HB4676: SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL IN COMMITTEE (Date Completed: 2-5-24)

CONTENT

House Bill 4676 (H-2) would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to require that a child placed in foster care be provided with an education that prioritized meeting graduation requirements and educational standards to the same extent as any student not in foster care.

House Bill 4677 (H-1) would amend the Foster Care and Adoption Services Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Department of Education (MDE), and the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) to provide an annual report to the Legislature that contained information on foster children in the education system.

House Bill 4678 would amend the Revised School Code to require the MDE to regularly review educational programs provided in child caring institutions to ensure compliance with the Code and rules promulgated under the Code.

House Bill 4676 and House Bill 4677 are described in greater detail below.

House Bill 4676 (H-2)

The Foster Care and Adoption Services Act requires the DHHS to develop, implement, and make available a Children's Assurance of Quality Foster Care Policy which generally specifies that children placed in foster care have a right to appropriate care, supervision, food, clothing, shelter, safety, services, and security. One requirement of the policy states that children placed in foster care must be provided with timely enrollment in school, with consistent placement in the same school, if possible. The bill would modify this provision to specify that the school enrollment would have to occur within five days after initial placement or any placement change, unless extenuating circumstances existed.

Additionally, the Policy would have to include a provision that provided child placed in foster care received an education that prioritized meeting the graduation requirements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum content standards and the ability to receive educational records to the same extent as all students who were not in foster care. "Michigan Merit Curriculum" would mean the requirements for a high school diploma.

House Bill 4677 (H-1)

Beginning September 30, 2024, and each following September 30, the DHHS, in collaboration with the MDE and CEPI would have to provide a report to the House and Senate appropriations committees for the DHHS budget, the House and Senate standing committees on human services, and the House and Senate Fiscal Agencies that included all the following:

-- The total number of children in foster care identified by grade of instruction.

-- The number of children in foster care transferred to a different school district during the academic school year.

-- The number of children in foster care who were suspended or expelled from school during the academic school year.

-- The number of children in foster care who were identified by chronic absenteeism, truancy, or as drop-outs.

Additionally, the report would have to include the following, broken down by public schools, public academies, private schools, and schools at child caring institutions:

-- Percentage of children in foster care who met academic standards on State standardized assessments.

-- Percentage of children in foster care who were enrolled in an alternative education school and were receiving special education services.

-- Percentage of children in foster care who were assigned advanced placement, early middle college, or dual enrollment.

-- Percentage of children in foster care who were assigned to career and technical education.

-- Percentage of children in foster care, or who had engaged in foster care in the last five years, who graduated or obtained a high school equivalency diploma.

Generally, "child caring institution" would mean a childcare facility that is organized for the purpose of receiving minor children for care, maintenance, and supervision, usually on a 24-hour basis, in buildings maintained by the child caring institution for that purpose and operates throughout the year.

MCL 722.958b (H.B. 4676) Legislative Analyst: Eleni Lionas

Proposed MCL 722.958e (H.B. 4677)

Proposed MCL 380.1281c (H.B. 4678)

FISCAL IMPACT

House Bill 4676 (H-2)

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State or local units of government. The bill would require foster youth to be enrolled in school within five days of placement or placement change, which is already current policy of the DHHS. It also would require youth in foster care to receive education that prioritizes the graduation requirements of the Michigan merit curriculum. This aligns with current DHHS policy.

The bill would have a fiscal impact on the Michigan Department of Education. The Department estimates it would need 3.0 full-time equivalents and $600,000 to implement the bill.

House Bill 4677 (H-1)

The bill would have a minimal fiscal impact on the State and local units of government. The bill would require the DHHS to produce a report of several metrics on the education of youth