MERIT CURRICULUM REVISIONS: CTE S.B. 66 (S-8):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 66 (Substitute S-8 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to require the provision of certain information regarding the fulfillment of Michigan Merit curriculum requirements for a high school diploma through a career and technical education (CTE) program.
Specifically, if a school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy (PSA) requested information from the Department of Education on CTE programs that could help fulfill merit curriculum requirements, the Department would have to provide that information within a reasonable time. The Department also would have to post on its website information concerning best practices in CTE, including information detailed in the bill.
The Code requires a school board or PSA board of directors to provide the opportunity for each pupil to develop an educational development plan during grade 7, and includes additional procedures regarding the plan's development. The bill would require a school board or PSA board of directors, as part of the development process, to ensure that pupils were given information about fulfilling merit curriculum requirements with CTE or another program approved by the Department.
The bill states that school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies would be "strongly encouraged" to establish programs whose completion, after high school graduation, would be credited toward achievement of a professional certificate, training, apprenticeship, or college credit in a specific career and technical field.
Proposed MCL 380.1278c Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill likely would increase costs to the State Department of Education by requiring the Department to compile and make available CTE best practices information as specified in the bill, including information on successful career and technical education programs, CTE programs provided around the State and disciplines covered by the programs, illustrations of partnerships between educational entities and businesses, and how course content required under the Michigan Merit standard had been embedded into CTE.
The bill would require school districts to ensure that pupils were provided with information about how they can fulfill the requirements of Sections 1278a and 1278b (which prescribe credit requirements for a high school diploma) with CTE or another program approved by the Department. It is likely that districts already do this, but in the event a school does not, there could be some slight costs (web, printing, etc.) to the district related to the provision of this information.
Date Completed: 5-28-14 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.