2009 House Bill 4787 / Public Act 204

Authorize failing school “turnaround schools” [charter schools]

Introduced in the House

April 2, 2009

Introduced by Rep. Tim Melton (D-29)

To authorize the conversion of failing public schools into “turnaround schools,” which would be charter schools managed by a private charter school management company with a successful record. This would be one of the options the Department of Education could exercise when a school has failed to meet performance standards for four years in a row. Another would be to replace a failing school with a charter school within five miles. Reportedly this would apply to 30 to 35 schools statewide, mostly highschools.

Referred to the Committee on Education

June 18, 2009

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 25, 2009

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises various details, as described in the Melton substitute, which added some other minor detail changes.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Tim Melton (D-29)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises various details that do not change the substance as previously described, and which lowers the proposed standards for schools to not be considered "failing" through 2014, but then sets them at a higher level thereafter.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Tim Melton (D-29)

To clarify details of a provision that allows the manager of "turnaround school" to reassign (but not fire) an employee, notwithstanding union work rules that may limit this.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 70 to 38 (details)

To authorize the conversion of failing public schools into “turnaround schools,” which would be charter schools managed by a private charter school management company with a successful record. This would be one of the options the Department of Education could exercise when a school has failed to meet performance standards for four years in a row. Another would be to replace a failing school with a charter school within five miles. The is tie-barred to House Bill 4788 (both must pass to go into law), and that bill was amended to expand the power of school employee unions to bargain for non-compensation related school management issues, such as decisions to privatize non-instructional services.

Received in the Senate

July 15, 2009

Referred to the Committee on Education

Dec. 9, 2009

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that essentially replaces the House-passed bill with the provisions of Senate Bill 925.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 24 to 13 (details)

To authorize the establishment of “schools of excellence,” which would be charter schools authorized by either a local school district, Intermediate School District, a local community college or a state university. Existing charter operators in Michigan or other states that for three years have been given the state's highest designation would not be subject to existing state caps; up to 25 new or other schools (without a three year top score) could be authorized, of which three would be statewide "cyber-schools".

Received in the House

Dec. 9, 2009

Dec. 10, 2009

Failed in the House 0 to 108 (details)

To concur with a Senate-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.

Dec. 19, 2009

Received

To adopt a compromise version of the bill reported by a House-Senate conference committee. This would create a state "school reform/redesign" officer with the power to impose one of four school intervention models authorized under federal "race to the top" rules on a failed public school, which include either closing the school, imposing new management and personnel, or contracting with a charter school manager. This reform/redesign officer would have the power to revise teacher seniority and work rule provisions in an existing collective bargaining agreement (but not change pay scales of benefits). The bill would also essentially eliminate the state Algebra II graduation requirement, and increase the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18.

Passed in the House 65 to 33 (details)

Received in the Senate

Dec. 19, 2009

Passed in the Senate 23 to 8 (details)

Motion

To give the bill immediate effect.

The motion passed 25 to 1 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dec. 31, 2009