evidence_text: Senator Albert offered the following amendment:
  
  1. Amend page 68, following line 8, by inserting:
  
  “ Sec. 16. (1) This section applies to districts with support category buildings. Districts must comply with this section using funding made available to the district under section 22b.
  
  (2) A district described in this section shall allocate not less than 10% of available targeted student support dollars for targeted student interventions and supports as described in section 16a for students enrolled in support category buildings. The targeted student interventions and supports must be used in a way that addresses the goals outlined in the district’s Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process ( MICIP ) plan. The district shall ensure that the operation of this section supplements, rather than supplants, the amount of per-pupil funding allocated to support category building in the immediately preceding fiscal year. To demonstrate compliance with this section, the district shall provide documentation in a form and manner, and on a timeline determined by, the Michigan School Turnaround Hub established in section 16c to the intermediate district in which the district is located or an agent of the intermediate district in which the district is located.
  
  (3) Districts described in this section shall provide information regarding spending under subsection (2) to the Michigan School Turnaround Hub. Districts shall provide all the information necessary for the Michigan School Turnaround Hub to make updates to the list of eligible targeted student interventions and supports described in section 16a.
  
  (4) By not later than 4 weeks after the start of the school year, a district shall provide notification to the parents and legal guardians of students enrolled in support category buildings about available targeted student interventions and supports.
  
  (5) By not later than August 31 of each year, a district described in this section shall provide an annual report to parents and legal guardians through mail, email, and a posting on the district’s website that summarizes, at a minimum, the services provided with expenditures under subsection (2) in the immediately preceding school year, the amount spent on those services in that school year, and contact information or other methods to enroll students in similar services in the current school year.
  
  (6) A district described in this section shall furnish any information necessary to ensure that the district is in compliance with the spending requirements to the following entities:
  
  (a) The intermediate district in which the district is located or an agent of the intermediate district in which the district is located.
  
  (b) The department.
  
  (7) If an intermediate district, the agent of an intermediate district, or the state determines that a district described in this section is out of compliance with this section, the department may seek to recapture up to 10% of available targeted student support dollars awarded to the district.
  
  (8) The operation of this section must not reduce or delay the release of any funding for constitutional obligations of this state. The department shall continue to release funding allocated to districts under sections 22b beginning in October of each fiscal year.
  
  (9) As used in this section:
  
  (a) “Available targeted student support dollars” means the resulting quotient of the total amount received by the district from allocations under section 22b divided by the total number of pupils enrolled in the district multiplied by the number of pupils enrolled in support category buildings.
  
  (b) “Support category buildings” means school buildings identified by the state accountability system as comprehensive support and improvement schools, additional targeted support schools, or targeted support and improvement schools.
  
  (c) “Targeted student interventions and supports” means items included in the MiStrategyBank described in section 16a.
  
  Sec. 16a. (1) The MiStrategyBank must be updated and maintained by the Michigan School Turnaround Hub established in section 16c to comply with this section.
  
  (2) Items within the MiStrategyBank must consist of tutoring programs including, but not limited to, those created by for-profit vendors, nonprofit vendors, intermediate districts, and the Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind, that are aligned with high-impact tutoring standards and include all of the following criteria:
  
  (a) Tutoring is provided in groups of 4 or fewer students.
  
  (b) The tutor or tutors provide consistent service to students throughout the school year.
  
  (c) Tutoring is provided a minimum of 3 times per week for at least 20 to 30 minutes per session.
  
  (d) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, tutoring is implemented throughout the school day. Tutoring that is part of a before- or after-school program may be approved if the tutoring meets the other criteria described in this subsection.
  
  (e) Trained tutors provide the tutoring. Trained tutors may include teachers, paraprofessionals, community providers, AmeriCorps members, or other individuals who have received training.
  
  (f) The program uses a high-quality curriculum that uses research-based strategies that are aligned with state academic standards.
  
  (g) Tutoring is data-driven and includes the use of formative assessments and student progress measures that meet the criteria in subdivision (h).
  
  (h) Progress monitoring is part of the tutoring program, and uses curriculum-based measures that include all of the following:
  
  ( i ) Identification of a valid, reliable progress monitoring assessment tool that is curriculum-based.
  
  ( ii ) Implementation of standardized procedures for collecting data.
  
  ( iii ) Standardized repeated assessments over time that are graphed.
  
  ( iv ) Comparisons with a goal set using validated strategies.
  
  ( v ) Collecting data with fidelity, documented by direct observation using a checklist with immediate performance feedback.
  
  ( vi ) Graphed progress monitoring data that is reviewed by a team every 4 to 8 weeks to determine student response to intervention.
  
  ( i ) Progress monitoring tools that must do all of the following:
  
  ( i ) Have a sufficient number of alternate forms.
  
  ( ii ) Specify minimum acceptable growth.
  
  ( iii ) Provide criterion-referenced or norm-referenced benchmarks.
  
  ( iv ) Possess validity and reliability for the performance score.
  
  (j) Tutoring fidelity is established through direct observation using a checklist with immediate performance feedback provided by a qualified staff person, such as an instructional coach.
  
  (k) Tutoring does not replace Tier 1 or core instruction time or curricula for reading or math.
  
  ( l ) Tutoring is supplemental to core academic instruction and not a replacement for core academic instruction.
  
  (m) Tutoring assessment and intervention is evidence-based, with experimental research studies, 1 of which must be published or pending publication in a peer-reviewed publication.
  
  (3) All tutoring programs in the MiStrategyBank must be reviewed by the Michigan School Turnaround Hub. The Michigan School Turnaround Hub shall convene a committee to review tutoring programs for inclusion in the MiStrategyBank . The committee described in this subsection must include all of the following members:
  
  (a) Two certified teachers representing elementary and secondary schools.
  
  (b) A representative from the MiMTSS TA Center.
  
  (c) A representative from an institution of higher education with a teacher preparation college.
  
  (d) Two representatives of the department.
  
  (e) One representative of the MAISA Michigan Collaboration Hub.
  
  (f) An intermediate district designee with a background in English language arts.
  
  (g) An intermediate district designee with a background in mathematics.
  
  Sec. 16b. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2026-2027 an amount not to exceed $250,000,000.00 to support district efforts to implement educational best practices. It is the intent of the legislature that, for 2027-2028, the allocation from the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11 for the purposes described in this section will be $90,000,000.00.
  
  (2) The department shall pay not less than 70% of the funding allocated in subsection (1) to each district with 1 or more buildings identified by the state accountability system as a comprehensive support and improvement school, an additional targeted support school, or a targeted support and improvement school. All of the following apply to money paid under this subsection:
  
  (a) Payments must be made by the department to districts on an equal per-student basis, calculated using the number of students enrolled in buildings identified by the state accountability system as comprehensive support and improvement schools, additional targeted support schools, or targeted support and improvement schools.
  
  (b) Money received by districts must be used only for the purpose of implementing targeted student interventions and supports in buildings identified by the state accountability system as a comprehensive support and improvement school, an additional targeted support school, or a targeted support and improvement school. Targeted student interventions and supports implemented by recipient districts must be aligned with the district’s Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process ( MICIP ) plan. Districts may use funds received under this section to reimburse a student’s parent for outside tutoring services.
  
  (c) The department shall make payments to districts in full not later than December 20, 2026.
  
  (3) The department shall make available up to 20% of the funding allocated in subsection (1) for matching awards to other eligible districts. As used in this subsection, “other eligible districts” means districts that did not receive money from the calculations under subsection (2) and that have 1 or more buildings identified as being in the bottom fiftieth percentile on the Michigan School Index System. All of the following apply to money paid under this subsection:
  
  (a) Other eligible districts shall apply for funding in a form and manner determined by the department. Districts must apply for funding under this subsection by not later than December 20, 2026 .
  
  (b) Payments must be made by the department to other eligible districts on an equal per-pupil basis. The department shall ensure that the per-pupil amount paid under this subsection does not exceed the per-pupil amount paid under subsection (2).
  
  (c) Other eligible districts shall identify matching dollars from other fund sources for money received under this subsection, and shall use those dollars for the same purpose as funding received under this subsection. By not later than November 20, 2025, the department shall develop a sliding scale to determine the matching rate for districts. The sliding scale described in this subdivision must require a progressively higher district matching rate the closer the identified building is to the fiftieth percentile on the Michigan School Index System.
  
  (d) Money received by districts must be utilized only for the purpose of implementing targeted student interventions and supports in buildings identified as being in the bottom fiftieth percentile on the Michigan School Index System.
  
  (e) Targeted student interventions and supports implemented by recipient districts must be aligned with the district’s Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process ( MICIP ) plan.
  
  (f) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section by not later than January 20, 2027.
  
  (4) By not later than August 31 of each year, districts that receive funding under subsection (2) or (3) shall report to parents and legal guardians through mail, email, or through a posting on the district’s website that summarizes, at a minimum, the services provided with funding received under subsection (1) in the immediately preceding school year, the amount spent on those services in that school year, and contact information or methods to enroll students in similar services in the current school year.
  
  (5) The department shall make available up to 10% of the funding allocated in subsection (1) 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 subsection:
  
  (a) Districts shall apply for funding under this subsection in a form and manner determined by the department.
  
  (b) Payments under this subsection must be made on an equal per-pupil basis.
  
  (c) Buildings that receive funding under this subsection 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.
  
  (d) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this subsection on a schedule determined by the department.
  
  (6) By not later than June 1, 2027, districts receiving funding under this section shall provide information regarding the usage of funding received under this section to the Michigan School Turnaround Hub established in section 16c, in a form and manner determined by the Michigan School Turnaround Hub, necessary for the Michigan School Turnaround Hub to make updates to the list of eligible targeted student interventions and supports to include the most impactful programs.
  
  (7) Districts that receive funding under this section may use up to 5% of funding received for administrative costs and to ensure compliance with sections 16, 16b, and 16d.
  
  (8) In order to receive funding under this section, a district must implement a no cellular telephone policy that, at a minimum, prohibits cellular telephone use in the classroom.
  
  (9) As used in this section, “targeted student interventions and supports” means that term as defined in section 16.
  
  Sec. 16c. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated $3,000,000.00 to Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency to work with other intermediate districts and the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators to serve as the Michigan School Turnaround Hub. The Michigan School Turnaround Hub shall do all of the following:
  
  (a) Develop and implement methods to collect information necessary to make determinations of district compliance with sections 16, 16b, and 16d. Methods developed and implemented under this section must utilize, to the greatest extent practicable, existing data collection and reporting mechanisms, including those used by the regional data hubs, the center, the department, and the federal government.
  
  (b) Provide guidance to intermediate districts on methods to support constituent district implementation of sections 16, 16b, and 16d.
  
  (c) Update and maintain the MiStrategyBank , including reviewing the eligibility of programs for inclusion in the MiStrategyBank .
  
  (d) Collect information from intermediate districts pertaining to districts determined to be out of compliance with section 16, 16b, or 16d and provide that information to the department in a form and manner determined by the department.
  
  (e) Provide recommendations and work with relevant organizations to better connect existing data collection and intervention systems to ensure information is shared between systems as efficiently as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, working with the MiDataHub , the MiMTSS Technical Assistance Center, the Michigan Early Warning and Intervention Monitoring System, the center, and the department to review and streamline the sharing of data that may be useful in improving student academic outcomes.
  
  (f) By not later than December 1 of each year, provide an annual report to the governor, the house and senate subcommittees responsible for school aid, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the state budget director on best practices being utilized by districts and buildings to provide targeted student interventions and supports and to improve parental engagement, including recommendations for state-level changes that would improve student academic outcomes.
  
  (2) The department shall make payments from funds allocated in this section in 1 lump sum by not later than November 20, 2026.
  
  Sec. 16d. (1) Districts that receive funding under section 22b shall use a portion of those dollars to ensure the requirements of this section are met.
  
  (2) Beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and each year thereafter, for a district with a building identified by the state accountability system as a comprehensive support and improvement school, an additional targeted support school, or a targeted support and improvement school, the district shall provide a mailed notification to all parents and legal guardians of students in such buildings that includes the following:
  
  (a) The standing of the building under the state accountability system, including whether the building is a comprehensive support and improvement school, an additional targeted support school, or a targeted support and improvement school, and how this designation was determined.
  
  (b) A summary of what the building is doing to improve the standing of the building, including a summary of the strategies being implemented as part of the building’s Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process ( MICIP ).
  
  (c) Information regarding the schools of choice program and public school academy enrollment, including a list of all other schools in a 20-mile radius, including traditional public schools, public school academies, and nonpublic schools.
  
  (d) A method, including contact information, to receive feedback from parents and legal guardians on ways to improve the standing of the building.
  
  (3) Beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, each district shall perform a comprehensive review of the literacy curriculum used by the district in grades K to 5 to determine whether that curriculum is evidence-based and aligned to state standards. If the district determines that curriculum is not evidence-based or not aligned to state standards, the district shall provide mailed notification to all parents and legal guardians of students in grades K to 5 receiving instruction with that curriculum that includes all of the following:
  
  (a) A statement informing parents and legal guardians that the curriculum used by the district is not evidence-based or not aligned to state standards, and could negatively impact student academic outcomes.
  
  (b) A plan, including a projected timeline, for when a new curriculum will be adopted that is evidence-based and aligned to state standards.
  
  (4) Beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and each year thereafter, each district must allow time during regular board meetings or board of directors meetings for presentations, discussions, and public comment on each of the following:
  
  (a) Strategies to enhance parental engagement.
  
  (b) Available transparency and accountability dashboards, with special focus on buildings within the district identified as support schools under the Michigan School Index System, with a focus on what the district is doing to address deficiencies.
  
  (5) Beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and each year thereafter, each district shall provide a report to the department on student progress on local interim benchmark assessments and other state assessments. The report described in this subsection must be provided to the department not fewer than 3 times annually.
  
  (6) Beginning during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and each year thereafter, each district must make available on its website homepage and via an email communication a link to and explanation for how to use the Parent Dashboard for School Transparency made available on the MI School Data portal.
  
  Sec. 16e. (1) It is intended that, beginning in 2027-2028, there is established an appropriation to distribute funding to districts in a manner that recognizes student performance on state assessments as calculated under this section. Money shall be paid to districts that meet student academic performance funding goals under subsections (2) to (5). Payments received under this section may be used for any purpose for which payments under sections 22a and 22b may be used.
  
  (2) The maximum amount of the incentive payment for student academic performance is an amount equal to $250.00 per pupil. Payments calculated and awarded to qualifying districts under subsections (3) and (4) must be calculated and awarded separately, and a district may receive a payment under either or both subsections (3) and (4).
  
  (3) An amount not to exceed 50% of the maximum per-pupil amount allocated under subsection (2) must be used to make performance incentive payments to qualifying districts under this subsection based on pupil performance on state assessments in English language arts in grades 3 to 8. The amount of a payment under this subsection is an amount equal to $125.00 per pupil for all pupils in membership in the district. The department shall determine the qualifying districts under this subsection as follows:
  
  (a) Using a model determined by the department that incorporates the most recent cut scores adopted for the Michigan student test of educational progress (M-STEP) for each pupil in grades 3 to 8 in the 2026-2027 school year, the department shall calculate a point score using a metric that assigns points to each of those pupils as follows:
  
  ( i ) For each pupil who began the school year not performing proficiently in English language arts and who declines in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, zero points.
  
  ( ii ) For each pupil who began the school year performing proficiently in English language arts and declines in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, zero points.
  
  ( iii ) For each pupil who began the school year not performing proficiently in English language arts and who maintains proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 1 point.
  
  ( iv ) For each pupil who began the school year performing proficiently in English language arts and who maintains proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 2 points.
  
  ( v ) For each pupil who began the school year not performing proficiently in English language arts and who improves in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 3 points.
  
  ( vi ) For each pupil who began the school year performing proficiently in English language arts and who improves in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 2 points.
  
  (b) Following the calculations under subdivision (a), the department shall calculate a district average for this metric for the 2026-2027 school year by totaling the number of points for all pupils in grades 3 to 8 under subdivision (a) and dividing that total by the number of those pupils.
  
  (c) A district is a qualifying district for the payment under this subsection if the district meets all of the following:
  
  ( i ) The district average for the 2026-2027 school year under subdivision (b) is at least equal to a factor of 1.5.
  
  ( ii ) The district tested at least 95% of its pupils in English language arts.
  
  ( iii ) The district had at least 30 full academic year pupils in grades 3 to 8 English language arts with a performance level change designation in English language arts.
  
  (4) An amount not to exceed 50% of the maximum per-pupil amount allocated under subsection (2) must be used to make performance incentive payments to qualifying districts under this subsection based on pupil performance on state assessments in mathematics in grades 3 to 8. The amount of a payment under this subsection is an amount equal to $125.00 per pupil for all pupils in membership in a qualifying district. The department shall determine the qualifying districts under this subsection as follows:
  
  (a) Using a model determined by the department that incorporates the most recent cut scores adopted for the Michigan student test of educational progress (M-STEP) for each pupil in grades 3 to 8 in the 2026-2027 school year, the department shall calculate a point score using a metric that assigns points to each of those pupils as follows:
  
  ( i ) For each pupil who began the school year not performing proficiently in mathematics and who declines in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, zero points.
  
  ( ii ) For each pupil who began the school year performing proficiently in mathematics and declines in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, zero points.
  
  ( iii ) For each pupil who began the school year not performing proficiently in mathematics and who maintains proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 1 point.
  
  ( iv ) For each pupil who began the school year performing proficiently in mathematics and who maintains proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 2 points.
  
  ( v ) For each pupil who began the school year not performing proficiently in mathematics and who improves in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 3 points.
  
  ( vi ) For each pupil who began the school year performing proficiently in mathematics and who improves in proficiency, as determined by the department, over the school year, 2 points.
  
  (b) Following the calculations under subdivision (a), the department shall calculate a district average for this metric for the 2026-2027 school year by totaling the number of points for all pupils in grades 3 to 8 under subdivision (a) and dividing that total by the number of those pupils.
  
  (c) A district is a qualifying district for the payment under this subsection if the district average for the 2026-2027 school year under subdivision (b) is at least equal to a factor of 1.5, the district tested at least 95% of its pupils in mathematics, and the district had at least 30 full academic year pupils in grades 3 to 8 with a performance level change designation in mathematics.
  
  (5) If the allocation under subsection (1) is insufficient to fully fund payments as otherwise calculated under this section, the department shall prorate payments under this section on an equal percentage basis.
  
  Sec. 16f. It is intended that, beginning in 2027-2028, there is established an appropriation for public school academy startup grants. Grants would be for new public school academies that will be located in districts with low Michigan School Index results and low reading proficiency scores.
  
  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. ” and adjusting the total in section 11 and enacting section 1 accordingly.
  
  The amendment was not adopted, a majority of the members serving not voting therefor.