Sec. 99s.

(1) From the funds appropriated under section 11, there is allocated for 2019-2020 an amount not to exceed $7,634,300.00 from the state school aid fund appropriation and an amount not to exceed $300,000.00 from the general fund appropriation for Michigan science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (MiSTEM) programs. In addition, from the federal funds appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2019-2020 an amount estimated at $235,000.00 from DED-OESE, title II, mathematics and science partnership grants. The MiSTEM network may receive funds from private sources. If the MiSTEM network receives funds from private sources, the MiSTEM network shall expend those funds in alignment with the statewide STEM strategy. Programs funded under this section are intended to increase the number of pupils demonstrating proficiency in science and mathematics on the state assessments and to increase the number of pupils who are college- and career-ready upon high school graduation. Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.

(2) All of the following apply to the MiSTEM advisory council:

(a) The MiSTEM advisory council is created. The MiSTEM advisory council shall provide to the governor, legislature, department of labor and economic opportunity, and department recommendations designed to improve and promote innovation in STEM education and to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(b) The MiSTEM advisory council created under subdivision (a) consists of the following members:

(i) The governor shall appoint 11 voting members who are representative of business sectors that are important to Michigan’s economy and rely on a STEM-educated workforce, nonprofit organizations and associations that promote STEM education, K-12 and postsecondary education entities involved in STEM-related career education, or other sectors as considered appropriate by the governor. Each of these members serves at the pleasure of the governor and for a term determined by the governor.

(ii) The senate majority leader shall appoint 2 members of the senate to serve as nonvoting, ex-officio members of the MiSTEM advisory council, including 1 majority party member and 1 minority party member.

(iii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint 2 members of the house of representatives to serve as nonvoting, ex-officio members of the MiSTEM advisory council, including 1 majority party member and 1 minority party member.

(iv) The governor shall appoint 1 state officer or employee to serve as a nonvoting, ex-officio member of the MiSTEM advisory council.

(c) Each member of the MiSTEM advisory council serves without compensation.

(d) The MiSTEM advisory council annually shall review and make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the department concerning changes to the statewide strategy adopted by the council for delivering STEM education-related opportunities to pupils. The MiSTEM advisory council shall use funds received under this subsection to ensure that its members or their designees are trained in the Change the Equation STEMworks rating system program for the purpose of rating STEM programs.

(e) The MiSTEM advisory council shall make specific funding recommendations for the funds allocated under subsection (3) by December 15 of each fiscal year. Each specific funding recommendation must be for a program approved by the MiSTEM advisory council. To be eligible for MiSTEM advisory council approval, a program must satisfy all of the following:

(i) Align with this state’s academic standards.

(ii) Have STEMworks certification.

(iii) Provide project-based experiential learning, student programming, or educator professional learning experiences.

(iv) Focus predominantly on classroom-based STEM experiences or professional learning experiences.

(f) The MiSTEM advisory council shall approve programs that represent all network regions and include a diverse array of options for students and educators and at least 1 program in each of the following areas:

(i) Robotics.

(ii) Computer science or coding.

(iii) Engineering or bioscience.

(g) The MiSTEM advisory council is encouraged to work with the MiSTEM network to develop locally and regionally developed programs and professional learning experiences for the programs on the list of approved programs.

(h) If the MiSTEM advisory council is unable to make specific funding recommendations by December 15 of a fiscal year, the department shall award and distribute the funds allocated under subsection (3) on a competitive grant basis that at least follows the statewide STEM strategy plan and rating system recommended by the MiSTEM advisory council. Each grant must provide STEM education-related opportunities for pupils.

(i) The MiSTEM advisory council shall work with the executive director of the MiSTEM network to implement the statewide STEM strategy adopted by the MiSTEM advisory council.

(3) From the state school aid fund money allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated for 2019-2020 an amount not to exceed $3,050,000.00 for the purpose of funding programs under this section for 2019-2020, as recommended by the MiSTEM advisory council.

(4) From the school aid fund allocation under subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $3,834,300.00 for 2019-2020 to support the activities and programs of the MiSTEM network regions. In addition, from the federal funds allocated under subsection (1), there is allocated for 2019-2020 an amount estimated at $235,000.00 from DED-OESE, title II, mathematics and science partnership grants, for the purposes of this subsection. From the money allocated under this subsection, the department shall award the fiscal agent for each MiSTEM network region $200,000.00 for the base operations of each region. The department shall distribute the remaining funds to each fiscal agent in an equal amount per pupil, based on the number of K to 12 pupils enrolled in districts within each region in the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(5) A MiSTEM network region shall do all of the following:

(a) Collaborate with the career and educational advisory council that is located in the MiSTEM region to develop a regional strategic plan for STEM education that creates a robust regional STEM culture, that empowers STEM teachers, that integrates business and education into the STEM network, and that ensures high-quality STEM experiences for pupils. At a minimum, a regional STEM strategic plan should do all of the following:

(i) Identify regional employer need for STEM.

(ii) Identify processes for regional employers and educators to create guided pathways for STEM careers that include internships or externships, apprenticeships, and other experiential engagements for pupils.

(iii) Identify educator professional development opportunities, including internships or externships and apprenticeships, that integrate this state’s science standards into high-quality STEM experiences that engage pupils.

(b) Facilitate regional STEM events such as educator and employer networking and STEM career fairs to raise STEM awareness.

(c) Contribute to the MiSTEM website and engage in other MiSTEM network functions to further the mission of STEM in this state in coordination with the MiSTEM advisory council and its executive director.

(d) Facilitate application and implementation of state and federal funds under this subsection and any other grants or funds for the MiSTEM network region.

(e) Work with districts to provide STEM programming and professional learning.

(f) Coordinate recurring discussions and work with the career and educational advisory council to ensure that feedback and best practices are being shared, including funding, program, professional learning opportunities, and regional strategic plans.

(6) From the school aid funds allocated under subsection (1), the department shall distribute for 2019-2020 an amount not to exceed $750,000.00, in a form and manner determined by the department, to those network regions able to provide curriculum and professional development support to assist districts in implementing the Michigan merit curriculum components for mathematics and science.

(7) In order to receive state or federal funds under subsection (4) or (6), or to receive funds from private sources as authorized under subsection (1), a grant recipient must 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 grant recipient shall reimburse the state for all disallowances found in the audit.

(8) In order to receive state funds under subsection (4) or (6), a grant recipient must provide at least a 10% local match from local public or private resources for the funds received under this subsection.

(9) Not later than July 1, 2019 and July 1 of each year thereafter, a MiSTEM network region that receives funds under subsection (4) shall report to the executive director of the MiSTEM network in a form and manner prescribed by the executive director on performance measures developed by the MiSTEM network regions and approved by the executive director. The performance measures must be designed to ensure that the activities of the MiSTEM network are improving student academic outcomes.

(10) Not more than 5% of a MiSTEM network region grant under subsection (4) or (6) may be retained by a fiscal agent for serving as the fiscal agent of a MiSTEM network region.

(11) From the general fund allocation under subsection (1), there is allocated an amount not to exceed $300,000.00 to the department of technology, management, and budget to support the functions of the executive director and executive assistant for the MiSTEM network, and for administrative, training, and travel costs related to the MiSTEM advisory council. The executive director and executive assistant for the MiSTEM network shall do all of the following:

(a) Serve as a liaison among and between the department, the department of technology, management, and budget, the MiSTEM advisory council, the governor’s future talent council, the MiSTEM regions, and any other relevant organization or entity in a manner that creates a robust statewide STEM culture, that empowers STEM teachers, that integrates business and education into the STEM network, and that ensures high-quality STEM experiences for pupils.

(b) Coordinate the implementation of a marketing campaign, including, but not limited to, a website that includes dashboards of outcomes, to build STEM awareness and communicate STEM needs and opportunities to pupils, parents, educators, and the business community.

(c) Work with the department and the MiSTEM advisory council to coordinate, award, and monitor MiSTEM state and federal grants to the MiSTEM network regions and conduct reviews of grant recipients, including, but not limited to, pupil experience and feedback.

(d) Report to the governor, the legislature, the department, and the MiSTEM advisory council annually on the activities and performance of the MiSTEM network regions.

(e) Coordinate recurring discussions and work with regional staff to ensure that a network or loop of feedback and best practices are shared, including funding, programming, professional learning opportunities, discussion of MiSTEM strategic vision, and regional objectives.

(f) Coordinate major grant application efforts with the MiSTEM advisory council to assist regional staff with grant applications on a local level. The MiSTEM advisory council shall leverage private and nonprofit relationships to coordinate and align private funds in addition to funds appropriated under this section.

(g) Train state and regional staff in the STEMworks rating system, in collaboration with the MiSTEM advisory council and the department.

(h) Hire MiSTEM network region staff in collaboration with the network region fiscal agent.

(12) As used in this section:

(a) “Career and educational advisory council” means an advisory council to the local workforce development boards located in a prosperity region consisting of educational, employer, labor, and parent representatives.

(b) “DED” means the United States Department of Education.

(c) “DED-OESE” means the DED Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(d) “STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics delivered in an integrated fashion using cross-disciplinary learning experiences that can include language arts, performing and fine arts, and career and technical education.

History: Add. 2015, Act 85, Eff. Oct. 1, 2015 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 249, Eff. Oct. 1, 2016 ;-- Am. 2017, Act 108, Eff. Oct. 1, 2017 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 265, Eff. Oct. 1, 2018 ;-- Am. 2019, Act 58, Eff. Oct. 1, 2019