MICHIGAN VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY

House Bill 6324 (H-1) as reported from committee

Sponsor:  Rep. Jim Lilly

Committee:  Education Reform

Complete to 11-28-18

SUMMARY:

Generally, House Bill 6324 would update the provisions for the Michigan Virtual University (MVU) in the Revised School Code so that they conform with recent changes in the State School Aid Act.

As in the Act, the Code would do all of the following:

·         Expand eligibility for the Michigan Virtual School to include middle school students.  (Specifically, Section 21f of the Act currently allows a primary district to deny student enrollment in an online course for grade level reasons only to those students in grades K to 5. The bill requires the School to cater to middle schools and high schools.)

·         Replace references to “on-line” learning with references to “online and blended” learning.

·         Replace a provision that nonpublic school students and home-schooled children may participate in Michigan Virtual High School offerings to the same extent as they are allowed to participate in district course offerings with a provision that those students who are residents of school districts that subscribe to services offered by the Michigan Virtual School may use those services and may not be charged a rate higher than is charged to students enrolled at the school district.

·         Require a number of actions that the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute would have to take in order to support and accelerate innovation in education and provide leadership for Michigan’s system of virtual learning education. These actions, listed in subsection (8) of the bill, mirror several of the actions required of the Institute in Section 98(2) of the Act.

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

MCL 380.1481

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or local units of government. The bill is meant to update the Revised School Code to align with current operating procedures and policy goals of the Michigan Virtual University Research Institute and Sections 21f and 98 of the State School Aid Act. Currently, the appropriation for MVU is $7.4 million in the School Aid Budget.

BRIEF DISCUSSION:

           

The Michigan University (MVU) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) established in 1998.  Public Act 230 of 2000 (HB 5802)[1] established the Michigan Virtual High School with the goal, among others, of creating a statewide instructional model using the internet, digital broadcast, or satellite network for distributed learning at the high school level.

According to committee testimony, the bill is purely technical in nature and is intended to bring the Code in line with the Act. The bill accommodates the name change from the Michigan Virtual High School to the Michigan Virtual School and reflects the status of the school as a resource to other schools. 

POSITIONS:

            A representative of Michigan Virtual University testified in support of the bill. (11-8-18)

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Samuel Christensen

                                                                                                                           Jacqueline Mullen

■ 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.

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