Sec. 31b.

(1) From the appropriations in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $750,000.00 for 2018-2019 for grants to at-risk districts for implementing a balanced calendar instructional program for at least 1 of its schools.

(2) The department shall select districts for grants under this section from among applicant districts that meet both of the following:

(a) The district meets 1 or both of the following:

(i) Is eligible in 2018-2019 for the community eligibility option for free and reduced price lunch under 42 USC 1759a.

(ii) At least 50% of the pupils in membership in the district met the income eligibility criteria for free breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately preceding state fiscal year, as determined under the Richard B. Russell national school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j.

(b) The board of the district has adopted a resolution stating that the district will implement for the first time a balanced calendar instructional program that will begin in 2019-2020 for at least 1 school operated by the district and committing to providing the balanced calendar instructional program in each of those schools for at least 3 school years.

(3) A district seeking a grant under this section shall apply to the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department not later than December 1, 2018. The department shall select districts for grants and make notification not later than February 1, 2019.

(4) The department shall award grants under this section on a competitive basis, but shall give priority based solely on consideration of the following criteria:

(a) Giving priority to districts that, in the immediately preceding fiscal year, had lower general fund balances as a percentage of revenues.

(b) Giving priority to districts that operate at least 1 school that has been identified by the department as either a priority school or a focus school.

(c) Ensuring that grant funding includes both rural and urban districts.

(5) The amount of a grant under this section to any 1 district shall not exceed $750,000.00.

(6) A grant payment under this section to a district shall be used for necessary modifications to instructional facilities and other nonrecurring costs of preparing for the operation of a balanced calendar instructional program as approved by the department.

(7) A district receiving a grant under this section is not required to provide more than the minimum number of days and hours of pupil instruction prescribed under section 101, but shall spread at least those minimum amounts of pupil instruction over the entire year in each of its schools in which a balanced calendar instructional calendar is implemented. The district shall commit to providing the balanced calendar instructional calendar in each of those schools for at least 3 school years.

(8) For a district receiving a grant under this section, excessive heat is considered to be a condition not within the control of school authorities for the purpose of days or hours being counted as days or hours of pupil instruction under section 101(4).

(9) Notwithstanding section 17b, grant payments to districts under this section shall be paid on a schedule determined by the department.

History: Add. 2016, Act 249, Eff. Oct. 1, 2016 ;-- Am. 2017, Act 108, Eff. Oct. 1, 2017 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 265, Eff. Oct. 1, 2018 Compiler's Notes: Former MCL 388.1631b, which pertained to incentive payments for student academic performance, was repealed by Act 85 of 2015, Eff. Oct. 1, 2015.