Sec. 104d.

(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2018-2019 an amount not to exceed $9,200,000.00 for providing reimbursement to districts that purchase a computer-adaptive test, or that purchase 1 or more diagnostic tools or screening tools for pupils in grades K to 3 that are intended to increase reading proficiency by grade 4, or that purchase benchmark assessments for pupils in grades K to 8.

(2) In order to receive reimbursement under this section for the purchase of a computer-adaptive test, the computer-adaptive test must provide for at least all of the following:

(a) Internet-delivered, standards-based assessment using a computer-adaptive model to target the instructional level of each pupil.

(b) Unlimited testing opportunities throughout the 2018-2019 school year.

(c) Valid and reliable diagnostic assessment data.

(d) Adjustment of testing difficulty based on previous answers to test questions.

(e) Immediate feedback to pupils and teachers.

(3) In order to receive reimbursement under this section for the purchase of 1 or more diagnostic tools or screening tools for pupils in grades K to 3, each of the tools must meet all of the following:

(a) Be reliable.

(b) Be valid.

(c) Be useful. As used in this subdivision, "useful" means that a tool is easy to administer and requires a short time to complete and that results are linked to intervention.

(4) In order to receive funding under this section for the purchase of benchmark assessments for pupils in grades K to 8, the benchmark assessments must meet all of the following:

(a) Be aligned to the state standards of this state.

(b) Complement this state's summative assessment system.

(c) Be administered at least once a year before the administration of any summative assessment to monitor pupil progress.

(d) Provide information on pupil achievement with regard to learning the content required in a given year or grade span.

(5) Reimbursement under this section shall be made to eligible districts that purchase a computer-adaptive test or 1 or more diagnostic tools, screening tools, or benchmark assessments described in this section by October 15, 2018 and shall be made on an equal per-pupil basis according to the available funding, based on the number of pupils for whom assessments were purchased.

(6) In order to receive reimbursement under this section, a district shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that each qualifying computer-adaptive test, diagnostic tool, screening tool, or benchmark assessment was purchased by the district by December 1, 2018 and shall report to the department which tests, tools, and assessments the district purchased.

(7) Not later than February 1, 2019, the department shall compile the data provided by districts under subsection (6) and report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid and the house and senate fiscal agencies the number of districts that purchased each test, tool, and assessment.

(8) Districts seeking reimbursement under this section for a benchmark assessment shall commit to using the same benchmark assessment for no less than 3 years without switching to another benchmark assessment.

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