"STEM" DIPLOMA ENDORSEMENT

House Bills 4284 & 4285 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Amanda Price

Committee:  Education

Complete to 3-17-15

SUMMARY:

The bills would require the Michigan Department of Education to endorse high school graduates' diplomas, if they fulfilled certain course requirements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—sometimes called STEM courses. 

The bills are tie-barred so that neither could go into effect unless both were enacted into law.  The bills would take effect 90 days after their enactment.

 

A more detailed description of each bill follows.

House Bill 4285 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1 et al) to make eligible for a STEM diploma endorsement, any student who successfully completed all of the following credit requirements while in grades 7 to 12:

o   All requirements of the Michigan Merit Standard for a high school diploma

o   At least six credits in mathematics (approved by the department)

o   A least six credits in science (approved by the department)

After determining a student met the requirements, officials of a school district or charter school would certify to the department that the student was eligible for a STEM diploma endorsement, and make a request that the endorsement be issued and transmitted.  Upon receipt, school officials would note the endorsement in the student's transcript, and present it to the student.

House Bill 4284 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1 et al) to require the Department of Education to issue and transmit a STEM diploma endorsement to a student, if a school district or charter school certified the student met the course credit requirements that would be established with the enactment of House Bill 4285.

Further, if a student was home-schooled or educated in a non-public school, and the student's parent, guardian, principal, or chief administrative officer certified the student met "substantially the same requirements" for a STEM diploma endorsement as the course credit requirements described in House Bill 4285, then the Department of Education would be required to issue and transmit the student's STEM endorsement.

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bills 4284 and 4285 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state and local government.  The bills could create additional administrative costs for both districts and the Department of Education in having to certify and issue a new STEM diploma endorsement.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

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