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The $4,000 scholarship for 96,000 Michigan college students was eliminated under a higher education conference committee report just reported out on a 4–2 vote.

Chair Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing) voted against the budget along with Sen. Jim Barcia (D-Bay City). While it is unusual for a chair to oppose their own budget bill, Ms. Bauer said she couldn’t support the cuts to the Promise Grant and other scholarship programs.

Rep. George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit) joined the three Republican members in voting the conference report approved.

Mr. Cushingberry said he plans to bring up a supplemental budget out at some point to restore funding for the Promise Grant.

Source: MIRS News

The House committee reported legislation (HB 4410*) that would allow Algebra II to be replaced with financial literacy course. The bill would still require four credits of math to graduate and would allow up to three of those credits to be embedded in a career and technical education course.

For students struggling with math, the committee also reported legislation (HB 4511*) that allows them to enter a personalized curriculum, which could include dropping the Algebra II requirement, earlier in their high school career.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

State bills in works to let tech courses fulfill math requirement
Christina Stolarz / The Detroit News

Lansing-- Michigan legislators made it clear that math-related career and technical education courses could fulfill the Algebra II graduation requirement for high school students.

The bill was passed unanimously Wednesday by the state Senate; the House Education Committee also soon will take up a vote on similar legislation.

This morning the Michigan Senate passed MASSP's Senate Bill 698.

Here is the bill: (Bold print is the new language and [denotes removed language].)

Last spring MASSP members were asked, "If you were King/Queen for a day, what would you do with the MME and MEAP?" This information was shared with Senators Swialski and Jelinek. They must have been impressed by what they learned. There is a significant section in the Senate version of the School Aid Act dealing with assessment.

MASSP members took action last week explaining to legislators why EXPLORE is important for all students entering high school. Their work was successful!

The Senate embraced member support with the following in the Senate version of HB 4447:

"MEAP and Merit Exam Changes. The Senate added language prohibiting exam funding to be spent on an expanded social studies exam, pattern scoring, or any assessments developed by the Department for the purposes of Sections 1278a and 1278b of the Revised School Code. Intent language also was added that the Department replace its current MEAP for grades 3-8 with the Iowa Test or a similar exam, and the allocation was included for the "Explore" exam in grades 8 or 9. (Sec. 104 and 104b))"

If this Bill passes the fifth bullet may impact you!  You may want your district spokesperson to contact your Senator!

CONTENT

Senate Bill 365 would amend the Revised School Code to do the following: 

The House labor committee today began taking testimony on legislation that would allow school employee unions to negotiate over any outsourcing a district may or may not undertake in the realm of non-instructional employees.

HB 4219, sponsored by Rep. Fred MILLER (D-Mt. Clemens) is identical to legislation adopted by the House last year which died in the Senate. The legislation amends Public Act 112 of 1994 that removed the outsourcing of services from the subjects which can be collectively bargained.

Specifically, the existing act includes the following prohibited subject:

COMMITTEE APPROVES MORE GYM CLASSES

Michigan students would have to take more physical and health education throughout their school career under legislation reported by the Senate Health Policy Committee. But the bills now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee because of the School Aid Act implications.

There was no testimony Wednesday opposing the bills (SB 365, SB 366) that would set minimum times for physical and health education for elementary and middle school (high school requirements are already set in the state graduation requirements). Schools not providing the required time would risk losing state aid.

But as reported the bills would allow parents to exempt their children from the classes without explanation.

Failing Schools Legislation

Discussions are ongoing on a package of legislation that will address chronically underperforming schools. As these bills are a work in progress, details aren't readily available. The current version of House Bill (HB) 4787 includes the creation of a state Reform and Redesign Officer (RRO) to work on reforming "failing schools." There are many components to this legislation and MASB continues to work with legislative leaders on crafting this bill into something that has real potential in creating a positive learning environment for the children in these schools. Again, stay tuned for further details or see the April 20 issue of Headlines.