(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2025-2026 only an amount not to exceed $70,000,000.00 for the purposes of this section. Funds allocated under this section are intended to expand student access to, and enrollment in, career and technical education programs.

    (2) From the state school aid fund money allocated in subsection (1), $68,500,000.00 must be used for a grant program to districts. To be eligible to receive funding under this subsection, a district must be in a CTE desert or must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that the district has a career and technical education opportunity gap.

    (3) Eligible districts shall apply on a competitive basis for funding under subsection (2) in a form and manner determined by the department. All of the following apply to applications for funding provided under subsection (2):

    (a) Applicants must provide a comprehensive local needs assessment, a statement of commitment, including a district capacity and a sustainability plan, a strategy to address the needs of students, and an appropriate and aligned budget.

    (b) Applicants must demonstrate the ability to continue programs started with funding under this subsection in an ongoing manner after funding received under this section is no longer available.

    (c) Applications must be scored on a tiered rating system with criteria that considers at least all of the following:

    (i) Local match committed to by the applicant, such as philanthropic, business, and industry contributions, and vocational education millage revenue.

    (ii) The magnitude to which the applicant demonstrates that the applicant has an opportunity gap or is in a designated CTE desert.

    (iii) Labor market demand for proposed programs.

    (iv) Feasibility of planned implementation and evaluation plans.

    (4) All of the following apply to awards received by eligible districts under subsection (2):

    (a) Awards received under subsection (2) must be used to create and sustain career and technical education programs aligned with high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations across career clusters aligned with local and regional labor market needs. Career and technical education programs described in this subdivision must be aligned with state career and technical education standards, must integrate stackable credentials, must create a program of study guided by a program advisory committee, and must maintain all requirements of a state-approved program. Career and technical education programs described in this subdivision may include the use of multimodal learning and immersive technologies, including virtual reality simulations, that expand access to core state-standards-aligned concepts and skills for grades 6 to 12 in math and science, including students with lower performing algebra 1 scores, or the use of programs that expand access to high-skill, high-wage and high-demand career exploration and training, particularly in CTE deserts with limited physical infrastructure.

    (b) If funds received under subsection (2) are used for a middle school career and technical education program, as determined by the department, the recipient district must demonstrate how the program will do all of the following:

    (i) Align academic content with practical career skills.

    (ii) Integrate the flexibilities of the Michigan merit curriculum in a program of study from middle school through postsecondary education.

    (iii) Allow students to earn high school academic and career and technical education credits.

    (iv) Enable a more seamless transition into high school career and technical education pathways.

    (v) Use the Educational Development Plan and the Michigan Career Development Model to provide career and college readiness activities for middle school students.

    (c) Awards under subsection (2) must be received over a 3-year period.

    (d) Districts may use the first year of funding received under subsection (2) for program startup costs, including developing and designing programs of study, creating and furnishing labs for technical skill training, hiring qualified staff, or other eligible purposes as determined by the department.

    (e) Funding amounts provided in the second and third year under subsection (2) must scale down from levels received in the first year. Districts must increase local financial commitments to sustain the programs described in this subsection.

    (5) From the funds allocated in subsection (1), there is allocated for 2025-2026 only an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.00 to implement a statewide campaign to educate the public on the importance and economic viability of jobs created through career and technical education pathways. Statewide campaigns described in this subsection are intended to ensure full enrollment in newly created programs by engaging as many students as possible. Both of the following apply to funding allocated under this subsection:

    (a) Funding allocated under this subsection must be awarded by the department, in a form and manner determined by the department, to an intermediate district or consortia of intermediate districts.

    (b) The recipient receiving funding under this subsection must use those funds for a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the value of career and technical education to students, educators, parents, business, and industry by showcasing student participants, how career and technical education aligns with college and career readiness, and how it meets local economic needs. The campaign must foster student, community, and parental understanding of the benefits of career and technical education and encourage broader participation.

    (6) The funds allocated in this section are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2025-2026 are carried forward into 2026-2027. The purpose of the work project is to create new career and technical education programs and expand access to programming for more students. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2030.

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