Legislation & Regulation

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].)

The Algebra II mathematics requirement remains a hot topic for Michigan residents.  Jim Ballard and our association were named and quoted a Detroit Free Press article about the upcoming hearing on the Sheltrown Bill.

Judging from the 114 reader reactions, it appears that the readers agree with Jim by overwhelming opposing any attempt to lower the mathematics requirements.  Click here to read the articles comments.  Read at least a few pages of comments to get the general sentiments of the readers.

As all levels of government feel the pinch of fewer revenues, all could benefit from cutting costs under a single, statewide public sector health care program, House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) said Wednesday in announcing his proposal.

Mr. Dillon said annual savings of up to $900 million could be reached if every public sector employee and retiree, possibly including universities, were to be covered under a single program.

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:

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.

The state budget for fiscal year 2009 (the current budget) has an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall. Leaders from the House, the Senate and the governor's office are working on a resolution for that deficit. The governor is expected to release an Executive Order (EO) at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5 reducing general fund spending to address some of the deficit.

Any shortfalls in the School Aid budget will assumedly be made up by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars. This creates awareness that whatever money coming from the ARRA will be spread extremely thin. As more details are made available, we'll send them your way.

[From MASB "News from the Capitol"]

Contending he has had no voiced objections from either House leaders or officials within the Granholm Administration, House Education Committee Chair Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills) said this week he would schedule hearings on his proposals that would allow the state to take control of failing schools. Under the provisions of House Bills 4787, 4788, and 4789, if a school fails to meet adequate yearly progress for four years and students are, based on test results, ranked at or below 35 percent proficiency in math and English, steps would have to be taken to improve the school’s performance. If the involved district cannot achieve the needed changes internally, then the state or an outside organization authorized by the state could assume the school’s operations.

Senate Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee members reviewed the status of the proposed 2009-10 budget Tuesday, but in the process heard some hard reminders of the condition of the state's schools.

The majority of school districts are seeing declining enrollments, the subcommittee heard.

And the number of school districts that are technically bankrupt is growing, with dozens with extremely thin financial reserves, they were also told.

The news was grim, committee members were told, and subcommittee chair, Sen. Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks), agreed.

The subcommittee also indicated some concerns that the House-passed version of HB 4447* and HB 4438* were larger than the 2009-10 budget proposals made by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Board Requests Legislative Help

The State Board of Education today joined the growing call from education officials to lengthen the school year back to 180 days.

As a part of four requests the Board sent to the Legislature today, the Board asked lawmakers to require school districts hold a minimum of 180 days of school each year rather than simply requiring 1,098 hours of instruction.

The request comes after a survey of more than 750 public school districts and charter schools released last month by the nonpartisan Center for Michigan found that 98 percent of Michigan schools fall short of the 180-day standard across much of the country, something state Superintendent Mike FLANAGAN said at the time was "outrageous" (See "Districts Cutting School Days To Cut Costs," 3/16/09).

After two months of tweaking and last-minute word changes, the State Board of Education today approved and sent to the Legislature a report that noted the progress public school academies (PSA) are making in Michigan.

The Board's last minute changes watered down the faint praise given to charter schools in some areas, but the report stuck to its basic premise that they are doing better.

The Board heard, but ignored, a request from the Michigan Education Association (MEA) to delay approving the report today because of what the teachers' organization saw as flawed methodology and data that did not support the report's conclusions.

Sent on February 12, 2009

Dear Mr. Battaglieri,