January 30, 2007, Introduced by Senators GARCIA, SWITALSKI, CHERRY, SCOTT, ALLEN, KUIPERS, HARDIMAN, RICHARDVILLE, CROPSEY, ANDERSON, WHITMER and BISHOP and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
by amending section 1481 (MCL 380.1481), as added by 2000 PA 230.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec.
1481. (1) Not later than the beginning of the 2000-2001
school
year, the The Michigan virtual university shall develop,
implement, and operate the Michigan virtual high school, as
described in this section.
(2) The Michigan virtual high school shall have the following
goals:
(a) Significantly expand curricular offerings for high schools
across this state through agreements with school districts or
licenses from other recognized providers.
(b) Create a statewide instructional model using interactive
multimedia tools delivered by electronic means, including, but not
limited to, the internet, digital broadcast, or satellite network,
for distributed learning at the high school level.
(c) Provide pupils with opportunities to develop skills and
competencies through on-line learning.
(d) Offer high school teachers opportunities to learn new
skills and strategies for developing and delivering instructional
services.
(e) Accelerate this state's ability to respond to current and
emerging educational demands.
(f) Grant high school diplomas through a dual enrollment
method with school districts.
(g) Act as a broker for college level equivalent courses, as
defined in section 1471, and dual enrollment courses from
postsecondary education institutions.
(3) The Michigan virtual high school course offerings shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Information technology courses.
(b) College level equivalent courses, as defined in section
1471.
(c) Courses and dual enrollment opportunities.
(d) At-risk programs and services.
(e) General education development test preparation courses for
adjudicated youth.
(f) Special interest courses.
(g) Professional development programs and services for
teachers.
(4) In addition to its other duties under this section, the
Michigan virtual university shall work with the department and
other appropriate state agencies to explore the development and
delivery of a full curriculum for migrant pupils that would be
available
through distance learning. The Michigan virtual
university
and the department shall submit a joint report on their
findings
under this subsection to the legislature not later than 1
year
after the effective date of this section.
(5) In addition to its other duties, not later than the
beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, the Michigan virtual
university shall develop and offer a course for high school pupils
on basic finance. The board of a school district or board of
directors of a public school academy that operates a high school
shall offer the course as an elective for high school pupils and
shall grant appropriate high school credit for successful
completion of the course. The course shall include coverage of at
least all of the following topics:
(a) Use of consumer credit.
(b) Understanding mortgages.
(c) How to close a mortgage or other consumer financial
transaction.
(d) Credit scores and their effect on individuals.
(e) Costs of borrowing money.
(6) (5)
Nonpublic school students and home-schooled children
may participate in course offerings of the Michigan virtual high
school to the same extent they are allowed to participate in school
district course offerings under this act and the state school aid
act
of 1979. , 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1601 to 388.1772.
(7) (6)
The Michigan virtual university shall fund the
Michigan virtual high school from appropriations made for this
purpose and may also use funds received from other sources. The
department shall provide technical assistance as requested by the
Michigan virtual university for the purposes of this section.