Michigan § 388.1627h - Mentoring grants for teachers, counselors, and administrators.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, in addition to the money appropriated in section 11, from the state school aid fund there is appropriated for 2024-2025 only for the purposes of this section an amount not to exceed $49,418,800.00. Programs funded under this section are intended to expand support for new teachers, school counselors, and administrators; improve their instructional practices; and improve teacher retention. The appropriation and allocations in this section are conditional on the effective issuance of a directive by the state budget director, pursuant to section 451a of the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.451a, to lapse all remaining funding from a work project that was established under this section in 2023-2024. The amount appropriated and allocated under this section may not exceed the amount lapsed from the work project as described in the immediately preceding sentence.

(2) From the appropriation under subsection (1), the department shall provide grants to districts for mentor services for teachers and school administrators as required under sections 1249b and 1526 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1249b and 380.1526.

(3) To receive a grant under this section, a district must apply for the grant in a form and manner prescribed by the department, and must ensure that mentoring services funded under this section align with the research-based mentor standards developed by the department under subsection (6), as determined by the department.

(4) Districts that receive grants under subsection (2) may use the funding for any of the following allowable expenditures:

(a) Stipends for any of the following individuals:

(i) Veteran teachers who serve as mentor teachers of teachers participating in grow your own programs.

(ii) Veteran teachers who serve as mentor teachers for teachers who are within their first 3 years of teaching.

(b) Training for mentor teachers.

(c) Books, materials, professional learning expenses, and other resources necessary for mentoring and onboarding new teachers. Professional learning expenses under this subdivision must be in addition to professional learning requirements described under section 1526 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1526.

(d) Staffing costs to cover time spent by both new and mentor teachers dedicated to mentoring and onboarding rather than being in the classroom or performing other job duties.

(e) Contracting with 1 or more established state professional organizations to provide mentoring services to school administrators. An amount equal to $3,000.00 per administrator per year or the actual program cost, whichever is lesser, of the costs described in this subdivision may be reimbursed from grant funding under subsection (2). The department shall develop a list of approved providers of mentoring activities for school administrators as described in this subdivision. Programs on the list must align with the research-based mentor standards developed under subsection (6).

(5) From the appropriation under subsection (1), there is allocated $1,500,000.00 per year to provide mentoring services for school administrators subject to subsections (3) and (4). Grants under this subsection must be awarded in the amount of $3,000.00 per eligible school administrator per year or the actual program cost, whichever is less. If funding under this subsection is not sufficient to fully fund all eligible applicants, the department shall not prorate awards. If funding remains unspent under this subsection after grants to all eligible applicants have been awarded, the department may reallocate those funds to other approved mentoring activities under this section.

(6) From the appropriation under subsection (1), there is allocated $500,000.00 for a competitive grant to assist the department with the development of research-based mentor standards, curricula, and professional learning to ensure mentors are prepared to support new teachers. Intermediate districts and other educational entities are eligible to apply for this grant in a form and manner determined by the department.

(7) From the appropriation under subsection (1), there is allocated $500,000.00 for a competitive grant to conduct a program evaluation of activities funded under this section. The evaluation must identify recommendations to strengthen the program. Qualified evaluators are eligible to apply for this grant in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The funds allocated under this subsection for 2024-2025 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2024-2025 are carried forward into 2025-2026. The purpose of the work project is to evaluate the activities under this section. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2028.

(8) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.

(9) Subject to subsection (7), the funds allocated under this section for 2024-2025 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2024-2025 are carried forward into 2025-2026. The purpose of the work project is to continue support for grants for mentor stipends. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2029. It is the intent of the legislature that up to $10,000,000.00 be expended each year. If the annual expenditures described in this subsection total less than $10,000,000.00 after grants to all eligible applicants have been awarded, the department may reallocate those funds to support mentoring services for other certified educators not otherwise permitted under subsection (2).