House Introduced Bill 4493

HOUSE BILL No. 4493


     March 12, 1997, Introduced by Reps. Profit, Palamara, Willard, Schauer, Scranton, LaForge, Bogardus, Goschka, McBryde, Tesanovich, Cropsey and Lowe and referred to the Committee on Education.


        A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled

   "The state school aid act of 1979,"

   by amending section 104a (MCL 388.1704a), as amended by 1996 PA

   300.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 1         Sec. 104a.  (1) In order to receive state aid under this

 2    act, a district shall comply with this section and, BEGINNING

 3    WITH PUPILS SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1998, FOR

 4    EACH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OF THE DISTRICT WHO HAS COMPLETED AN

 5    ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (4) IN ANY OF THE

 6    SUBJECT AREAS OF COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE,

 7    AND, BEGINNING WITH PUPILS SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE IN 2000, SOCIAL

 8    STUDIES, SHALL INCLUDE ON THE GRADUATE'S HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT

 9    THE ACTUAL TEST SCORE ACHIEVED BY THE GRADUATE ON EACH OF THE

10    ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS HE OR SHE COMPLETED.  IF A GRADUATE HAS


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 1    REPEATED AN ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT FOR A SUBJECT AREA UNDER

 2    SUBSECTION (2), THE HIGHEST TEST SCORE ACHIEVED BY THE GRADUATE

 3    ON AN ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT FOR THAT SUBJECT AREA SHALL BE THE

 4    SCORE INCLUDED ON THE TRANSCRIPT FOR THAT SUBJECT AREA.  shall

 5     award a state endorsed high school diploma to an eligible gradu-

 6     ate as provided in this section.  For a pupil scheduled to gradu-

 7     ate in 1994, 1995, or 1996 to be eligible for a state-endorsement

 8     in 1 or more of the subject areas of communication arts, mathe-

 9     matics, or science, the pupil must achieve at least 1 of the

10     following:

11          (a) A passing score on locally-adopted and state-approved

12     basic proficiency tests measuring proficiency in 1 or more of the

13     subject areas specified in this subsection.

14          (b) If the pupil is eligible to take the general education

15     development (G.E.D.)  test, a passing score in 1 or more of the

16     subject areas specified in this subsection and tested in the

17     G.E.D. test.

18          (c) For a state endorsement in communications arts, at least

19     a score of moderate on the reading portion of the Michigan educa-

20     tional assessment program (MEAP) grade 10 test; for a state

21     endorsement in mathematics, at least a score of moderate on the

22     mathematics portion of the MEAP grade 10 test; and, for a state

23     endorsement in science, at least 50% of the objectives on the

24     science portion of the MEAP grade 11 test.  For pupils scheduled

25     to graduate in 1997, the department may use a version of the

26     science assessment instrument developed under subsection (8)

27     instead of the science portion of the MEAP grade 11 test, and, in



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 1    its discretion, may administer that science assessment instrument

 2     in the fall of 1995 or the spring of 1996, or both.  If the

 3     department uses that science assessment instrument, as provided

 4     under this subdivision, the department, based on expert advice,

 5     shall determine the level of proficiency that must be demon-

 6     strated for a pupil scheduled to graduate in 1997 to earn a state

 7     endorsement in science.

 8          (2) For pupils scheduled to graduate in 1997, if a pupil

 9     achieves the outcomes required by the state board, as measured by

10     an assessment instrument developed under subsection (8), for a

11     state-endorsed high school diploma, or meets the requirements

12     described in subsection (1)(c) for a state-endorsed high school

13     diploma, in 1 or more of the subject areas of communications

14     skills, mathematics, and science, the pupil's district shall

15     award a state endorsement on the pupil's diploma in each of the

16     subject areas in which the pupil demonstrated the required

17     proficiency.  Beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in

18     1998, if a pupil achieves the objectives required by the state

19     board, as measured by an assessment instrument developed under

20     subsection (8), for a state-endorsed high school diploma in 1 or

21     more of the subject areas of communications skills, mathematics,

22     science, and, beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in

23     2000, social studies, the pupil's district shall award a state

24     endorsement on the pupil's diploma in each of the subject areas

25     in which the pupil demonstrated the required proficiency.  A dis-

26     trict shall not award a state endorsement to a pupil unless the

27     pupil meets the applicable requirements for the endorsement, as



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 1    described in this subsection.  A school district may award a high

 2     school diploma to a pupil who successfully completes local dis-

 3     trict requirements established in accordance with state law for

 4     high school graduation, regardless of whether the pupil is eligi-

 5     ble for any state endorsement.

 6          (3) A district that offers a pupil the opportunity to pass a

 7     basic proficiency test described in subsection (1)(a) as 1 means

 8     to obtain a state-endorsed diploma in 1994, 1995, or 1996 may

 9     submit the district's own basic proficiency test to the depart-

10     ment for approval to be used by the district to assess

11     proficiency.

12          (4) A pupil who does not achieve at least 1 of the require-

13     ments listed in subsection (1) or the requirements of

14     subsection (2), as applicable, may be reevaluated each school

15     year until the pupil achieves an applicable requirement for a

16     state-endorsed diploma.  In addition, the board of the district

17     in which the pupil is enrolled shall provide that there be at

18     least 1 meeting attended by at least the pupil and a member of

19     the district's staff or a local or intermediate district consul-

20     tant who is proficient in the measurement and evaluation of

21     pupils.  The district may provide the meeting as a group meeting

22     for pupils in similar circumstances.  If the pupil is a minor,

23     the district shall invite and encourage the pupil's parent, legal

24     guardian, or person in loco parentis to attend the meeting and

25     shall mail a notice of the meeting to the pupil's parent, legal

26     guardian, or person in loco parentis.  The purpose of this

27     meeting and any subsequent meeting under this subsection shall be



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 1    to determine an educational program for the pupil designed to

 2     have the pupil reach proficiency in each subject or skill area in

 3     which he or she was assessed by the testing as not proficient.

 4     In addition, a district may provide for subsequent meetings with

 5     the pupil conducted by a high school counselor or teacher desig-

 6     nated by the pupil's high school principal, and shall invite and

 7     encourage the pupil's parent, legal guardian, or person in loco

 8     parentis to attend the subsequent meetings.  The district shall

 9     provide special programs for the pupil or develop a program using

10     the educational programs regularly provided by the district

11     unless the board of the district decides otherwise and publishes

12     and explains its decision in a public justification report.  A

13     pupil may be reevaluated at any time the district administers an

14     applicable assessment instrument.

15          (5) For a state-endorsed diploma, a pupil must achieve at

16     least 1 of the requirements listed in subsection (1) or the

17     requirements of subsection (2), as applicable, in addition to any

18     other requirements established by law or by the board of a dis-

19     trict for a high school diploma.  If the board of a district

20     determines that a pupil qualifies for a state-endorsed diploma,

21     the board shall indicate on the pupil's high school diploma and

22     transcript that the pupil achieved the proficiency necessary for

23     receipt of a state-endorsed diploma. 

24         (2)  (6)  An individual may repeat any of the  tests or 

25    assessment instruments specified in  subsection (1) or

26     subsection (2), as applicable,  SUBSECTION (4) at any time the

27    district regularly offers the  test or  assessment.  or, for the



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 1    MEAP tests described in subsection (1)(c), during the established

 2     testing period, and, upon achieving at least 1 of the require-

 3     ments listed in subsection (1) or the requirements of

 4     subsection (2), as applicable, and completing all other applica-

 5     ble requirements for a high school diploma, shall be awarded a

 6     state-endorsed diploma. 

 7         (3)  (7)  A district shall provide accommodations to a pupil

 8    with disabilities for the proficiency  testing or  assessment

 9    required under this section, as provided under section 504 of

10    title V of the rehabilitation act of 1973, Public Law 93-112, 29

11    U.S.C. 794; subtitle A of title II of the Americans with disabil-

12    ities act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, 42 U.S.C. 12131 to 12134;

13    and the implementing regulations for those statutes.  A special

14     education pupil scheduled to graduate in 1994, 1995, or 1996 who

15     has passed an alternative form of assessment permitted under this

16     section as it was in effect for 1992-93 shall receive the appli-

17     cable endorsement under this section. 

18         (4)  (8)  For the purposes of this section, the state board

19    shall develop or select and approve assessment instruments to

20    determine pupil  proficiency  PERFORMANCE in communications

21    skills, mathematics, social studies, and science.  The assessment

22    instruments shall be based on the state board model core academic

23    content standards objectives.

24          (9) The state board shall develop or select and approve

25     assessment instruments for the purpose of awarding state endorse-

26     ments of advanced mastery in specified subject areas. 





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 1         (5)  (10)  Upon written request by the pupil's parent or

 2    legal guardian stating that the request is being made for the

 3    purpose of providing the pupil with an opportunity to qualify to

 4    take 1 or more postsecondary courses as an eligible student under

 5    the postsecondary enrollment options act,  Act No. 160 of the

 6     Public Acts of 1996, being sections 388.511 to 388.524 of the

 7     Michigan Compiled Laws  1996 PA 160, MCL 388.511 TO 388.524, the

 8    board of a district shall allow a pupil who is in at least grade

 9    10 to take  a test or  AN assessment described in subsection  (1)

10     or (2)  (4) without charge at any time the district regularly

11    administers the  test or  assessment or administers a retest of

12    the  test or  assessment.  A district is not required to include

13    in an annual education report, or in any other report submitted

14    to the department for accreditation purposes, results of tests or

15    assessments taken under this subsection by a pupil in grade 10 or

16    lower.

17         (6)  (11)  All assessment instruments developed or selected

18    and approved by the state under any statute or rule for a purpose

19    related to K to 12 education shall be objective-oriented and con-

20    sistent with the state board model core academic content stan-

21    dards objectives.

22          (12) Upon payment of a reasonable fee any person may, after

23     graduation from high school, retake the state-endorsed diploma

24     test and, upon achieving the initial mastery level in a subject

25     area, have his or her high school diploma state-endorsed for that

26     subject area. 





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