TIMING OF MEAP TEST

House Bills 6230 and 6231 

Sponsor:  Rep. Brian Palmer

Committee:  Education

Complete to 9-28-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 6230 - 6231 AS INTRODUCED 9-22-04

The bills would amend the State School Aid Act and the Revised School Code, respectively, to revise the timing of the high school assessments.  Currently under the laws, the high school assessments must be administered to students during the last 30 school days of grade 11.  In contrast, the bills would specify that the assessments be administered within the last 90 school days of grade 11. [Note:  The Revised School Code requires high school assessments in the subject areas of communications skills, mathematics, science, and social studies, customarily known as the Michigan Education Assessment Program, or MEAP.  The State School Aid Act allows the department to designate as the high school assessments either the MEAP tests or the ACT Work Keys tests.]

In addition, House Bill 6230 would change all references in this section of the law from the Department of Treasury to the Department of Education.

Further, House Bill 6231 would eliminate an outdated provision that required the Department of Education to submit a comprehensive report to the legislature on the status of the assessment program no later than July 1, until the year 2000.  Finally, currently under the law the Department of Treasury, or any other state agency, must notify a school district or public school academy of any suspected irregularities in the administration of the MEAP before reporting them to others, and then allow at least five business days for school officials to respond.  House Bill 6231 would retain this provision, but specify it also would apply to the superintendent of public instruction.

House Bill 6230 would amend the State School Aid Act (MCL 388.1704a) and House Bill 6231 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1279 and 380.1279d).

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault     

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