2015 Michigan Compiled Laws
Chapter 388 - Schools and School Aid
Act 94 of 1979 THE STATE SCHOOL AID ACT OF 1979 (388.1601 - 388.1896)
94-1979-I ARTICLE I STATE AID TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND ADULT EDUCATION (388.1601...388.1772)
Section 388.1631a Funding to eligible districts, public school academies, and education achievement system; number of pupils meeting criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk; child and adolescent health centers; hearing and vision screenings; report; audit; implementation of schoolwide reform; consolidated or dissolved district; "at-risk pupil" defined; at-risk pupil reading at grade 3 level; "total at risk pupils" defined; anti-bullying or crisis intervention program; assignment of Pathways to Potential Success coaches.

388.1631a Funding to eligible districts, public school academies, and education achievement system; number of pupils meeting criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk; child and adolescent health centers; hearing and vision screenings; report; audit; implementation of schoolwide reform; consolidated or dissolved district; "at-risk pupil" defined; at-risk pupil reading at grade 3 level; "total at risk pupils" defined; anti-bullying or crisis intervention program; assignment of Pathways to Potential Success coaches.

Sec. 31a.

(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2015-2016 an amount not to exceed $389,695,500.00 for payments to eligible districts, eligible public school academies, and the education achievement system for the purposes of ensuring that pupils are proficient in reading by the end of grade 3 and that high school graduates are career and college ready and for the purposes under subsections (7) and (8).

(2) For a district or public school academy, or the education achievement system, to be eligible to receive funding under this section, other than funding under subsection (7) or (8), the sum of the district's or public school academy's or the education achievement system's combined state and local revenue per membership pupil in the current state fiscal year, as calculated under section 20, must be less than or equal to the basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current state fiscal year.

(3) For a district or public school academy that operates grades K to 3, or the education achievement system, to be eligible to receive funding under this section, other than funding under subsection (7) or (8), the district or public school academy, or the education achievement system, must implement, for at least grades K to 3, a multi-tiered system of supports that is an evidence-based model that uses data-driven problem solving to integrate academic and behavioral instruction and that uses intervention delivered to all pupils in varying intensities based on pupil needs. This multi-tiered system of supports must provide at least all of the following essential elements:

(a) Implements effective instruction for all learners.

(b) Intervenes early.

(c) Provides a multi-tiered model of instruction and intervention that provides the following:

(i) A core curriculum and classroom interventions available to all pupils that meet the needs of most pupils.

(ii) Targeted group interventions.

(iii) Intense individual interventions.

(d) Monitors pupil progress to inform instruction.

(e) Uses data to make instructional decisions.

(f) Uses assessments including universal screening, diagnostics, and progress monitoring.

(g) Engages families and the community.

(h) Implements evidence-based, scientifically validated, instruction and intervention.

(i) Implements instruction and intervention practices with fidelity.

(j) Uses a collaborative problem-solving model.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an eligible district or eligible public school academy or the education achievement system shall receive under this section for each membership pupil in the district or public school academy or the education achievement system who met the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk, as determined under the Richard B. Russell national school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769, and as reported to the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department not later than the fifth Wednesday after the pupil membership count day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and adjusted not later than December 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year, an amount per pupil equal to 11.5% of the sum of the district's foundation allowance or the public school academy's or the education achievement system's per pupil amount calculated under section 20, not to exceed the basic foundation allowance under section 20 for the current state fiscal year, or of the public school academy's or the education achievement system's per membership pupil amount calculated under section 20 for the current state fiscal year. However, a public school academy that began operations as a public school academy, or an achievement school that began operations as an achievement school, after the pupil membership count day of the immediately preceding school year shall receive under this section for each membership pupil in the public school academy or in the education achievement system who met the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk, as determined under the Richard B. Russell national school lunch act and as reported to the department not later than the fifth Wednesday after the pupil membership count day of the current fiscal year and adjusted not later than December 31 of the current fiscal year, an amount per pupil equal to 11.5% of the public school academy's or the education achievement system's per membership pupil amount calculated under section 20 for the current state fiscal year.

(5) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a district or public school academy, or the education achievement system, receiving funding under this section shall use that money only to provide instructional programs and direct noninstructional services, including, but not limited to, medical, mental health, or counseling services, for at-risk pupils; for school health clinics; and for the purposes of subsection (6), (7), (8), or (11). In addition, a district that is a school district of the first class or a district or public school academy in which at least 50% of the pupils in membership met the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately preceding state fiscal year, as determined and reported as described in subsection (4), or the education achievement system if it meets this requirement, may use not more than 20% of the funds it receives under this section for school security. A district, the public school academy, or the education achievement system shall not use any of that money for administrative costs. The instruction or direct noninstructional services provided under this section may be conducted before or after regular school hours or by adding extra school days to the school year.

(6) A district or public school academy that receives funds under this section and that operates a school breakfast program under section 1272a of the revised school code, MCL 380.1272a, or the education achievement system if it operates a school breakfast program, shall use from the funds received under this section an amount, not to exceed $10.00 per pupil for whom the district or public school academy or the education achievement system receives funds under this section, necessary to pay for costs associated with the operation of the school breakfast program.

(7) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated for 2015-2016 an amount not to exceed $3,557,300.00 to support child and adolescent health centers. These grants shall be awarded for 5 consecutive years beginning with 2003-2004 in a form and manner approved jointly by the department and the department of health and human services. Each grant recipient shall remain in compliance with the terms of the grant award or shall forfeit the grant award for the duration of the 5-year period after the noncompliance. To continue to receive funding for a child and adolescent health center under this section a grant recipient shall ensure that the child and adolescent health center has an advisory committee and that at least one-third of the members of the advisory committee are parents or legal guardians of school-aged children. A child and adolescent health center program shall recognize the role of a child's parents or legal guardian in the physical and emotional well-being of the child. Funding under this subsection shall be used to support child and adolescent health center services provided to children up to age 21. If any funds allocated under this subsection are not used for the purposes of this subsection for the fiscal year in which they are allocated, those unused funds shall be used that fiscal year to avoid or minimize any proration that would otherwise be required under subsection (12) for that fiscal year. In addition to the funds otherwise allocated under this subsection, from the money allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 for 2015-2016 only for child and adolescent health centers to increase access to nurses and behavioral health services in schools, using 3 existing school clinics as hubs for services and using mobile teams to serve satellite school sites.

(8) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated for 2015-2016 an amount not to exceed $5,150,000.00 for the state portion of the hearing and vision screenings as described in section 9301 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.9301. A local public health department shall pay at least 50% of the total cost of the screenings. The frequency of the screenings shall be as required under R 325.13091 to R 325.13096 and R 325.3271 to R 325.3276 of the Michigan administrative code. Funds shall be awarded in a form and manner approved jointly by the department and the department of health and human services. Notwithstanding section 17b, payments to eligible entities under this subsection shall be paid on a schedule determined by the department.

(9) Each district or public school academy receiving funds under this section and the education achievement system shall submit to the department by July 15 of each fiscal year a report, not to exceed 10 pages, on the usage by the district or public school academy or the education achievement system of funds under this section, which report shall include a brief description of each program conducted or services performed by the district or public school academy or the education achievement system using funds under this section, the amount of funds under this section allocated to each of those programs or services, the total number of at-risk pupils served by each of those programs or services, and the data necessary for the department and the department of health and human services to verify matching funds for the temporary assistance for needy families program. If a district or public school academy or the education achievement system does not comply with this subsection, the department shall withhold an amount equal to the August payment due under this section until the district or public school academy or the education achievement system complies with this subsection. If the district or public school academy or the education achievement system does not comply with this subsection by the end of the state fiscal year, the withheld funds shall be forfeited to the school aid fund.

(10) In order to receive funds under this section, a district or public school academy or the education achievement system shall allow access for the department or the department's designee to audit all records related to the program for which it receives those funds. The district or public school academy or the education achievement system shall reimburse the state for all disallowances found in the audit.

(11) Subject to subsections (6), (7), and (8), a district may use up to 100% of the funds it receives under this section to implement schoolwide reform in schools with 40% or more of their pupils identified as at-risk pupils by providing supplemental instructional or noninstructional services consistent with the school improvement plan.

(12) If necessary, and before any proration required under section 296, the department shall prorate payments under this section by reducing the amount of the per pupil payment under this section by a dollar amount calculated by determining the amount by which the amount necessary to fully fund the requirements of this section exceeds the maximum amount allocated under this section and then dividing that amount by the total statewide number of pupils who met the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately preceding fiscal year, as described in subsection (4).

(13) If a district is formed by consolidation after June 1, 1995, and if 1 or more of the original districts were not eligible before the consolidation for an additional allowance under this section, the amount of the additional allowance under this section for the consolidated district shall be based on the number of pupils described in subsection (1) enrolled in the consolidated district who reside in the territory of an original district that was eligible before the consolidation for an additional allowance under this section. In addition, if a district is dissolved pursuant to section 12 of the revised school code, MCL 380.12, the intermediate district to which the dissolved school district was constituent shall determine the estimated number of pupils that meet the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk, as described under subsection (4), enrolled in each of the other districts within the intermediate district and provide that estimate to the department for the purposes of distributing funds under this section within 60 days after the school district is declared dissolved.

(14) As used in this section, "at-risk pupil" means a pupil for whom the district has documentation that the pupil meets any of the following criteria:

(a) Is a victim of child abuse or neglect.

(b) Is a pregnant teenager or teenage parent.

(c) Has a family history of school failure, incarceration, or substance abuse.

(d) For pupils for whom the results of the state summative assessment have been received, is a pupil who did not achieve proficiency on the English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies content area assessment.

(e) Is a pupil who is at risk of not meeting the district's core academic curricular objectives in English language arts or mathematics, as demonstrated on local assessments.

(f) The pupil is enrolled in a priority or priority-successor school, as defined in the elementary and secondary education act of 2001 flexibility waiver approved by the United States Department of Education.

(g) In the absence of state or local assessment data, the pupil meets at least 2 of the following criteria, as documented in a form and manner approved by the department:

(i) The pupil is eligible for free or reduced price breakfast, lunch, or milk.

(ii) The pupil is absent more than 10% of enrolled days or 10 school days during the school year.

(iii) The pupil is homeless.

(iv) The pupil is a migrant.

(v) The pupil is an English language learner.

(vi) The pupil is an immigrant who has immigrated within the immediately preceding 3 years.

(vii) The pupil did not complete high school in 4 years and is still continuing in school as identified in the Michigan cohort graduation and dropout report.

(15) Beginning in 2018-2019, if a district, public school academy, or the education achievement system does not demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that at least 50% of at-risk pupils are reading at grade level by the end of grade 3 as measured by the state assessment for the immediately preceding school year and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department improvement over each of the 3 immediately preceding school years in the percentage of at-risk pupils that are career- and college-ready as determined by proficiency on the English language arts, mathematics, and science content area assessments on the grade 11 summative assessment under section 1279g(2)(a) of the revised school code, MCL 380.1279g, the district, public school academy, or education achievement system shall ensure all of the following:

(a) The district, public school academy, or the education achievement system shall determine the proportion of total at-risk pupils that represents the number of pupils in grade 3 that are not reading at grade level by the end of grade 3, and the district, public school academy, or the education achievement system shall expend that same proportion multiplied by 1/2 of its total at-risk funds under this section on tutoring and other methods of improving grade 3 reading levels.

(b) The district, public school academy, or the education achievement system shall determine the proportion of total at-risk pupils that represent the number of pupils in grade 11 that are not career- and college-ready as measured by the student's score on the English language arts, mathematics, and science content area assessments on the grade 11 summative assessment under section 1279g(2)(a) of the revised school code, MCL 380.1279g, and the district, public school academy, or the education achievement system shall expend that same proportion multiplied by 1/2 of its total at-risk funds under this section on tutoring and other activities to improve scores on the college entrance examination portion of the Michigan merit examination.

(16) As used in subsection (15), "total at-risk pupils" means the sum of the number of pupils in grade 3 that are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade as measured on the state assessment and the number of pupils in grade 11 that are not career- and college-ready as measured by the student's score on the English language arts, mathematics, and science content area assessments on the grade 11 summative assessment under section 1279g(2)(a) of the revised school code, MCL 380.1279g.

(17) A district or public school academy that receives funds under this section or the education achievement system may use funds received under this section to provide an anti-bullying or crisis intervention program.

(18) The department shall collaborate with the department of health and human services to prioritize assigning Pathways to Potential Success coaches to elementary schools that have a high percentage of pupils in grades K to 3 who are not reading at grade level.

History: Add. 1993, Act 336, Eff. Oct. 1, 1994 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 283, Imd. Eff. July 12, 1994 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 360, Imd. Eff. Dec. 22, 1994 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 130, Eff. Oct. 1, 1995 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 180, Imd. Eff. Apr. 19, 1996 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 300, Eff. Oct. 1, 1996 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 24, Imd. Eff. June 16, 1997 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 142, Imd. Eff. Nov. 19, 1997 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 339, Imd. Eff. Oct. 13, 1998 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 553, Imd. Eff. Jan. 27, 1999 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 119, Imd. Eff. July 20, 1999 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 297, Imd. Eff. July 26, 2000 ;-- Am. 2001, Act 121, Imd. Eff. Sept. 28, 2001 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 191, Imd. Eff. Apr. 26, 2002 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 521, Imd. Eff. July 25, 2002 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 158, Eff. Oct. 1, 2003 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 351, Eff. Oct. 1, 2004 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 593, Imd. Eff. Jan. 5, 2005 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 155, Eff. Oct. 1, 2005 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 121, Imd. Eff. Apr. 14, 2006 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 342, Eff. Oct. 1, 2006 ;-- Am. 2007, Act 6, Imd. Eff. Apr. 30, 2007 ;-- Am. 2007, Act 137, Imd. Eff. Nov. 8, 2007 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 268, Eff. Oct. 1, 2008 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 73, Imd. Eff. July 9, 2009 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 121, Imd. Eff. Oct. 19, 2009 ;-- Am. 2010, Act 110, Eff. Oct. 1, 2010 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 62, Eff. Oct. 1, 2011 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 201, Eff. Oct. 1, 2012 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 60, Eff. Oct. 1, 2013 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 196, Eff. Oct. 1, 2014 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 85, Eff. Oct. 1, 2015 ;-- Am. 2015, Act 139, Eff. Oct. 7, 2015

Compiler's Notes: In the first sentence of subsection (1), as amended by Act 121 of 2001, the phrase “and for 2002-2003 an amount not to exceed $319,095,200.00” was vetoed by the governor September 28, 2001.Enacting section 3 of Act 521 of 2002 provides:“Enacting section 3. This amendatory act does not take effect unless the tax on cigarettes under the tobacco products tax act, 1993 PA 327, MCL 205.421 to 205.436, is increased by 50 cents or more per pack of cigarettes (25 mills per cigarette) effective on or before September 30, 2002 and the revenue from not less than 20 cents per pack of cigarettes (10 mills per cigarette) of that increase is dedicated by law for deposit into the state school aid fund established by section 11 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.”For legislation increasing tax on cigarettes and dedicating a portion of increased revenue to state school aid fund, see 2002 PA 503, Imd. Eff. July 18, 2002.Enacting section 1 of Act 351 of 2004 provides:“Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act from state sources for fiscal year 2004-2005 is estimated at $11,173,900,000.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2004-2005 are estimated at $11,113,650,400.00.”Enacting section 1 of 2005 PA 155 provides:"Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article I of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act and in House Bill No. 4831 of the 93rd Legislature from state sources for fiscal year 2005-2006 is estimated at $11,364,814,000.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2005-2006 are estimated at $11,341,913,100.00."Enacting section 1 of Act 342 of 2006 provides:"Enacting section 1. (1) In accordance with section 30 of article I of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act from state sources for fiscal year 2006-2007 is estimated at $11,682,508,200.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2006-2007 are estimated at $11,536,597,200.00.(2) In accordance with section 30 of article I of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending from state sources for fiscal year 2005-2006 in this amendatory act and 2005 PA 155 is estimated at $11,308,027,200.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2004-2005 are estimated at $11,285,376,300.00."Enacting section 1 of Act 137 of 2007 provides:"Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article I of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act from state sources for fiscal year 2007-2008 is estimated at $11,527,973,800.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2007-2008 are estimated at $11,458,493,300.00."Enacting section 1 of Act 268 of 2008 provides:"Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article I of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act from state sources for fiscal year 2008-2009 is estimated at $11,816,898,200.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2008-2009 are estimated at $11,602,465,900.00."Enacting section 1 of Act 73 of 2009 provides:"Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act and in 2008 PA 268 from state sources for fiscal year 2008-2009 is estimated at $11,097,798,200.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2008-2009 are estimated at $10,890,765,900.00."Enacting section 1 of Act 121 of 2009 provides:"Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article I of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending in this amendatory act from state sources for fiscal year 2009-2010 is estimated at $10,825,754,100.00 and state appropriations to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2009-2010 are estimated at $10,718,801,700.00."

Compiler's Notes: Enacting section 1 of Act 476 of 2014 provides:"Enacting section 1. Section 31a of the state school aid act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1631a, as amended by this amendatory act, does not take effect unless House Joint Resolution UU of the 97th Legislature becomes a part of the state constitution of 1963 as provided in section 1 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963."House Joint Resolution UU was presented to the electors as Proposal 15-1 at the May 5, 2015 special election. The proposal to amend the constitution was not approved by the voters and Act 476 of 2014 does not go into effect.Enacting section 1 of Act 139 of 2015 provides:"Enacting section 1. In accordance with section 30 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, total state spending from state sources on state school aid under article I of the state school aid act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1601 to 388.1772, as amended by 2015 PA 85 and this amendatory act for fiscal year 2015-2016 is estimated at $12,124,885,100.00 and state appropriations for school aid to be paid to local units of government for fiscal year 2015-2016 are estimated at $11,967,255,600.00."