SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 251 as introduced 2-8-95:

The bill would amend the School Code to permit a school district, beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in 1997, to use a locally adopted and State-approved basic proficiency test to determine pupil eligibility for a State endorsement.

Under the Code, a school board is required to award a State-endorsed high school diploma to an eligible graduate. The Code also provides that, for a pupil scheduled to graduate in 1994, 1995, or 1996, to be eligible for a State endorsement in communication arts, mathematics, or science, the pupil must achieve a passing score on locally adopted and State-approved basic proficiency tests.

Beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in 1997, if a pupil achieves the academic outcomes required by the State Board of Education, as measured by a specified assessment instrument, for a State-endorsed high school diploma in communications skills, mathematics, or science, and beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in 1999, social studies, the pupil’s district must award a State endorsement on the pupil’s diploma in each of the subject areas in which the pupil demonstrated the required proficiency. The State Board was required to determine pupil proficiency in communication skills, mathematics, and science. The Code also requires the State Board to develop or select and approve, by July 31, 1995, assessment instruments to determine pupil proficiency in social studies. These assessment instruments must be based on the State Board model core academic curriculum outcomes.

Under the bill, beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in 1997, a school district could use either a State-developed or -selected assessment instrument or a locally adopted and State- approved basic proficiency test, measuring proficiency in communication arts, mathematics, science, and, beginning with 1999 graduates, social studies, to determine pupil eligibility for a State endorsement. Currently, a district that offered or offers a pupil the opportunity to pass a locally adopted basic proficiency test as a means to obtain a State-endorsed diploma in 1994, 1995, or 1996 may submit the test to the Department of Education for approval. The bill would delete reference to these years.

MCL 380.1279 Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government. The bill would allow districts to use a locally adopted and State-approved proficiency test to determine eligibility for State endorsement of a high school diploma for students graduating in 1997 and beyond. Currently, for students scheduled to graduate in 1994, 1995, and 1996, local school districts may use the results from the MEAP tests or the results of a locally adopted and State-approved proficiency test to determine eligibility for State endorsement of a high school diploma. According to the Michigan Department of Education (MDOE), all but 24 local school districts have chosen to use the MEAP tests. The costs associated with developing and administering the MEAP tests currently are appropriated in the annual budget for the MDOE. The estimated cost for developing and administering the MEAP tests in FY 1994-95 is $1.7 million. This cost is estimated to increase to $2.7 million in FY 1995-96. Local school districts that choose to use locally adopted and State-approved basic proficiency tests to determine eligibility for State endorsement pay the full costs for the development and administration of these tests from their individual budgets. Beginning with students graduating in 1997 and beyond, the State will use assessment instruments developed and approved by the State Board of Education to determine eligibility for State endorsement of high school diplomas. School districts no longer will use the MEAP tests to determine eligibility for endorsement; rather, they will use the Michigan High School Proficiency Test. The costs of developing and administering the Michigan High School Proficiency Test would continue to be paid by the MDOE. In FY 1994-95,

$1.5 million is appropriated to MDOE for developing and administering the proficiency test and an estimated $2.9 million will be appropriated in FY 1995-96. Schools choosing to continue to use locally adopted and State-approved tests would continue to pay the full cost for these tests from their individual budgets.

Fiscal Analyst: J. Carrasco

S9596\S251SA

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.