STRICT DISCIPLINE ACADEMY

ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY

House Bill 4665 (proposed substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Rob VerHeulen

Committee:  Education Reform

Complete to 6-7-17

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4665 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1311g) to allow a student enrolled in a strict discipline academy (SDA) to remain at that school, at the option of the student's parents or guardian, even after the student no longer falls into one of the categories for enrollment (identified below), as long as the student meets other applicable requirements for enrollment (presumably grade-level and geographic boundaries, as applicable to that school). 

The bill would allow a student expelled or suspended for more than 10 days to attend an SDA if referred by the student's school or placed in the SDA by a parent or guardian. (This replaces a current provision that both the school referral and parent placement are required).  It would also remove the provisions that a suspended student may only attend for the duration of the suspension. 

Strict discipline academies, a type of public school academy (PSA) or charter school, were incorporated into Michigan law following the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 as part of a push for school safety measures.  Other such measures include zero tolerance suspension and expulsion policies for certain offenses. The goal of SDAs is largely to provide education in a more controlled environment to a population that is unable to participate in a traditional school setting.  SDAs typically require metal detector checks at the school door, uniforms, and strict adherence to behavior policies.

The following students are eligible for enrollment at a strict discipline academy:

·         A student placed in an SDA by a court or by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) or a county juvenile agency under the direction of a court.

·         A student who has been expelled for possessing a dangerous weapon in a weapon-free school zone, or commits arson or criminal sexual conduct at school.

·         A student in grade six or above who has been expelled for committing a physical or verbal assault against a school employee, volunteer or contractor; or making a bomb threat or similar threat against the school; or who has been expelled under another provision of the Revised School Code.

·         Other students who have been expelled from school, or suspended for more than 10 days, and who are referred to the SDA by the student's school and placed in the SDA by the student's parent or legal guardian. (The bill would revise this, so that instead of requiring school referral and placement by a parent or guardian, either referral or placement would be sufficient for enrollment.)

·         A special education student who has not been suspended or expelled, but whose individualized education program (IEP) team recommends placement in an SDA.

·         A student who has not been suspended or expelled, but who is placed in a high- or medium-security juvenile facility, mental health facility, or child caring institution that is operated by a private company.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There would be no fiscal impact for the state or local units of government.  However, state aid funding follows pupils to the district in which the pupil is enrolled, so there could be a minimal redistribution between districts depending on the pupil’s enrollment.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.