HOUSE BILL No. 5081 September 23, 1997, Introduced by Rep. Middleton and referred to the Committee on Education. A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled "The revised school code," by amending section 1279 (MCL 380.1279), as amended by 1997 PA 25. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: 1 Sec. 1279. (1) The board of a school district or public 2 school academy shall award a state-endorsed high school diploma 3 to an eligible high school graduate as provided in this section. 4 (2)For pupils scheduled to graduate from high school in51997, if a pupil achieves the academic objectives required by the6state board, as measured by an assessment developed under7subsection (7), for a state-endorsed high school diploma, or8meets the requirements described in former subsection (1)(c) for9a state-endorsed diploma, in 1 or more of the subject areas of10communications skills, mathematics, and science, the pupil's04297'97 TAV 2 1school district or public school academy shall award a state2endorsement on the pupil's diploma in each of the subject areas3in which the pupil demonstrated the required proficiency.4Beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in 1998, ifIF a 5 pupil achieves the objectives required by the state board, as 6 measured by an assessment instrument developed under subsection 7(7)(8), for a state-endorsed high school diploma in 1 or more 8 of the subject areas of communications skills, mathematics, 9 science, and, beginning with pupils scheduled to graduate in 10 2000, social studies, the pupil's school district or public 11 school academy shall award a state endorsement on the pupil's 12 diploma in each of the subject areas in which the pupil demon- 13 strated the required proficiency. A school district or public 14 school academy shall not award a state endorsement to a pupil 15 unless the pupil meets the applicable requirements for the 16 endorsement, as described in this subsection. A school district 17 or public school academy may award a high school diploma to a 18 pupil who successfully completes local school district or public 19 school academy requirements established in accordance with state 20 law for high school graduation, regardless of whether the pupil 21 is eligible for any state endorsement. 22 (3) BEGINNING WITH PUPILS SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE IN 1999, THE 23 ASSESSMENTS ADMINISTERED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION SHALL 24 BE ADMINISTERED TO PUPILS IN GRADE 12. 25 (4)(3)A pupil who does not achieve the requirements of 26 subsection (2) may be reevaluatedeachLATER IN THE school year 27 until the pupil achieves an applicable requirement for a 04297'97 3 1 state-endorsed diploma. In addition, the board of the school 2 district or public school academy in which the pupil is enrolled 3 shall provide that there be at least 1 meeting attended by at 4 least the pupil and a member of the school district's or public 5 school academy's staff or a local or intermediate school district 6 consultant who is proficient in the measurement and evaluation of 7 pupils. The school district or public school academy may provide 8 the meeting as a group meeting for pupils in similar 9 circumstances. If the pupil is a minor, the school district or 10 public school academy shall invite and encourage the pupil's 11 parent, legal guardian, or person in loco parentis to attend the 12 meeting and shall mail a notice of the meeting to the pupil's 13 parent, legal guardian, or person in loco parentis. The purpose 14 of this meeting and any subsequent meeting under this subsection 15 shall be to determine an educational program for the pupil 16 designed to have the pupil reach proficiency in each subject or 17 skill area in which he or she was assessed by the testing as not 18 proficient. In addition, a school district or public school 19 academy may provide for subsequent meetings with the pupil con- 20 ducted by a high school counselor or teacher designated by the 21 pupil's high school principal, and shall invite and encourage the 22 pupil's parent, legal guardian, or person in loco parentis to 23 attend the subsequent meetings. The school district or public 24 school academy shall provide special programs for the pupil or 25 develop a program using the educational programs regularly pro- 26 vided by the district unless the board of the school district or 27 public school academy decides otherwise and publishes and 04297'97 4 1 explains its decision in a public justification report. A pupil 2 may be reevaluated at any time the school district or public 3 school academy administers an applicable assessment instrument. 4 (5)(4)For a state-endorsed diploma, a pupil must achieve 5 the requirements of subsection (2) in addition to any other 6 requirements established by law or by the board of the school 7 district or public school academy for a high school diploma. If 8 the board of a school district or public school academy deter- 9 mines that a pupil qualifies for a state-endorsed diploma, the 10 board shall indicate on the pupil's high school diploma and tran- 11 script that the pupil achieved the proficiency necessary for 12 receipt of a state-endorsed diploma. 13 (6)(5)An individual may repeat any of the tests or 14 assessment instruments specified in subsection (2) at any time 15 the school district or public school academy regularly offers the 16 test or assessment. If an individual described in this subsec- 17 tion achieves the requirements of subsection (2) and completes 18 all other applicable requirements for a high school diploma, the 19 individual shall be awarded a state-endorsed diploma as otherwise 20 provided in this section. 21 (7)(6)A school district or public school academy shall 22 provide accommodations to a pupil with disabilities for the pro- 23 ficiency testing or assessment required under this section, as 24 provided under section 504 of title V of the rehabilitation act 25 of 1973, Public Law 93-112, 29 U.S.C. 794; subtitle A of title II 26 of the Americans with disabilities act of 1990, Public Law 04297'97 5 1 101-336, 42 U.S.C. 12131 to 12134; and the implementing 2 regulations for those statutes. 3 (8)(7)For the purposes of this section, the state board 4 shall develop or select and approve assessment instruments to 5 determine pupil proficiency in communications skills, mathemat- 6 ics, social studies, and science. The assessment instruments 7 shall be based on the state board model core academic content 8 standards objectives. 9 (9)(8)All assessment instruments developed or selected 10 and approved by the state under any statute or rule for a purpose 11 related to K to 12 education shall be objective-oriented and con- 12 sistent with the state board model core academic content stan- 13 dards objectives. 14 (10)(9)Upon payment of a reasonable fee any person may 15 take the state-endorsed diploma test and, upon demonstrating the 16 required proficiency in a subject area, have his or her high 17 school diploma state-endorsed for that subject area. 04297'97 Final page. TAV