Schools would use one system for listed grant applications

The Public Education Department would maintain one digital system for managing certain state and federal school grants. The system would serve public school districts and charter schools and would combine application, spending, coding, and compliance information. The system would combine common grant requirements, automate data entry and calculations, assign grant and spending codes, and help monitor compliance. The department's existing system would have to meet these requirements by December 31, 2026.

School districts and charter schools would have to apply for and manage specified grants through the integrated system, with proposed spending subject to department approval. The rule would cover grants under major federal education and disability programs, the Community Schools Act, state literacy programs, and other programs the department requires after legislative committee consultation. Applicants would have to provide line-by-line details for each proposed expense. The Public Education Department would have to approve those proposed expenses before the grant funding could be managed under this process. The system would apply when a district or charter school applies for funding from a covered grant program; the bill does not state a separate start date for these application rules.

The state would set aside $1 million for the Public Education Department to update or maintain the grant-management system. The money would come from the general fund and support the system for public school districts and charter schools. Any money left at the end of fiscal year 2027 would return to the general fund. The appropriation would be available for spending in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.