Michigan § 388.1633 - K to 5 music or visual arts program grants; MI Creative Potential.

(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $11,000,000.00 for 2023-2024 only for grants to eligible districts for the purposes described in this section.

(2) To receive a grant under this section, a district must apply for the grant in a form and manner prescribed by the department.

(3) A district that meets both of the following is an eligible district under this section:

(a) The district must enroll students in grades K to 5.

(b) The district must, in its application described in subsection (2), pledge to do all of the following:

(i) Provide for all pupils in grades K to 5 at least 60 minutes per week of instruction in music or visual arts, taught by a certificated teacher who has, or is working towards, the appropriate endorsement issued by the department. For teaching music, the appropriate endorsement is a JX or JQ endorsement. For teaching visual arts, the appropriate endorsement is an LQ, LX, or LZ endorsement.

(ii) Maintain staffing that includes at least 1 certificated teacher with a JX or JQ music endorsement or an LQ, LX, or LZ visual arts endorsement issued by the department for every 400 pupils enrolled in grades K to 5.

(iii) Adopt and implement, or maintain, specific curricula for music or visual arts.

(iv) Maintain in each elementary school at least 1 space that is either dedicated to music or visual arts instruction or designated to be used for music or visual arts instruction and that allows for effective implementation of the music or visual arts curriculum, with consideration given to the physical materials and tools needed for music or visual arts instruction.

(v) Establish and maintain a separate dedicated budget for music or visual arts instruction in grades K to 5.

(vi) Participate in the collection of data in the fall and spring of the 2024-2025 school year on changes in course offerings, instructor qualifications, student course enrollments, and other aspects of the district's music or visual arts programs as determined by the department and MI Creative Potential.

(vii) Commit to including music and visual arts in district and school continuous improvement planning using the program review tool that accompanies the Michigan Blueprint of a Quality Arts Education, available in the Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process database.

(viii) Adopt and implement a plan to satisfy the recommendations listed in the Michigan Blueprint of a Quality Arts Education program.

(4) Grants awarded under this section must be awarded for the coverage of costs for 1 year of additional costs, including 1-time costs, for the district to implement or maintain a music or visual arts program.

(5) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall prioritize as follows:

(a) The department shall first award grants to districts that are first-time applicants and meet 1 of the following:

(i) The district currently has a music or visual arts program that meets the requirements of subsection (3)(b)(i) to (vii) but does not meet the recommendations listed in the Michigan Blueprint of a Quality Arts Education program and the district will use the grant to move toward implementing those recommendations.

(ii) The district does not currently have a music program that meets the requirements of subsection (3)(b)(i) to (vii) or does not currently have a visual arts program that meets the requirements of subsection (3)(b)(i) to (vii).

(b) If there is funding remaining after awarding grants to districts described in subdivision (a), the department shall award grants to other eligible districts.

(6) All grants under this section must be awarded by not later than February 1 of the fiscal year in which the grant is approved.

(7) If the total funding allocated under this section is insufficient to fully fund payments to all eligible districts under this section, the department shall prorate payments to all eligible districts on an equal percentage basis.

(8) Subject to the provisions of subsection (9), in addition to the funds appropriated in section 11, from the state school aid fund, there is appropriated and allocated an amount not to exceed $2,500,000.00 to Eaton Regional Education Service Agency to serve as the fiscal agent for the Michigan Assessment Consortium to be used in implementing MI Creative Potential, as led by the Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment Project, developed by the Michigan Assessment Consortium, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, and Michigan educators. The Michigan Assessment Consortium shall implement MI Creative Potential by acquiring and implementing the artlook platform, by building school and community partnerships to allow districts to publicize their need for supplemental arts instruction, by providing professional learning on artlook tools, and by collecting and uploading data on availability of arts education within districts in each prosperity region each school year. The data collected and uploaded must include, but is not limited to, how many arts classes are offered, the duration and frequency of instruction in the disciplines, educator and staffing details, the arts budget in each building, arts-related extracurricular activities that are offered, and community partners that are engaged. Eaton Regional Education Service Agency shall provide a report to the department each September on progress of this work.

(9) The appropriation and allocation under subsection (8) is contingent on the effective issuance of a directive by the budget director, pursuant to section 451a of the management and budget act, 1984 PA 431, MCL 18.451a, to lapse $2,500,000.00 in remaining funding from a work project that was established under this section in 2023-2024. The amount allocated under subsection (8) may not exceed the amount lapsed from the work project referenced in the immediately preceding sentence.

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

(11) The funds allocated under this section for 2023-2024 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2023-2024 are carried forward into 2024-2025. The purpose of the work project is to provide for music or visual arts education. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.