September 24, 2007, Introduced by Senators SWITALSKI, JACOBS, PAPPAGEORGE and KAHN and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled
"The state school aid act of 1979,"
by amending section 98 (MCL 388.1698), as amended by 2006 PA 342.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 98. (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated
in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed
$500,000.00 for 2006-2007 and from the general fund money
appropriated in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to
exceed
$2,250,000.00 $1,750,000.00
for 2006-2007 to provide a grant
to the Michigan virtual university for the development,
implementation, and operation of the Michigan virtual high school;
to provide professional development opportunities for educators;
and to fund other purposes described in this section. In addition,
from the federal funds appropriated in section 11, there is
allocated for 2006-2007 an amount estimated at $3,250,000.00.
(2) The Michigan virtual high school shall have the following
goals:
(a) Significantly expand curricular offerings for high schools
across this state through agreements with districts or licenses
from other recognized providers. The Michigan virtual high school
shall explore options for providing rigorous civics curricula
online.
(b) Create statewide instructional models using interactive
multimedia tools delivered by electronic means, including, but not
limited to, the internet, digital broadcast, or satellite network,
for distributed learning at the high school level.
(c) Provide pupils with opportunities to develop skills and
competencies through on-line learning.
(d) Provide online test preparation resources for pupils.
(e) Grant high school diplomas through a dual enrollment
method with districts.
(f) Act as a broker for college level equivalent courses, as
defined in section 1471 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1471,
and dual enrollment courses from postsecondary education
institutions.
(3)
From the general fund money allocated in subsection (1),
an
amount estimated at, but not to exceed $500,000.00, shall be
used
by the Michigan virtual high school to provide online test
preparation
resources for all Michigan high school pupils using
web-based
tools that align with the Michigan merit exam
requirements,
including the ACT and the revised MEAP exam. These
resources
shall include the following:
(a)
Practice test opportunities for students.
(b)
Information on effective test taking strategies.
(c)
Diagnostic tools to identify student learning gaps.
(d)
Self-paced online instructional tutorials.
(e)
Electronic reports that provide feedback for students and
school
personnel.
(3) (4)
The Michigan virtual high school
course offerings
shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Information technology courses.
(b) College level equivalent courses, as defined in section
1471 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1471.
(c) Courses and dual enrollment opportunities.
(d) Programs and services for at-risk pupils.
(e) General education development test preparation courses for
adjudicated youth.
(f) Special interest courses.
(g) Professional development programs and services for
teachers.
(4) (5)
From the federal funds allocated in
subsection (1),
there is allocated for 2006-2007 an amount estimated at
$2,250,000.00 from DED-OESE, title II, improving teacher quality
funds for a grant to the Michigan virtual university for the
purpose of this subsection. The state education agency shall sign a
memorandum of understanding with the Michigan virtual university
regarding the DED-OESE, title II, improving teacher quality funds
as provided under this subsection. The memorandum of understanding
under this subsection shall require that the Michigan virtual
university coordinate the following activities related to DED-OESE,
title II, improving teacher quality funds in accordance with
federal law:
(a) Develop, and assist districts in the development and use
of, proven, innovative strategies to deliver intensive professional
development programs that are both cost-effective and easily
accessible, such as strategies that involve delivery through the
use of technology, peer networks, and distance learning.
(b) Encourage and support the training of teachers and
administrators to effectively integrate technology into curricula
and instruction.
(c) Coordinate the activities of eligible partnerships that
include higher education institutions for the purposes of providing
professional development activities for teachers,
paraprofessionals, and principals as defined in federal law.
(d) Offer teachers opportunities to learn new skills and
strategies for developing and delivering instructional services.
(e) Provide online professional development opportunities for
educators to update and expand knowledge and skills needed to
support the Michigan merit curriculum core content standards and
credit requirements.
(5) (6)
The Michigan virtual university
shall offer at least
200 hours of online professional development for classroom teachers
under this section each fiscal year beginning in 2006-2007 without
charge to the teachers or to districts or intermediate districts. A
district or intermediate district may require a full-time teacher
to participate in at least 5 hours of online professional
development provided by the Michigan virtual university under
subsection
(5) (4). Five hours of this professional development
shall be considered to be part of the 38 hours allowed to be
counted as hours of pupil instruction under section 101(10).
(6) (7)
From the federal funds appropriated
in subsection (1),
there is allocated for 2006-2007 an amount estimated at
$1,000,000.00 from the DED-OESE, title II, educational technology
grant funds to support e-learning and virtual school initiatives
consistent with the goals contained in the United States national
educational technology plan issued in January 2005. Not later than
November 30, 2006, from the funds allocated in this subsection, the
department shall award a single grant of $1,000,000.00 to a
consortium or partnership established by the Michigan virtual
university that meets the requirements of this subsection. To be
eligible for this funding, a consortium or partnership established
by the Michigan virtual university shall include at least 1
intermediate district and at least 1 high-need local district. All
of the following apply to this funding:
(a) An eligible consortium or partnership must demonstrate the
following:
(i) Prior success in delivering online courses and
instructional services to K-12 pupils throughout this state.
(ii) Expertise in designing, developing, and evaluating online
K-12 course content.
(iii) Experience in maintaining a statewide help desk service
for pupils, online teachers, and other school personnel.
(iv) Knowledge and experience in providing technical assistance
and support to K-12 schools in the area of online education.
(v) Experience in training and supporting K-12 educators in
this state to teach online courses.
(vi) Demonstrated technical expertise and capacity in managing
complex technology systems.
(vii) Experience promoting twenty-first century learning skills
through the use of online technologies.
(b) The Michigan virtual university, which operates the
Michigan virtual high school, shall perform the following tasks
related to this funding:
(i) Examine the curricular and specific course content needs of
middle and high school students in the areas of mathematics and
science.
(ii) Design, develop, and acquire online courses and related
supplemental resources aligned to state standards to create a
comprehensive and rigorous statewide catalog of online courses and
instructional services.
(iii) Conduct a demonstration pilot to promote new and
innovative online courses and instructional services.
(iv) Evaluate existing online teaching and learning practices
and develop continuous improvement strategies to enhance student
achievement.
(v) Develop, support, and maintain the technology
infrastructure and related software required to deliver online
courses and instructional services to students statewide.
(7) (8)
From the state school aid fund
allocation in
subsection (1), an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 for 2006-2007
shall be awarded as a single grant to an intermediate district
working in partnership with the Michigan virtual high school for a
statewide license for "my dream explorer", a career exploration and
planning tool, to be made available to all pupils at no cost.
(8) (9)
If a home-schooled or nonpublic
school student is a
resident of a district that subscribes to services provided by the
Michigan virtual high school, the student may use the services
provided by the Michigan virtual high school to the district
without charge to the student beyond what is charged to a district
pupil using the same services.
(9) (10)
All activities funded under this
section relating to
science shall include the use of the scientific method to
critically evaluate scientific theories and the use of relevant
scientific data to assess the validity of those theories.
(10) (11)
As used in this section:
(a) "DED-OESE" means the United States department of education
office of elementary and secondary education.
(b) "High-need local district" means a local educational
agency as defined in the enhancing education through technology
part of the no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law 107-110.
(c) "State education agency" means the department.