This revised summary replaces the revised summary dated 2-16-01.
REVISE GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
House Bill 4155
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Howell
Committee: Education
Complete to 2-27-01
A REVISED SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4155 AS INTRODUCED 2-7-01
House Bill 4155 would amend the State School Aid Act to revise the qualifications for the golden apple awards funded under the state school aid fund.
Currently the state sets aside $8 million each year to award Golden Apple Awards to elementary schools. The awards are based on student achievement, and under the award program achievement is determined by the students' scores when they take the grades four and five subject matter tests that are part of the Michigan education assessment program (more customarily referred to as MEAP). [In grade four, students are tested in mathematics and reading; in grade five, they are tested in science, writing, and social studies.] A Golden Apple Award consists of $1,000 for each full-time employee who works in the elementary school, and in addition $10,000 is allocated to the school principal for school improvement. The award cannot be less than $50,000 per recipient school. All the money allocated must be used for school improvements, as determined collectively by a majority vote of the employees.
To be eligible for a Golden Apple Award, an elementary school must have at least 50 students and meet several requirements. For the 1999-2000 school year, at least 80 percent of the fourth and fifth graders enrolled must have taken the MEAP tests, and either their composite score must have increased at least 60 points over the two consecutive school years immediately preceding the year the award is given, or the test scores on the applicable MEAP tests must be among the highest elementary school scores statewide, as determined by the Department of Treasury. Beginning in 2000-2001, at least 90 percent of the fourth and fifth graders enrolled must have taken the MEAP tests, and either their composite score must have increased at least 60 points over the two consecutive school years immediately preceding the year the award is given, or the test scores on the applicable MEAP tests must be among the highest elementary school scores statewide, as determined by the Department of Treasury.
House Bill 4155 would extend the Golden Apple Award program to any elementary school that met these same criteria, but that operated only a fourth or a fifth grade rather than both grades, as is the usual case.
Further, the bill specifies that if the Department of Treasury determined that the amount allocated for the program during a particular fiscal year was not sufficient to fully fund the awards to all eligible elementary schools, then the department would be required to prorate the amount of the awards accordingly.
MCL 388.1696
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.