STEM DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT S.B. 169 (S-2) & S.B. 170 (S-2):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 169 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Senate Bill 170 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
CONTENT
Senate Bill 170 (S-2) would amend the Revised School Code to provide that a pupil would be eligible for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) endorsement if the pupil, while in grades 7 to 12, successfully completed all of the following credit requirements: a) all applicable requirements of the Michigan Merit standard for a high school diploma under Sections 1278a and 1278b of the Code; b) at least six credits in mathematics; c) at least six credits in science; and, d) at least one-half credit featuring significant course work involving technology activities and at least one-half credit featuring significant course work involving engineering activities. At least five of the math credits would have to be in courses listed in, or covering the same content standards as a course listed in, Section 1278a(1)(a)(i), including a credit that covered content standards for precalculus or calculus. At least four of the science credits would have to be in courses listed in, or covering the same content standards as a course listed in, Section 1278b(1)(b). The engineering and technology credits could be gained through separate technology and engineering course work or in conjunction with course work associated with the credits required under b) and c).
(Courses listed in Section 1278a(1)(a)(i) include algebra I, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry, statistics, precalculus, calculus, applied math, business math, and certain Department-approved career or technical education programs or curricula. Courses listed in Section 1278b(1)(b) include biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, agricultural science, forensics, astronomy, Earth science, environmental science, geology, physiology, microbiology, and certain Department-approved computer science or technical education programs or curricula.)
Senate Bill 169 (S-2) would amend the Revised School Code to provide that a school district or public school academy could notate a pupil's transcript or diploma to indicate that the pupil had earned a STEM endorsement.
For an individual who was educated at home or in a nonpublic school, if the individual's parent or legal guardian, or the principal or chief administrative officer of the nonpublic school, as applicable, determined that the individual had met substantially the same requirements as those under Senate Bill 170 (S-2) for a STEM endorsement, the parent or legal guardian, or the principal or chief administrative officer of the nonpublic school, could issue a STEM endorsement.
The bills are tie-barred and would take effect 90 days after their enactment.
Proposed MCL 380.1287e (S.B. 169) Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
Proposed MCL 380.1287d (S.B. 170)
FISCAL IMPACT
State: The bills would have no fiscal impact on the State, because the responsibilities of verifying that a student had met the STEM criteria and issuing the endorsement would be at the local level.
Local: Costs could vary depending on the extent to which changes would need to occur at the school level. If schools needed to redesign multiple classroom curricula to meet statutory guidelines or add additional classes, then the schools would have to spend resources that could have been needed elsewhere. However, since schools would not be required to have curricula that would allow for STEM endorsements, schools would not have to make these changes if they did not have the resources to do so.
The costs of confirming that students met the qualifications for a STEM endorsement would be minor and fit within the current costs of determining if a student meets graduation requirements. The costs of issuing and keeping track of the STEM endorsement would fit within the current cost of issuing diplomas and maintaining transcripts.
Date Completed: 4-16-15 Fiscal Analyst: Cory Savino
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.