SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ACADEMY - H.B. 4714 (H-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
sans-serif">House Bill 4714 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative David Farhat
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to do the following:
-- Require the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to establish a principal leadership academy.
-- Permit State and Federal funds appropriated by the Legislature for professional development and education to be used for the academy.
-- Delete a requirement for the allocation of professional development funds between the MDE and school districts.
The principal leadership academy would have to consist of training for school principals, conducted by other school principals who had a record of success in improving pupil performance. The training would have to include at least all of the following: strategies for increasing parental involvement; strategies for engaging community support and involvement; creative problem-solving; financial decision-making; management rights and techniques; and other strategies for improving school leadership to achieve better pupil performance.
Currently, the Legislature is required to allocate funds to support professional development and education substantially as follows: 20% to the MDE; 15% to intermediate school districts on an equal amount per-pupil basis, based on the memberships of constituent districts; and 65% to school districts on an equal amount per-pupil basis. The bill would delete that requirement.
MCL 380.1525 - Legislative Analyst: Claire Layman
FISCAL IMPACT
State: The bill could result in a minor, though indeterminate, cost to the Department of Education due to the expenses associated with planning the academy, solicitating input from principals, and developing the curriculum to be used in the training at the academy. There also would be some indeterminate administrative costs associated with the operation of the academy. The bill would expand the use of State and Federal professional development funds to include the training academy; currently, however, no State funding is provided for professional development due to budget cuts. Federal Improving Teacher Quality grants could be used for this purpose as provided by Federal law.
Local: It is unknown whether local or intermediate school districts would incur any cost for sending principals to the training academy.
Date Completed: 10-27-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Joe CarrascoFloor\hb4714 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa
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.