STRICT DISCIPLINE ACADEMY ENROLLMENT                                            H.B. 4665 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4665 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative Rob VerHeulen

House Committee:  Education Reform

Senate Committee:  Education

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to allow a student admitted to a strict discipline academy (SDA) because he or she was suspended from a school district to remain enrolled at the SDA after the term of his or her suspension; and allow a pupil who was enrolled in a strict discipline academy to remain enrolled in the SDA after he or she no longer met the requirements for enrollment.

Under the Code, a suspended pupil may be allowed to attend a strict discipline academy only for the duration of the suspension. The bill would delete this restriction.

Also, under the bill, an SDA could enroll a pupil who had been expelled or suspended from school and who was referred to the SDA by the pupil's school or placed in the SDA by the pupil's parent or legal guardian (instead of both).

In addition, a strict discipline academy could enroll a pupil who became a resident of this State as an unaccompanied or resettled minor under the care of the Department of Health and Human Services and aged out of, or was projected to age out of, his or her resident school district.

MCL 380.1311g                                                        Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill could increase costs to the State to the extent strict discipline academies enrolled pupils who were unaccompanied or resettled minors and who aged out of enrollment at the resident school district, as allowed by the bill. Any increased cost to State would be reflected in additional foundation allowance and eligible categorical payments under the School Aid Act, and this revenue would then accrue to the enrolling SDA.

In addition, under current law, when a suspension ends, a student's enrollment at a strict discipline academy terminates; however, the bill would allow enrollment to continue at the SDA upon completion of the suspension. Due to the operation of Section 25f of the School Aid Act, funding follows the student: where a student is enrolled and for how long within the year determines a district's foundation allowance funding. Therefore, the bill could have an impact on school districts (including public school academies) to the extent that students chose to stay enrolled at a strict discipline academy, rather than return to the school in which they were enrolled prior to the suspension.

Date Completed:  11-30-17                                           Fiscal Analyst:  Kathryn Summers

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.