GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS; LANGUAGE                                                      S.B. 171:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 171 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Jim Stamas

Committee:  Education and Career Readiness

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to eliminate dates during which high school pupils may fulfill a foreign language requirement for a diploma by completing a formal career and technical education (CTE) program or by completing visual or performing arts instruction.

The Code requires students to meet certain credit requirements to receive a high school diploma. The credit requirements include at least two credits that are grade-appropriate in a language other than English, based on guidelines developed by the Department of Education. Students who graduate from high school between 2016 and 2024 may fulfill one of these credits by completing a Department-approved formal CTE program or curriculum, or by completing visual or performing arts instruction, in addition to the requirements for one credit in visual, performing, or applied arts. The bill would eliminate those dates.

The bill also would eliminate a provision requiring a school district or public school academy to report to the Department of Education how many pupils fulfilled a foreign language credit through a formal CTE program or curriculum or visual or performing arts instruction.

MCL 380.1278a                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Dana Adams

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a minimal positive fiscal impact on the Department of Education, school districts, and public school academies. The elimination of the annual report on foreign language requirement fulfillment would result in reduced administrative costs for the Department and local schools. The extent of these savings likely would be minimal and would not reduce overall expenditures by the Department or local school district and public school academies.

Date Completed:  12-4-19                                                    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.