lowest household income until slots are completely filled. If the grant recipient determines that all eligible children are being served and that there are no children on the waiting list who live with families with a household income that is equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, the grant recipient may then enroll children who live with families with a household income that is greater than 400% equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. The enrollment process must consider income and risk factors, such that children determined with higher need are enrolled before children with lesser need. For purposes of this subsection, all age-eligible children served in foster care or who are experiencing homelessness or who have individualized education programs recommending placement in an inclusive preschool setting are considered to live with families with household income equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines regardless of actual family income and are prioritized for enrollment within the lowest quintile.

(16) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section shall allow parents of eligible children who are residents of the intermediate district or within the consortium to choose a program operated by or contracted with another intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts and shall enter into a written agreement regarding payment, in a manner prescribed by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(17) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section shall conduct a local process to contract with interested and eligible public and private for-profit and nonprofit community-based providers that meet all requirements of subsection (4) for at least 30% of its total allocation. For the purposes of this 30% allocation, an intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts may count children served by a Head Start grantee or delegate in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program, GSRP/Head Start extended blended program, GSRP extended program, and great start readiness school-day program. Children served in a program funded only through Head Start are not counted toward this 30% allocation. An intermediate district or consortium shall report to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, in a manner prescribed by the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, a detailed list of community-based providers by provider type, including private for-profit, private nonprofit, community college or university, Head Start grantee or delegate, and district or intermediate district, and the number and proportion of its total allocation allocated to each provider as subrecipient. If the intermediate district or consortium is not able to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation, the intermediate district or consortium shall notify the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential and, if the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential verifies that the intermediate district or consortium attempted to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation and was not able to do so, the intermediate district or consortium may retain and use all of its allocation as provided under this section. To be able to use this exemption, the intermediate district or consortium shall demonstrate to the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that the intermediate district or consortium increased the percentage of its total allocation for which it contracts with a community-based provider and the intermediate district or consortium shall submit evidence satisfactory to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential must be able to verify this evidence, demonstrating that the intermediate district or consortium took measures to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation as required under this subsection, including, but not limited to, at least all of the following measures:

(a) The intermediate district or consortium notified each nonparticipating licensed child care center located in the service area of the intermediate district or consortium regarding the center’s eligibility to participate, in a manner prescribed by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(b) The intermediate district or consortium provided to each nonparticipating licensed child care center located in the service area of the intermediate district or consortium information regarding great start readiness program requirements and a description of the application and selection process for community-

based providers.

(c) The intermediate district or consortium provided to the public and to participating families a list of community-based great start readiness program subrecipients with a great start to quality rating level of at least enhancing quality level.

(18) If an intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section fails to submit satisfactory evidence to demonstrate its effort to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation, as required under subsection (17), the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall reduce the allocation to the intermediate district or consortium by a percentage equal to the difference between the percentage of an intermediate district’s or consortium’s total allocation awarded to community-

based providers and 30% of its total allocation.

(19) To assist intermediate districts and consortia in complying with the requirement to contract with community-based providers, for at least 30% of their total allocation, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall do all of the following:

(a) Ensure that a great start resource center or the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential provides each intermediate district or consortium receiving a grant under this section with the contact information for each licensed child care center located in the service area of the intermediate district or consortium by March 1 of each year.

(b) Provide, or ensure that an organization with which the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential contracts provides, a community-based provider with a validated great start to quality rating within 90 days of the provider’s having submitted a request and self-assessment.

(c) Ensure that all intermediate district, district, community college or university, Head Start grantee or delegate, private for-profit, and private nonprofit providers are subject to a single great start to quality rating continuous quality improvement system. The rating continuous quality improvement system must ensure that regulators process all prospective providers at the same pace on a first-come, first-served basis and must not allow 1 type of provider to receive a great start to quality rating level ahead of any other type of provider.

(d) By not later than March 1 of each year, compile the results of the information reported by each intermediate district or consortium under subsection (17) and report to the legislature and post on a publicly available website a list by intermediate district or consortium with the number and percentage of each intermediate district’s or consortium’s total allocation allocated to community-based providers by provider type, including private for-profit, private nonprofit, community college or university, Head Start grantee or delegate, and district or intermediate district.

(e) Allow intermediate districts and consortia and eligible community-based providers to utilize materials and supplies purchased for great start readiness programs within their facilities for other early care and education activities, in the following order of priority:

(i) Early care and education activities under a federal award.

(ii) Early care and education activities under other state awards.

(iii) Early care and education activities under local or regional awards.

(20) A recipient of funds under this section shall report to the center in a form and manner prescribed by the center the information necessary to derive the number of children participating in the program who meet the program eligibility criteria under subsection (8)(b), the number of eligible children not participating in the program and on a waitlist, and the total number of children participating in the program by various demographic groups and eligibility factors necessary to analyze equitable and priority access to services for the purposes of subsection (3).

(21) As used in this section:

(a) “Child care center” means that term as defined in section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.

(b) (a) “Federal poverty guidelines” means the guidelines published annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under its authority to revise the poverty line under 42 USC 9902.

(c) (b) “GSRP extended program” means a program that operates for at least the same length of day as a district’s first grade program for a minimum of 5 days per week, 36 weeks per year.

(d) (c) “GSRP/Head Start extended blended program” means a program funded under this section and a Head Start program that are combined for an extended program.

(e) (d) “GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program” means a part-day program funded under this section and a Head Start program, which are combined for a school-day program.

(f) “Licensed child care center” means a child care center that has been issued a license under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, to operate a child care center.

(g) (e) “Part-day program” means a program that operates at least 4 days per week, 30 weeks per year, for at least 3 hours of teacher-child contact time per day but for fewer hours of teacher-child contact time per day than a school-day program.

(h) (f) “School-day program” means a program that operates for at least the same length of day as a district’s first grade program for a minimum of 4 days per week, 30 weeks per year. A classroom that offers a school-day program must enroll all children for the school day to be considered a school-day program.

(22) From the amount allocated in subsection (2), there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 an amount not to exceed $10,000,000.00 and, from the great start readiness program reserve state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 only an amount not to exceed $18,000,000.00 for reimbursement of transportation costs for children attending great start readiness programs funded under this section. To receive reimbursement under this subsection, by not later than November 1 of each year, a program funded under this section that provides transportation shall submit to the intermediate district that is the fiscal agent for the program a projected transportation budget. The amount of the reimbursement for transportation under this subsection is no more than the projected transportation budget or $500.00 multiplied by the number of children funded for the program under this section. If the amount allocated under this subsection is insufficient to fully reimburse the transportation costs for all programs that provide transportation and submit the required information, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall prorate the reimbursement in an equal amount per child funded. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall make payments to the intermediate district that is the fiscal agent for each program, and the intermediate district shall then reimburse the program provider for transportation costs as prescribed under this subsection.

(23) Subject to, and from the funds allocated under, subsection (22), the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall reimburse a program for transportation costs related to parent- or guardian-

accompanied transportation provided by transportation service companies, buses, or other public

transportation services. To be eligible for reimbursement under this subsection, a program must submit to

the intermediate district or consortia of intermediate districts all of the following:

(a) The names of families provided with transportation support along with a documented reason for the need for transportation support and the type of transportation provided.

(b) Financial documentation of actual transportation costs incurred by the program, including, but not limited to, receipts and mileage reports, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(c) Any other documentation or information determined necessary by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(24) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall implement a process to review and approve age-appropriate comprehensive classroom level quality assessments for GSRP grantees that support the early childhood standards of quality for prekindergarten children adopted by the state board. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall make available to intermediate districts at least 2 classroom level quality assessments that were approved in 2018.

(25) An intermediate district that is a GSRP grantee may approve the use of a supplemental curriculum that aligns with and enhances the age-appropriate educational curriculum in the classroom. If the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential objects to the use of a supplemental curriculum approved by an intermediate district, the director of the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential superintendent of public instruction shall establish a review committee independent of the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential. The review committee shall meet within 60 days of the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential registering its objection in writing and provide a final determination on the validity of the objection within 60 days of the review committee’s first meeting.

(26) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall implement a process to evaluate and approve age-appropriate educational curricula that are in compliance with the early childhood standards of quality for prekindergarten children adopted by the state board.

(27) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 for payments to intermediate districts or consortia of intermediate districts for professional development and training materials for educators in programs implementing new curricula or child assessment tools approved for use in the great start readiness program.

(28) A great start readiness program, a GSRP extended program, a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program, or a GSRP/Head Start extended blended program funded under this section is permitted to utilize AmeriCorps Pre-K Reading Corps members in classrooms implementing research-based early literacy intervention strategies.

(29) In addition to the allocation under subsection (1), from the state school aid fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.00 $30,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 only for classroom start up grants to intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts for new or expanding great start readiness classrooms. All of the following apply to funding allocated under this subsection:

(a) To receive funding under this subsection, intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts must apply for the funding in a form and manner prescribed by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(b) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall pay an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 for each new or expanded classroom. If funding is insufficient to fully fund all eligible applicants, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential must prorate the per-classroom amount on an equal basis. If the allocation is not fully paid in the current fiscal year, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential may award any remaining funding during fiscal year 2025-2026 2026-

2027 for each new or expanded classroom at an equal amount per classroom, based on remaining available

funds, not to exceed $50,000.00 per classroom.

(c) Funds received under this subsection by intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts must be paid in full to the entity operating the classroom and may be used for 1 or more of the following purposes:

(i) Costs associated with attracting, recruiting, retaining, and licensing required classroom education personnel to staff new or expanded classrooms.

(ii) Supporting facility improvements or purchasing facility space necessary to provide a safe, high-quality learning environment for children in each new or expanded classroom.

(iii) Outreach material necessary for public awareness that the great start readiness program has openings in the area and for costs associated with enrolling eligible children in new or expanded classrooms.

(iv) Supporting costs in each new or expanded classroom associated with improving a provider’s great start to quality rating.level.

(d) The funds allocated under this subsection for 2022-2023 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2022-2023 do not lapse to the state school aid fund and are carried forward into 2023-

2024. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for new or expanded great start readiness

classrooms. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2024.The department shall

establish a process to ensure that at least 50% of the funding distributed under this subsection for 2025-2026 is used to establish new programs by community-based organizations.

(e) The funds allocated under this subsection for 2024-2025 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2024-2025 do not lapse to the state school aid fund and are carried forward into 2025-

2026. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for new or expanded great start readiness

classrooms. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2026.

(f) The funds allocated under this subsection for 2025-2026 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2025-2026 do not lapse to the state school aid fund and are carried forward into 2026-2027. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for new or expanded great start readiness classrooms. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.

(g) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this subsection on a schedule determined by the department.

(30) In addition to the funds allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated from the general fund money appropriated under section 11 for 2024-2025 only an amount not to exceed $1,950,000.00 for an intermediate district or a consortium of intermediate districts to partner with the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential and community-based organizations to continue implementing statewide outreach and enrollment campaign activities to raise awareness about the availability of services through the great start readiness program and to promote enrollment.

(31) The funds allocated under subsection (30) 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 raise awareness of and participation in great start readiness programming. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.

(32) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall make payments under subsection (30) on a schedule determined by the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(33) As used in this section:

(a) “Child care center” means that term as defined in section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.

(b) “Licensed child care center” means a child care center that has been issued a license under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, to operate a child care center.” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

2. Amend page 238, line 10, after “department” by inserting a comma and striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

3. Amend page 238, line 21, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

4. Amend page 238, line 24, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

5. Amend page 239, line 11, after “department” by inserting a comma and striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential,”.

6. Amend page 239, line 12, after “department” by inserting a comma and striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential,”.

7. Amend page 239, line 15, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

8. Amend page 239, following line 16, by striking out all of subsections (4), (5), and (6), and inserting:

“(4) The initial allocation to each eligible applicant under section 32d is the lesser of the following:

(a) The sum of the number of children served in a school-day program in the preceding school year multiplied by $10,185.00, $14,000.00, the number of children served in a GSRP extended program in the preceding school year multiplied by $12,222.00, $16,800.00, the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program or a part-day program in the preceding school year multiplied by $5,093.00, $7,000.00, and the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start extended blended program in the preceding school year multiplied by $6,111.00.$8,400.00.

(b) The sum of the number of children the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year in a school-day program multiplied by $10,185.00, $14,000.00, the number of children served in a GSRP extended program the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year multiplied by $12,222.00, $16,800.00, the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program or a part-day program the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year multiplied by $5,093.00, $7,000.00, and the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start extended blended program the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year multiplied by $6,111.00.$8,400.00.” and renumbering the remaining subsections.

9. Amend page 243, line 8, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

10. Amend page 243, line 10, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

11. Amend page, 243, following line 14, by inserting:

“(8) As used in this section, “GSRP/Head Start blended program”, “GSRP extended program”, “part-

day program”, and “school-day program” mean those terms as defined in section 32d.”.

1. Amend page 163, line 26, after “officers.” by striking out the balance of the subdivision.

2. Amend page 305, following line 9, by inserting:

“Sec. 97b. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated

for 2025-2026 an amount not to exceed $50,000,000.00 to public schools, districts, and intermediate districts as prescribed in this section. It is the intent of the legislature that, for 2026-2027, the allocation from the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11 for purposes described in this section will be $25,000,000.00.

(2) To receive funding under this section, a public school, district, or intermediate district must apply for the funding to the department of state police, grants and community services division, in a form and manner prescribed by the department of state police.

(3) The department of state police shall not award funding under subsection (1) to a public school, district, or intermediate district in relation to the same school building more than once in a single grant application period. If a district submits an application under subsection (2) relating to a school building and a public school within that district also submits an application for funding in relation to that same school building, the department of state police shall not allocate funding under subsection (1) twice for that school building. If a public school, district, or intermediate district submits more than 1 application, the department of state police shall first consider the most recent application submitted in considering funding under subsection (1).

(4) A public school, district, or intermediate district that receives funding under this section shall use the funding only to ensure that the public school, district, or intermediate district has at least 1 school resource officer employed by the school, district, or intermediate district that performs 1 or more of the following duties as part of the school resource officer’s service at the school, district, or intermediate district:

(a) Assists school administration in ensuring the physical safety of school buildings of the school, district, or intermediate district and the individuals inside the school buildings.

(b) Works with school administration to develop safety procedures for potential threats in school buildings of the school, district, or intermediate district.

(c) Welcomes, counsels, and mentors students.

(d) Educates students about law-related topics, as appropriate.

(e) De-escalates aggression that occurs between students or between students and school, district, or intermediate district staff.

(f) Mentors students as an advisor and role model.

(5) Funds allocated under this section may be used to hire new school resource officers or to increase the hours for current school resource officers. This funding may be used whether the school resource officers are hired from public employers or from private security companies.

(6) Funds allocated under this section for 2025-2026 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2025-2026 are carried forward into 2026-2027. The purpose of the work project is to continue providing funding to support public schools, districts, and intermediate districts in having school resource officers at schools, districts, or intermediate districts. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2030.

(7) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.

(8) As used in this section, “public school” means that term as defined in section 5 of the revised

school code, MCL 380.5.” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

1. Amend page 49, following line 25, by inserting:

“Sec. 18e. (1) The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors

of a public school academy that participates in interscholastic athletic activities shall designate interscholastic athletic teams and sports based on the sex of the participants, with separate teams for participants of the female sex within female sports divisions, separate teams for participants of the male sex within male sports divisions, and, if applicable, co-ed teams for participants of the female and male sexes within co-ed sports divisions. A school district or intermediate school district shall not knowingly allow individuals of the male sex to participate on athletic teams or in athletic competitions designated for only participants of the female sex. This subsection must not be construed to restrict the eligibility of any student to participate on any interscholastic athletic teams or in interscholastic athletic activities that are designated as male or co-ed.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) “Female” means an individual of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova).

(b) “Male” means an individual of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm.

(c) “Sex” means an individual’s immutable biological classification as male or female.”.

2. Amend page 81, following line 12, by inserting:

“(h) Comply with section 18e.”.

1. Amend page 53, line 14, after “school,” by striking out “80%” and inserting “100%”.

1. Amend page 87, following line 20, by inserting:

“Sec. 22e. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 only an amount not to exceed $57,000,000.00 for payments to public school academies in an amount per pupil equal to 3.9% of the public school academy’s foundation allowance under section 20 for 2024-2025. It is the intent of the legislature that payments under this section be used to support student mental health, school safety, educator workforce, and academic interventions.

(2) To be eligible for funding under this section, a public school academy must not be a participating entity of the Michigan public school employees’ retirement system under the public school employees retirement act of 1979, 1980 PA 300, MCL 38.1301 to 38.1437. As used in this subsection, “participating entity” means that term as defined in section 147c.”.

2. Amend page 402, line 24, after “20f,” by striking out “22e,”.

3. Amend page 402, line 26, after “388.1620f,” by striking out “388.1622e,”.

1. Amend page 396, following line 21, by inserting:

“(2) In addition to the funds allocated under subsection (1), from the MPSERS retirement obligation reform reserve state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2024-2025 only $250,000,000.00 2025-2026 an amount not to exceed $641,500,000.00 for payments to participating entities of the Michigan public school employees’ retirement system. The amount allocated to each participating entity under this subsection must be based on each participating entity’s proportion of the total covered payroll for the immediately preceding fiscal year. A participating entity that receives funds under this subsection shall use the funds solely for purposes of this subsection. Each participating entity receiving funds under this subsection shall forward an amount equal to the amount allocated under this subsection to the retirement system in a form, manner, and time frame determined by the retirement system. The retirement system shall recognize funds received under this subsection as additional assets being contributed to the system and shall not categorize them as unfunded actuarial liability contributions or normal cost contributions.” and renumbering the remaining subsection.

2. Amend page 399, line 22, by striking out all of section 147g.

1. Amend page 296, following line 16, by inserting:

“(f) Ensure that all districts located within the intermediate district’s geographic boundaries have

equitable access to the intermediate district’s coordination activities and services, intermediate district-wide or regional meetings, regularly scheduled superintendent meetings, programming, events, email distribution lists, listservs, or other coordination or collaboration activities organized by or hosted at the intermediate district. In ensuring that all districts located within the geographic boundaries of the intermediate district have equitable access to services, meetings, programming, events, email distribution lists, listservs, or activities as described in the immediately preceding sentence, the intermediate district shall ensure that districts that are public school academies that are located within the intermediate district’s geographic boundaries are not excluded from the services, meetings, programming, events, email distribution lists, listservs, or activities organized by or hosted at the intermediate district if districts that are not public school academies that are located within the

geographic boundaries of the intermediate district are not excluded.”.

1. Amend page 145, line 16, after “districts.” by striking out the balance of the subsection.

1. Amend page 250, line 18, after “exceed” by striking out “$2,216,096,100.00” and inserting “$2,245,796,100.00” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

2. Amend page 266, line 7, after “(a)” by striking out the balance of the subdivision and inserting ““Capped local special education property tax revenue” means the amount of revenue that would be

received if an intermediate district levied the maximum millage rate permitted for that intermediate district under section 1724a of the revised school code, MCL 380.1724a, capped at the statewide

average special education millage rate.”.

3. Amend page 266, line 13, after the second “levied” by inserting “in the immediately preceding fiscal year”.

4. Amend page 266, following line 15, by inserting:

“(c) “Special education head count” means, for a particular fiscal year, the total special education

head count of an intermediate district and the districts constituent to the intermediate district from the fall pupil membership count day of the immediately preceding year, except that if a district has elected not to come under part 30 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1711 to 380.1741, special education head count of the district is not included in the special education head count of the intermediate district.

(d) “Statewide average special education millage rate” means the statewide levy amount divided by the statewide taxable value.

(e) “Statewide average taxable value per unreimbursed costs” means the statewide taxable value

divided by the statewide unreimbursed costs.” and relettering the remaining subdivision.

5. Amend page 266, line 9, after “district,” by inserting “in the immediately preceding fiscal year,”.

6. Amend page 266, line 21, after “district.” by inserting “Taxable value also includes both of the

following:

(i) The value of personal property exempt under the local community stabilization authority act, 2014 PA 86, MCL 123.1341 to 123.1362, and reimbursed to the intermediate district under section 17 of the local community stabilization authority act, 2024 PA 86, MCL 123.1357.

(ii) Tax increment property captured by a brownfield redevelopment authority under the brownfield redevelopment financing act, 1996 PA 381, MCL 125.2651 to 125.2670, and reimbursed to the intermediate district under section 15b of the brownfield redevelopment financing act, 1996 PA 381, MCL 125.2665b.

(g) “Unreimbursed costs” means the sum of costs reported on the SE-4094 and SE-4096 reports for all districts in the intermediate district, less the amount of reimbursement received under section 51c,

and less the capped local special education property tax revenue.”.

7. Amend page 266, line 23, after “exceed” by striking out “$40,008,100.00 for 2024-2025 and $40,008,100.00” and inserting “$92,708,100.00”.

8. Amend page 267, following line 5, by striking out the balance of the section and inserting:

“(3) The department shall provide payments under subsection (2) to each intermediate district

described in this subsection as follows:

(a) The department shall first calculate a reimbursement for those millages levied in the immediately preceding fiscal year at an amount per special education head count, by subtracting the intermediate district’s taxable value per special education head count from the statewide average taxable value per special education head count, and multiplying the resulting difference by the immediately preceding fiscal year millage rate levied, capped at the statewide average special education millage rate.

(b) The department shall then calculate a reimbursement for unreimbursed costs by subtracting the quotient of the intermediate district’s taxable value and the statewide average taxable value per unreimbursed costs from the intermediate district’s unreimbursed costs.

(c) The calculation under subdivision (a) must be greater than $0.00 for an intermediate district to receive reimbursement under this subsection. For those intermediate districts whose calculation under subdivision (a) is less than or equal to $0.00, the amount in subdivision (b) is $0.00 for purposes of the calculation in subdivision (d).

(d) The department shall then calculate the average of the amounts calculated under subdivisions (a) and (b) for each intermediate district. For the purpose of this calculation, calculations in subdivision (a) or (b) that result in negative totals are treated as $0.00.

(e) The amount reimbursed under subsection (2) is the 3-year average of the amount calculated under subdivision (d) for the 3 most recent fiscal years.

(4) If total payments calculated under subsection (3) exceed the amount allocated in subsection (2),

the department must prorate the payments on an equal percentage basis.”.

1. Amend page 49, following line 19, by inserting:

“Sec 16b. (1) For the 2025-2026 school year only, there is allocated an amount not to exceed

$25,000,000.00 from the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11 to address chronic absenteeism in buildings that have a chronic absenteeism rate of 20% or more. All of the following apply to money paid under this section:

(a) Districts shall apply for funding under this section in a form and manner determined by the department.

(b) Payments under this section must be made on an equal per-pupil basis.

(c) Buildings that receive funding under this section may use those dollars for any purpose permitted under section 22b, but must reserve a portion of funding to address the causes of chronic absenteeism. Funding may be used for purposes including, but not limited to, resources for students and their families, attendance administrative staff, and marketing campaigns.

(2) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a

schedule determined by the department.” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1

accordingly.

1. Amend page 49, following line 19, by inserting:

“Sec. 16g. (1) The curriculum used by a district or intermediate district must not, in any way,

include the promotion of any form of race or gender stereotyping or anything that could be understood as implicit race or gender stereotyping. As used in this subsection, “race or gender stereotyping” means a set of statements, beliefs, or ideas that conform wholly or in part with the following general or particular statements:

(a) That all individuals comprising a racial or ethnic group or gender hold a collective quality or belief.

(b) That individuals act in certain ways or hold certain opinions because of their race or gender.

(c) That individuals are born racist or sexist by accident of their race or gender.

(d) That individuals bear collective guilt for historical wrongs committed by their race or gender.

(e) That cultural norms or practices of a racial or ethnic group or gender are flawed and must be eliminated or changed to conform with those of another racial or ethnic group or gender.

(f) That racism is inherent in individuals from a particular race or ethnic group or that sexism is inherent in individuals from a particular gender.

(g) That a racial or ethnic group or gender is in need of deconstruction, elimination, or criticism.

(h) That the actions of individuals serve as an indictment against the race or gender of those individuals.

(2) State funding must not be used for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or programs as outlined in Executive Order No. 14190, “Ending Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”.

(3) The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy that participates in interscholastic athletic activities shall designate interscholastic athletic teams and sports based on the sex of the participants, with separate teams for participants of the female sex within female sports divisions, separate teams for participants of the male sex within male sports divisions, and, if applicable, co-ed teams for participants of the female and male sexes within co-ed sports divisions. A school district or intermediate school district shall not knowingly allow individuals of the male sex to participate on athletic teams or in athletic competitions designated for only participants of the female sex. This subsection must not be construed to restrict the eligibility of any student to participate on any interscholastic athletic teams or in interscholastic athletic activities that are designated as male or co-ed. As used in this subsection:

(a) “Female” means an individual of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova).

(b) “Male” means an individual of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm.

(c) “Sex” means an individual’s immutable biological classification as male or female.

(4) A parent must receive a written notification from the minor child’s school if a request is made by the minor child to change the minor child’s name, pronouns, title, or other word used to identify the minor child.

(5) If a district or intermediate district fails to meet the requirements of this section, the department shall withhold 5% of the total funds for which the district or intermediate district qualifies under this article until the district or intermediate district complies with this section. If the district or intermediate district does not comply with this section by the end of the fiscal year, the department shall place the amount withheld in an escrow account until the district or intermediate district

complies with this section.”.

1. Amend page 350, line 6, after “allocated” by striking out “$100.00” and inserting “$13,744,600.00” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

1. Amend page 215, line 14, after “fund” by inserting “and an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 from the general fund” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

2. Amend page 226, line 5, after “the” by striking out “allocation” and inserting “state school aid fund money allocated”.

3. Amend page 226, line 7, after “only” by inserting a comma and “and from the general fund money

allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 for 2024-2025

and 2025-2026 only”.

4. Amend page 226, line 9, after “to” by striking out “educators” and inserting “certificated public school and nonpublic school teachers”.

5. Amend page 226, line 10, after “to” by striking out “educators” and inserting “certificated public school and nonpublic school teachers”.

6. Amend page 226, line 11, after “additional” by inserting “public and nonpublic”.

7. Amend page 226, line 11, after “school” by striking out “educators” and inserting “certificated teachers”.

8. Amend page 226, line 12, after “certificated” by inserting “public school and nonpublic school”.

9. Amend page 226, line 15, after “the” by striking out approved and inserting “department-approved”.

10. Amend page 226, line 18, after “The” by striking out approved and inserting “department-

approved”.

11. Amend page 226, line 19, after “3” by inserting “certificated public school or nonpublic school”.

12. Amend page 226, line 21, after “1” by inserting “certificated public school or nonpublic school”.

13. Amend page 226, line 21, after “The” by striking out approved and inserting “department-

approved”.

14. Amend page 226, line 22, after “remaining” by inserting “public school and nonpublic”.

15. Amend page 226, line 24, after “The” by striking out approved and inserting “department-

approved”.

16. Amend page 226, line 26, after the second “the” by inserting “public school and nonpublic”.

17. Amend page 226, line 27, after “(10),” by inserting “the department shall approve”.

18. Amend page 226, line 28, after “LETRS” by striking out “is” and inserting “as”.

19. Amend page 227, line 1, after “provides” by inserting “certificated public school teachers, nonpublic school teachers, and other public school and nonpublic school”.

20. Amend page 227, line 6, after “direct” by inserting “certificated public school teachers, nonpublic

school teachers, and other public school and nonpublic school”.

21. Amend page 227, line 12, after “for” by inserting “certificated public school teachers, nonpublic

school teachers, other public school and nonpublic school”.

22. Amend page 227, line 12, after “educators” by inserting a comma.

23. Amend page 227, line 12, after “and” by inserting “public school and nonpublic school”.

24. Amend page 227, line 24, after “Support” by inserting “certificated public school teachers, nonpublic school teachers, and other public school and nonpublic school”.

1. Amend page 169, line 13, by striking out all of section 32d and inserting:

“Sec. 32d. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated to eligible intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts for great start readiness programs an amount not to exceed $609,720,000.00 $603,000,000.00 for 2024-2025. It is the intent of the legislature that this section will support universal great start readiness programs in a future fiscal year. 2025-2026. An intermediate district or consortium shall use funds allocated under this section for great start readiness programs to provide part-day programs, school-day programs, GSRP extended programs, GSRP/Head Start school-day blended programs, or GSRP/Head Start extended blended programs that are comprehensive, free, compensatory classroom programs designed to improve the readiness and subsequent achievement of children who meet the participant eligibility and prioritization guidelines as defined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential. For a child to be eligible to participate in a program under this section, the child must be at least 4, but less than 5, years of age as of September 1 of the school year in which the program is offered and must meet those eligibility and prioritization guidelines. After eligible children who will be 4 years of age as of September 1 are enrolled, a child who is not 4 years of age as of September 1, but who will be 4 years of age by not later than December 1, is eligible to participate if both of the following are met:

(a) The child’s parent or legal guardian seeks a waiver from the September 1 eligibility date by submitting a request for enrollment in a program to the responsible intermediate district.

(b) The child meets eligibility and prioritization guidelines.

(2) From the state school aid fund money allocated under subsection (1), an amount not to exceed $607,720,000.00 $601,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 is allocated to intermediate districts or consortia of intermediate districts based on the formula in section 39. An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving funding under this section shall act as the fiduciary for the great start readiness programs. An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving funding under this section may collaborate with local governments to identify children eligible for programs funded under this section and may contract with local governments to provide services. To be eligible to receive funds allocated under this subsection from an intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts, a district, a consortium of districts, a local government, or a public or private for-profit or nonprofit legal entity or agency must comply with this section and section 39. If, due to the number of GSRP extended program or GSRP/Head Start extended blended program slots awarded, the amount allocated in this subsection is insufficient to award at least the same number of part-day program and school-day program slots as awarded in the immediately preceding fiscal year, there is appropriated from the great start readiness program reserve fund the amount necessary to fully award the same number of part-day program and full-day program slots as awarded in the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(3) In addition to the allocation under subsection (1), from the general fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $600,000.00 $350,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 for a competitive grant to continue a longitudinal evaluation of children who have participated in great start readiness programs. It is the intent of the legislature that the allocation under this subsection will be $350,000.00 for 2025-2026.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), to be eligible for funding under this section, a program must prepare children for success in school through comprehensive part-day programs, school-day programs, GSRP extended programs, GSRP/Head Start school-day blended programs, or GSRP/Head Start extended blended programs that contain all of the following program components, as determined by the department: of lifelong education, advancement, and potential:

(a) Participation in a collaborative recruitment and enrollment process to ensure that each child is enrolled in the program most appropriate to the child’s needs and to maximize the use of federal, state, and local funds.

(b) An age-appropriate educational curriculum that is in compliance with the early childhood standards of quality for prekindergarten children adopted by the state board, including, at least, the Connect4Learning curriculum.

(c) Nutritional services for all program participants supported by federal, state, and local resources as applicable.

(d) Physical and dental health and developmental screening services for all program participants.

(e) Referral services for families of program participants to community social service agencies, including mental health services, as appropriate.

(f) Active and continuous involvement of the parents or guardians of the program participants.

(g) A plan to conduct and report annual great start readiness program evaluations and continuous improvement plans using criteria approved by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(h) Participation in a school readiness advisory committee convened as a workgroup of the great start collaborative that provides for the involvement of classroom teachers, parents or guardians of program participants, and community, volunteer, and social service agencies and organizations, as appropriate. The advisory committee shall annually review and make recommendations regarding the program components listed in this subsection. The advisory committee also shall make recommendations to the great start collaborative regarding other community services designed to improve all children’s school readiness.

(i) The ongoing articulation of the kindergarten and first grade programs offered by the program provider.

(j) Participation in this state’s great start to quality process with a rating of at least enhancing quality level.

(5) To help expand access to great start readiness programs, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential may waive the requirements under subsection (4) and a program may be eligible for funding under this section for new or expanding programs if the program demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that the program meets all of the following:

(a) Is a licensed child care center or is a licensed program.

(b) Provides the minimum instructional time as required by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(c) Participates in this state’s quality rating improvement system at a level determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(d) Implements a professional educator preparation plan, as defined by the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, for educators not meeting teacher credentialing standards described in subsection (8).

(e) Uses a developmentally appropriate curriculum, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(f) Conducts a developmental screening and referral process, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(g) Commits to participating in program financial review and monitoring, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(h) Provides a plan to implement an approved great start readiness program curriculum and meet additional great start readiness program standards, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(6) A waiver under subsection (5) may be granted for up to 3 years for requirements related to program credentialing and may be granted for up to 2 years for all other requirements, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(7) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies that summarizes the number and types of exemptions granted under subsection (5) and progress made by programs granted waivers under subsection (5) by September 30 of each fiscal year. It is the intent of the legislature to review the waiver allowability under subsection (5) before the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027.

(8) An application for funding under this section must provide for the following, in a form and manner determined by the department: of lifelong education, advancement, and potential:

(a) Ensure either of the following:

(i) That the applicant complies with all program components described in subsection (4).

(ii) That the applicant meets the requirements of a waiver under subsection (5).

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, ensure that children participating in an eligible great start readiness program for whom the intermediate district is receiving funds under this section are children who live with families with a household income that is equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. If the intermediate district determines that all eligible children are being served and that there are no children on the waiting list who live with families with a household income that is equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, the intermediate district may then enroll children who live with families with a household income that is greater than 400% equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. The enrollment process must consider income and risk factors, such that children determined with higher need are enrolled before children with lesser need. For purposes of this subdivision, all age-eligible children served in foster care or who are experiencing homelessness or who have individualized education programs recommending placement in an inclusive preschool setting are considered to live with families with household income equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines regardless of actual family income and are prioritized for enrollment within the lowest quintile. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall publish the household income thresholds under this subdivision in a clear manner on its website and the great start to quality website.

(c) Ensure that the applicant only uses qualified personnel for this program, as follows:

(i) Teachers possessing proper training. A lead teacher must have a valid Michigan teaching certificate with an early childhood or lower elementary endorsement or a bachelor’s or higher degree in child development or early childhood education with specialization in preschool teaching. However, except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, if an applicant demonstrates to the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that it is unable to fully comply with this subparagraph after making reasonable efforts to comply, teachers or paraprofessionals with at least 5 years of experience as a paraprofessional in a great start readiness program, Head Start, or licensed child care center classroom who have significant but incomplete training in early childhood education or child development may be used if the applicant provides to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential approves, a plan for each teacher to come into compliance with the standards in this subparagraph. Individuals may qualify with at least 3 years of experience and significant training in early childhood education or child development, based on the recommendation of the intermediate district after a classroom observation. A teacher’s compliance plan must be completed within 3 years of the date of employment. Progress toward completion of the compliance plan consists of at least 2 courses per calendar year.

(ii) Paraprofessionals possessing proper training in early childhood education, including an associate degree in early childhood education or child development or the equivalent, or a child development associate (CDA) credential. However, if an applicant demonstrates to the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that it is unable to fully comply with this subparagraph after making reasonable efforts to comply, the applicant may use paraprofessionals who have completed at least 1 course that earns college credit in early childhood education or child development or enroll in a child development associate credential with at least 6 months of verified experience in early education and care, if the applicant provides to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential approves, a plan for each paraprofessional to come into compliance with the standards in this subparagraph. A paraprofessional’s compliance plan must be completed within 3 years of the date of employment. Progress toward completion of the compliance plan consists of at least 2 courses, 60 clock hours, or an equivalent of training per calendar year.

(d) Include a program budget that contains only those costs that are not reimbursed or reimbursable by federal funding, that are clearly and directly attributable to the great start readiness program, and that would not be incurred if the program were not being offered. Eligible costs include transportation costs. The program budget must indicate the extent to which these funds will supplement other federal, state, local, or private funds. An applicant shall not use funds received under this section to supplant any federal funds received by the applicant to serve children eligible for a federally funded preschool program that has the capacity to serve those children.

(9) For a grant recipient that enrolls pupils in a school-day program or GSRP extended program funded under this section, each child enrolled in the school-day program or GSRP extended program is counted as described in section 39 for purposes of determining the amount of the grant award.

(10) For a grant recipient that enrolls pupils in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program or GSRP/Head Start extended blended program, the grant recipient shall ensure that all Head Start and GSRP policies and regulations are applied to the blended slots, with adherence to the highest standard from either program, to the extent allowable under federal law. A grant recipient may request a waiver from the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential to align GSRP policies and regulations with Head Start national standards for quality, including ratios, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential may approve the waiver. Not later than March 1 of each year, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential will report to the legislature and post on a publicly available website a list by intermediate district or consortium with the number and type of each waiver requested and approved.

(11) To help expand access to great start readiness programs, the department may allow great start readiness programs to implement Head Start national performance standards for quality as an alternative to great start readiness program policies and regulations if the great start readiness program demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the great start readiness program is meeting the requirements of the Head Start national performance standards.

(12) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section shall designate an early childhood coordinator, and may provide services directly or may contract with 1 or more districts or public or private for-profit or nonprofit providers that meet all requirements of subsections (4) and (8).

(13) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts may retain for administrative services provided by the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts an amount not to exceed 4% of the grant amount. Expenses incurred by subrecipients engaged by the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts for directly running portions of the program are considered program costs or a contracted program fee for service. Subrecipients operating with a federally approved indirect rate for other early childhood programs may include indirect costs, not to exceed the federal 10% de minimis.

(14) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts may expend not more than 2% of the total grant amount for outreach, recruiting, and public awareness of the program, if the intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts also participates in related statewide marketing and outreach efforts.

(15) Each grant recipient shall enroll children identified under subsection (8)(b) according to how far the child’s household income is below 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines by ranking each applicant child’s household income from lowest to highest and dividing the applicant children into quintiles based on how far the child’s household income is below 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, and then enrolling children in the quintile with the lowest household income before enrolling children in the quintile with the next lowest household income until slots are completely filled. If the grant recipient determines that all eligible children are being served and that there are no children on the waiting list who live with families with a household income that is equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, the grant recipient may then enroll children who live with families with a household income that is greater than 400% equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. The enrollment process must consider income and risk factors, such that children determined with higher need are enrolled before children with lesser need. For purposes of this subsection, all age-eligible children served in foster care or who are experiencing homelessness or who have individualized education programs recommending placement in an inclusive preschool setting are considered to live with families with household income equal to or less than 400% 250% of the federal poverty guidelines regardless of actual family income and are prioritized for enrollment within the lowest quintile.

(16) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section shall allow parents of eligible children who are residents of the intermediate district or within the consortium to choose a program operated by or contracted with another intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts and shall enter into a written agreement regarding payment, in a manner prescribed by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(17) An intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section shall conduct a local process to contract with interested and eligible public and private for-profit and nonprofit community-based providers that meet all requirements of subsection (4) for at least 30% of its total allocation. For the purposes of this 30% allocation, an intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts may count children served by a Head Start grantee or delegate in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program, GSRP/Head Start extended blended program, GSRP extended program, and great start readiness school-day program. Children served in a program funded only through Head Start are not counted toward this 30% allocation. An intermediate district or consortium shall report to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, in a manner prescribed by the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, a detailed list of community-based providers by provider type, including private for-profit, private nonprofit, community college or university, Head Start grantee or delegate, and district or intermediate district, and the number and proportion of its total allocation allocated to each provider as subrecipient. If the intermediate district or consortium is not able to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation, the intermediate district or consortium shall notify the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential and, if the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential verifies that the intermediate district or consortium attempted to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation and was not able to do so, the intermediate district or consortium may retain and use all of its allocation as provided under this section. To be able to use this exemption, the intermediate district or consortium shall demonstrate to the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential that the intermediate district or consortium increased the percentage of its total allocation for which it contracts with a community-based provider and the intermediate district or consortium shall submit evidence satisfactory to the department, of lifelong education, advancement, and potential, and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential must be able to verify this evidence, demonstrating that the intermediate district or consortium took measures to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation as required under this subsection, including, but not limited to, at least all of the following measures:

(a) The intermediate district or consortium notified each nonparticipating licensed child care center located in the service area of the intermediate district or consortium regarding the center’s eligibility to participate, in a manner prescribed by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(b) The intermediate district or consortium provided to each nonparticipating licensed child care center located in the service area of the intermediate district or consortium information regarding great start readiness program requirements and a description of the application and selection process for community-

based providers.

(c) The intermediate district or consortium provided to the public and to participating families a list of community-based great start readiness program subrecipients with a great start to quality rating level of at least enhancing quality level.

(18) If an intermediate district or consortium of intermediate districts receiving a grant under this section fails to submit satisfactory evidence to demonstrate its effort to contract for at least 30% of its total allocation, as required under subsection (17), the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall reduce the allocation to the intermediate district or consortium by a percentage equal to the difference between the percentage of an intermediate district’s or consortium’s total allocation awarded to community-

based providers and 30% of its total allocation.

(19) To assist intermediate districts and consortia in complying with the requirement to contract with community-based providers, for at least 30% of their total allocation, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall do all of the following:

(a) Ensure that a great start resource center or the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential provides each intermediate district or consortium receiving a grant under this section with the contact information for each licensed child care center located in the service area of the intermediate district or consortium by March 1 of each year.

(b) Provide, or ensure that an organization with which the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential contracts provides, a community-based provider with a validated great start to quality rating within 90 days of the provider’s having submitted a request and self-assessment.

(c) Ensure that all intermediate district, district, community college or university, Head Start grantee or delegate, private for-profit, and private nonprofit providers are subject to a single great start to quality rating continuous quality improvement system. The rating continuous quality improvement system must ensure that regulators process all prospective providers at the same pace on a first-come, first-served basis and must not allow 1 type of provider to receive a great start to quality rating level ahead of any other type of provider.

(d) By not later than March 1 of each year, compile the results of the information reported by each intermediate district or consortium under subsection (17) and report to the legislature and post on a publicly available website a list by intermediate district or consortium with the number and percentage of each intermediate district’s or consortium’s total allocation allocated to community-based providers by provider type, including private for-profit, private nonprofit, community college or university, Head Start grantee or delegate, and district or intermediate district.

(e) Allow intermediate districts and consortia and eligible community-based providers to utilize materials and supplies purchased for great start readiness programs within their facilities for other early care and education activities, in the following order of priority:

(i) Early care and education activities under a federal award.

(ii) Early care and education activities under other state awards.

(iii) Early care and education activities under local or regional awards.

(20) A recipient of funds under this section shall report to the center in a form and manner prescribed by the center the information necessary to derive the number of children participating in the program who meet the program eligibility criteria under subsection (8)(b), the number of eligible children not participating in the program and on a waitlist, and the total number of children participating in the program by various demographic groups and eligibility factors necessary to analyze equitable and priority access to services for the purposes of subsection (3).

(21) As used in this section:

(a) “Child care center” means that term as defined in section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.

(b) (a) “Federal poverty guidelines” means the guidelines published annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under its authority to revise the poverty line under 42 USC 9902.

(c) (b) “GSRP extended program” means a program that operates for at least the same length of day as a district’s first grade program for a minimum of 5 days per week, 36 weeks per year.

(d) (c) “GSRP/Head Start extended blended program” means a program funded under this section and a Head Start program that are combined for an extended program.

(e) (d) “GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program” means a part-day program funded under this section and a Head Start program, which are combined for a school-day program.

(f) “Licensed child care center” means a child care center that has been issued a license under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, to operate a child care center.

(g) (e) “Part-day program” means a program that operates at least 4 days per week, 30 weeks per year, for at least 3 hours of teacher-child contact time per day but for fewer hours of teacher-child contact time per day than a school-day program.

(h) (f) “School-day program” means a program that operates for at least the same length of day as a district’s first grade program for a minimum of 4 days per week, 30 weeks per year. A classroom that offers a school-day program must enroll all children for the school day to be considered a school-day program.

(22) From the amount allocated in subsection (2), there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 an amount not to exceed $10,000,000.00 and, from the great start readiness program reserve state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 only an amount not to exceed $18,000,000.00 for reimbursement of transportation costs for children attending great start readiness programs funded under this section. To receive reimbursement under this subsection, by not later than November 1 of each year, a program funded under this section that provides transportation shall submit to the intermediate district that is the fiscal agent for the program a projected transportation budget. The amount of the reimbursement for transportation under this subsection is no more than the projected transportation budget or $500.00 multiplied by the number of children funded for the program under this section. If the amount allocated under this subsection is insufficient to fully reimburse the transportation costs for all programs that provide transportation and submit the required information, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall prorate the reimbursement in an equal amount per child funded. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall make payments to the intermediate district that is the fiscal agent for each program, and the intermediate district shall then reimburse the program provider for transportation costs as prescribed under this subsection.

(23) Subject to, and from the funds allocated under, subsection (22), the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall reimburse a program for transportation costs related to parent- or guardian-

accompanied transportation provided by transportation service companies, buses, or other public

transportation services. To be eligible for reimbursement under this subsection, a program must submit to

the intermediate district or consortia of intermediate districts all of the following:

(a) The names of families provided with transportation support along with a documented reason for the need for transportation support and the type of transportation provided.

(b) Financial documentation of actual transportation costs incurred by the program, including, but not limited to, receipts and mileage reports, as determined by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(c) Any other documentation or information determined necessary by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(24) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall implement a process to review and approve age-appropriate comprehensive classroom level quality assessments for GSRP grantees that support the early childhood standards of quality for prekindergarten children adopted by the state board. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall make available to intermediate districts at least 2 classroom level quality assessments that were approved in 2018.

(25) An intermediate district that is a GSRP grantee may approve the use of a supplemental curriculum that aligns with and enhances the age-appropriate educational curriculum in the classroom. If the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential objects to the use of a supplemental curriculum approved by an intermediate district, the director of the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential superintendent of public instruction shall establish a review committee independent of the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential. The review committee shall meet within 60 days of the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential registering its objection in writing and provide a final determination on the validity of the objection within 60 days of the review committee’s first meeting.

(26) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall implement a process to evaluate and approve age-appropriate educational curricula that are in compliance with the early childhood standards of quality for prekindergarten children adopted by the state board.

(27) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated for 2024-2025 2025-2026 an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 for payments to intermediate districts or consortia of intermediate districts for professional development and training materials for educators in programs implementing new curricula or child assessment tools approved for use in the great start readiness program.

(28) A great start readiness program, a GSRP extended program, a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program, or a GSRP/Head Start extended blended program funded under this section is permitted to utilize AmeriCorps Pre-K Reading Corps members in classrooms implementing research-based early literacy intervention strategies.

(29) In addition to the allocation under subsection (1), from the state school aid fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $25,000,000.00 $30,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 2025-2026 only for classroom start up grants to intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts for new or expanding great start readiness classrooms. All of the following apply to funding allocated under this subsection:

(a) To receive funding under this subsection, intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts must apply for the funding in a form and manner prescribed by the department. of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(b) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall pay an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 for each new or expanded classroom. If funding is insufficient to fully fund all eligible applicants, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential must prorate the per-classroom amount on an equal basis. If the allocation is not fully paid in the current fiscal year, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential may award any remaining funding during fiscal year 2025-2026 2026-

2027 for each new or expanded classroom at an equal amount per classroom, based on remaining available

funds, not to exceed $50,000.00 per classroom.

(c) Funds received under this subsection by intermediate districts and consortia of intermediate districts must be paid in full to the entity operating the classroom and may be used for 1 or more of the following purposes:

(i) Costs associated with attracting, recruiting, retaining, and licensing required classroom education personnel to staff new or expanded classrooms.

(ii) Supporting facility improvements or purchasing facility space necessary to provide a safe, high-quality learning environment for children in each new or expanded classroom.

(iii) Outreach material necessary for public awareness that the great start readiness program has openings in the area and for costs associated with enrolling eligible children in new or expanded classrooms.

(iv) Supporting costs in each new or expanded classroom associated with improving a provider’s great start to quality rating.level.

(d) The funds allocated under this subsection for 2022-2023 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2022-2023 do not lapse to the state school aid fund and are carried forward into 2023-

2024. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for new or expanded great start readiness

classrooms. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2024.The department shall

establish a process to ensure that at least 50% of the funding distributed under this subsection for 2025-2026 is used to establish new programs by community-based organizations.

(e) The funds allocated under this subsection for 2024-2025 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2024-2025 do not lapse to the state school aid fund and are carried forward into 2025-

2026. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for new or expanded great start readiness

classrooms. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2026.

(f) The funds allocated under this subsection for 2025-2026 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2025-2026 do not lapse to the state school aid fund and are carried forward into 2026-2027. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for new or expanded great start readiness classrooms. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.

(g) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this subsection on a schedule determined by the department.

(30) In addition to the funds allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated from the general fund money appropriated under section 11 for 2024-2025 only an amount not to exceed $1,950,000.00 for an intermediate district or a consortium of intermediate districts to partner with the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential and community-based organizations to continue implementing statewide outreach and enrollment campaign activities to raise awareness about the availability of services through the great start readiness program and to promote enrollment.

(31) The funds allocated under subsection (30) 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 raise awareness of and participation in great start readiness programming. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.

(32) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall make payments under subsection (30) on a schedule determined by the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential.

(33) As used in this section:

(a) “Child care center” means that term as defined in section 1 of 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111.

(b) “Licensed child care center” means a child care center that has been issued a license under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128, to operate a child care center.” and adjusting the totals in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.

2. Amend page 238, line 10, after “department” by inserting a comma and striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

3. Amend page 238, line 21, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

4. Amend page 238, line 24, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

5. Amend page 239, line 11, after “department” by inserting a comma and striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential,”.

6. Amend page 239, line 12, after “department” by inserting a comma and striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential,”.

7. Amend page 239, line 15, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

8. Amend page 239, following line 16, by striking out all of subsections (4), (5), and (6), and inserting:

“(4) The initial allocation to each eligible applicant under section 32d is the lesser of the following:

(a) The sum of the number of children served in a school-day program in the preceding school year multiplied by $10,185.00, $14,000.00, the number of children served in a GSRP extended program in the preceding school year multiplied by $12,222.00, $16,800.00, the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program or a part-day program in the preceding school year multiplied by $5,093.00, $7,000.00, and the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start extended blended program in the preceding school year multiplied by $6,111.00.$8,400.00.

(b) The sum of the number of children the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year in a school-day program multiplied by $10,185.00, $14,000.00, the number of children served in a GSRP extended program the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year multiplied by $12,222.00, $16,800.00, the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start school-day blended program or a part-day program the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year multiplied by $5,093.00, $7,000.00, and the number of children served in a GSRP/Head Start extended blended program the applicant has the capacity to serve in the current school year multiplied by $6,111.00.$8,400.00.” and renumbering the remaining subsections.

9. Amend page 243, line 8, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

10. Amend page 243, line 10, after “department” by striking out “of lifelong education, advancement, and potential”.

11. Amend page, 243, following line 14, by inserting:

“(8) As used in this section, “GSRP/Head Start blended program”, “GSRP extended program”, “part-day program”, and “school-day program” mean those terms as defined in section 32d.”.

1. Amend page 49, following line 19, by inserting:

“Sec. 16g. (1) The curriculum used by a district or intermediate district must not, in any way,

include the promotion of any form of race or gender stereotyping or anything that could be understood as implicit race or gender stereotyping. As used in this subsection, “race or gender stereotyping” means a set of statements, beliefs, or ideas that conform wholly or in part with the following general or particular statements:

(a) That all individuals comprising a racial or ethnic group or gender hold a collective quality or belief.

(b) That individuals act in certain ways or hold certain opinions because of their race or gender.

(c) That individuals are born racist or sexist by accident of their race or gender.

(d) That individuals bear collective guilt for historical wrongs committed by their race or gender.

(e) That cultural norms or practices of a racial or ethnic group or gender are flawed and must be eliminated or changed to conform with those of another racial or ethnic group or gender.

(f) That racism is inherent in individuals from a particular race or ethnic group or that sexism is inherent in individuals from a particular gender.

(g) That a racial or ethnic group or gender is in need of deconstruction, elimination, or criticism.

(h) That the actions of individuals serve as an indictment against the race or gender of those individuals.

(2) State funding must not be used for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or programs as outlined in Executive Order No. 14190, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”.

(3) The board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy that participates in interscholastic athletic activities shall designate interscholastic athletic teams and sports based on the sex of the participants, with separate teams for participants of the female sex within female sports divisions, separate teams for participants of the male sex within male sports divisions, and, if applicable, co-ed teams for participants of the female and male sexes within co-ed sports divisions. A school district or intermediate school district shall not knowingly allow individuals of the male sex to participate on athletic teams or in athletic competitions designated for only participants of the female sex. This subsection must not be construed to restrict the eligibility of any student to participate on any interscholastic athletic teams or in interscholastic athletic activities that are designated as male or co-ed. As used in this subsection:

(a) “Female” means an individual of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova).

(b) “Male” means an individual of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm.

(c) “Sex” means an individual’s immutable biological classification as male or female.

(4) A parent must receive a written notification from the minor child’s school if a request is made by the minor child to change the minor child’s name, pronouns, title, or other word used to identify the minor child.

(5) If a district or intermediate district fails to meet the requirements of this section, the department shall withhold 5% of the total funds for which the district or intermediate district qualifies under this article until the district or intermediate district complies with this section. If the district or intermediate district does not comply with this section by the end of the fiscal year, the department shall place the amount withheld in an escrow account until the district or intermediate district

complies with this section.”.