Public Act 129 of 2012

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• Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R) on September 7, 2011, to eliminate a cap on the number of online public “cyber schools,” and also eliminate a cap on the number of students that can be enrolled in a cyber school. The bill would also reduce restrictions on entities contracted to run a cyber school, and more.
  • Referred to the Senate Education Committee on September 7, 2011.
    • Reported in the Senate on October 6, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on October 27, 2011, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 27, 2011.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on October 27, 2011, to require cyber schools to post on their websites copies of contracts with the school's education management company, with other vendors, plus any leases and deeds. The amendment failed 17 to 21 in the Senate on October 27, 2011.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D) on October 27, 2011, to only pay internet-based public cyber-schools half the amount of state school aid for each student who attends. The amendment failed 12 to 26 in the Senate on October 27, 2011.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
  • Substitute offered by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on October 27, 2011, to increase the cap on cyberschool enrollment to 3,000 students, rather than eliminating it. Reportedly there is currently a waiting list of 4,500 students who wish to attend. The substitute failed 15 to 23 in the Senate on October 27, 2011.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on October 27, 2011, to mandate that internet-based public "cyber-schools" have the same teacher-to-student ratio as the state average for conventional public schools. The amendment failed 12 to 26 in the Senate on October 27, 2011.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on October 27, 2011, to require a fiscal audit be performed on the state Department of Education, and on all deposits to and spending from the state school aid fund. The amendment failed 14 to 24 in the Senate on October 27, 2011.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate on October 27, 2011, to eliminate a cap of two on the number of online public “cyber schools,” and also eliminate a cap of 1,000 on the total number of students that can be enrolled in all state cyber schools. The bill would also reduce restrictions on entities contracted to run a cyber school, repeal a mandate that every cyber school operate all grades from K to 12, and more.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on October 27, 2011.
  • Referred to the House Education Committee on October 27, 2011.
    • Reported in the House on February 8, 2012, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on April 26, 2012, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that authorizes a much smaller expansion of online learning. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered in the House on April 26, 2012, to mandate that public cyber schools (but not other public schools) post online annual expense details, including spending on “textbooks, instructional material, and supplies, including electronic instructional material; computer and other electronic equipment; internet access; (and) salaries and benefits for employees”. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to only allow students who were previously enrolled in a public school to enroll in an online charter. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to prohibit cyber schools from hiring a professional managemnent company to operate the school, and only allow nonprofit entities to manage a cyber school. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to impose additional restrictions and performance thresholds on charter cyber school operators. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to impose additional procedural obstacles to authorizing new charter cyber schools. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to require a cyber-school employee be physcally present whenever a student takes a test or perform a written assignment. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to require cyber school operators to have experience serving "urban and at-risk student populations". The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to require the Department of Education to submit a report to the legislature on the cost per student enrolled in cyber schools. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D) on April 26, 2012, to establish that the bill go into effect on March 30, 2013. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Lyons (R) on April 26, 2012, to restrict the number of students who will be allowed to take advantage of online cyber school learning opportunities. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Bill Rogers (R) on April 26, 2012, to require detailed expense reports from cyber school operators on textbooks, instructional materials including electronic ones; computer and other electronic equipment; internet access; (and) salaries and benefits for employees; travel costs; facility expenses; special education costs and more. Also, to require the Department of Education to prepare a report a report on the costs of Michigan cyber schools compared to ones in other states. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Mike Callton (R) on April 26, 2012, to require online charter cyber schools to provide each student with a computer and subsidize the cost of internet access. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Sharon Tyler (R) on April 26, 2012, to allow regular and intermediate school districts, and community colleges, to charter online cyber schools that accept students from anywhere in the state. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Holly Hughes (R) on April 26, 2012, to require online charter cyber schools to submit student enrollment numbers to the state on a monthly basis. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Amanda Price (R) on April 26, 2012, to require online charter cyberschools to give new students and parents an orientation. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on April 26, 2012.
• Passed 56 to 54 in the House on April 26, 2012, to gradually increase the number of Michigan students who may take advantage of online public “cyber schools.” Under current law, this is limited to just two online charter schools and 1,000 students statewide. The bill would increase this to 15 schools and not more than 2 percent of the state's public school students, subject to various additional restrictions. It would also allow community colleges, school districts and intermediate school districts to create online charter schools serving students anywhere in the state.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R) on May 1, 2012, to give immediate effect. A two-thirds majority is needed. The motion passed 57 to 52 in the House on May 1, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on May 2, 2012.
• Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate on May 2, 2012, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which authorizes a much more limited expansion of online learning opportunities.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on May 15, 2012.