Sec. 94c.
(1) From the general fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.00 for 2021-2022 to the department to select a vendor through a competitive bid process that will compile a report to be sent to the legislature that includes all of the following:
(a) A strategy for streamlining the reporting that districts and intermediate districts are required to submit under state law.
(b) Recommendations for an annual process to measure and compare noninstructional staffing and spending by districts and intermediate districts and propose options to help districts and intermediate districts optimize noninstructional spending over time. Districts and intermediate districts are not required to modify their spending due to the operation of this subdivision. As used in this subdivision, "noninstructional spending" does not include facility costs, leases, rental payments, or other capital costs.
(c) Subject to subsection (2), recommendations for an information technology strategy for the K to 12 system and a short list of information technology systems that districts and intermediate districts may choose from that meet both of the following:
(i) Are aligned to the information technology strategy described in this subdivision.
(ii) Can be used by districts and intermediate districts in transition as existing information technology systems are retired.
(2) A district or intermediate district is not required to select for use an information technology system described in subsection (1)(c) due to the operation of subsection (1)(c).
(3) This section does not impose any new or additional reporting requirements upon districts and intermediate districts.
(4) The center, to the extent practicable, shall provide data requested by the vendor selected under subsection (1) to the vendor.
(5) In its evaluation of vendors through the competitive bid process under subsection (1), the department shall consider at least all of the following criteria:
(a) The vendor's knowledge of this state's K to 12 system.
(b) The vendor's knowledge of center and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data.
(c) The vendor's knowledge of existing K to 12 reports.
(d) The vendor's knowledge of existing K to 12 technology systems.
(e) The vendor's knowledge of reporting, information technology, and benchmarking best practices.
(f) The vendor's expertise in providing advice to this state's K to 12 systems on efficiency measures.
(6) The department, center, or the vendor selected under subsection (1) shall not require that a district or intermediate district implement the strategies or recommendations developed under this section by the vendor selected under subsection (1) unless legislation is enacted that allows the department, center, or a vendor selected under subsection (1) to require said implementation.
History: Add. 2021, Act 48, Eff. Oct. 1, 2021