Literacy essentials; science and reading; report.

Sec. 35o. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $6,000,000.00 for 2026-2027 to an intermediate district in which the combined total number of pupils in membership of all of its constituent districts is the fewest among all intermediate districts in this state to improve literacy instruction in alignment with the science of reading and section 1280f of the revised school code, MCL 380.1280f. (2) Funding under this subsection must be used by the intermediate district described in subsection (1), in partnership with an association that represents intermediate district administrators in this state, to do all of the following: (a) Maintain, and update as necessary based on research, the state's literacy essentials and disciplinary literacy essentials for grades pre-K to 12, including teacher and principal training modules and materials. (b) Lead face-to-face and online professional learning on the state's literacy essentials and disciplinary literacy essentials for grades pre-K to 12 for literacy coaches, principals, and teachers. (c) Lead face-to-face and online professional learning for school and district administrators and leadership teams about leading systems that support effective literacy instruction in all classrooms. (d) Facilitate a statewide network of literacy coaches that ensures consistent use of evidence-based literacy practices including monthly communities of practice, regular coaching intensives, and an annual institute. In addition to completing training from the approved provider of professional learning described in section 35a(5), all literacy coaches funded under section 35a(2) must do all of the following, as applicable: (i) Participate in the statewide coaching network described in this subdivision. (ii) Participate in at least 1 coaching intensive. (iii) Attend the annual institute. (iv) Complete the literacy essentials and coaching modules. (v) For literacy coaches who are new to the network, attend a new coach kickoff. (e) Place regional lead literacy coaches to facilitate professional learning for literacy coaches. Regional lead literacy coaches described in this subdivision shall provide support for literacy coaches, teachers, and administrators, and shall facilitate regional data collection to evaluate the effectiveness of statewide literacy coaches funded under this section. (f) Meet monthly with the department and the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential to align efforts and achieve statewide goals to train every educator in the science of reading. (3) By not later than September 1 of each year, the intermediate district described in subsection (1), in consultation with grant recipients, shall submit a report to the chairs of the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the chairs of the senate and house standing committees responsible for education legislation, the house and senate fiscal agencies, the state budget director, and the directors of the departments of education and lifelong education, advancement, and potential. The report described in this subdivision must include coaching cycle data by intermediate district, statewide student achievement results in English language arts, and survey results with feedback from teachers and administrators regarding the initiatives implemented under this section. (4) Up to 2% of funds allocated under this section may be used by the association representing intermediate district administrators that is in partnership with the intermediate district as described in subsection (1) to administer this section.