STRICT DISCIPLINE ACADEMY S.B. 644:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 644 (as introduced 10-24-13)
Sponsor: Senator Dave Hildenbrand
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to allow a strict discipline academy (SDA) to enroll a pupil who was placed in a high- or medium-security juvenile facility, mental health facility, or child caring institution operated by a private agency.
The Code provides for the establishment of SDAs specifically for enrolling the following types of pupils:
-- Pupils placed in the SDA by a court or by the Department of Human Services or a county juvenile agency under the direction of a court.
-- Pupils who have been expelled under Section 1311(2) or 1311a (described below) or another provision of the Code.
-- Other pupils who have been expelled from school, or those who have been suspended from school for a period that exceeds 10 school days, and who are referred to the SDA by the pupil's school and placed in the SDA by the pupil's parent or legal guardian.
Additionally, an SDA must be open for enrollment of a special education pupil who does not meet the criteria described above if his or her individualized education program team recommends that the pupil be placed in the SDA.
Under the bill, an SDA also could enroll a pupil who was placed in a high-security or medium-security juvenile facility, mental health facility, or child caring institution that was operated by a private agency.
(Section 1311(2) of the Code requires permanent expulsion of a pupil who possesses a dangerous weapon in a weapon-free school zone, or who commits arson or criminal sexual conduct in a school building or on school grounds. Under Section 1311a, if a pupil enrolled in grade 6 or above commits a physical assault at school against a person employed by or engaged as a volunteer or contractor by the school board, the pupil must be expelled from the school district permanently. If a pupil enrolled in grade 6 or above commits a verbal assault at school against an employee, volunteer, or contractor, or makes a bomb threat or similar threat directed at a school building, other school property, or a school-related event, the pupil must be suspended or expelled for a period of time determined by the school board or its designee.)
MCL 380.1311g Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
To the extent additional students would be counted in membership as allowed under the bill and currently are not counted, the School Aid budget would see increased costs. Each additional full-time equivalent (FTE) pupil counted in membership would cost approximately $7,200 in foundation allowance funding, paid to the local strict discipline academy. At this time, the size of the potential universe of additional students allowed to be counted in membership by SDAs under the bill is unknown. The total existing population of general education FTE students at SDAs is roughly 275 to 300. It is likely that the additional general education FTE students who could be counted under this legislation would not be a large number.
Fiscal Analyst: Kathryn Summers
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.