Reform proposals on legislative agenda

While the budget and House Bill 5345 remain on the front burner, you also need to know about two other packages of bills that would impact public education.

Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, is the primary sponsor of legislation that would affect so-called “failing schools.” MEA supports House Bills 4787, 4788 and 4789 as a package -- as passed by the House.

Other legislation, primarily sponsored by Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, would create new “neighborhood public schools.” MEA opposes Senate Bills 636, 637 and 638.

Here’s a brief overview of each package:

House Bills 4787-4789

Summary: Among other things, the bills would allow so-called “failing schools” to be targeted for special help.  Schools with chronically low student achievement would be placed under the oversight of a state reform/redesign officer and operated as a “redesigned school” with modified staffing rules. The school would operate either under a memorandum of understanding with the school district (and collective bargaining agreements could be renegotiated) or under a performance contract with a qualified operator.

The bills would create a state school reform/redesign school district that would consist of certain failing schools throughout the state. The district could authorize special charter schools, known as “turnaround schools” that would provide students in failing schools with an alternative educational option.

A “failing school” would be one that has been unaccredited for four consecutive years, or has failed to achieve the federal pupil performance standard for four or more consecutive years. In addition, student performance on MEAP assessments or the Michigan Merit Examination would be low; in 2009-10, the schools would have fewer than 30 percent of students score at least “proficient” in the math and English language arts portions of the tests.

Significantly, Melton’s proposal would amend state collective bargaining law, allowing school districts and employee unions to negotiate matters that currently are prohibited, including the starting date of the school year, the composition of site-based decision-making bodies, and outsourcing of non-instructional services.

Status: The bills passed the House in June. They have been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
MEA supports package as passed by the House.

Learn more: Go to www.legislature.mi.org and type in the bill numbers.

Senate Bills 636-638

Summary: The bill would allow the creation of new public schools, referred to as “neighborhood public schools.” These public schools, akin to charter schools, would be sponsored by the State Board of Education, the board of a school/intermediate district or community college/university, or the mayor of a city of at least 65,000 residents. Teachers, parents or others could organize and operate these new schools with proper authorization.

Existing schools could be converted into neighborhood public schools if a majority of the certified teachers and a majority of the parents approved, and if other conditions were met.

A cyber neighborhood public school could be created, providing full-time instruction through online learning or through a computer or other technology. Other types of neighborhood public schools could include a career education high school, a college prep high school, a dropout recovery center, or an early childhood learning center, among others.

Neighborhood public schools would receive state aid, just as charter schools do. Teachers who work in neighborhood public schools would not receive tenure, unless the teacher was on leave from a traditional school district, in which case the individual would retain tenure during the leave. Finally, the bill would prohibit public schools and employee unions from collectively bargaining decisions concerning the grant of a leave of absence to teach in a neighborhood public school.

Status: Passed the Senate Education Committee; pending before the full Senate.
MEA opposes these bills.

Learn more: Go to www.legislature.mi.gov and type in the bill numbers.

Updated: September 21, 2009