Literacy supports; Michigan Education Research Institute; literacy evaluations; eligibility; payments.

Sec. 35m. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2026-2027 only an amount not to exceed $50,000,000.00 for the purposes described in this section, including payments to improve educational outcomes in literacy. (2) The department shall continue the committee for literacy achievement that includes representatives of higher education and early childhood literacy educators who have expertise in literacy instruction and research. The committee shall exist until at least September 2029. The department shall appoint the members of the committee for literacy achievement. The department shall develop a process to identify and assemble experts for the committee. The primary focus of the committee is to recommend tools and strategies with the goal of increasing student academic outcomes in the area of literacy. The committee is encouraged to collaborate with the Michigan Education Research Institute or other entities with similar expertise on the subject of literacy. The department shall determine the size and benchmarks of the committee. The committee shall do all of the following: (a) Critically evaluate literacy series and materials. The committee shall evaluate with research-based outcomes, using the committee's expertise in the field of literacy. The committee shall assign grade tiers to the series based on the series' likelihood to increase student literacy outcomes. Priority must be given to series that already have a demonstrated history of increasing student outcomes. The committee may perform an evaluation under this subdivision based on submissions from a vendor, but must independently verify the validity of information provided by the vendor. The committee is also strongly encouraged to evaluate available materials not submitted to the department by a vendor. (b) Critically evaluate literacy professional development. The committee shall evaluate with research-based outcomes, using the committee's expertise in the field of literacy. The committee shall assign grade tiers to the professional development based on the professional development's likelihood to increase student literacy outcomes. Priority must be given to professional development that already has a demonstrated history of increasing student outcomes. The committee may perform an evaluation under this subdivision based on submissions from a vendor, but must independently verify the validity of information provided by the vendor. The committee is also strongly encouraged to evaluate available materials not submitted to the department by a vendor. (c) Critically evaluate other applicable literacy tools or services the committee determines to have a high likelihood or demonstrated history of increasing student literacy outcomes. The committee may perform an evaluation under this subdivision based on submissions from a vendor, but must independently verify the validity of information provided by the vendor. The committee is also strongly encouraged to evaluate available materials not submitted to the department by a vendor. (d) Create, maintain, and post annually on a publicly available website a rankings list of all literacy series and other items the committee has evaluated. This includes items from each part of the rankings list, items evaluated in the 2024-2025 school year, and any subsequent items evaluated going forward. The committee shall denote on the list whether major changes have been made to a literacy series or other item on the list since the literacy series or other item was evaluated by the committee and if the literacy series or other item has not been evaluated since the last ranking. The rankings list created in this subdivision must align with the list of evidence-based tier 1, classwide elementary reading curricula and materials that are aligned with science of reading methods that research has shown to improve literacy outcomes and help pupils achieve reading proficiency as required under section 1280f of the revised school code, MCL 380.1280f. A list described in this subdivision may include a maximum of 15 recommendations. Additional items may be evaluated. However, only the top 15 may be recommended for use. (3) An individual on the committee shall recuse themselves from evaluating literacy series and other items that the individual has helped create, that the individual would benefit from financially, or for which the individual has any other conflict of interest. (4) From the funds allocated in subsection (1), the department shall make payments to districts and intermediate districts in an amount necessary, as determined by the department, for a district or intermediate district to implement the chosen literacy item. (5) From the funding allocated in subsection (1), the department may pay an annual stipend of up to $8,000.00 for each member of the committee for literacy achievement who is employed by or at a public institution of higher education, a district, or an intermediate district. A stipend must be commensurate with the committee member's contribution to the committee. Funding must be paid to the public institution of higher education, the district, or the intermediate district where the committee member is employed, and the public institution of higher education, the district, or the intermediate district must then use funding received to award the stipend directly to the individual committee member. A committee member who is not employed by or at a public institution of higher education, a district, or an intermediate district is not eligible to receive a stipend under this subsection. (6) To be eligible for funding under this section, a district or intermediate district must apply in a form and manner determined by the department. As a condition of receiving the funding, the district or intermediate district must agree to provide to the department information twice a year, on or before May 1 and October 1, on the literacy series and other items used for the previous and current school years, and the literacy series and other items to be used for the next school year. The literacy series and other items used by districts and intermediate districts must be added to the annual rankings required under subsection (2). (7) Except as otherwise provided in this section and notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.