HOUSE BILL No. 4327

 

 

March 7, 2017, Introduced by Rep. Chang and referred to the Committee on Education Reform.

 

     A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

 

"The revised school code,"

 

by amending sections 504, 524, and 556 (MCL 380.504, 380.524, and

 

380.556), as amended by 2011 PA 277.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 504. (1) A public school academy may be located in all or

 

part of an existing public school building. A public school academy

 

shall not operate at a site other than the site or sites requested

 

for the configuration of age or grade levels that will use the site

 

or sites, as specified in the contract. Under a contract, an

 

authorizing body may permit a public school academy to operate the

 

same configuration of age or grade levels at more than 1 site, and

 

a public school academy may operate the same configuration of age

 

or grade levels at more than 1 site, as long as the public school

 

academy is operating in compliance with its contract and is making


measurable progress toward meeting its educational goals. For a

 

contract for a new public school academy, an authorizing body may

 

permit a public school academy to operate the same configuration of

 

age or grade levels at more than 1 site, and a public school

 

academy may operate the same configuration of age or grade levels

 

at more than 1 site, if the applicant for the proposed public

 

school academy presents documentation to the authorizing body

 

demonstrating that the applicant's proposed educational model has

 

resulted in schools making measurable progress toward meeting their

 

education goals.

 

     (2) A public school academy shall not charge tuition and shall

 

not discriminate in its pupil admissions policies or practices on

 

the basis of intellectual or athletic ability, measures of

 

achievement or aptitude, status as a student with a disability, or

 

any other basis that would be illegal if used by a school district.

 

However, a public school academy may limit admission to pupils who

 

are within a particular range of age or grade level or on any other

 

basis that would be legal if used by a school district and may give

 

enrollment priority as provided in subsection (4).

 

     (3) Except for a foreign exchange student who is not a United

 

States citizen, a public school academy shall not enroll a pupil

 

who is not a resident of this state. For a public school academy

 

authorized by a school district, intermediate school district, or

 

community college, enrollment in the public school academy may be

 

open to all individuals who reside in this state who meet the

 

admission policy and shall be open to all pupils who reside within

 

the geographic boundaries of that authorizing body who meet the


admission policy, except that admission to a public school academy

 

authorized by the board of a community college to operate, or

 

operated by the board of a community college, on the grounds of a

 

federal military installation, as described in section 502(2)(c),

 

shall be open to all pupils who reside in the county in which the

 

federal military installation is located. For a public school

 

academy authorized by a state public university, enrollment shall

 

be open to all pupils who reside in this state who meet the

 

admission policy. Subject to subsection (4), if there are more

 

applications to enroll in the public school academy than there are

 

spaces available, pupils shall be selected to enroll using a random

 

selection process. A public school academy shall allow any pupil

 

who was enrolled in the public school academy in the immediately

 

preceding school year to enroll in the public school academy in the

 

appropriate grade unless the appropriate grade is not offered at

 

that public school academy.

 

     (4) A public school academy may give enrollment priority to 1

 

or more of the following:

 

     (a) A sibling of a pupil enrolled in the public school

 

academy.

 

     (b) A pupil who transfers to the public school academy from

 

another public school pursuant to a matriculation agreement between

 

the public school academy and other public school that provides for

 

this enrollment priority, if all of the following requirements are

 

met:

 

     (i) Each public school that enters into the matriculation

 

agreement remains a separate and independent public school.


     (ii) The public school academy that gives the enrollment

 

priority selects at least 5% of its pupils for enrollment using a

 

random selection process.

 

     (iii) The matriculation agreement allows any pupil who was

 

enrolled at any time during elementary school in a public school

 

that is party to the matriculation agreement and who was not

 

expelled from the public school to enroll in the public school

 

academy giving enrollment priority under the matriculation

 

agreement.

 

     (c) A child of a person who is employed by or at the public

 

school academy or who is on the board of directors of the public

 

school academy. As used in this subdivision, "child" includes an

 

adopted child or a legal ward.

 

     (d) A pupil who resides within geographic boundaries that are

 

specified in the public school academy's contract and who meets the

 

income eligibility criteria for free or reduced-price breakfast,

 

lunch, or milk, as determined under the Richard B. Russell national

 

school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j, if both of the following

 

are met:

 

     (i) At least 50% of the public school pupils residing within

 

those geographic boundaries met the income eligibility criteria for

 

free or reduced-price breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately

 

preceding state fiscal year, as determined under the Richard B.

 

Russell national school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j.

 

     (ii) The board of directors of the public school academy has

 

adopted a resolution determining that this preference is needed to

 

better serve low-income and at-risk pupils within the geographic


area.

 

     (5) A public school academy may include any grade up to grade

 

12 or any configuration of those grades, including kindergarten and

 

early childhood education, as specified in its contract. If

 

specified in its contract, a public school academy may also operate

 

an adult basic education program, adult high school completion

 

program, or general education development testing preparation

 

program. The authorizing body may approve amendment of a contract

 

with respect to ages of pupils or grades offered.

 

     Sec. 524. (1) An urban high school academy may be located in

 

all or part of an existing public school building. An urban high

 

school academy shall not operate at a site other than the site or

 

sites, requested for the configuration of age or grade levels that

 

will use the site or sites, as specified in the contract. Under a

 

contract, an authorizing body may permit an urban high school

 

academy to operate the same configuration of age or grade levels at

 

more than 1 site, and an urban high school academy may operate the

 

same configuration of age or grade levels at more than 1 site, as

 

long as the urban high school academy is operating in compliance

 

with its contract and is making measurable progress toward meeting

 

its educational goals. For a contract for a new urban high school

 

academy, an authorizing body may permit an urban high school

 

academy to operate the same configuration of age or grade levels at

 

more than 1 site, and an urban high school academy may operate the

 

same configuration of age or grade levels at more than 1 site, if

 

the applicant for the proposed urban high school academy presents

 

documentation to the authorizing body demonstrating that the


applicant's proposed educational model has resulted in schools

 

making measurable progress toward meeting their educational goals.

 

     (2) An urban high school academy shall not charge tuition.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this section, an urban high school

 

academy shall not discriminate in its pupil admissions policies or

 

practices on the basis of intellectual or athletic ability,

 

measures of achievement or aptitude, status as a handicapped

 

person, or any other basis that would be illegal if used by a

 

school district. However, an urban high school academy may limit

 

admission to pupils who are within a particular range of age or

 

grade level or on any other basis that would be legal if used by a

 

school district and may give enrollment priority as provided in

 

subsection (4).

 

     (3) Except for a foreign exchange student who is not a United

 

States citizen, an urban high school academy shall not enroll a

 

pupil who is not a resident of this state. Enrollment in an urban

 

high school academy shall be open to all pupils who reside in this

 

state who meet the admission policy. Subject to subsection (4), if

 

there are more applications to enroll in the urban high school

 

academy than there are spaces available, pupils shall be selected

 

to attend using a random selection process. An urban high school

 

academy shall allow any pupil who was enrolled in the urban high

 

school academy in the immediately preceding school year to enroll

 

in the urban high school academy in the appropriate grade unless

 

the appropriate grade is not offered at that urban high school

 

academy.

 

     (4) An urban high school academy may give enrollment priority


to 1 or more of the following:

 

     (a) A sibling of a pupil enrolled in the urban high school

 

academy.

 

     (b) A child of a person who is employed by or at the urban

 

high school academy or who is on the board of directors of the

 

urban high school academy. As used in this subdivision, "child"

 

includes an adopted child or a legal ward.

 

     (c) A pupil who resides within geographic boundaries that are

 

specified in the urban high school academy's contract and who meets

 

the income eligibility criteria for free or reduced-price

 

breakfast, lunch, or milk, as determined under the Richard B.

 

Russell national school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j, if both of

 

the following are met:

 

     (i) At least 50% of the public school pupils residing within

 

those geographic boundaries met the income eligibility criteria for

 

free or reduced-price breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately

 

preceding state fiscal year, as determined under the Richard B.

 

Russell national school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j.

 

     (ii) The board of directors of the urban high school academy

 

has adopted a resolution determining that this preference is needed

 

to better serve low-income and at-risk pupils within the geographic

 

area.

 

     (5) Subject to the terms of the contract authorizing the urban

 

high school academy, an urban high school academy shall include at

 

least grades 9 through 12 within 5 years after beginning operations

 

and may include other grades or any configuration of those grades,

 

including kindergarten and early childhood education, as specified


in its contract. If specified in its contract, an urban high school

 

academy may also operate an adult basic education program, adult

 

high school completion program, or general education development

 

testing preparation program.

 

     Sec. 556. (1) A school of excellence may be located in all or

 

part of an existing public school building. A school of excellence,

 

other than a cyber school operated under section 553a, shall not

 

operate at a site other than the site or sites requested for the

 

configuration of age or grade levels that will use the site or

 

sites, as specified in the contract. Under a contract, an

 

authorizing body may permit a school of excellence to operate the

 

same configuration of age or grade levels at more than 1 site, and

 

a school of excellence may operate the same configuration of age or

 

grade levels at more than 1 site, as long as the school of

 

excellence is operating in compliance with its contract and is

 

making measurable progress toward meeting its educational goals.

 

For a contract for a new school of excellence, an authorizing body

 

may permit a school of excellence to operate the same configuration

 

of age or grade levels at more than 1 site, and a school of

 

excellence may operate the same configuration of age or grade

 

levels at more than 1 site, if the applicant for the proposed

 

school of excellence presents documentation to the authorizing body

 

demonstrating that the applicant's proposed educational model has

 

resulted in schools making measurable progress toward meeting their

 

educational goals.

 

     (2) A school of excellence shall not charge tuition and shall

 

not discriminate in its pupil admissions policies or practices on


the basis of intellectual or athletic ability, measures of

 

achievement or aptitude, status as a student with a disability, or

 

any other basis that would be illegal if used by a school district.

 

However, a school of excellence may limit admission to pupils who

 

are within a particular range of age or grade level or on any other

 

basis that would be legal if used by a school district and may give

 

enrollment priority as provided in subsection (4).

 

     (3) Except for a foreign exchange student who is not a United

 

States citizen, a school of excellence shall not enroll a pupil who

 

is not a resident of this state. For a school of excellence

 

authorized by a school district, intermediate school district, or

 

community college, enrollment in the school of excellence may be

 

open to all individuals who reside in this state who meet the

 

admission policy and shall be open to all pupils who reside within

 

the geographic boundaries of that authorizing body who meet the

 

admission policy, except that admission to a school of excellence

 

authorized by the board of a community college to operate, or

 

operated by the board of a community college, on the grounds of a

 

federal military installation, as described in section 552(6)(c),

 

shall be open to all pupils who reside in the county in which the

 

federal military installation is located. For a school of

 

excellence authorized by a state public university, enrollment

 

shall be open to all pupils who reside in this state who meet the

 

admission policy. If there are more applications to enroll in the

 

school of excellence than there are spaces available, pupils shall

 

be selected to attend using a random selection process. A school of

 

excellence shall allow any pupil who was enrolled in the school of


excellence in the immediately preceding school year to enroll in

 

the school of excellence in the appropriate grade unless the

 

appropriate grade is not offered at that school of excellence.

 

     (4) A school of excellence may give enrollment priority to 1

 

or more of the following:

 

     (a) A sibling of a pupil enrolled in the school of excellence.

 

     (b) A pupil who transfers to the school of excellence from

 

another public school pursuant to a matriculation agreement between

 

the school of excellence and another public school that provides

 

for this enrollment priority, if all of the following requirements

 

are met:

 

     (i) Each school of excellence or other public school that

 

enters into the matriculation agreement remains a separate and

 

independent public school.

 

     (ii) The school of excellence that gives the enrollment

 

priority selects at least 5% of its pupils for enrollment using a

 

random selection process.

 

     (iii) The matriculation agreement allows any pupil who was

 

enrolled at any time during elementary school in a public school

 

that is party to the matriculation agreement and who was not

 

expelled from the public school to enroll in the school of

 

excellence giving enrollment priority under the matriculation

 

agreement.

 

     (c) A child of a person who is employed by or at the school of

 

excellence or who is on the board of directors of the school of

 

excellence. As used in this subdivision, "child" includes an

 

adopted child or a legal ward.


     (d) A pupil who resides within geographic boundaries that are

 

specified in the school of excellence's contract and who meets the

 

income eligibility criteria for free or reduced-price breakfast,

 

lunch, or milk, as determined under the Richard B. Russell national

 

school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j, if both of the following

 

are met:

 

     (i) At least 50% of the public school pupils residing within

 

those geographic boundaries met the income eligibility criteria for

 

free or reduced-price breakfast, lunch, or milk in the immediately

 

preceding state fiscal year, as determined under the Richard B.

 

Russell national school lunch act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j.

 

     (ii) The board of directors of the school of excellence has

 

adopted a resolution determining that this preference is needed to

 

better serve low-income and at-risk pupils within the geographic

 

area.

 

     (5) Subject to subsection (6), a school of excellence may

 

include any grade up to grade 12 or any configuration of those

 

grades, including kindergarten and early childhood education, as

 

specified in its contract. If specified in its contract, a school

 

of excellence may also operate an adult basic education program,

 

adult high school completion program, or general education

 

development testing preparation program. The authorizing body may

 

approve amendment of a contract with respect to ages of pupils or

 

grades offered.

 

     (6) In addition to any other grade levels it operates, a

 

school of excellence shall work toward operating all of grades 9 to

 

12 within 6 years after it begins operations, unless a


matriculation agreement has been reached with another public school

 

that provides grades 9 to 12.

 

     (7) If a school of excellence is a cyber school and its

 

authorizing body is a school district or intermediate school

 

district, the school of excellence shall give enrollment priority

 

to pupils who reside in the school district or intermediate school

 

district that is the authorizing body.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.