Sec. 35.
(1) The funds allocated under section 35a shall be used for programs to ensure children are reading at grade level by the end of grade 3. The superintendent shall designate staff or contracted employees funded under section 35a as critical shortage. Programs funded under section 35a are intended to ensure that this state will be in the top 10 most improved states in grade 4 reading proficiency by the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and will be in the top 10 states overall in grade 4 reading proficiency by 2025.
(2) From the general fund appropriation in section 11, there is allocated to the department an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.00 for 2015-2016 for implementation costs associated with programs funded under section 35a.
(3) From the amount allocated under subsection (2), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 for the purpose of performing an evaluation of the pilot programs under section 35a(2) in a manner approved by the department. The evaluation report shall include at least all of the following:
(a) A description of the components of the pilot programs that were effective in helping parents prepare their children for success in school.
(b) A description of any barriers that parents and their children encountered that prevented them from participating in the pilot programs.
(c) An assessment of whether these pilot programs should be expanded to other locations in the state.
History: Add. 2015, Act 85, Eff. Oct. 1, 2015
Last modified: October 10, 2016